Public Accounts Committee of the Senate has again given a two-week ultimatum to the current management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to appear before it, alongside the former management team, over an unexplained N210 trillion.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ahmad Aliyu Wadada, issued the directive following a resolution by members on Wednesday after a brief meeting, when the NNPCL management failed to honour its invitation.
Senator Wadada explained that, at its last sitting, the committee resolved to write to both the current and immediate past management of the company through the Group Chief Executive Officer.
The committee specifically directed that the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engineer Bayo Ojulari, should appear alongside the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajia, Dr. Bala Wunti, and the company’s external auditors for questioning.
Senator Wadada further affirmed that the letters of invitation were delivered on March 10, and the Office of the Group Chief Executive Officer acknowledged receipt on March 11. However, the NNPCL management did not attend, nor did it provide any communication explaining its absence.
Senator Aliyu Wadada emphasised that the unaccounted N210 trillion by NNPCL, as contained in the audit reports from 2017 to 2023, must be explained by the management of the agency, stressing that government is a continuum.
The chairman of the committee further stated that the explanations so far provided by NNPCL on the queries regarding the unaccounted N210 trillion were unacceptable, noting that Nigerians are entitled to detailed explanations.
” This committee and by extension, the Senate, is not satisfied with blanket explanation given by NNPCL on N103trillion which it said , stands for liabilities because liabilities are in three components which are retention fee, legal fee and audit fee .”
He also said Detailed explanation is also expected to be given on the N107trillion , NNPCL said it expended on JVC cash call and part of the money allegedly owed by some defunct banks whose names were not mentioned.
” Consequently, it is hereby resolved , that the NNPCL is given an additional two weeks to unfailingly appear before this committee. The deadline for compliance is set for Wednesday, April 29, 2026″.
Earlier before the resolution , a member of the committee, Senator Abdul Ningi , called for invocation of powers of the National Assembly to compel the appearance of NNPCL management, having failed repeatedly to appear before it .
“We must treat this matter with the utmost seriousness. The essence of democracy rests significantly on the strength and authority of the legislature. Unfortunately, in recent times, there appears to be a growing reluctance by individuals to honour invitations from the National Assembly, leaving members feeling helpless in compelling appearances before committees.”
Cov/ Bashir M
