The Senate has set April 29, 2026, as the deadline for the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to appear before it to account for yet-to-be-explained N210 trillion contained in audit reports from 2017 to 2023.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, declared that the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engineer Bayo Ojulari, must lead the immediate past GCEO, Mele Kyari; former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajia; Dr Bala Wunti; and external auditors of the oil company to appear on the said date unfailingly.
The resolutions followed a motion moved by Senator Osita Izunaso and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Senator Wadada emphasised that the unaccounted N210 trillion must be accounted for, particularly by the immediate past management led by Mele Kyari. He said explanations given by NNPCL to the 19 queries raised on the unaccounted sum were unacceptable, as Nigerians are entitled to convincing and detailed explanations.
“This committee and, by extension, the Senate is not satisfied with blanket explanation given by NNPCL on N103 trillion which it said stands for liabilities because liabilities are in three components which are retention fee, legal fee and audit fee,” Wadada said.
He added that specific amounts spent on each of the three components must be stated and explained. Detailed explanation is also expected on the N107 trillion NNPCL said it expended on Joint Venture 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, Senator Abdul Ningi called for the invocation of the powers of the National Assembly to compel the appearance of NNPCL management, having failed repeatedly to appear before the committee. “We must treat this matter with the utmost seriousness. The essence of democracy rests significantly on the strength and authority of the legislature,” Ningi said.
