By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate has moved to compel the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and other senior officials of the company to appear before it over alleged financial discrepancies estimated at N210 trillion.
The move followed the NNPCL leadership’s failure to honour invitations issued by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to explain issues raised in the company’s audited financial statements.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada, expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the invited officials during the committee’s session in Abuja, describing the development as unacceptable and a disregard for the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities.
Wadada warned that the Senate would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers to compel the appearance of the affected officials if they continue to ignore the committee’s summons.
He stated that the committee is investigating financial issues identified in the company’s records, including alleged discrepancies amounting to about N210 trillion.
According to him, the Senate is determined to ensure full accountability in the management of public resources, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which remains a major source of revenue for the country.
The lawmaker said the committee would insist on obtaining clear explanations from the NNPCL leadership regarding the financial inconsistencies observed in the company’s audited accounts.
Wadada also raised concerns over a reported expenditure of about N5 billion said to have been used for the transition from the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the new corporate structure of NNPCL following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
He questioned how such an amount could have been spent on what appeared to be a corporate transition process.
He insisted that the company must provide detailed explanations of the expenditure and other financial matters contained in its reports.
The committee chairman emphasised that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, stressing that no government agency or public official is above legislative oversight.
He further warned that continued failure by the invited officials to honour the Senate’s summons could lead to stronger legislative action, including the issuance of a warrant to compel their appearance before the committee.
*Lawmakers threaten warrant over ignored probe invitation
Members of the committee also expressed concern over what they described as a growing trend of government agencies failing to honour invitations from the National Assembly.
They noted that such actions undermine the legislature’s constitutional mandate to oversee public institutions and to ensure prudent management of national resources.
The committee subsequently resolved to issue fresh invitations to the former NNPCL leadership and insisted that the officials must appear at the next sitting to respond to the issues raised.
The current Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, who succeeded Kyari, is expected to cooperate with the Senate as the investigation continues.
The Senate has, in recent months, intensified oversight of key government agencies as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency in public financial management.
