By Nwamulunamma Ogbunka l’Orumba
Abuja
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday set April 29, 2026 as the deadline for the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to appear before it and account for N210 trillion flagged in audit reports covering 2017 to 2023.
The committee specifically directed that NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Bayo Ojulari, should lead the immediate past GCEO, Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia, Dr. Bala Wunti, and the company’s external auditors to appear on the stated date without fail.
The resolutions followed a motion moved by Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during the committee’s sitting in Abuja.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), stressed that the unaccounted N210 trillion by NNPCL, as contained in the audit reports from 2017 to 2023, must be fully explained by the agency’s management, particularly the immediate past leadership under Mele Kyari.
According to Wadada, explanations given by NNPCL to the 19 queries raised on the N210 trillion were unacceptable. He said 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,” he said.
Wadada insisted that the specific amount of money spent on each of the three components must be stated and explained. He added that a detailed explanation is also expected on the N107 trillion which NNPCL said it expended on Joint Venture Cash Calls 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,” the chairman declared.
Earlier before the resolution, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) called for the invocation of the powers of the National Assembly to compel the appearance of NNPCL management, citing the company’s repeated failure to honour previous invitations.
“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,” Ningi said.
