By Our Correspondent in Abuja
The Senate through its Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to four oil companies to appear and respond to queries raised in NEITI’s 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports.
The affected companies are Seplat Energy, Network E & P Nigeria Limited, All Grace Energy Limited and Aradel Energy Limited. The committee warned that failure to appear would lead to the invocation of legislative powers.
The directive was adopted by the Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo-led committee following the absence of the companies’ management at the hearing and concerns raised by members.
Senator Abdul Ningi, Bauchi Central, was first to call for sanctions. He faulted a letter from Network E&P which claimed it only reports to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.
Ningi described the letter as “disturbing and provocative,” stressing that the National Assembly has constitutional powers to summon any agency.
“The Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, is the custodian of Nigeria law that has power to invite anybody or agency for explanations on issues raised against them,” he said.
He cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as the basis for the committee’s authority to probe and invite any body.
Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, Borno Central, supported the move and demanded constitutional sanctions. This prompted the Chairman to issue a specific 48-hour ultimatum to the MD of Network E&P.
“Having failed to honour invitation of this committee two consecutive times, the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited should appear before us unfailingly on Thursday this week or risk full invocation of legislative powers against him,” Lawan said.
Similar ultimatums were issued to the MDs of Seplat Energy, All Grace Energy and Aradel Energy. Meanwhile, Dubri Oil Company Limited, which appeared, rejected the $3.025 million royalty and gas flare debt in the NEITI report and presented documents showing the issue with NUPRC had been reconciled.
