The Senate on Thursday ordered the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, to appear before its Public Accounts Committee over unresolved financial infractions amounting to N210tn.
The lawmakers expressed deep displeasure over Ojulari’s repeated absence from investigative sessions and warned that no official, regardless of position, is above accountability.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), clarified that contrary to reports suggesting theft, the sum flagged in audit reports between 2017 and 2023 was “unaccounted for,” not “stolen.”
At Thursday’s hearing, Ojulari failed to appear before the committee, citing an official engagement at an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting in Vienna, Austria. His absence prompted the committee to reject submissions from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) condemned Ojulari’s continued refusal to honour Senate invitations, describing his conduct as “disturbing and unacceptable.”
“It is very disturbing and unacceptable for the GCEO of NNPCL to dishonour this committee’s invitation again. He has never appeared before this committee since his appointment, which is troubling,” Ningi stated.
Echoing similar sentiments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) said Ojulari’s disregard for legislative summons suggested arrogance unbecoming of a public servant.
“Nobody is bigger than the country. Anyone who believes otherwise has no business being in government. The NNPCL boss must heed the invitation now before he is compelled to do so by force,” Oshiomhole warned.
The committee insisted that Ojulari must appear before it on a new date to be communicated soon, adding that the summons was not a request but an order in the national interest.
Senator Wadada maintained that the committee’s actions were not targeted at any individual but were part of its constitutional responsibility to uphold transparency in the management of public funds.
“We have nothing personal against NNPCL officials. Our concern is to ensure probity and accountability as enshrined in the Constitution. The audit report spanning 2017 to 2023 clearly shows a ₦210tn financial infraction that must be explained,” Wadada said.
He concluded by reiterating that Ojulari must present himself to explain the discrepancies and address other outstanding audit queries, stating, “This is about Nigeria and accountability, not witch-hunting.”
