The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has once again failed to appear before the Nigerian Senate Committee on Public Accounts after being summoned over an alleged N210 trillion missing from the company’s books.
Despite being given a 10-day ultimatum to show up, Ojulari was absent at Thursday’s session. Instead, he sent a team of representatives, but the Senate Committee, led by Senator Aliyu Wadada, refused to engage them.
The lawmakers insisted that only Ojulari could respond to the 11 serious financial concerns raised from the company’s audited accounts covering 2017 to 2023.
Senator Wadada noted that the consistent refusal of the NNPCL boss to appear was not just a sign of disrespect, but also a challenge to the National Assembly’s authority. According to him, “We are demanding accountability. The GCEO must come forward himself. We won’t accept anything less.”
He also warned that the committee would not allow any continued avoidance by Ojulari and promised to announce a fresh date for his appearance.
Wadada stated, “This repeated failure to honour our invitation is a breach of legislative oversight and will not be tolerated.”
Earlier, Dapo Segun, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, had told the committee that the company’s top management could not be present due to a retreat that was already scheduled before the Senate hearing. Despite this explanation, the lawmakers insisted that the matter was too important to be delegated.
The Senate had first summoned the NNPCL leadership weeks ago, demanding explanations over what it described as massive discrepancies in the company’s financial reports. The missing N210 trillion has raised questions across government and civil society, with calls for transparency and accountability.
Lawmakers have vowed to get to the bottom of the issue and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The committee has also suggested that further legal steps may be taken if Ojulari continues to stay away.
