Nigeria’s Senate has drawn a firm line in the sand, demanding accountability from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited over a staggering ₦210 trillion flagged in audit reports spanning 2017 to 2023.
At the centre of this unfolding scrutiny is a directive issued by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, led by Aliyu Wadada, setting April 29, 2026 as the final deadline for the company’s management to appear before lawmakers and provide detailed explanations.
The committee made it clear that this is not a routine summons. It expects the current Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, to appear alongside key figures from both past and present leadership, including Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia, and other top officials, as well as external auditors.
What has heightened tensions is the Senate’s dissatisfaction with the explanations already provided. According to Wadada, the responses from NNPCL lacked depth and clarity, especially regarding the breakdown of ₦103 trillion reportedly classified as liabilities. Lawmakers insist that such figures must be properly itemised—covering retention fees, legal fees, and audit costs—with clear documentation.
Equally concerning is the remaining ₦107 trillion, which NNPCL claims was spent on Joint Venture Cash Calls and debts linked to unnamed defunct banks. For the Senate, vague references are no longer acceptable. Nigerians, they argue, deserve precise and verifiable details.
The urgency of the matter was further underscored by Osita Izunaso, who moved the motion for stricter action, seconded by Adams Oshiomhole. Their position reflects a growing frustration within the National Assembly over repeated delays and perceived non-compliance by government agencies.
Adding weight to the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi called for the invocation of legislative powers to compel attendance, warning that the authority of the legislature is at stake if such summons continue to be ignored.
Beyond the figures, this moment represents something bigger—a test of transparency, accountability, and the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. When sums of this magnitude remain unclear, public trust is inevitably shaken.
As the April 29 deadline approaches, attention now shifts to whether NNPCL will provide the detailed answers demanded or deepen an already growing controversy.