The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has expressed frustration over the repeated absence of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, following his failure to appear before it on Thursday.
The Senate had earlier given Ojulari a 10-day ultimatum to appear in person to explain discrepancies in the NNPCL’s audited accounts between 2017 and 2023, involving unaccounted funds totalling a staggering ₦210 trillion.
Despite the ultimatum, the NNPCL boss again sent company representatives to the hearing. However, the committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, declined to entertain the delegation and insisted that only the GCEO could address the 11 financial queries raised.
Senator Wadada described Ojulari’s continued absence as “an affront to the authority of the National Assembly” and a clear violation of its constitutional oversight role. He said the Senate would not accept any further excuses and would issue a new date, insisting Ojulari must appear in person.
“This is the second time Mr. Ojulari is failing to honour our invitation,” Wadada said. “It is unacceptable. We will not engage proxies on such a critical matter.”
The NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Dapo Segun, had earlier claimed that management was attending a retreat, which was why the GCEO could not attend the hearing.
The Senate’s probe is part of a wider effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, especially within key national institutions like the NNPCL.