The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has once again failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
Despite being given a 10-day ultimatum, Ojulari opted to send representatives to the hearing on Thursday instead of attending in person.
The committee, however, refused to engage with the delegation, insisting that Ojulari himself must address the 11 critical financial queries raised in the company’s audited statements.
The lawmakers described Ojulari’s continued absence as a direct affront to the authority of the National Assembly and a breach of its oversight responsibilities.
The committee’s Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, warned that the Senate would not tolerate further disregard and vowed to issue a new date for the NNPCL GCEO to appear in person.
The public accounts committee is investigating significant discrepancies in NNPCL’s financial records, which lawmakers say raise serious questions of accountability and transparency.
The NNPCL is being probed
of unaccounted funds totaling N200 trillion.
The Senate had previously cautioned that failure to respond adequately to its summons could result in the invocation of its constitutional powers, including the possibility of sanctions.
The Senate’s warning to Ojulari and the NNPCL suggested that the committee would take further action if the GCEO fails to appear in person.
The development highlighted the ongoing tension between the Senate and the NNPCL over issues of transparency and accountability in the company’s financial dealings.
