NNPCL GMD Ojulari Snubs Senate Again Over Missing N210tn

DDM News

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has once again failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to answer questions regarding an unaccounted sum of N210 trillion.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that despite a 10-day ultimatum previously issued by the Senate, Ojulari was absent at Thursday’s hearing and instead sent representatives, a move which the committee rejected outright.

The Senate Committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, insisted that only the GCEO himself must appear in person to respond to 11 serious financial queries raised in NNPCL’s audited financial statements covering the period between 2017 and 2023.

Lawmakers strongly condemned Ojulari’s repeated absence, describing it as a direct affront to the constitutional powers of the National Assembly and a threat to its oversight functions.

Senator Wadada expressed disappointment at what he termed “a calculated disregard for the authority of the Senate,” warning that the committee would not continue to tolerate such defiance from any public official, no matter how highly placed.

“We will issue a fresh appearance date for the NNPCL boss. This body will not be reduced to a toothless bulldog,” Wadada declared during the session.

Recall that the Nigerian Senate had earlier summoned NNPCL to appear and provide explanations over inconsistencies and missing funds totalling N210 trillion discovered during a routine audit.

In an earlier response, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Mr. Dapo Segun, stated that the management was attending a company retreat and could not be physically present at the last hearing.

Despite the excuse, the Senate insists that nothing short of personal appearance by Ojulari will be acceptable going forward.

The public and watchdog agencies are now closely monitoring the NNPCL’s next move amid growing concerns over transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook