Senate threatens arrest as NNPCL boss skips N210trn probe for fourth time

A high-stakes Senate investigation into the alleged failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to account for over ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023 faced yet another setback on Tuesday, as the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari, failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts for the fourth time.

Ojulari was expected to provide crucial explanations regarding massive financial discrepancies flagged during the audit of the NNPCL’s operations. However, he was represented by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, who delivered a letter citing a last-minute presidential summons as the reason for the GCEO’s absence.

The letter, dated July 22, 2025, and read aloud by the committee clerk, did little to ease the growing frustration among lawmakers. Several senators expressed outrage, accusing the NNPCL leadership of showing consistent disregard for legislative oversight and deliberate evasion of accountability.

“This trend of hiding under presidential calls must not continue,” warned Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), cautioning that while presidential summons carry weight, they should not be used to undermine legislative oversight.

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Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas (Delta South) was more blunt:

“The NNPCL boss believes he is bigger than this committee. It’s obvious he won’t show up unless compelled by law.”

Senator Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central) echoed the sentiment, calling Ojulari’s repeated absence “a clear act of defiance.”

“No one is above the National Assembly. This is the fourth invitation. He must appear tomorrow—or face arrest,” Abbas declared.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed (Nasarawa West), confirmed that Ojulari had ignored three previous invitations and was only re-invited again last Thursday.

Wadada issued a stern warning: “The Senate cannot be taken for granted. If the GCEO does not appear in person by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, we will invoke constitutional powers and issue a warrant of arrest.”

The Senate is probing what it described as massive unaccounted-for financial inflows and expenditures totaling ₦210 trillion within the NNPCL during a six-year period.

The hearing was expected to interrogate the company’s compliance with financial reporting obligations, remittances, and transparency in oil revenues.

The standoff comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPC operations. Recent data shows that NNPC’s remittances to the Federal Government reached ₦6.9 trillion in six months, prompting renewed calls for a forensic audit of its financial dealings.

Despite this, Ojulari’s nonappearance is increasingly being interpreted by lawmakers as a tactical evasion in a high-stakes investigation that could shape Nigeria’s oil sector reforms.

As tensions rise, all eyes will be on the Senate chambers Wednesday to see whether Ojulari will comply or whether the Senate will make good on its threat to arrest a sitting GCEO of a government-owned corporation.