Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has reacted strongly to shocking revelations of ₦210 trillion in financial irregularities uncovered in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), describing the country as “a crime scene.”

In a statement issued on Friday, Obi referenced the recent Senate audit which uncovered ₦103 trillion in so-called “accrued expenses” and ₦107 trillion in unaccounted “receivables” between 2017 and 2023.

“There is no documentation. No accountability. No consequences,” Obi declared.

He pointed out that Nigeria’s total national budget over that same period was ₦88.01 trillion—less than half of the questionable NNPC figures—raising serious questions about transparency and financial integrity in the country.

“This is not just another scandal,” Obi said. “It is a clear and damning confirmation of a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.”

The former Anambra State governor didn’t hold back, warning that the scandal represents “a criminal institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian people” and poses “a grave threat to the future of the society our children will live in.”

Obi called for immediate and decisive action: “This criminality masquerading as governance must be stopped and dismantled for a better Nigeria.”

The explosive audit revelations have reignited public debate about accountability within major government institutions, especially as Nigeria battles economic hardship and dwindling public trust.