The Senate has directed the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to appear before its Public Accounts Committee over unaccounted funds amounting to ₦210 trillion flagged in audit reports from 2017 to 2023.

Ojulari failed to attend the latest hearing, sending the company’s Chief Financial Officer in his place and citing official duties at an OPEC event in Vienna. However, lawmakers rejected this and insisted that only the CEO could respond to the audit queries.

Committee chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, clarified that the funds were not reported as stolen but remain unexplained. He stressed that the probe is part of the Senate’s duty to ensure transparency in the use of public funds.

Senators expressed anger at Ojulari’s repeated absence, with Senator Abdul Ningi describing his refusal to appear as unacceptable. Senator Adams Oshiomhole added that such disregard for legislative oversight reflects poorly on public service, warning that the Senate may be forced to act if Ojulari continues to ignore the summons.

The committee said a new date for Ojulari’s appearance would be announced soon and emphasized that answering the Senate’s call is mandatory, not optional.