The Nigerian Senate has expressed outrage after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) failed to attend a scheduled hearing to address serious financial irregularities amounting to over ₦210 trillion in its audit reports from 2017 to 2023.

Despite being officially invited, no officials or auditors from NNPCL appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee. In contrast, representatives from the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS were present.

In response, the committee issued a firm deadline, demanding that NNPCL’s leadership appear before them by July 10 or face constitutional consequences. Lawmakers emphasized that the company was not being asked for new documentation but to verbally address 11 previously submitted audit queries.

NNPCL, in a letter signed by its Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, requested a two-month postponement, citing an ongoing management retreat. The Senate rejected the request, calling it unreasonable for a company to need that much time to answer questions about its own records.

Senator Aliyu Wadada, who chairs the committee, criticized the company’s excuses and stressed that Nigerians deserve accountability. Senator Abdul Ningi called for NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, to personally lead the company’s delegation at the next hearing. Other senators echoed the sentiment, warning that any further disregard for the Senate would not be tolerated.

The committee had earlier raised red flags about ₦103 trillion in undocumented expenses and an equal amount listed as receivables. A revised report submitted by NNPCL shortly before the hearing contradicted its earlier figures, further deepening lawmakers’ concerns.

The Senate warned that if NNPCL fails to show up on July 10, it will trigger firm legislative action to uphold accountability.