The Senate has named former Gombe State Governor and Senator representing Gombe Central, Ibrahim Dankwambo, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
Senator Dankwambo, a former Accountant-General of the Federation, replaces Senator Aliyu Wadada, who is currently the All Progressives Congress, APC anointed Governorship candidate in Nasarawa State after recently defecting from the Social Democratic Party, SDP to the ruling party.
The leadership change, according to the Senate, is in line with constitutional tradition which provides that the Public Accounts Committee should be chaired by a member of the opposition.
The Senate commended Senator Wadada for his stewardship of the committee and wished him success in his political pursuits ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
In a related development, the Senate announced a reshuffle of committee leaderships.
Senator Aliyu Wadada has now been appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, a position previously held by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who has been appointed Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
Despite his new assignment, Senator Wadada will remain a member of the Public Accounts Committee in recognition of his experience and contributions.
Other changes include Senator Joseph Ikpea (APC, Edo Central) as Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics.
Senator Amos Yohanna (APC, Adamawa North) has been named Chairman, Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and Regional Development.
Senator Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West) will now serve as Vice Chairman, Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and Regional Development.
The Senate stated that all appointments take immediate effect.
Meanwhile, former top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, including Mele Kyari, Bala Wunti, and Umar Ajia, have reached out to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts following repeated invitations over unresolved issues in the company’s audited accounts.
The Senate Committee is investigating alleged unaccounted funds totalling N210 trillion, captured in NNPCL audit reports covering 2017 to 2023.
At Wednesday’s session, the immediate past Committee, Chairman, Aliyu Wadada, warned that it would issue a warrant of arrest against the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, if he fails to appear before it on May 13, 2026, for a rescheduled investigative hearing.
During the session, former Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajia, appeared physically before the committee and submitted copies of the audit reports containing queries relating to the disputed figures.
However, Kyari and Wunti did not appear in person.
The Committee disclosed that Kyari contacted the Chairman by telephone, while Wunti also reached out through Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), assuring the panel of their willingness to appear at the next sitting.
The Committee frowned at a letter submitted by the current NNPCL GCEO, Bayo Ojulari, explaining his absence.
The letter, signed by the Chief Relations Officer, Morenike Adewumi, is dated April 29, 2026 the same day as the hearing.
Senator Wadada strongly warned that failure by Ojulari to appear before the Committee on May 13 by 3:00 p.m. would result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
Also expressing displeasure, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) described it as disrespectful for the NNPCL chief to communicate through a subordinate, insisting that such conduct undermines the seriousness of the investigation.
The Committee subsequently directed NNPCL officials, including Morenike Adewumi and Financial Controller, Tajudeen Kareem, to formally deliver the summons to Ojulari and ensure his appearance at the next hearing.
It also instructed that copies of the audit reports be made available to Kyari and Wunti ahead of the next investigative session to facilitate their responses.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
