The Nigerian Senate through its committee on public accounts has again questioned the refusal of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engineer Bayo Ojulari, to appear before it
For the third consecutive time, Ojulari failed to honour the committee’s invitation to respond to audit queries concerning a N210 trillion allegedly unaccounted for in the NNPCL’s financial records from 2017 to 2023.
The Committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), had earlier issued three invitations to the NNPCL boss.
Following his continued absence, a fourth invitation was extended to him on Thursday.
However, at the committee’s sitting on Tuesday, when the chairman inquired from the Clerk, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, about Ojulari’s presence, he was informed that the GCEO is not in attendance , this time citing a last minute presidential summons.
In a letter dated 22nd July 2025 and read before the committee, Ojulari claimed that he was urgently summoned by President Bola Tinubu around 1pm on the same day, which prevented him from honouring the Senate invitation.
Unimpressed by the explanation, committee members, one after the other, voiced their frustration over what they described as a deliberate show of disrespect to the National Assembly.
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Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said while a presidential directive might carry weight, it should not be used as a recurring excuse to snub the committee.
Also weighing in, Senator Joel Thomas Onowakpo (Delta South) accused Ojulari of treating the committee with contempt.
Senator Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central) added that Ojulari’s actions reflect utter disregard for the legislature.
Following deliberations, the committee, through its chairman, resolved that Bayo Ojulari must appear before it on Wednesday at 3:00pm prompt, or risk the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
The senators unanimously agreed that Ojulari’s continued absence cannot be tolerated, especially in the face of such serious financial accountability issues involving public funds.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
