Reps Summon NNPCL Boss Over 2021 Audit Queries

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to appear before it on Monday, December 15, 2025, over multiple audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation for the 2021 financial year.

The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, issued the summons after noting that previous invitations were ignored.

Ojulari had earlier communicated that he was unable to attend due to what he described as “a critical engagement at the Presidential Villa,” an excuse lawmakers dismissed as an attempt to evade parliamentary oversight.

According to PAC, the audit queries involve several financial irregularities, including payments for allegedly abandoned projects, failures to deduct statutory taxes, and unauthorized disbursements said to have been approved by NNPCL’s Chief Finance Officer without the signature of the Group Managing Director.

Lawmakers insist that the company must provide full documentation supporting its 2021 expenditures.

The committee warned that December 15 is the final deadline for Ojulari’s appearance, stressing that NNPCL — despite its strategic importance — is not exempt from constitutional scrutiny of public finances.

Legislators expressed frustration over what they described as “deliberate delays” by the company’s leadership.

This summons comes amid increasing national attention on NNPCL’s financial accountability. Earlier in the year, the Senate demanded explanations over discrepancies amounting to N210 trillion in the company’s accounts covering 2017 to 2023 — issues still under review.

With the December hearing approaching, all eyes are now on whether the NNPCL boss will finally appear before the committee and respond to the lingering questions surrounding the company’s financial management.