Reps Panel Gives NNPCL Boss Final Deadline, Mulls Arrest Over Audit Queries

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a final directive to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to appear before it on Monday, December 15, 2025, to address outstanding audit queries covering the company’s expenditures for January to December 2021.

Committee chairman, Hon. Bamidele Salam, issued the ultimatum at the committee’s sitting on Monday in Abuja, expressing strong displeasure over NNPCL’s repeated failure to honour earlier invitations or submit requested documents despite multiple reminders.

Salam, who read a letter in which Ojulari explained his absence on grounds of an assignment at the Presidential Villa, said the committee would no longer tolerate what he described as disregard for the National Assembly’s oversight authority.

PAC members condemned the corporation’s conduct as undermining legislative scrutiny and obstructing the audit process.

Following an appeal from NNPCL’s National Assembly Liaison Officer, Hon. Umar Faruk, the committee agreed to grant one last extension, warning that no further excuses would be entertained.

“We have agreed as a committee to give you up till next week Monday, the 15th of December, for a fresh appearance,” Salam said. “The committee is handling a large volume of matters. Had you been here in the last couple of weeks, you would appreciate the magnitude of issues before us.”

The NNPCL leadership is expected to respond to multiple audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, including alleged payments for abandoned projects, non-remittance of statutory taxes, and irregular disbursements reportedly approved by the Chief Finance Officer without the concurrence of the then Group Managing Director.

The committee warned that failure to appear next Monday may trigger the issuance of a warrant of arrest.