The absence of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, on Tuesday stalled the investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing the company’s alleged failure to account for N210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
Ojulari, who was expected to appear before the committee, was represented by the Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, who informed the lawmakers that the GCEO had received an emergency presidential invitation earlier that afternoon.
But the development sparked outrage among members of the committee, who noted that this was the fourth time Ojulari had failed to appear before them despite repeated invitations.
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Reading a letter dated July 22, 2025, the committee’s Clerk, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi, said Ojulari cited a “sudden invitation” from President Bola Tinubu at about 1:00 p.m. as the reason for his absence.
However, the senators expressed skepticism over the explanation, describing it as an act of disrespect and a disregard for the powers of the National Assembly.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) noted that while a presidential summons could be considered weighty, it should not become a routine excuse for undermining legislative oversight.
“I’m trying to moderate my anger because of the mention of a presidential call, but this trend of hiding under the guise of presidential summons must not continue,” Umeh said.
Senator Joel Thomas Onowakpo (Delta South) was more critical.
“To me, the NNPCL boss believes he is bigger than this committee. We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that he will never appear unless we compel him by force of law,” he said.
Similarly, Senator Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central) said Ojulari’s repeated absence amounted to outright disrespect.
“No GCEO is bigger than the National Assembly. For ignoring four invitations, he must be compelled to appear tomorrow,” he stated.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed (Nasarawa West), noted that the GCEO had previously ignored three invitations before a fourth was sent penultimate Thursday.
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Consequently, the committee resolved that Ojulari must appear in person on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. prompt or risk having a warrant of arrest issued against him.
“The Senate cannot be taken for granted,” Wadada warned. “We will not hesitate to exercise our constitutional powers to enforce compliance.”
