The Senate Public Accounts Committee has given Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria Limited and two other oil companies 48 hours to appear before it and respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, warned that failure to honour the summons could lead to the invocation of the National Assembly’s legislative powers against the companies.
The decision followed concerns from committee members over the companies’ failure to appear before the panel to address issues raised in the NEITI audit reports.
Senator Abdul Ningi was the first to call for sanctions, describing a letter from Network E&P Nigeria Limited to the committee as “disturbing and provocative”.
The company had reportedly told the committee that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was the regulatory body to which it was accountable.
Ningi rejected the position, stressing that the Senate has constitutional powers to summon individuals, organisations and government agencies to provide explanations on matters under investigation.
“Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution empower the National Assembly to invite anybody or agency for explanations on issues raised against them,” he said.
Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, representing Borno Central, backed the call for sanctions and urged the committee to exercise its constitutional powers against the management of companies that failed to honour its invitations.
The committee subsequently directed the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before it on Thursday, warning that failure to comply would attract the full weight of its legislative powers.
Similar directives were issued to the Managing Directors of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy after the committee noted their absence from the proceedings.
The companies are expected to respond to queries contained in the NEITI audit reports as the Senate panel continues its examination of issues arising from Nigeria’s extractive industry accounts.
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