The Senate Public Accounts Committee has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to four oil companies, including Seplat Energy and Network E&P Nigeria Limited, to appear before it and address queries raised in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, said the companies could face legislative action if they fail to comply with the summons.
The directive followed concerns among committee members over the companies’ failure to appear at previous proceedings to provide explanations on issues contained in the NEITI reports.
Senator Abdul Ningi called for sanctions against the affected companies, describing a letter from Network E&P Nigeria Limited to the committee as “disturbing and provocative.”
The company had reportedly argued that it was accountable to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, rather than the Senate committee.
Ningi rejected the position, stressing that the National Assembly has constitutional authority to summon individuals, organisations and government agencies to provide information on matters under investigation.
He cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as empowering the National Assembly to demand explanations on issues being investigated.
Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, representing Borno Central, also backed the call for sanctions, urging the committee to exercise its constitutional powers against companies that continued to disregard its invitations.
The committee subsequently ordered the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before it on Thursday, warning that non-compliance would attract the full force of its legislative powers.
Similar directives were issued to the managements of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy following their failure to appear before the committee.
