The Nigerian Senate has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, over his repeated failure to appear before its investigative panel probing a ₦210 trillion audit query.
At a resumed sitting on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts expressed strong displeasure after Ojulari failed to honour its summons, despite being formally invited. His absence marks another in a series of missed appearances that lawmakers described as deliberate and disrespectful.
Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Wadada, warned that the panel would not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers, including issuing a warrant of arrest, if the NNPCL boss continues to ignore its directives.
Wadada specifically criticised Ojulari’s practice of sending subordinates in his place, describing it as a clear affront to the authority of the Senate.
Backing the chairman’s position, Adams Oshiomhole said the GCEO’s conduct amounts to a “wilful refusal” to cooperate with the investigation.
“The chief executive is a serial breaker of our invitations. For me, it is an insult. We will not hear anyone unless the CEO is present,” Oshiomhole said.
He urged the committee to enforce compliance using constitutional provisions, including compelling Ojulari’s appearance “by force” if necessary, to account for funds flagged in the audit report.
The situation was further aggravated when the NNPCL boss delegated the company’s public relations officer to represent him and submitted a same-day letter explaining his absence—an action the committee described as inappropriate and dismissive.
Despite the strong stance, the committee stopped short of issuing an arrest warrant immediately. Instead, it gave Ojulari a final deadline of May 13, 2026, to appear in person before the panel or face possible sanctions.
The ongoing probe is part of the Senate’s oversight function aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public funds within key government institutions.