THE Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has given Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria Limited and two other oil companies a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before it and respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
News Point Nigeria reports that the committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, warned that failure by the affected oil companies to honour its invitation could lead to the invocation of the National Assembly’s legislative powers against them.
The decision followed concerns raised by members of the committee over the failure of the companies to appear before it to respond to issues raised in the NEITI reports.
Senator Abdul Ningi was the first to call for sanctions, describing a letter written by Network E&P Nigeria Limited to the committee as “disturbing and provocative.”
The company had reportedly informed the committee that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was the regulatory body to which it was accountable.
Senator Ningi, however, noted that the Senate had constitutional powers to summon any individual, organisation or government agency 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.
Supporting the call for action, Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, representing Borno Central, urged the committee to invoke its constitutional powers against the managements of the companies that had failed to honour its invitations.
Consequently, the committee directed the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before it on Thursday, warning that failure to do so 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.
