By George Ozalla
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned four external auditors of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to appear before it on May 27, 2025, to clarify certain contentious issues regarding the NNPC’s audited statement of accounts for the period 2015-2018. The summoned auditors represent the firms FOA, PIVC, MUKTHAR Dangana & Co, and Ahmed Dangana.
The formal invitation was issued by the Committee’s Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Wadada, during a hearing on May 20, 2025, at the Committee hearing room 04. Sen. Wadada stressed that the auditors’ appearance is crucial to resolving the issues at hand and warned that failure to comply would result in the Committee invoking its constitutional powers to order their arrest.
During the hearing, the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, was in attendance. Mr. Muyiwa SAN, a lawyer, argued that the Committee was not informed of the audit firms’ representatives, rendering them unfit to appear before it. The Chairman, Sen. Wadada, further said that the four audit firms must appear before the Committee on the appointed date, May 27th, by 2 pm.
The Senate PAC’s actions demonstrate its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s public resources. By scrutinizing the NNPC’s audited accounts and summoning external auditors, the Committee targets to provide clarity on contentious issues and promote good governance.
Recall that the Senate Public Accounts Committee plays a vital role in overseeing government agencies and ensuring that public funds are utilized effectively. Through its investigations and hearings, the Committee helps to identify areas of financial mismanagement and recommends corrective actions to prevent future occurrences. By holding public officials and external auditors accountable, the Committee promotes transparency and accountability, ultimately contributing to the effective management of Nigeria’s resources.
