House Summons NNPC, Addax, Others over Alleged Irregularities in Oil Sector

The House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the revocation and award of oil mining leases (OML), has given the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Addax Petroleum Company Limited and Santex Nigeria Limited two-week ultimatum to appear before it and explain alleged irregularities in the corporations.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Sarki Ada, issued the ultimatum at the commencement of the hearing, following the refusal of NNPC and others to honour invitations or reply letters.

The lawmaker said the committee had asked for relevant documents to investigate the activities of the NNPC, and that the corporation had refused to oblige the committee.

He explained that three letters were written to them at an interval of three months each requesting for their budget, budget performance and list of asset they are holding and managing on behalf of Nigerians.

Ada added that the lawmakers would not hesitate to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before it as the Minister of Petroleum, if the corporations shun their summons again.

According to him, ‘’Our message to all those who have failed to appear before us as invited are: the NNPC, Addax Petroleum Company Limited and Santex Nigeria Limited. We are giving them two weeks from today; we will reschedule this meeting for two weeks for them to appear before this committee before this committee.