Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Dr Umar Ajiya, clashed on Wednesday as the Senate Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) resumed its investigation into the N210 trillion ‘unaccounted’ NNPCL funds.

The committee has consistently insisted that the money, captured in the audited financial reports of the NNPCL from 2017 to 2023, remains unaccounted for, while efforts to trace it have so far failed.

The amount is broken down into N103 trillion (accrued expenses) and N107 trillion (receivables), totalling N210 trillion.

The panel earlier raised 19 questions for the current management of the NNPCL led by Mr Bayo Ojulari, but later resolved to also hear from former top officials.

Ajiya, as a former management official, was among those the committee invited to assist with the investigation.

However, tempers rose on Wednesday as he addressed the committee chaired by a former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo.

The former CFO told lawmakers that it appeared they had not only been misinformed, but also that the research into the issue was not thorough.

He said one incorrect claim was that the NNPCL spent N5.8 billion to change the company’s name from NNPC to NNPCL, as against the N2.9 billion reportedly spent on the project, which he said was verifiable through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Ajiya also insisted that no money was missing, arguing that the total revenue of the NNPCL within the period was N54.5 trillion.

“For six years, I have been presenting reports. I assure you that there is no money missing, otherwise we would not have had the courage to publish audited accounts at NNPCL.

“On the issue of N210 trillion, it is a large figure. The reality is that the total revenue of NNPCL during the period was N54.5 trillion. So how could N210 trillion be missing? Where has it gone? Ask the EFCC and NFIU to investigate it,” the former CFO told the committee.

He suggested that part of the reason the company is often negatively portrayed is because many people, including senators, want their children to work there.

Oshiomhole, who became enraged over Ajiya’s comments, interjected and asked him to stop.

“You are saying people want their children to work at NNPCL. Yes, it is because it is a house of thieves and they want their children to benefit from it. You are all thieves!” he shouted.

Ajiya countered, “We are not thieves. Because you are a senator does not give you the right to sit there and insult people the way you like,” the ex-CFO responded.

It took the intervention of Senator Dankwambo and other committee members to restore order, as Oshiomhole and Ajiya continued to exchange words.

Ajiya later submitted his documented response to the committee and was given two weeks to return for further questioning, after senators would have reviewed his submission.

The development came as the committee ordered the arrest of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, Mr Mele Kyari, for failing to honour the committee’s invitation in connection with the N210 trillion probe.

Oshiomhole expressed disgust over Kyari’s absence, describing it as reflective of the attitude of some individuals who believe they are more powerful and influential than others.

“This committee must issue a warrant to bring Mele Kyari, dead or alive. At a time Nigeria is heavily indebted, someone who should account for trillions of naira is giving us excuses,” he said.

Some senators, including Tony Nwoye (Anambra Central), attempted to explain Kyari’s absence, stating that he was hospitalised in Germany.

“I spoke to Kyari a week ago, and he promised to be here. Last night, I learnt he is hospitalised in Germany,” Nwoye said.

However, other senators, including Victor Umeh, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, Oshiomhole and Abdul Ningi, dismissed the explanation.

The committee chairman, Senator Dankwambo, ruling on a motion to issue a warrant of arrest against Kyari, said he should be arrested wherever he is found and brought before the committee.

“Wherever Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before the committee immediately. We will raise the warrant and forward it to the Senate President for approval,” he ruled. (Nigerian Tribune)

• Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and a former Chief Financial Officer

of NNPCL, Dr Umar Ajiya