Nigerian Senate issues 48-hour ultimatum to Seplat and three other oil companies to respond to NEITI's inquiries

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The Senate Public Accounts Committee has given Seplat Energy and three other oil companies 48 hours to appear before it and respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

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The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, on Tuesday, issued the ultimatum after expressing concern over the companies’ repeated failure to honour its invitations.

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It warned that the affected companies could face the full weight of the National Assembly’s legislative powers if they fail to appear within the stipulated period.

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The affected companies are Network E&P Nigeria Limited, All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy.

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The issue came to a head after Senator Abdul Ningi called for sanctions against the companies, describing a letter from Network E&P Nigeria Limited to the committee as “disturbing and provocative.”

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The company had reportedly told the committee that it was accountable to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission rather than the Senate panel.

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Ningi, however, maintained that the National Assembly had the constitutional authority to summon individuals, companies and government agencies to provide explanations on matters under investigation.

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“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.

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Backing the call for sanctions, Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan, representing Borno Central, urged the committee to exercise its constitutional powers against the companies that failed to respond to its invitations.

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The chairman subsequently directed the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before the committee within 48 hours.

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“Having failed to honour invitation of this committee two consecutive times, the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited should appear before us unfailingly on Thursday this week or risk full invocation of legislative powers against him”, he said.

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Similar ultimatums were issued to the Managing Directors of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy after the committee noted their absence during the proceedings.

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The committee’s action is part of its consideration of queries contained in NEITI’s audit reports, which examine the management of Nigeria’s oil and gas revenues and compliance with financial obligations by companies operating in the extractive sector.

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Dubri defends $`3.025m royalty, gas flare debt

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Meanwhile, Dubri Oil Company Limited appeared before the committee and rejected a `$3.025m royalty and gas flare debt attributed to it in the NEITI report.

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According to the report, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission submitted in 2025 that Dubri Oil was indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of $`3.025m.

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The figure comprises `$2.378m allegedly owed as gas flare debt and $646,605.55 in oil production-related debt.

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However, the representative of Dubri Oil, Soyode Clement, faulted the query, saying it arose from a reconciliation issue between the company and the NUPRC when the report was compiled.

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He told the committee that the reconciliation issue had since been resolved and that no outstanding debt was owed by the company.

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Clement presented documents to the committee in support of the company’s position.

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The committee said it would critically examine the documents before determining whether to clear Dubri Oil of the liability contained in the NEITI report.

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The proceedings form part of the Senate’s ongoing scrutiny of audit queries arising from the oil and gas sector, amid concerns over revenue leakages and the failure of companies and agencies to adequately account for payments due to the government.

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