Senate Summons Kyari, Ojulari Over ₦210 Trillion NNPCL Audit Queries

The Nigerian Senate has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to appear before its Committee on Public Accounts on April 29, 2026, to explain an alleged ₦210 trillion flagged in audit reports covering 2017 to 2023.

The directive followed a motion moved by Senator Osita Izunaso and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during plenary, reflecting growing legislative pressure over the company’s financial disclosures and audit compliance.

The committee also mandated the appearance of top former and current officials of the oil company, including Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, immediate past GCEO Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia, Bala Wunti, as well as the company’s external auditors, insisting that their attendance is compulsory.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said lawmakers remain dissatisfied with explanations provided by NNPCL regarding the disputed figures, stressing that the queries raised in audit reports require full and detailed clarification.

According to Wadada, the committee rejected what he described as a “blanket explanation” from NNPCL regarding ₦103 trillion categorised as liabilities, noting that the breakdown of the figures was insufficient and lacked transparency.

He explained that the Senate expects detailed clarification on the components of the liabilities, including retention fees, legal fees, and audit fees, with specific amounts attached to each category.

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Wadada further stated that the committee is also demanding clarity on an additional ₦107 trillion reportedly linked to Joint Venture (JV) cash calls and other financial obligations, including funds allegedly associated with defunct banks whose identities were not disclosed.

He said:
“The NNPCL is given an additional two weeks to unfailingly appear before this committee. The deadline for compliance is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.”

Lawmakers also criticised the company’s response to 19 audit queries, describing them as inadequate and failing to meet expectations for public accountability and financial transparency.

Earlier during the session, Senator Abdul Ningi urged the Senate to invoke its constitutional powers to compel compliance, citing repeated failures by key officials to honour legislative invitations.

He warned that the legislature risks undermining its oversight authority if agencies continue to ignore summons, stressing that democratic accountability depends on the strength of parliamentary scrutiny.

The latest development intensifies scrutiny on the oil giant, which has faced increasing public and institutional pressure over financial transparency, revenue management, and audit reconciliation gaps in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The Senate’s directive signals a stronger push for accountability in one of Nigeria’s most sensitive revenue-generating institutions, as lawmakers demand full disclosure of all queried funds.

Senate Summons Kyari, Ojulari Over ₦210 Trillion NNPCL Audit Queries

UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

A 20-year-old student of the University of Lagos has testified before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, detailing allegations of sexual assault against a 53-year-old lecturer, Samuel Obinna Ojogbo.

The case, which is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government, involves two counts of rape and sexual assault, with the student appearing as the first prosecution witness before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.

According to her testimony, the incident allegedly occurred on August 22, 2025, at the university’s Akoka campus after the lecturer invited her to his office following an earlier interaction during an examination the previous day.

The witness told the court that she had initially attempted to meet the lecturer after her exam but was unable to do so until the following day, when she encountered him again near her faculty and accompanied him to his office.

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She described the office as secluded and said that during their interaction, other students briefly entered but were asked to leave by the lecturer.

The student further testified that after the alleged incident, she left in distress and immediately reported the matter, beginning with a friend and later escalating it within the institution.

She said the case was first reported to a lecturer in her department, who contacted her uncle—also a lecturer—before the matter was taken to the Head of Department. However, she indicated that the initial response raised concerns about lack of evidence.

Despite this, the complaint was escalated to the university’s Servicom office, leading to a medical examination at the school’s health centre.

The witness added that she later reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred her to the police. The case was initially handled at Bariga Police Station before being transferred to the Gender Unit for further investigation. She also underwent further evaluation at WARIF.

She told the court that there were attempts by individuals connected to the defendant to resolve the matter outside court, but the case proceeded to trial.

The defendant has denied the allegations.

Justice Ogala adjourned the case to April 27, 2026, for cross-examination, as the UNILAG sexual assault case continues to draw public attention and fuel conversations around campus safety, sexual misconduct, and accountability in Nigerian universities.

UNILAG Lecturer Sexual Assault Trial: Student Testifies in Lagos Court

Grandfather in police net for impregnating granddaughter

The Niger State Child Rights Agency says a 65-year-old grandfather, Musa Gado, is detained in Police custody for allegedly impregnating his 16-year old granddaughter (name withheld).

The Director General of the agency, Hajiya Kaltume Mohammed, made this known to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.

She said that a Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) Test confirmed that Gado, the maternal grandfather of the victim from Mashegu LGA of the state, is the biological father of the four-month-old baby delivered by his granddaughter.

According to the DG, the suspect made several fruitless attempts to abort the pregnancy.

She revealed that the victim’s father, Mr Lawal Nababa, registered a complaint in 2025 for alleged repeated sexual assaults on his daughter by her maternal grandfather.

The director general said at the time the matter was reported at the agency, the victim was six months pregnant and was kept in the agency’s custody until she delivered a baby boy in December 2025.

She said the teenager, whose parents are still alive, was reportedly taken by her maternal grandmother since childhood.

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Mohammed, however, said the suspect had denied responsibility for the act, thus forcing the agency to order the DNA test that was conducted in a laboratory outside Nigeria at a cost of N500,000.

“When the girl was brought to the agency, she was actually six months pregnant. We had to do some medical checkups, and she was kept under the custody of the agency from that time until now.

“She gave birth in December, and we agreed that the only way we could get to the root of the matter and establish the fact was to go for the DNA test, which was agreed by both parties.

“After she gave birth, we waited for her to be strong before we went for the paternity test and within five weeks the result came out, and it was announced that the grandfather was the father of the baby because the result was 99.9999 per cent positive,” she said.

The director general revealed that the suspect, currently in Police custody, would be charged to court after police had completed its investigation.

Mohammed also disclosed that the agency was currently handling six similar cases, including that of a father who had been having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter.

“Child molestation and rape are alarming in the state.

“I assumed office as the DG Niger State Child Rights Agency in November 2025, and honestly, we have had a lot of issues of rape where children were molested by their parents, neighbours and some people within the community.

“Right now, we have six cases we are prosecuting, and the most important one we are handling right now is that of the 16-year-old girl who was impregnated by her grandfather.

“This case was reported to the agency by the father of the girl on 5th October 2025,” she said.

Grandfather in police net for impregnating granddaughter

(NAN)