Public Accounts Committee threatens legislative action against companies that fail to honour summons.
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has given Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria Limited and two 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 (NEITI).
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, warned that failure to honour the invitation could lead to the invocation of the National Assembly’s legislative powers.
The decision followed the companies’ failure to appear before the committee to answer questions arising from the NEITI reports.
Senator Abdul Ningi called for sanctions against the affected companies, describing a letter from Network E&P Nigeria Limited to the committee as “disturbing and provocative.”
The company reportedly argued that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was the regulatory body to which it was accountable.
Ningi, however, said the Senate had constitutional powers to summon individuals, companies and government agencies to provide explanations on matters under investigation.
He cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to summon persons or agencies in connection with investigations.
Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan also backed the call for sanctions, urging the committee to exercise its constitutional powers against the companies that failed to honour its invitations.
Consequently, the committee directed the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before it on Thursday, warning that failure to comply would attract legislative sanctions.
Similar directives were issued to the Managing Directors of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy following their absence from the proceedings.