The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has requested more time to review the 19 audit queries over the unaccounted sum of N210trn saga.
He recently revealed that he needs more time to conduct a proper investigation that will reveal the truth of the matter.
Speaking during a session with the Senate, Ojulari said that he is just over 100 days in office as the GCEO of NNPCL; therefore, he hasn’t had enough time to properly dig into the matter and establish the facts.
According to him, he needs more days to set up a team of external auditors that will work on ensuring the details are properly reconciled to aid the provision of answers to all of the queries.
Bayo stated that the fact that the investigation is happening amid a major national assignment has made it hard for him to focus.
“I’m just over 100 days in office as the GCEO of NNPCL. I still need time to do further digging, given the perspectives I have heard now into the issues. This is coming in the midst of a huge national assignment.
Your explanation now changes my perspective about the issues. I need to understand the issues myself so I can respond appropriately. I will get a team and please get the details properly reconciled so we can work to provide answers to the queries.
In doing this, I will surely engage the external auditors and other relevant groups,” he said.
Despite requesting 4 weeks, the committee settled for 3, saying it would be more than enough to prepare NNPCL’s defence.
Speaking on the saga, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) said, “One thing that must be stated clearly is that we need transparency, and NNPCL is in possession of Nigeria’s economic prosperity.”
“There is need for the NNPCL management team to look into the issues raised since governance is a continuum. The issues are germane and critical,” Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North West) added.
