NEITI Report: Senate Gives Seplat, Network E&P, Two Others 48 Hours to Appear

The Senate has given Seplat Energy, Network E&P Nigeria Limited and two other oil companies 48 hours to appear before its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The other companies affected by the ultimatum are All Grace Energy Limited and Aradel Energy Limited.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, issued the ultimatum on Tuesday following the failure of the companies to honour previous invitations to explain issues raised against them in the NEITI reports.

The Senate warned that failure to appear within the stipulated period would trigger the invocation of its constitutional legislative powers.

The committee’s action followed a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), who expressed concern over a letter reportedly written by Network E&P Nigeria Limited stating that it was accountable to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Ningi described the position as disturbing and provocative, arguing that the National Assembly has constitutional powers to summon individuals, companies and government agencies to explain issues under investigation.

“The Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, is the custodian of Nigeria law that has power to invite anybody or agency for explanations on issues raised against them,” he said.

Supporting Ningi’s position, Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan (Borno Central) called for the invocation of the Senate’s constitutional powers against the companies that failed to appear before the committee.

The chairman subsequently directed the Managing Director of Network E&P Nigeria Limited to appear before the committee unfailingly on Thursday or face further legislative action.

“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,” the chairman said.

Similar 48-hour ultimatums were issued to the Managing Directors of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy after the committee noted their absence.

Dubri Oil disputes $3.025m debt

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

According to the NEITI report, based on submissions made by NUPRC in 2025, Dubri Oil was said to be indebted to the government to the tune of $3.025 million.

The alleged liability comprises $2.378 million in gas flare-related debt and $646,605.55 in oil production royalty.

However, a representative of Dubri Oil, Soyode Olusoji Clement, disputed the figures, explaining that the liability arose from a reconciliation issue between the company and NUPRC at the time the report was compiled.

He told the committee that the reconciliation issue had subsequently been resolved and that no outstanding debt remained against the company.

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

The committee said it would critically examine the documents before determining whether Dubri Oil should be cleared of the liability.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee is currently examining the NEITI audit reports as part of its oversight responsibility over Nigeria’s extractive sector and government revenues from oil and gas operations.