The Senate Tuesday through its Public Accounts Committee, gave Seplat Energy, Network E & P Nigeria Limited and two other  oil companies, 48 hours to appear before it to answer queries raised against them in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audit reports presented by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The two other oil companies given similar 48 hours ultimatum for appearance or risk invocation of legislative powers against them are All Grace Energy Limited and Aradel Energy Limited.

But  Dubri Oil Company Limited, that appeared before the committee, defended  the $’3.025 million royalty and gas flare debts recorded against it in the audit report.

The 48-hour ultimatum against the affected four oil companies followed the resolution adopted to that effect by the Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo-led committee in line with displeasures expressed by some of its members.

First to call for sanction against the erring oil companies was Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), who described the letter written by Network E & P Nigeria Limited to the committee that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is the regulatory body it reports to, as disturbing and provocative.

The Senate, according to him as provided for in sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution, can invite anybody or agency. 

“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.

In supporting Ningi, Senator Shehu Kaka Lawan (Borno Central) called for invocation of constitutional powers against management of the affected agencies which made the chairman to issue 48 hours ultimatum for appearance against the Managing Director of Network E & P Nigeria Limited.

“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.

Similar ultimatums were also issued against Managing Directors of All Grace Energy Limited, Aradel Energy Limited and Seplat Energy when when their absence was noted by the committee.

But  Dubri Oil that appeared, rejected the $3.025million royalty and gas flare debts  recorded against it.

NEITI in the report alleged that as submitted by NUPRC in 2025 that Dubri Oil owes $3.025 million debt, which include $2.378 million debt for gas flare and $646, 605.55 for oil production.

The query was however faulted  by representative of Dubri Oil , Soyode Olusoji Clement who said the report was compiled when the oil company had reconciliation issue with NUPRC.

The reconciliation problem between Dubri oil and NUPRC according to him, has however been resolved without any debt hanging on Dubri Oil.

He presented documents to that effect to the committee, which according to the committee, would be studied critically before issuance of clean bill of health.