The North Central Zonal Coordinator of the Association of Northern Nigerian Students (ANNS), Comrade Sagir A. Sardauna, has called for the immediate reversal of Dr. Bala Wunti’s appointment as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the World Energy Council Nigeria, pending a transparent investigation into unresolved controversies linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Sardauna, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the appointment could further undermine public confidence in government institutions and send what he described as a “dangerous and demoralising” message to Nigerian youths.
According to him, Wunti’s name featured alongside that of former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajia, and other officials in proceedings relating to audit queries involving figures totalling about ₦210 trillion.
The figure reportedly consists of approximately ₦103 trillion in accrued expenses and liabilities and another ₦107 trillion in sundry receivables contained in NNPCL-related audit queries covering the 2017–2023 period.
ANNS, however, acknowledged that the ₦210 trillion figure does not, by itself, establish that the money was stolen, missing or misappropriated.
The association noted that Wunti and other officials had appeared before the Senate Public Accounts Committee and provided explanations regarding the figures, including arguments that the amounts represented accounting entries rather than missing cash.
It nevertheless insisted that Nigerians deserved a clear, conclusive and publicly accessible account of the issues raised by the audit queries.
“While Dr. Wunti and others have appeared before the Senate and offered explanations framing the sum as a misinterpretation of accounting entries rather than missing cash, no final, conclusive public findings, indictment, or clearance have been issued by the Senate or any anti-graft agency to date,” the statement said.
Sardauna said the absence of publicly available closure on the matter had continued to raise questions about accountability, particularly when individuals associated with such controversies were subsequently considered for strategic national and international positions.
“Nigeria cannot continue to normalise appointments that ignore public concerns and unresolved allegations of this magnitude,” he said.
“Our country is bleeding from corruption, and citizens — especially the youth — are losing hope.”
The student leader called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to thoroughly investigate the issues surrounding the ₦210 trillion NNPCL audit queries and publish their findings.
He further demanded prosecution if evidence of wrongdoing is established.
“We demand that the EFCC and ICPC go deeply into the ₦210 trillion NNPCL case involving Dr. Bala Wunti and the others, publish their findings, and prosecute where necessary,” Sardauna said.
“Anything less is a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
ANNS also urged President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government and the World Energy Council Nigeria to review Wunti’s appointment, arguing that strategic positions within the country’s energy sector should be occupied by individuals whose records are not clouded by unresolved allegations.
The association warned that the controversy could have implications beyond Wunti himself, particularly in relation to the confidence of young Nigerians in the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible leadership.
Sardauna said the student body was prepared to mobilise Nigerians for peaceful protests if its demands were not addressed.
He added that ANNS would organise an international press conference if the government failed either to reverse the appointment or provide what it described as “clear, verifiable validity and closure” on the allegations through transparent investigation and due process.
“We stand ready to escalate this matter until accountability is served,” Sardauna said.
The statement was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, the EFCC Chairman, the ICPC Chairman, the National Security Adviser, the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, the President of the Senate, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the Inspector-General of Police.
However, the statement did not provide evidence that Wunti had been indicted or convicted of any financial crime.
Rather, ANNS called for the relevant authorities to investigate the issues raised, establish the facts and make their findings public.
Until such findings are released, the ₦210 trillion figure remains an audit-related controversy and should not, on its own, be interpreted as proof that Wunti or any other named official stole or misappropriated ₦210 trillion.