The simmering controversy surrounding the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) took a dramatic turn at the Senate last week as Senator Adams Oshiomhole openly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of having a personal interest in the affairs of the state oil company, alleging that his daughter secured employment in the corporation through the influence of former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
The explosive accusation emerged during the Senate’s ongoing probe into disputed financial entries amounting to over ₦210 trillion in NNPCL’s audited accounts spanning 2017 to 2023. The investigation has become one of the most contentious oversight exercises in recent legislative history, with lawmakers demanding explanations over alleged irregularities in the oil giant’s books.
Tensions escalated after former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, reportedly suggested during proceedings that public officials often seek employment opportunities for their children and associates in the company. Oshiomhole reacted furiously, accusing NNPCL officials of attempting to blackmail lawmakers instead of addressing questions about the disputed funds.
According to reports from the proceedings, Oshiomhole told the Senate that lawmakers themselves had been accused of securing jobs for their children in NNPCL.
He said:
“You were accused of nominating your children for positions at NNPC, and here we are asking questions about ₦210 trillion.”
The former Edo State governor reportedly directed his remarks at Senate President Akpabio and other lawmakers, insisting that such allegations were meant to intimidate the Senate and divert attention from the ongoing investigation.
Oshiomhole was even more direct in his criticism of the oil company, declaring:
“NNPC has no reputation; your reputation is for fraud.”
He further stated:
“I heard you saying that people want their children to be employed in NNPC; that is because it is a house of thieves and they want their children to benefit from it.”
At another point during the heated exchange, Oshiomhole described NNPCL officials as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” remarks that immediately sparked outrage on the Senate floor and forced repeated interventions by the committee chairman to restore order.
The Edo North senator also defended his comments, insisting that he spoke under provocation after lawmakers were accused of using their offices to obtain jobs for relatives.
“Now, about my use of the word ‘thieves,’ I acted under provocation because your distinguished members were being attacked unjustly. And I thought I had a duty to defend all of us,” Oshiomhole said.
He added:
“May God punish me any time I knowingly allow my responsibility to be compromised by people who think they have money.”
The allegations against Akpabio became even more politically sensitive after reports emerged that Oshiomhole specifically alleged that the Senate President’s daughter had secured a lucrative position in NNPCL through the influence of former GCEO Mele Kyari rather than through a transparent merit-based process. As of press time, neither Akpabio nor Kyari had publicly responded to the specific claim.
The full Senate later distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s remarks. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion clarifying that descriptions of NNPCL officials as criminals or thieves represented Oshiomhole’s personal views and not the official position of the Red Chamber. The Senate also nullified a committee’s recommendation for the arrest of Mele Kyari, insisting that only the Senate President possesses such authority under the law.
The unfolding drama has further intensified public scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations and deepened concerns over transparency, political influence, and accountability in Nigeria’s most strategic public enterprise as lawmakers continue to probe the disputed ₦210 trillion entries in the company’s accounts.