The Senate Public Accounts Committee has given Seplat Energy, Network E and P Nigeria, All Grace Energy and Aradel Energy 48 hours to appear before it over issues raised in Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative audit reports.
The committee said the companies were required to respond to queries contained in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 audits.
Chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo warned that continued failure to honour the committee’s invitations could lead to the use of the National Assembly’s constitutional enforcement powers.
Network E and P came under particular criticism after allegedly failing to appear on two previous occasions.
Lawmakers rejected the company’s argument that its regulatory relationship was primarily with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, insisting that the National Assembly had constitutional authority to summon companies and individuals during investigations.
Similar ultimatums were issued to the other affected companies after their representatives did not appear at the hearing.
Dubri Oil Company, which attended the proceedings, disputed a reported liability of about $3.03 million relating to gas flaring and oil production royalties.
The company said the figures arose from a reconciliation dispute with the upstream regulator that had since been resolved.
Documents were submitted to the committee, which said it would review them before deciding whether the company had any outstanding obligation.
The hearings form part of wider Senate scrutiny of revenue payments and financial discrepancies identified in extractive industry audits.
