The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to ensure full transparency in the on-going investigation into allegations that about ₦200 trillion is missing or unaccounted for from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, SERAP said: We’ve urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to direct the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee to publish the names and designations of all officials implicated in the alleged ₦200 trillion missing or unaccounted for from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), regardless of their social or political status.”
The organisation also asked for wider disclosure of details surrounding the probe, including documents and timelines.
It added, “we also urged him to direct the Committee to widely disclose details of the on-going investigation, including audit reports, financial records, and official communications relied upon by the Committee, as well as the timelines for when any implicated officials should appear before it and for the conclusion of the investigation.”
The Senate’s Public Accounts Committee is currently probing claims that trillions of naira may have disappeared from NNPCL accounts between 2017 and 2023.
Lawmakers have reportedly flagged discrepancies, including unreconciled figures and missing documentation, while noting that several officials have either failed to appear before the panel or have not provided satisfactory explanations.
SERAP noted in its demand that openness is critical to public trust in the process.
It insisted that, “full disclosure of the ongoing investigation is essential to ensure transparency and accountability, prevent political interference, and allow Nigerians to independently scrutinise the facts and investigation.”
It added that the seriousness of the allegation requires clarity, noting that, “the allegations that ₦200 trillion is missing or unaccounted for, whether fully accurate or partly overstated, can only be taken seriously by Nigerians if the Senate is fully transparent in its ongoing investigation regarding the credibility, plausibility, and accuracy of the claims.”
The body further warned that secrecy could undermine confidence in the probe.
It stated that, “transparency regarding the ongoing investigation would prevent any perception of a cover-up or political compromise, and ensure that the facts are clearly established.”
SERAP emphasised that providing verifiable information would enable the public and oversight bodies to objectively assess the claims and determine the truth.
Highlighting the scale of the allegation, SERAP said the issue demands urgency and impartiality, pointing to NNPCL’s history of limited transparency.
It cautioned that allowing the matter to be delayed or politicised could erode accountability, stressing that ignoring such claims “risks normalising impunity and diminishes the public’s right to know how national wealth is being managed.”
