Senate Probe: Bauchi Youths Insist On Accountability In NNPCL’s N210trn Audit Case

The Bauchi Youth 19 Group (Yan Shatara) has charged the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, to compel former chief upstream investment officer, Bala Wunti, to honour its invitation over allegations linking him to the reported unaccounted N210 trillion controversy involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

At a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, the group’s chairman, Comrade Jaafar Saleh, said the call was in the interest of transparency and public accountability.

“At a time when Nigerians are demanding integrity in leadership, anyone seeking public office must be open to scrutiny, especially when serious allegations have been raised,” he said.

Saleh stressed that the group was not declaring anyone guilty but warned that delays or inaction could erode public confidence in key institutions.

“We are not here to pronounce guilt. However, ignoring or delaying action on such matters will only weaken public trust in our institutions,” he added.

The group urged the Senate committee to invite Wunti without delay, insisting that the process must be transparent, credible and its findings made public.

It also called on political parties, particularly the APC, to ensure that their screening processes reflect integrity and responsibility.

“Public office must not be seen as a shield from accountability. It is a position of trust and service,” he said.

The group further appealed to civil society organisations, the media, and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and committed to promoting transparency and good governance.

“We will continue to engage relevant authorities in the interest of justice and the future of Bauchi State,” Saleh said.

LEADERSHIP reports that after a series of failed appearances before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to explain the yet-to-be accounted for N210 trillion in the audit reports of NNPCL from 2017 to 2023, members of its immediate past management reached out to the committee on Wednesday.

The Wadada-led committee, however, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the group chief executive officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, if he fails to appear before it on May 13, 2026, for a rescheduled investigative session with the affected officials.

At the session on Wednesday, the immediate past chief finance officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajia, appeared in person and submitted copies of the audit reports containing queries on the unaccounted N210 trillion after being placed under oath.

Although the immediate past GCEO of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and the former chief upstream investment officer, Bala Wunti, did not attend the session physically, they reached out to the committee by phone to indicate their readiness to appear