Thus, the Nigerian Senate has pardoned the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, after deliberation and allowed him to face the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
Earlier, the Senate had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against Prof. Zabbey for failing to appear before the committee to provide updates on the progress of the Ogoniland cleanup.
However, appearing before the committee, Prof. Zabbey explained that his absence was due to his participation in COP30 and other pressing commitments related to his official duties.
Therefore, in responding Senator Abdullahi Ningi (Bauchi Central) and other committee members accepted his apology, acknowledging the gravity of the issue but stressing the need to allow progress for the good of the nation.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada ( Nasarawa West), has issued a stern warning to several critical agencies over their failure to respond to audit queries from the Office of the Accountant General documents.
Among the agencies at risk of facing arrest warrants are the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) led by Zach Adedeji, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headed by Mele Kyari, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Yemi Cardoso, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service.
Senator Wadada declared that the line has been drawn, stressing the committee’s determination to enforce accountability and transparency across key government agencies. .
