By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
The Senate’s Public Accounts Committee has decided to invoke the law against Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), should be refuse to appear before it on February 4, 2025.
This threat comes after Zabbey’s seventh consecutive absence from the committee’s hearings. The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project had received $360 million for the clean-up of polluted Ogoni land in the Niger Delta.
Committee Chairman Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed expressed frustration over Zabbey’s behavior, emphasizing that his appearance before the committee is mandatory. The Senate is determined to ensure accountability and transparency in the utilization of funds for the Ogoni clean-up project.
Reiterating the need to serve him warrant of arrest should he continue to treat the committee’s invitation with disregard, they expressed disappointment and concern over the persistent refusal of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) Coordinator to appear before it. Despite multiple invitations, the Coordinator has failed to honor them, citing late requests for rescheduling.
The Committee seeks explanations on various issues, including appropriations, utilization of funds, and tax remittances. With the Coordinator’s seventh failure to appear, the Committee has given him an ultimatum to appear on February 4, 2025, or risk being compelled to do so through constitutional provisions.