Oshiomhole Calls NNPCL “House of Thieves,” Sparks Senate Tension

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and representative of Edo North, on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, describing the oil giant as a “house of thieves” amid fresh allegations of nepotism and financial impropriety.

Oshiomhole made the remark during a heated session of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which is currently probing alleged mismanagement involving trillions of naira within the oil corporation.

The session reportedly took a dramatic turn following claims by a former Chief Financial Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Umar Aliya, who suggested that some top officials had been lobbying for the employment of their children within the organisation.

Reacting angrily to the revelation, Oshiomhole accused the national oil firm of having a deeply compromised institutional culture, alleging that corruption had become so entrenched that beneficiaries now seek to extend advantages to their families.

“I heard you saying that people want their children to be employed in NNPC. That is because it is a house of thieves and they want their children to benefit from it. NNPC has no reputation; your reputation is for fraud,” the senator said.

The comment immediately sparked tension in the chamber, with lawmakers divided over the appropriateness of the remark, even as the hearing continued to examine issues bordering on transparency, contract administration, and financial accountability within the oil company.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee has recently intensified scrutiny of Senate Public Accounts Committee over alleged irregularities said to run into trillions of naira, as part of broader legislative oversight of key revenue-generating agencies.

Oshiomhole’s outburst has since ignited widespread reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians applauding his bluntness while others criticised the sweeping nature of his accusation against a strategic national institution.

The controversy adds to longstanding public concerns over governance, accountability, and transparency in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, where the NNPCL has repeatedly faced allegations of opaque financial dealings and weak institutional controls.

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