Oshiomhole alleges Akpabio's daughter got NNPC job outside process, spokesman denies
Adams Oshiomhole, Edo North senator, alleged on Mic On Podcast that Senate President Godswill Akpabio's daughter was employed by NNPC Ltd outside regular recruitment, claiming several influential Nigerians placed relatives in NNPC positions. He made the claim while defending himself during Senate Committee on Public Accounts' investigation into alleged ₦210 trillion discrepancies in NNPC's financial records from 2017-2023.
Oshiomhole argued such employment isn't improper if due process followed, but becomes problematic when relatives get unmerited jobs without proper procedure. He stated he had no evidence for the specific allegation about Akpabio's daughter. Last week, the Senate distanced itself from a committee threat to recommend an arrest warrant against former NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari, ruling only the Senate president can approve such warrants.
When contacted, Akpabio's spokesperson Eseme Eyiboh said under rule of law the burden of proof rests on the accuser, but added for benefit of doubt: 'none of Senator Akpabio's children work in NNPC Ltd or its subsidiaries.' Both men are members of the ruling APC.
The allegation highlights ongoing scrutiny of NNPC governance amid financial investigations. Does this reinforce concerns about merit-based hiring in Nigeria's public institutions, or should such claims require substantiation before impacting public discourse on national resource management?