Senate had inaugurated a 15-man ad hoc committee on July 22, 2024, under the chairmanship of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), to fish out economic saboteurs in the petroleum industry holding the country hostage in the last 10 years.

The committee was also saddled with the responsibility of investigating the billions of dollars spent on turnaround maintenance of refineries within the same period with a view to addressing the deep-seated challenges bedevilling the petroleum industry, among others.

But Senator Bamidele in a statement on Sunday night announced that the public hearing had been put on hold due to “legislative exigencies aimed at further deepening due diligence” and further consultations.

He explained that the ad hoc committee would communicate a new date for the public hearing to all the stakeholders in due course.

“While we deeply regret all inconveniences it may have caused all the stakeholders collectively or individually, this decision was taken purely and solely in the national interest,” Bamidele said.