• Kamaluddeen Funsho Adisa IBRAHIM
• SYLVESTER ONYEKACHI ADEMU
• Chinwe Genevive ONUOHA

Abstract This study did investigate Audit Committee Qualities and Financial Statement Fraud (FSFRAUD) Abatement in Listed Nigerian Oil and Gas Firms. The study’s research design is ex post facto because it were employed secondary data were already available. The population of the study was nine (9) oil and gas firms listed on the floor of Nigerian Exchange Group. The same was taken as the sample size due to the fact the number is small. The purposive sampling technique was exploited during the period of deriving sample size. The types of data utilised were secondary, which were obtained from the audited annual reports and accounts of the nine (9) oil and gas firms listed on the floor of Nigerian Exchange Group for the period under investigation. The period covered was from 2020 to 2024. This researched work applied Multiple Regression Model as the method of data analyses in addition to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (S.P.S.S.) version 27. Examination of the results revealed that: Audit Committee Size (ACSIZE) insignificantly and positively affects MSCORE; association between Audit Committee Meeting Frequency (ACMTNF) and MSCORE is a significant positive relationship; Audit committee gender diversity (ACGEND) associates significantly, but negative with MSCORE; Audit committee ethnic diversity (ACETHD) has a significant positive influence on FSFRAUD abatement represented by MSCORE. As for Audit Committee Competence (ACOMPT), it reveals insignificant negative relationship with MSCORE. Audit Committee Independence (ACINDP) does significantly and impact on MSCORE. Audit Committee Tenure (ACTENU) has significant negative relationship with MSCORE. In line with the above results, the study recommends accordingly that; ACMTNF, ACETHD, ACINDP should be upheld for their substantial positive effect on financial statement fraud abatement, closer attention and care should therefore be taken if ACGEND and ACTENU should be taken into firms’ corporate governance since their statistical outcomes reveal significant negative effect on FSFRAUD abatement. Considerably, as for ACSIZE and ACOMPT, insofar their impacts are insignificant, their inclusion and practice should be kept under close monitoring for a time being.

Fraud, Audit committee, Financial statement, M-score, Corporate governance.

"AUDIT COMMITTEE QUALITIES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FRAUD ABATEMENT IN LISTED NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS FIRMS.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no.g635-g654, May-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505765.pdf

"AUDIT COMMITTEE QUALITIES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FRAUD ABATEMENT IN LISTED NIGERIAN OIL AND GAS FIRMS.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no. ppg635-g654, May-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505765.pdf