The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, after he failed to appear before lawmakers investigating allegations involving N210 trillion in questioned transactions linked to the company’s operations between 2017 and 2023.
The decision was taken on Wednesday following Kyari’s continued absence from an investigative hearing examining audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation regarding NNPCL’s financial records during the period under review.
The committee is currently scrutinising 19 audit queries relating to the state-owned oil company’s accounts and financial activities.
During the hearing, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Umar Isa rejected suggestions that N210 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts.
According to him, the widely reported figure does not accurately reflect the company’s financial position and has been misinterpreted.
Isa maintained that the amount reflected transactions and financial movements within the company’s operations rather than unaccounted funds.
Despite appeals from some lawmakers seeking additional time for the former NNPCL chief executive to appear before the committee, members ultimately resolved to proceed with the investigation and issue a warrant for his arrest.
Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye had urged the committee to exercise patience, citing reports that Kyari was currently receiving medical treatment in Germany.
However, several committee members opposed further delays.
Senator Abdul Ningi argued that claims regarding Kyari’s health status should be supported by official medical documentation rather than informal reports.
The motion for the arrest warrant was subsequently moved by Senator Victor Umeh and received support from other members of the committee.
Backing the decision, the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, said lawmakers could no longer afford repeated postponements.
“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 queries raised against NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, three of which were chaired by me.
“Mr Chairman, the time to issue a warrant of arrest against Mele Kyari is now because the committee must conclude its assignment and report back to the Senate,” Nwaebonyi stated.
Former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, also supported the move, stressing the importance of preserving the National Assembly’s authority.
According to him, repeatedly allowing individuals to ignore legislative summonses without consequences would undermine the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
“Some people believe they are bigger than Nigeria. The law must be effective when it catches the lion, not only when it catches the rabbit,” Oshiomhole declared.
The development marks a significant escalation in the Senate’s ongoing investigation into NNPCL’s financial records and operations during the years under review.
The committee is expected to continue its examination of the audit queries as lawmakers seek clarification on several financial transactions highlighted by the Auditor General’s office.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Mele Kyari nor his representatives had publicly responded to the committee’s decision.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the Senate committee is expected to present its findings and recommendations to the full Senate upon completion of its assignment.
