BY SOLOMON OKPO
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, following his failure to appear before the committee investigating alleged financial discrepancies amounting to ₦210 trillion.
The directive was issued during a committee hearing on Wednesday after lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with Kyari’s repeated absence from proceedings examining audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding NNPCL’s financial records between 2017 and 2023.
The hearing took a dramatic turn when Senator Adams Oshiomhole strongly criticized the national oil company and called for the immediate enforcement of the Senate’s constitutional powers to compel Kyari’s appearance before the committee.
Oshiomhole argued that Kyari, as the former chief executive of the company during the period under review, must personally account for decisions taken under his leadership and could not be represented by proxies.
The senator further urged the committee to issue a warrant for Kyari’s arrest, insisting that public officials must be held accountable regardless of their status. He emphasized that the National Assembly had a constitutional obligation to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Committee Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, subsequently ruled in favour of issuing a warrant to compel the former NNPCL boss to appear before lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Senator Tony Nwoye informed the panel that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany. According to Nwoye, the former NNPCL chief had communicated his health situation and expressed willingness to appear before the committee upon completion of his treatment.
Kyari has also maintained that he was not deliberately avoiding the committee, stating that he had previously informed lawmakers of his medical trip abroad and had not received any fresh invitation before the warrant was issued.
However, the committee proceeded with its decision, insisting that the investigation must continue without delay.
During the hearing, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, rejected claims that funds were missing from the company’s accounts. He described the disputed figures as issues arising from accounting interpretations rather than evidence of missing money.
The Senate’s investigation stems from 19 audit queries raised against NNPCL by the Auditor-General’s office. Lawmakers say the ongoing probe is aimed at establishing accountability and ensuring transparency in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.
The latest development marks a significant escalation in the Senate’s scrutiny of NNPCL operations and could have far-reaching implications for accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as the investigation progresses.
