The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, following his failure to appear before the panel investigating audit queries relating to the company’s finances between 2017 and 2023.

The committee is examining issues raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation concerning alleged financial discrepancies and audit observations involving the NNPCL during the period under review.

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Kyari’s absence from the hearing sparked intense debate among members of the committee, with some lawmakers urging caution while others pushed for stronger action.

Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye appealed to the committee to grant the former NNPCL chief additional time to honour the invitation.

The lawmakers argued that Kyari was reportedly undergoing medical treatment in Germany and should be allowed another opportunity to appear before the committee.

However, following deliberations, the committee chairman, Ibrahim Dankwambo, put the matter to a voice vote.

After the vote, Dankwambo directed that the former NNPCL chief be arrested and brought before the committee.

“Wherever Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” the chairman declared.

Former NNPCL CFO Rejects Missing ₦210 Trillion Allegation

Meanwhile, former Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, appeared before the committee and strongly rejected claims that ₦210 trillion was missing or unaccounted for during the tenure of the previous management.

According to Ajiya, the allegation was not only inaccurate but mathematically impossible when compared with the company’s total revenue during the period under investigation.

He told lawmakers that NNPCL generated approximately ₦54.5 trillion in total revenue between 2017 and 2023, making the claim of a missing ₦210 trillion inconsistent with available financial records.

“To be clear, if money had gone missing at NNPC during our tenure, we would not have had the courage to publish audited accounts,” Ajiya stated.

He further noted that the publication of audited financial statements represented a significant departure from past practices, pointing out that for decades such accounts were either unavailable, unpublished, or not submitted to relevant authorities.

The committee’s investigation remains ongoing as lawmakers seek explanations regarding the audit observations and financial records submitted by the national oil company.

The outcome of the probe is expected to draw significant public attention, given the strategic role of NNPCL in Nigeria’s economy and the importance of transparency in the management of public resources.

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