Senate Orders Arrest of Ex-NNPC Boss Mele Kyari Over N210tn Query

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, over his failure to appear before the panel investigating allegations of N210 trillion in unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.

 

The directive was issued on Wednesday after Kyari failed to honour repeated invitations by the committee probing queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the company’s financial records during the period under review.

 

The committee’s decision followed a debate among lawmakers over whether to grant the former NNPCL boss another opportunity to appear before the panel.

 

Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) appealed for leniency, citing reports that Kyari was receiving medical treatment in Germany.

 

However, several committee members opposed further delays, insisting that the investigation must continue.

 

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) argued that claims of illness should be supported with documentary evidence, while Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) moved a motion for Kyari’s arrest.

 

Seconding the motion, the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), said the panel could no longer afford delays.

 

“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,” Nwaebonyi said.

 

“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.”

 

Also speaking, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) said the Senate must enforce compliance with its summons to preserve its authority.

 

“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,” he said.

 

Following a voice vote, Committee Chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North) directed that Kyari be arrested and brought before the committee.

 

“Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” Dankwambo declared.

 

Meanwhile, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, challenged the allegation that N210 trillion was unaccounted for, describing the figure as misleading and inconsistent with the company’s financial records.

 

According to him, NNPCL generated approximately N54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, making claims of N210 trillion missing funds implausible.

 

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

 

“N210tn is an enormous sum. NNPC’s total revenue in the period under review was about N54.5tn, even before deducting production costs. It’s impossible for N210tn to be missing or unaccounted for.”

 

Isa also dismissed allegations that N5.8 billion was spent on registering NNPC Limited, describing the claim as inaccurate and urging the committee to verify the information with relevant agencies.

 

He warned that unverified allegations could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and affect investor confidence.

 

The committee subsequently directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to reappear before it within two weeks as the investigation continues.