By James Adamu
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over his failure to appear before an investigative hearing concerning alleged unaccounted funds totaling N210tn between 2017 and 2023.
The dramatic directive came on Wednesday after lawmakers grew frustrated with Kyari’s repeated absence from the probe, which stems from queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the company’s financial records during the period under review.
While some senators urged leniency, arguing that Kyari was reportedly ill and receiving treatment in Germany, the majority insisted that patience had worn thin.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor, delivered a blistering rebuke, declaring: “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.”
Committee Chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North) ultimately ruled after a voice vote: “Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee.”
The motion for the arrest was formally moved by Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and seconded by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), who revealed the extent of the committee’s frustration.
“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 warned, adding that further delay would undermine the committee’s work.
However, in a dramatic twist during the same sitting, former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, appeared and categorically rejected the allegations, insisting no funds were missing.
“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 told the committee.
He further dismissed the N210tn figure as mathematically inconsistent with the company’s actual earnings, stating: “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 warned that such unfounded claims could harm Nigeria’s international standing, noting: “International rating agencies use public information to assess countries. Negative, inaccurate reports can hurt Nigeria’s credit rating and our national interests.”
The committee has directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer Bala Wunti to reappear within two weeks as the investigation continues, while security agencies are now expected to locate and produce Kyari before the panel.
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