- Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye urged the committee to allow him another opportunity to honour the invitation
- Umar Isa challenged claims that over N210 trillion could not be accounted for in the company’s records
- He stated that NNPCL generated approximately N54.5 trillion during the years being investigated
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 issues raised in the company’s audited accounts.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the committee issued the directive during its sitting on Wednesday after expressing dissatisfaction with Kyari’s continued absence from hearings examining financial queries contained in reports submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
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Lawmakers said the investigation, which focuses on NNPCL’s financial activities between 2017 and 2023, could no longer be delayed due to repeated non-appearance by key officials linked to the period under review.
Some members of the panel appealed for patience, citing reports that the former NNPCL boss was undergoing medical treatment abroad.
Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye urged the committee to allow him another opportunity to honour the invitation.
Their position, however, failed to convince the majority of committee members, who maintained that no official medical records had been presented to justify his absence.
Senator Abdul Ningi questioned the reliance on verbal explanations, insisting that the committee should act based on verifiable evidence. The call for stronger action gained momentum after Senator Victor Umeh proposed that Kyari be compelled to appear before the committee through an arrest warrant.
Backing the proposal, the committee’s deputy chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, noted that the panel had already devoted several sessions to the matter and needed to conclude its work.
According to him, lawmakers had spent months reviewing numerous audit observations concerning NNPCL and could not continue postponing proceedings indefinitely.
Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, also supported the move, arguing that the National Assembly must enforce compliance with its directives regardless of the status of those involved.
Following deliberations, committee chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo announced the panel’s decision, directing that Kyari be brought before lawmakers to answer questions relating to the ongoing probe.
Meanwhile, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Umar Isa challenged claims that over N210 trillion could not be accounted for in the company’s records.
Appearing before the committee, Isa described the figure as unrealistic, arguing that it exceeded the company’s total revenue within the period under scrutiny.
He stated that NNPCL generated approximately N54.5 trillion during the years being investigated, making allegations of N210 trillion in missing funds impossible from a financial standpoint.
Isa further defended the company’s record-keeping practices, noting that audited financial statements were published during their tenure, a development he said reflected transparency rather than concealment.
The former finance chief also disputed allegations that N5.8 billion was spent on the registration process that transformed NNPC into a limited liability company, urging lawmakers to verify the information with relevant authorities.
He warned that inaccurate public claims about the company could damage investor confidence and negatively affect Nigeria’s reputation in the international financial community.
Isa called for a thorough investigation by relevant anti-corruption and intelligence agencies to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and reassure Nigerians of the integrity of the process.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to return for further questioning within two weeks as the investigation continues.
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