- Senate Orders Arrest Of Mele Kyari Over Alleged ₦210tn Audit Queries
- Committee is investigating 19 audit queries against NNPCL.
- Former CFO dismissed claims that ₦210 trillion was missing.
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 alleged discrepancies in the company’s financial records.
The committee is probing 19 audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation against the NNPCL, covering the period between 2017 and 2023. Central to the investigation is an alleged ₦210 trillion that lawmakers say requires clarification.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Kyari’s absence at the hearing on Wednesday sparked a debate among committee members. While some senators appealed for more time, others insisted the committee could no longer delay its work.
Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye urged the committee to consider reports that Kyari was receiving medical treatment in Germany and allow him another opportunity to appear.
However, several lawmakers rejected the appeal, arguing that no official documents had been submitted to support the claim of ill health.
Senator Abdul Ningi maintained that verbal explanations were insufficient, while Senator Victor Umeh moved a motion for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former NNPCL boss.
Supporting the motion, the committee’s deputy chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, said the panel had held multiple sittings without Kyari’s appearance.
“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 queries raised against the NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation,” Nwaebonyi said.
Following a voice vote, Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo directed that Kyari be arrested and brought before the panel.
Meanwhile, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, dismissed claims that ₦210 trillion was missing under the company’s previous management.
According to him, NNPCL generated about ₦54.5 trillion in total revenue during the period under review, making it impossible for ₦210 trillion to be unaccounted for.
Ajiya also rejected allegations that ₦5.8 billion was spent to register NNPC Limited, describing the claim as false and damaging.
The committee subsequently directed Ajiya and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to reappear in two weeks as investigations continue.
