The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has directed the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following his repeated failure to appear before lawmakers investigating audit queries linked to the company’s accounts.
The decision was reached during a hearing examining issues raised in reports submitted by the Auditor-General for the Federation. Committee members expressed concern that Kyari had consistently failed to honour invitations issued to him to clarify matters contained in the audit reports.
Leading the call for decisive action, Senator Adams Oshiomhole urged the committee to enforce its powers and uphold the authority of the National Assembly.
According to Oshiomhole, public officials must not be allowed to disregard legislative summons without consequences.
“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,” the senator stated.
He further pressed the committee to issue an arrest warrant immediately, insisting that Kyari could not delegate responsibility for actions taken during his tenure as NNPCL chief executive.
“His responsibility is to account for his actions as MD. He can’t be represented in that capacity,” Oshiomhole said.
Following deliberations, the committee adopted the motion and ordered that Kyari be brought before lawmakers.
Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo ruled that the former NNPCL boss should be arrested and produced before the panel without delay.
“We hereby rule that anywhere Mele Kyari is, the former group GCEO, should be arrested and brought before the committee immediately,” Dankwambo declared.
However, Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany.
“I spoke to Mele Kyari about a week ago. He promised that he would be here. But incidentally, I learned last night that the man is hospitalised in Germany,” Nwoye said.
The hearing also featured submissions from former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya, who dismissed allegations that funds were missing from the company’s accounts.
“There is no money missing. The report is inaccurate,” Ajiya told the committee, explaining that the figures under scrutiny were accounting entries that had been misinterpreted.
Tensions rose at several points during the session as lawmakers questioned former NNPCL officials. Dankwambo repeatedly intervened to restore order, stressing that the committee’s mandate was to review audit findings and obtain explanations for the figures contained in the reports.
Also appearing before the panel was former Chief Upstream Investment Officer Bala Wunti, who maintained that he had not received any formal invitation from the committee.
“As of today, I have not received any formal invite from this committee. We are public officers. We are ready to be held accountable for our actions,” Wunti said.
The committee subsequently granted Wunti two weeks to study the audit report and submit a detailed response.
