Senate has ordered for the arrest of Former NNPC Boss Mele Kyari over his failure to appear in N210 trillion audit probe.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, over his alleged failure to honour multiple invitations related to an ongoing audit investigation involving N210 trillion.
The arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday during the committee’s resumed hearing into audit queries arising from reports submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation covering expenditures by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) between 2017 and 2023.
ALSO: NUPRC Sets June 12 Deadline for Final Bids in 2025 Oil Block Licensing Round
The committee had invited the leadership of NNPC Limited to appear before lawmakers and respond to concerns raised in the audit report. Current NNPC Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, was expected to lead the company’s delegation, alongside former Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajia, Bala Wunti, Mele Kyari, and the firm’s external auditors.
However, lawmakers expressed frustration after Kyari failed to appear before the committee.
Moving a motion for the issuance of a warrant of arrest, Senator Victor Umeh said Kyari’s continued absence demonstrated a lack of respect for the Senate’s oversight responsibilities.
“We cannot wait for him to appear before us at his convenience,” Umeh said. “This is a national emergency. He should return to Nigeria from wherever he is and explain the issues raised by the Auditor-General concerning NNPC Limited.”
The senator stressed that the investigation involved trillions of naira and that Nigerians deserved answers regarding the management of public funds.
“We are talking about trillions of naira. The country is facing serious financial challenges. He must come and explain what happened to these funds,” Umeh added.
However, Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that he had spoken with Kyari about a week earlier and that the former NNPC chief had assured him of his willingness to appear before lawmakers.
According to Nwoye, information available to him indicated that Kyari is currently receiving medical treatment in Germany.
“I learnt last night that the man is hospitalised in Germany,” Nwoye told the committee.
But Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi rejected the explanation, arguing that Nwoye was not representing Kyari and therefore could not officially justify his absence.
Nwaebonyi further alleged that Kyari had ignored invitations from the committee on nine consecutive occasions and supported the motion for his arrest.
Following a unanimous voice vote by committee members, Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, approved the issuance of the warrant.
The committee is investigating audit queries linked to NNPC Limited’s financial activities between 2017 and 2023, with lawmakers seeking clarification on transactions and expenditures amounting to approximately N210 trillion.
