By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued an arrest warrant against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for repeatedly failing to respond to summonses regarding alleged financial infractions totalling N210 trillion.
The committee had invited Kyari and other top NNPCL officials to answer questions based on audit queries from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, covering expenditures from 2017 to 2023. Current NNPCL CEO Bayo Ojulari, former CFO Umar Ajia, Bala Wunti, and external auditors were also listed to appear.
At Wednesday’s resumed hearing, Kyari’s absence sparked anger among lawmakers. Senator Victor Umeh moved the motion for an arrest warrant, calling the situation a “national emergency.”
“We are talking about trillions of naira. The country is not faring well. He must come and explain what has happened to these funds,” Umeh said.
However, Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that Kyari was currently hospitalised in Germany. Nwoye said he had spoken with the former GCEO a week earlier, who had promised to attend.
Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi countered that Kyari had ignored nine previous summonses and that Nwoye was not Kyari’s lawyer. He seconded the motion for arrest.
Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankambo affirmed the motion following a unanimous voice vote. Kyari now faces arrest if he continues to evade the committee’s invitation.
