By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) on Wednesday 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 lawmakers investigating audit queries linked to an alleged N210 trillion in unaccounted funds.
The committee issued the directive after Kyari failed to honour several invitations to explain issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report on NNPCL’s financial statements covering the period between 2017 and 2023.
The decision followed a motion moved by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who accused the former NNPCL boss of treating the committee’s summons with contempt despite the magnitude of the allegations under investigation.
“The issues before us are enormous. Nigerians deserve answers on the audited accounts submitted to this committee. We cannot continue to wait for him at his convenience,” Umeh said.
Some committee members, including Senators Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) and Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), urged the panel to grant Kyari another opportunity to appear, citing information that he was receiving medical treatment in Germany.
However, other lawmakers rejected the plea, insisting that only verifiable documentation could justify his absence.
Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), said the panel had exhausted all patience after several failed attempts to secure Kyari’s appearance.
“This is the ninth time this committee is considering these audit queries. The former NNPCL chief has repeatedly failed to honour invitations. The time has come to compel his appearance,” he said.
Backing the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) argued that the Senate must exercise its constitutional powers without fear or favour.
“We are talking about trillions of naira at a time the country is facing serious economic challenges. No public official should be allowed to evade accountability,” he said.
Following a voice vote, committee chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo directed that a warrant be issued for Kyari’s arrest.
“Wherever Mele Kyari may be, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” Dankwambo ruled.
*Oshiomhole, ex-NNPCL finance chief clash during probe
The hearing later turned dramatic as Oshiomhole engaged in a heated exchange with former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, who appeared before the committee to respond to the audit queries.
Ajiya rejected claims that N210 trillion was missing from NNPCL’s accounts, insisting that the allegation was inconsistent with the company’s financial records.
According to him, NNPCL generated about N54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, making claims of N210 trillion in missing funds impossible.
“There is no money missing. If funds had disappeared under our watch, we would not have published audited accounts and submitted them for scrutiny,” he said.
He also dismissed reports that N5.8 billion was spent on the registration of NNPC Limited, stating that the actual amount paid to government agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was N2.9 billion.
Ajiya urged lawmakers to verify the records and warned that unsubstantiated allegations could damage Nigeria’s image and creditworthiness in the international community.
He further advocated a forensic audit of the company’s accounts to establish the facts and identify any wrongdoing.
Tension rose when Ajiya suggested that many influential Nigerians sought employment opportunities for their children at NNPCL, a comment that drew a sharp reaction from Oshiomhole.
The former Edo governor accused the ex-finance chief of attempting to divert attention from the issues raised by auditors.
He insisted that audited accounts did not automatically clear management of responsibility.
The exchange prompted interventions from other lawmakers, who appealed for restraint and urged both men to focus on the matters under investigation.
Ajiya later apologised to the committee for his remarks, and the apology was accepted.
At the end of the session, the committee directed Ajiya and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer Bala Wunti to reappear before it in two weeks with additional documents and explanations, as the probe continues.
The Senate panel is expected to conclude its investigation and present its findings to the upper chamber upon completion of the hearings.
