The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has directed security agencies to apprehend former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, following his repeated failure to honour invitations related to an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities amounting to N210 trillion.
The decision was reached during a committee hearing examining concerns raised in audit reports covering the company’s financial activities between 2017 and 2023.
Lawmakers expressed frustration over Kyari’s continued absence, leading the committee to issue a warrant compelling his appearance before the panel. While some senators appealed for leniency, citing reports that the former NNPCL boss is currently receiving medical treatment abroad, others argued that such claims must be supported by official documentation.
Several members of the committee maintained that compliance with legislative summons is essential and warned against setting a precedent that could weaken the authority of the National Assembly. Following deliberations, the committee resolved that Kyari should be brought before lawmakers to respond to the issues under investigation.
At the heart of the inquiry are alleged discrepancies valued at N210 trillion in the company’s financial records. However, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Isa, disputed the figure, insisting that no funds were missing. According to him, the company’s total earnings during the period under review stood at approximately N54.5 trillion before operational expenses.
Isa argued that audited financial statements could not have been successfully published if such a significant amount had gone unaccounted for. As the investigation continues, the committee has directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to return for further questioning within the next two weeks.
