The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, on Wednesday, ordered the arrest of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, for failing to appear before it over allegations of N210tn unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.
The directive followed Kyari’s repeated absence from an investigative hearing probing queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation over the company’s financial records during the period under review.
However, former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, challenged the allegations before the committee, insisting that no funds were missing and describing the N210tn figure as misleading when compared with the company’s actual earnings within the period.
The arrest warrant was issued after lawmakers ruled against further delay in the investigation.
During the sitting, Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) appealed for caution, urging the committee to grant Kyari another opportunity to appear, noting that he was reportedly ill and receiving treatment in Germany.
But their plea was strongly opposed by other members of the committee, who insisted that the investigation must proceed without further delay and demanded the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) argued that verbal excuses should not be accepted without documented proof of illness, a position later supported by Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who formally moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest.
Seconding the motion, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), warned that further delay would undermine the committee’s work.
He said, “This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 queries raised against NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, three of which were chaired by me.
“Mr Chairman, the time to issue a warrant of arrest against Mele Kyari is now because the committee must conclude its assignment and report back to the Senate.”
Former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, also argued that the Senate risked diminishing its own authority if it failed to enforce compliance with its summons.
“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,” he declared.
After a voice vote, the chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North), ruled that Kyari should be arrested and produced before the panel.
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