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 (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for failing to appear before it over allegations involving N210 trillion in 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. The committee ruled that the investigation could no longer be delayed.
During the sitting, Senators 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. However, their plea was opposed by other members who insisted the probe must proceed without delay and demanded a warrant for his arrest.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) argued that verbal excuses should not be accepted without documentary proof, a position later supported by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who formally moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest. Seconding the motion, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator 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 warned that the Senate risked weakening its 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 said.