The Nigerian Senate has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following his failure to appear before lawmakers investigating audit queries amounting to N210 trillion.
The directive was issued by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, during an ongoing probe into financial discrepancies and audit observations recorded between 2017 and 2023.
According to the committee, the audit concerns involve approximately N103 trillion linked to joint venture cash calls and another N107 trillion classified as receivables, bringing the total amount under scrutiny to N210 trillion.
Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction over Kyari’s absence at the hearing, prompting the committee to issue a warrant for his arrest and compel his appearance before the panel. The committee stressed the need for key former officials to provide explanations regarding the audit findings and financial records under review.
Appearing before the committee, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, rejected claims that funds were missing. He maintained that the company’s financial records and audited statements clearly accounted for its operations during the period under review.
Ajiya explained that NNPCL generated total revenues of about N54.5 trillion within the years covered by the audit and insisted that all transactions were properly documented in the company’s audited reports.
The hearing became tense as several senators questioned NNPCL officials over the figures contained in the audit reports. Senator Adams Oshiomhole was particularly vocal, demanding greater accountability and insisting that former top executives, including Kyari, must personally address the issues raised by auditors.
Following deliberations, the committee granted Ajiya and another NNPCL executive a two-week deadline to return with additional documentation and clarifications regarding the financial records.
The Senate’s decision marks a significant development in its oversight of the oil and gas sector, as lawmakers intensify efforts to examine the audit observations and determine whether any financial irregularities occurred during the period under review.
ALSO READ: Reps Set to Decide Fate of State Police Proposal
The investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks as the committee seeks further explanations from former and current NNPCL officials regarding the disputed figures and audit findings.
