The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the issuance of a warrant to compel former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, to appear before it over unresolved audit queries involving N210 trillion contained in the company’s audited accounts between 2017 and 2023.
The committee took the decision after Kyari failed to honour its invitation for the ninth consecutive time, despite being a central figure in the ongoing probe of issues raised in reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation covering the period under review.
Lawmakers insisted that the former NNPCL chief must appear before the committee to explain the questioned entries contained in the audited financial statements.
Senator Victor Umeh urged the panel to issue a warrant against Kyari, arguing that repeated invitations had been ignored and that the committee could not continue to wait indefinitely.
A motion seeking the issuance of a warrant to compel Kyari’s appearance was subsequently moved by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who argued that the committee had exhausted all reasonable efforts to secure his attendance.
The motion received majority support from members and was adopted through a voice vote, paving the way for the issuance of the warrant.
During the proceedings, Senator Tony Nwoye appealed to the committee to exercise restraint, disclosing that he had spoken with Kyari about a week earlier and that the former NNPCL boss had assured him he would appear before the panel.
Nwoye further informed the committee that he had received information indicating that Kyari was currently receiving medical treatment in Germany.
His intervention triggered sharp reactions from some lawmakers, including Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who maintained that Kyari’s repeated failure to appear showed disregard for the Senate and Nigerians.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, noted that the panel had given Kyari and other former NNPCL officials ample opportunity to appear and defend the figures contained in the audited accounts, stressing that the committee was carrying out its constitutional responsibility of ensuring accountability in the management of public funds.
Despite Kyari’s absence, the committee proceeded with the hearing and took testimonies from two members of the immediate past management of NNPCL — former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti.
The committee reiterated its commitment to scrutinising the accounts of government agencies and ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
