Ex-NNPCL boss Kyari appears before Senate over N210trn audit queries

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Tuesday appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to answer questions over alleged financial discrepancies exceeding N210 trillion in the company’s accounts.

Kyari arrived at Hearing Room 4 of the National Assembly alongside a delegation of oil company officials, following months of pressure from lawmakers over his failure to honour previous invitations.

The appearance is part of an ongoing Senate investigation into unresolved audit queries covering the NNPCL’s financial records between 2017 and 2023.

The queries, forwarded to the committee by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, have raised concerns over alleged financial irregularities during the period under review.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, representing Gombe North, had earlier threatened to invoke its constitutional powers to compel Kyari’s appearance after several invitations reportedly went unanswered.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, amid growing frustration among lawmakers over the progress of the investigation.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole had also called for Kyari’s arrest, insisting that the former NNPCL chief must personally account for the company’s financial records rather than send representatives.

Senate orders ex-NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari’s arrest over missing N210trn

The former Edo State governor accused Kyari of failing to provide satisfactory explanations over the alleged financial mismanagement and urged the committee to issue a warrant of arrest.

However, the Senate subsequently clarified that its committees could not independently issue, authorise or execute warrants of arrest without strict compliance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and the express approval of the Senate President.

The Senate also distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s description of the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” stating that the remarks did not represent the position of the Red Chamber.