Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the immediate arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to appear before lawmakers probing alleged financial discrepancies totalling N210 trillion in the oil company’s audited accounts between 2017 and 2023. The dramatic decision, which followed a voice vote by committee members on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, came after Kyari failed to honour summons for the ninth consecutive time.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North and a member of the committee, moved a motion for the issuance of an arrest warrant, insisting that the committee must deploy its constitutional powers without further delay. “Mr Chairman, this committee must have the courage and the will to deploy its powers as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and issue a warrant, not tomorrow but today, and bring Mele Kyari. Dead or alive, in law, even if he is dead, we want to see the body and say, ‘Here lies a man who died without accounting for his alleged crimes running into trillions of naira’,” Oshiomhole declared.
The committee’s chairman, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe North), ruled in favour of the motion after a voice vote, directing that the former NNPCL boss be produced before the panel immediately. “Anywhere Mele Kyari may be, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” Dankwambo declared.
The investigation stems from 19 audit queries forwarded to the committee by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, which raised red flags over massive financial entries in NNPCL’s books between 2017 and 2023. Among the disputed figures are N103 trillion allegedly attributed to cumulative Joint Venture (JV) cash call spending and N107 trillion recorded as “sundry receivables” owed to the company by various banks and entities.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Senators Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) and Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) informed the committee that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany and appealed for more time. Nwoye disclosed that he had personally spoken with Kyari about a week earlier and that the former NNPCL chief had promised to appear. However, their plea was met with stiff resistance from other lawmakers, who insisted that verbal excuses were not acceptable without documented proof of illness.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) formally moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest, arguing that the committee could no longer tolerate continued delays in an investigation involving what he described as one of the largest financial accountability exercises ever undertaken by the National Assembly. “This matter has lingered for too long. Nigerians deserve answers. The committee cannot continue to wait indefinitely while critical questions concerning trillions of naira remain unanswered,” Umeh said.
Seconding the motion, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), said granting Kyari another opportunity would amount to “a wild goose chase”. He noted that the committee had met on the same 19 audit queries nine times, and that three of those meetings were chaired by him personally. “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,” he said.
In a forceful intervention, Oshiomhole accused the former NNPCL boss of treating the National Assembly with contempt and reminded the committee that no individual, regardless of status, should be allowed to evade accountability. “At a time when the country is borrowing money, we have sources of revenue that have not been accounted for. There are serious issues raised not by laymen but by competent auditors, and the man is joking? Where did he get the money to pay his medical bills in Germany? Those who are dying here, what happens to them?” Oshiomhole queried.
He further insisted that Kyari could not be represented by any proxy, as he was no longer the managing director and bore personal responsibility for his actions while in office. “Mele Kyari cannot be represented by another person. He is no longer the managing director, and it is his responsibility to account for his actions as MD. He cannot be represented in that capacity,” Oshiomhole said. He also extended the call for accountability to the current NNPCL management, stating, “I hold the view that your leadership must put an end to exceptions and excuses. I will invoke our powers to order the arrest of Mele Kyari and the managing director of NNPC, both past and present. They are guilty of the same offence: total disregard for the Nigerian Constitution and failure to account for the alleged gross abuse of our major source of revenue running into trillions of naira.”
Despite Kyari’s absence, the committee proceeded with the hearing and took testimonies from two key members of the immediate past management of NNPCL: former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti. Ajiya strongly disputed the N210 trillion figure, insisting that no money was missing and that the claim was mathematically impossible when compared with the company’s actual earnings. According to Ajiya, NNPCL generated approximately N54.5 trillion in total revenue between 2017 and 2023, making allegations of N210 trillion in missing funds unsustainable. “To be clear, if money had gone missing at NNPC during our tenure, we would not have had the courage to publish audited accounts. For over 40 years, those accounts were either not prepared, not made public, or not even shared with the Auditor-General,” Ajiya said.
Ajiya also dismissed claims that N5.8 billion was spent to register NNPC Limited, describing the allegation as false and damaging. He urged the committee to verify the records directly from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. He further warned that unsubstantiated allegations could harm Nigeria’s international reputation and credit rating.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts had earlier summoned Kyari alongside the current NNPCL Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, to respond to the audit queries. While Ojulari was represented by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, Kyari remained absent, prompting lawmakers to conclude that he had shown “total disregard” for the Senate and for the Nigerian people.
The arrest warrant for Mele Kyari marks the second time the Senate has ordered the apprehension of a former NNPCL chief over financial misconduct allegations, following a similar order issued earlier in the year. The committee has directed security agencies to execute the warrant immediately and produce the former oil chief before the panel. The investigation is ongoing, and the committee has vowed to conclude its assignment and report back to the full Senate without further delay.
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