The Senate, through its Committee on Public Accounts, on Wednesday ordered the arrest of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for failing to appear before it over an alleged unaccounted N210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
However, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the NNPCL, Umar Ajiya Isa, debunked the allegation before the committee, declaring that no money was missing and that the N210 trillion figure exceeds the N54.5 trillion total revenue the company generated within the period.
The warrant of arrest followed Kyari’s absence from the investigative session on the alleged unaccounted N210 trillion.
Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) told the committee chairman, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North), that Kyari should be given another opportunity to appear, as he was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany.
However, other members opposed the suggestion and called on the chairman to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) said verbal excuses should not be accepted without documented evidence of illness. He was supported by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest.
Seconding the motion, Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), said giving Kyari another chance would amount to “a wild goose chase.”
“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 queries raised against the NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, three of which were
