The Senate on Tuesday took a more forceful step in its ongoing investigation into the financial operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), ordering the issuance of a warrant of arrest against former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to appear before its Public Accounts Committee.
The resolution came as lawmakers intensified scrutiny of audit reports covering 2017 to 2023, which contain disputed entries and unexplained figures running into over N210 trillion, according to documents submitted by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, said the decision became necessary after several invitations extended to Kyari were allegedly ignored without formal explanation.
A motion to compel his appearance was moved by Senator Victor Umeh, who warned that the committee risked undermining its constitutional mandate if it failed to enforce compliance in a matter involving such vast financial implications.
Lawmakers supporting the motion argued that the scale of the audit queries required full accountability from all former and serving officials of the national oil company.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, backing the move, insisted that parliamentary oversight must not be weakened by non-compliance from invited officials, stressing that the Senate must demonstrate its authority in public interest matters.
He urged the committee to act decisively, arguing that repeated absence from hearings was slowing down an investigation of national importance.
The committee also heard that Kyari was reportedly abroad for medical treatment, a claim presented by Senator Tony Nwoye during deliberations. However, other members questioned the timing and adequacy of such communication in light of prior invitations.
The disagreement briefly disrupted proceedings as senators debated whether the explanation was sufficient to halt enforcement action.
Ultimately, the committee voted to issue a warrant of arrest to compel Kyari’s appearance before the panel.
In a separate session, former NNPCL Chief Finance Officer, Bala Ajiya, appeared before the committee to respond to audit queries and defended the integrity of the company’s financial statements.
Ajiya dismissed allegations of missing funds, arguing that the widely cited N210 trillion figure arose from accounting classifications and internal reconciliations that had been misunderstood as financial losses.
“There is no missing money in NNPCL,” he told the committee, insisting that all transactions were properly recorded and supported by documentation.
He also addressed concerns surrounding incorporation-related expenditures, explaining that payments attributed to the process were made to regulatory agencies and not diverted as alleged.
However, his submissions were met with skepticism from some lawmakers, who insisted that the explanations provided did not fully resolve the audit observations before them.
Tensions rose further when Ajiya suggested that public criticism of NNPCL was often influenced by perceptions about access to employment opportunities within the organisation. Lawmakers immediately challenged the remark, insisting the hearing was focused strictly on audit findings.
The atmosphere became more charged as senators demanded clearer answers, prompting the committee chairman to intervene repeatedly to restore order.
Senator Dankwambo clarified that the committee had not concluded that funds were missing, but was examining “unresolved audit entries” requiring detailed explanation from responsible officials.
He stressed that the Senate’s work was based solely on the Auditor-General’s reports and not political interpretation or speculation.
Senator Abdul Ningi also cautioned against inflammatory exchanges, urging both lawmakers and witnesses to maintain focus on accountability and evidence-based responses.
Following sustained questioning, Ajiya apologised for remarks that triggered objections but maintained that no funds were unaccounted for in the corporation’s records.
The committee also received testimony from senior upstream official Bala Wunti, who told lawmakers he was not formally invited but attended after being notified of the hearing.
He requested additional time to review the audit documents in detail, a request the committee granted, giving him two weeks to respond comprehensively.
The panel further resolved to investigate why the invitation was not properly extended to him, describing the lapse as procedural and requiring clarification.
The hearing was adjourned as lawmakers indicated that further appearances from key former and current officials would be required as the probe continues.
With an arrest warrant now issued against Kyari and additional testimonies expected, the Senate inquiry is set to enter a more stringent phase, as lawmakers attempt to reconcile disputed figures in one of the most complex audits ever considered by the National Assembly. :::