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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Senate orders ex-NNPC boss Kyari's arrest over N210tn unaccounted funds

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Nigerian Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former NNPC GCEO Mele Kyari for failing to appear at an investigative hearing.
  • The hearing probes allegations of N210 trillion in unaccounted funds within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) between 2017 and 2023.
  • Despite appeals for leniency due to alleged illness, the committee insisted on Kyari's arrest to proceed with the investigation and uphold the Senate's authority.

The Nigerian Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued an arrest warrant for Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 queries raised against NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, three of which were chaired by me.

— Senator Peter NwaebonyiDeputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, highlighting the prolonged nature of the investigation.

The order stems from Kyari's repeated failure to appear before the committee for an investigative hearing concerning allegations of N210 trillion in unaccounted funds within the NNPCL between 2017 and 2023. The hearing is probing queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the company's financial records during that period.

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.

— Senator Peter NwaebonyiDeputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, arguing for the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant.

During the hearing, former Chief Financial Officer Umar Isa defended the company, challenging the N210 trillion figure as misleading and asserting that no funds were missing. However, lawmakers insisted on Kyari's presence to address the allegations directly. Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye requested leniency, citing Kyari's alleged illness and treatment in Germany, but their plea was overruled.

Some people believe they are bigger than Nigeria. The law must be effective when it catches the lion, not only when it catches the rabbit.

— Adams OshiomholeSenator representing Edo North, emphasizing the need to enforce Senate summons.

Committee members, including Senators Abdul Ningi and Victor Umeh, argued that verbal excuses without documented proof were insufficient. Senator Umeh formally moved the motion for Kyari's arrest, which was seconded by Deputy Chairman Senator Peter Nwaebonyi. Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole supported the motion, stating that the Senate must enforce its summons to avoid diminishing its authority. Committee Chairman Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo ultimately ruled that Kyari must be arrested and brought before the panel, emphasizing the need to conclude the assignment.

Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee.

— Senator Ibrahim DankwamboChairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, ordering the arrest of the former NNPC CEO.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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