ABUJA — The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has formally ordered the arrest of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following his persistent failure to appear before the committee regarding an ongoing investigation into financial queries covering 2017 to 2023.

The directive was issued on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, during an investigative hearing chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North). The committee is currently probing 19 audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, which include allegations of ₦210 trillion in unaccounted-for funds within the national oil company.

Escalating Tensions and Arrest Order

The decision to issue the arrest warrant followed Kyari’s repeated absence from scheduled hearings. While some senators, including Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), pleaded for leniency on the grounds that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany, the committee ultimately rejected these claims due to a lack of formal, documented medical evidence.

Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) moved the motion for the arrest, which was seconded by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North). Senator Nwaebonyi emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that this was the ninth committee meeting held to address the audit queries and that further delays would compromise the committee’s duty to the Senate.

Defense of NNPCL Financial Records

During the hearing, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, provided a strong defense of the company’s financial integrity, categorically rejecting the claim that ₦210 trillion was missing.

Ajiya argued that the figures were mathematically inconsistent with the company’s actual financial performance during the period. He stated that the total revenue generated by the NNPCL between 2017 and 2023 was approximately ₦54.5 trillion, making it impossible for a sum as high as ₦210 trillion to be missing or unaccounted for. He further argued that the company’s commitment to transparency—demonstrated by the publication of audited financial statements—contradicted the allegations of systemic financial misconduct.

Broader Implications

Ajiya also cautioned that inaccurate and unverified allegations could have severe consequences for the nation’s international reputation, potentially impacting Nigeria's credit ratings and sovereign risk assessments by global agencies.

The committee has directed Ajiya and the former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to reappear before the panel within two weeks as the investigation continues. The Senate committee is expected to submit its final report and findings to the plenary upon the conclusion of the review.