Senate declares ex-NNPCL boss Mele Kyari wanted over alleged ₦210tn misappropriation; Oshiomhole demands him “dead or alive”
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday ordered the arrest of the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, for failing to appear before it over allegations involving N210 trillion in unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.
The directive followed Kyari’s repeated absence from an investigative hearing probing queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation over the company’s financial records during the period under review.
The arrest order was issued after lawmakers ruled against further delaying the investigation.
During the sitting, Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) appealed for caution, urging the committee to grant Kyari another opportunity to appear, noting that he was reportedly ill and receiving treatment in Germany.
But their plea was strongly opposed by other members of the committee, who insisted that the investigation must proceed without further delay and demanded the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) argued that verbal excuses should not be accepted without documented proof of illness, a position later supported by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who formally moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest.
Seconding the motion, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North), warned that further delay would undermine the committee’s work.
He said, “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.
“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.”
Former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, also argued that the Senate risked diminishing its authority if it failed to enforce compliance with its summons.
“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,” he declared.
He supported the arrest warrant for Kyari, urging that he must be brought before the committee dead or alive.
After a voice vote, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North), ruled that Kyari should be arrested and produced before the panel.
“Anywhere Mele Kyari is, he should be arrested and brought before this committee,” he declared.
