Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to arrest former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before lawmakers investigating the company’s audit reports.
The call came during a committee hearing on audit queries raised in NNPC accounts. Lawmakers said Kyari had repeatedly failed to honour invitations to explain issues contained in reports submitted by the Auditor-General for the Federation.
Oshiomhole said the committee must act to protect the authority of the National Assembly and ensure public officials respond to 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 said.
He urged the committee to issue an arrest warrant without delay.
“This committee must have the courage and the will to deploy its powers and issue a warrant of arrest — not tomorrow, but today,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator also rejected suggestions that Kyari could be represented by another official before the committee.
“His responsibility is to account for his actions as MD. He can’t be represented in that capacity,” he said.
After deliberations, the committee agreed with the motion and directed that Kyari be brought before lawmakers.
Committee Chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo said: “We hereby rule that anywhere Mele Kyari is, the former group GCEO, should be arrested and brought before the committee immediately.”
Before the decision, Senator Tony Nwoye told the panel he had been informed that Kyari was receiving treatment in Germany.
“I spoke to Mele Kyari about a week ago. He promised that he would be here. But incidentally, I learned last night that the man is hospitalised in Germany,” Nwoye said.
The hearing also featured submissions from former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya, who rejected claims that funds were missing from the company’s accounts.
“There is no money missing. The report is inaccurate,” Ajiya said.
He maintained that the figures under review stemmed from accounting entries and had been wrongly interpreted.
The session became tense after exchanges between lawmakers and former NNPCL officials. Dankwambo repeatedly called for order and reminded participants that the committee was examining audit findings and seeking explanations for figures contained in the reports.
Former Chief Upstream Investment Officer Bala Wunti also appeared before the committee and said he had not received a formal invitation.
“As of today, I have not received any formal invite from this committee. We are public officers. We are ready to be held accountable for our actions,” Wunti said.
The committee granted him two weeks to review the audit report and prepare his response.
Ademide Adebayo
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