Nigeria’s Senate Public Accounts Committee has intensified its probe into the finances of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), demanding the appearance of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over audit queries involving more than N210 trillion.
Key Highlights:
- The Nigerian Senate Public Accounts Committee is investigating ₦210 trillion in NNPCL finances.
- It is demanding former NNPCL boss Mele Kyari appear over audit queries.
- The probe covers ₦103 trillion in expenses and ₦107 trillion in receivables from 2017–2023.
- Lawmakers criticized Kyari for failing to honour repeated summons.
- The Senate may issue a warrant if he continues to ignore invitations.
The committee is currently examining the company’s audited financial statements covering the period from 2017 to 2023, during which lawmakers identified N103 trillion in expenses and N107 trillion in receivables that they say require detailed explanations.
During a heated session, members of the committee expressed frustration over Kyari’s repeated failure to honour invitations to appear before lawmakers despite several summonses issued in connection with the investigation.
Former Edo State governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, strongly criticized Kyari’s absence, insisting that the former NNPCL boss must personally account for the figures under scrutiny.
According to Oshiomhole, the committee would not accept representatives or proxies in place of Kyari, stressing that the issues being investigated occurred during his tenure as head of the national oil company.
The senator reportedly questioned claims that Kyari was unavailable due to medical treatment abroad, asking how such trips were being financed while emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, warned that the Senate could invoke its constitutional powers to compel Kyari’s appearance if he continues to ignore invitations. He noted that lawmakers are determined to uncover the facts behind the financial discrepancies and ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
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The committee’s concerns centre on N103 trillion classified as expenses and N107 trillion recorded as receivables, including transactions linked to fuel subsidy payments, joint venture operations, and other financial obligations. Senators insist that the figures must be properly reconciled and explained to the Nigerian public.
In response to the scrutiny, NNPCL has maintained that the questioned figures do not necessarily represent missing funds, arguing that some lawmakers may have misunderstood legitimate liabilities, receivables, and accounting entries contained in the audited reports.
The ongoing investigation is the latest in a series of efforts by the National Assembly to strengthen oversight of the oil and gas sector, a critical component of Nigeria’s economy that has long faced concerns over transparency and financial management.
As the probe continues, attention remains focused on whether Kyari will honour the Senate’s summons or face further legislative action, including the possibility of an arrest warrant to compel his appearance before the committee.
