SenatorIbrahimHasanDankwambo
The Senate has intensified its scrutiny of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), ordering the issuance of a warrant of arrest against former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to appear before its Public Accounts Committee in an ongoing probe into alleged financial discrepancies running into over N210 trillion.
The decision marks a significant escalation in one of the most extensive financial oversight investigations ever undertaken by the National Assembly, based on audit queries contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s reports covering 2017 to 2023.
At the centre of the inquiry are unresolved entries and accounting irregularities flagged in the company’s audited financial statements, which lawmakers say require full explanation from former and current management of the national oil company.
The resolution to issue the arrest warrant followed sustained frustration over Kyari’s absence despite multiple invitations extended by the committee chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.
Lawmakers adopted the motion after deliberations sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh, who argued that continued delays were obstructing parliamentary oversight into what he described as “critical national financial records involving trillions of naira.”
The session, however, took a heated turn as senators debated the appropriate enforcement mechanism to compel compliance.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole backed the motion, warning that Parliament risked weakening its authority if it failed to act decisively.
He argued that public accountability institutions must demonstrate the capacity to enforce their summons regardless of the status of those involved.
The committee also heard conflicting accounts regarding Kyari’s absence, with Senator Tony Nwoye informing members that the former NNPCL chief was reportedly receiving medical treatment abroad.
His submission was immediately challenged by other lawmakers, triggering a brief exchange over whether health-related explanations should delay enforcement action.
Despite the disagreement, the committee eventually voted in favour of issuing a warrant of arrest to compel Kyari’s appearance.
The proceedings also featured a separate appearance by former Chief Finance Officer of NNPCL, Bala Ajiya, who defended the corporation’s financial records and dismissed claims that funds were missing.
Ajiya argued that the widely cited N210 trillion figure stemmed from accounting classifications and internal financial structures that had been misinterpreted as cash discrepancies.
“There is no missing money,” he told lawmakers, insisting that all transactions were properly recorded and traceable within audited statements.
He also rejected allegations surrounding the cost of registering the restructured NNPCL, explaining that payments were made to statutory regulatory agencies and not diverted funds.
However, his testimony drew sharp criticism from some committee members, who accused the corporation of failing to provide clear and transparent explanations for controversial audit entries.
Tensions escalated when lawmakers challenged Ajiya’s remarks suggesting that public perceptions of NNPCL were influenced by widespread interest in employment within the organisation.
Senators pushed back, insisting that the inquiry was based strictly on audit findings and not subjective perceptions.
At one point, Oshiomhole described the handling of financial concerns within the oil corporation as deeply troubling, prompting a brief uproar in the chamber before order was restored.
Committee Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, repeatedly intervened to de-escalate tensions, stressing that the probe was strictly guided by audit reports transmitted by the Auditor-General and not political speculation.
He clarified that the committee had not concluded that funds were stolen, but was seeking explanations for “unresolved and unexplained figures” in the audited accounts.
Senator Abdul Ningi also urged caution, warning against personal attacks and emphasising the need for cooperation between lawmakers and former officials to clarify the financial records.
Following sustained questioning, Ajiya apologised for earlier remarks that drew criticism, while maintaining that no funds were missing from the organisation.
In a related development, the committee also heard from senior upstream NNPCL official Bala Wunti, who informed lawmakers that he was not formally served an invitation but attended after being notified by a colleague.
He requested additional time to review relevant documents, a request the committee granted, giving him two weeks to respond comprehensively.
The panel also resolved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the failure to formally invite him to the hearing.
The session was subsequently adjourned as lawmakers prepared to continue scrutiny of audit findings that have placed Nigeria’s largest state-owned enterprise under unprecedented legislative examination.
With an arrest warrant now issued against Kyari and other officials expected to reappear before the committee, the probe is set to enter a more confrontational phase, raising broader questions about accountability, transparency, and the interpretation of Nigeria’s oil sector financial records. :::