The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a threat to arrest former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before the committee. The committee warned that it would compel his appearance through an arrest warrant after he repeatedly ignored invitations to explain the alleged N210 trillion discrepancy flagged in the Auditor-General of the Federation's reports covering 2017 to 2023.
Background of the Controversy
President Bola Tinubu removed Mr. Kyari from office in April 2025 amid multiple corruption-related petitions. The controversy over the alleged N210 trillion discrepancy began in June 2025 when details of NNPC Ltd's audited financial records drew public attention. The Senate committee then gave the company a seven-day ultimatum to explain the discrepancies, but NNPC Ltd, now led by Bayo Ojulari, failed to meet the deadline due to a retreat attended by top officials. This inability to respond directly fueled public concerns about transparency and accountability within the national oil company.
In November 2025, NNPC Ltd submitted a written explanation stating that N103 trillion represented accrued expenses and N107 trillion was recorded as receivables. The committee, then chaired by Aliyu Wadada of Nasarawa West, rejected this explanation and insisted on the company's leadership appearing in person. The matter remained unresolved until Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, a former Accountant-General of the Federation, replaced Mr. Wadada as chairman and resumed the investigation.
Lawmakers Express Frustration
Before the committee chairman ruled on the arrest warrant, several lawmakers voiced their frustration over Mr. Kyari's continued absence. Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central argued that further delays were unacceptable and demanded Mr. Kyari's appearance. Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central noted that the committee had learned Mr. Kyari was abroad, indicating a lack of seriousness. He urged the committee to direct the former NNPC chief to cut short his trip and return to Nigeria immediately.
Senator Tony Nwoye of Anambra North offered a different account, stating he had spoken with Mr. Kyari, who said he was receiving medical treatment in Germany. Senator Babangida Hussaini of Jigawa North-west suggested a closed-door session, but other members opposed this. Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North urged the committee to use its powers to compel Mr. Kyari's appearance, stating that even if he were dead, they wanted to see his body and hold him accountable.
Former CFO Disputes Missing Funds
Also appearing before the committee was Umar Ajiya, former chief financial officer of NNPC Ltd, who disputed claims that N210 trillion was missing. He described the figure as a misconception, arguing that the company's total revenue during the period was approximately N54.5 trillion. He suggested that if any funds were unaccounted for, anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) should conduct a forensic investigation.
Mr. Ajiya maintained that repeated claims about missing trillions of naira were damaging the reputation of both NNPC Ltd and Nigeria, potentially affecting investor confidence and the country's international standing. He recalled a similar incident where a petition to the Chinese government halted a sovereign guarantee, delaying a project. He expressed regret that such issues hurt patriotic government workers.
