Kyari Expresses Shock Over Senate Arrest Warrant, Says Medical Treatment Abroad Prevented Appearance

Kyari Expresses Shock Over Senate Arrest Warrant, Says Medical Treatment Abroad Prevented Appearance Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, Mele Kyari, has described as “deeply shocking” the decision of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to issue an arrest warrant against him over an ongoing probe into the company’s financial records. In a statement addressed to the committee, Kyari said he had previously informed lawmakers that he was outside Nigeria receiving medical treatment and was therefore unable to attend the scheduled hearing. He maintained that he had not ignored the committee’s invitation and remained willing to cooperate fully with the investigation upon his return to the country.

According to Kyari, he formally notified the committee in May that he was undergoing treatment abroad and expressed readiness to honour any invitation once his health condition allowed. He also said he offered to respond to urgent inquiries through his legal representatives while away. The Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered Kyari’s arrest after he failed to appear before lawmakers during a hearing examining financial queries arising from NNPCL’s audited accounts between 2017 and 2023. The investigation centres on issues and transactions reportedly valued at more than ₦210 trillion that were flagged in audit reviews submitted to the National Assembly. During the committee session, some senators argued that Kyari should be granted additional time because he was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany. However, other lawmakers insisted that the probe could not be delayed further and pushed for the issuance of an arrest warrant. Following deliberations, the committee voted in favour of ordering that Kyari be brought before the panel.Kyari rejected suggestions that he deliberately avoided the Senate invitation, stating that he had not received any subsequent summons after notifying the committee of his medical condition. He said he remained prepared to appear before lawmakers and provide any clarifications required once he returns to Nigeria. Defending his tenure at NNPCL, Kyari said his management team transformed the state oil company into a commercially viable organisation and maintained proper records of all transactions conducted during his administration. He stressed that the company’s activities were documented and available for scrutiny by relevant authorities.Meanwhile, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya Isa has disputed claims that ₦210 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts. He told lawmakers that NNPCL generated about ₦54.5 trillion in revenue during the period under review, arguing that the figures being cited had been misinterpreted and did not represent missing funds.The Senate committee is expected to continue its investigation into the financial records of NNPCL, while Kyari has pledged to cooperate with the process and appear before lawmakers after completing his medical treatment abroad.