Senate Summons Ex-NNPC GMD Mele Kyari Over Unaccounted ₦210 Trillion Expenditure

Senate Summons Ex-NNPC GMD Mele Kyari Over Unaccounted ₦210 Trillion Expenditure

The Senate has summoned the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to appear before its committee to answer questions regarding an alleged ₦210 trillion in expenditures that lawmakers claim has not been properly accounted for.

The summon, issued on Thursday, follows a resolution by the Senate committee investigating the finances of the national oil company. Kyari is expected to face the panel alongside two other former top officials of the corporation: the former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Isa, and the former Group Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Service (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti.

According to the committee, the investigation covers financial transactions and expenditures by the national oil company between 2017 and 2023. Lawmakers expressed concern over the massive sum, demanding a detailed breakdown and justification for the spending.

The committee issued a strong warning to the invited former officials, threatening to issue a warrant for their arrest should they fail to appear on the new date that will be communicated to them.

In a related development, the committee also raised questions over what it described as extravagant spending by the corporation. specifically, the lawmakers queried the alleged expenditure of approximately ₦5 billion on the rebranding process that changed the company’s name from the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Addressing journalists after the session, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Wadata, read the resolution. He emphasized that while the committee is determined to get to the root of the matter, it remains firmly behind the current administration.

Senator Aliyu Wadata

Despite the serious nature of the allegations and the ensuing probe, Senator Wadata reaffirmed the committee’s support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that the federal government remains committed to promoting transparency, probity, and accountability in the management of public funds, and that this investigation is a testament to that commitment.