BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, JUNE 10, 2026 | 11:33 PM

Mele Kyari, former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group chief executive officer, has reacted with shock to an arrest warrant issued against him by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

Kyari insisted that he had earlier informed the committee that he was outside Nigeria receiving medical treatment.

In a letter dated June 10, obtained by SaharaReporters, Kyari said he had written to the committee on May 8, 2026, with the correspondence received on May 11.

'I am deeply shocked by the issuance of the warrant, especially as I had earlier communicated with your committee via a letter dated and received on 11th May, 2026,' Kyari wrote.

'In that letter, I informed the Committee that I was out of the country on medical grounds,' he added.

He stated that he had also expressed willingness to honour the committee’s invitation upon his return to Nigeria.

Kyari said he had offered to respond to the committee’s questions in writing to avoid delaying its work.

'I wish to reiterate that I remain very willing and ready to honour the invitation of the Committee and to appear before it once I return to the country and at the convenience of the committee,' he stated.

In his earlier letter dated May 8, 2026, also cited by SaharaReporters, Kyari said he was unaware of any formal invitation before learning of the committee’s directive.

'I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation,' he wrote, adding that he would have gladly honoured the summons to provide clarifications if properly notified.

He, however, noted that he was outside the country undergoing critical medical care and was unable to attend physically.

Kyari also requested that questions from the committee be forwarded through his legal representatives to enable him provide clarifications while receiving treatment abroad.

He further defended his stewardship at NNPCL, stating that all transactions under his tenure were properly documented and remain available for verification within the company.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered Kyari’s arrest after lawmakers rejected appeals by some senators to grant him additional time to appear before the panel.

The committee directed security agencies to arrest and produce Kyari before lawmakers.

The panel is investigating 19 audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation concerning NNPCL’s financial records between 2017 and 2023, including allegations that N210 trillion could not be properly accounted for.

During the hearing, senators including Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye urged caution, citing reports that Kyari was receiving medical treatment in Germany.

However, other lawmakers opposed further delay.

Senator Abdul Ningi said claims of illness must be supported by documentary evidence, while Senator Victor Umeh moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest.

Seconding the motion, Deputy Chairman of the committee, Peter Nwaebonyi, said the panel had already convened nine times on the matter and could not afford further delays.

Former Edo State governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, also backed the move, warning that the Senate risked undermining its authority if its summons were ignored.

Following a voice vote, committee chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo directed that Kyari be arrested and brought before the committee.

Meanwhile, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Isa, who appeared before the panel, rejected allegations that N210 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts.

'To be clear, if money had gone missing at NNPCL during our tenure, we would not have had the courage to publish audited accounts,' Isa said.

He maintained that NNPCL’s total revenue during the period under review was approximately N54.5 trillion, arguing that it was mathematically impossible for N210 trillion to be missing.

The committee subsequently directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to reappear within two weeks as the investigation continues.