Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has expressed shock at the Senate Committee on Public Accounts’ arrest order against him.
In a letter dated June 10, 2026, Kyari stated that he had earlier written to the committee on May 8 and that the correspondence was received on May 11, alerting MPs that he was traveling for medical reasons and would be unable to attend the meeting physically.
Kyari insisted that his absence was simply for health reasons and not an attempt to disrupt the committee’s work and vowed full cooperation with the probe.
“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.
“In that letter, I informed the committee that I was out of the country on medical grounds. I also expressed my willingness to honor the committee’s invitation as soon as I return to Nigeria,” Kyari wrote.
He further noted that he had offered to respond to any questions from the committee in writing to avoid delaying its work.
“I wish to reiterate that I remain very willing and ready to honor 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 an earlier letter dated May 8, 2026, Kyari stated that he was unaware of any formal invitation until learning of the committee’s request that he testify before lawmakers on irregularities concerning NNPCL’s accounts during his term.
“However, I wish to respectfully state that I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation. Notwithstanding this, I would have gladly honored the invitation and appeared before the Committee to provide any clarification required,” he wrote.
“Unfortunately, I am presently outside the country undergoing critical medical care, and, due to these circumstances, I am unable to attend physically at this time.”
Kyari also requested that any inquiries from the committee be forwarded to his legal representatives so that he could provide clarity while seeking treatment abroad.
He also defended his stewardship at NNPCL, claiming that adequate records of all transactions completed during his tenure were kept and made accessible to the corporation for scrutiny.
“I remain deeply grateful to my country for the opportunity afforded me to serve with utmost diligence and commitment,” he said, adding that all transactions carried out during his tenure were properly documented and available for scrutiny.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts issued the arrest warrant after Kyari failed to appear before it amid an ongoing investigation into NNPCL’s financial records and transactions. The committee is scrutinizing financial transactions worth over ₦210 trillion.
Senator Victor Umeh motioned for the warrant, which was seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The committee is looking into 19 audit issues filed by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation about NNPCL’s financial records from 2017 to 2023, including suspicions that N210 trillion could not be properly accounted for.
