NNPCL Probe: Mele Kyari Assures Senate Nothing Is Missing

Bashir Mayere, Abuja

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has reiterated its commitment to ensuring factual engagement with the former Group Managing Director (GMD) and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the alleged missing sum of ₦210 trillion from the company for the financial years 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwanbo, gave the assurance during the continuation of the committee’s investigative hearing into the alleged missing amount, as the former GMD appeared before the committee for the first time since the commencement of the investigation.

The chairman said members may recall that the committee had been conducting a legislative inquiry into the audited financial statements and financial operations of NNPC for the financial years 2021, 2022 and 2023, with a view to examining the company’s financial records, transactions, operational activities and compliance with relevant financial and statutory requirements.

He explained that the engagement was intended to enable the former GMD, Mele Kyari, to provide explanations and clarifications on issues arising from the examination of the company’s audited financial statements.

He recalled that at the committee’s last sitting, held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the former GMD, through a letter to the committee, indicated that he was indisposed and unable to attend the scheduled meeting. He subsequently requested that the engagement be rescheduled to Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Senator Dankwanbo explained that at Tuesday’s meeting, the former GMD appeared before the committee and presented his report on the issues under investigation, promising to comply with the committee’s requests for further clarification going forward.

He said the committee would study Kyari’s report and, if necessary, invite him again for further explanations to enable it to properly reconcile NNPCL’s accounts concerning the alleged ₦210 trillion.

However, while presenting his report before the committee, the former GMD, Mele Kyari, tendered an apology for his inability to attend previous meetings due to health challenges and promised to fully cooperate with the investigation.

Kyari presented his report on the issue and assured the committee that whenever it considered it necessary to invite him for further clarification, he would honour the invitation without hesitation.

Before submitting the report, Kyari adopted the submissions made by the former Chief Financial Officer regarding the financial reports presented, particularly on the issue of the ₦210 trillion allegedly construed in the reports as having been lost.

Kyari further maintained that nothing was missing, assuring the committee that such a development was not possible under his care and leadership.

In an interview with newsmen, Kyari reiterated his readiness to honour the committee’s invitations at any time and provide further clarification on the issues under investigation.