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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organizations (CNCSO) have supported the decision of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to order the arrest of the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, for his alleged repeated failure to comply with invitations related to the ongoing investigations into audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.
In a joint press release issued on Thursday and signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSO, the two umbrella bodies described the Senate’s action as a significant step towards enforcing accountability in public offices and strengthening institutions of democratic oversight.
According to the statement, the Senate Committee’s decision “represents a significant affirmation of the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and sends a strong message that no public official, past or present, is above accountability under the law.”
The organizations noted that allegations surrounding the management of the nation’s oil resources during Kyari’s tenure have remained a major issue in public discourse for years, generating widespread calls for oversight and accountability.
The statement said: “For several years, numerous allegations relating to financial management, transparency, procurement processes, crude oil accounting, refinery rehabilitation expenses, fuel subsidy administration and other issues associated with NNNPCL operations under the leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari have dominated public discourse.”
While stressing that the allegations remain subject to investigation and have not been proven, the groups stressed that the concerns have generated “widespread public concern and sustained calls for thorough, independent and transparent scrutiny.”
Expressing concern over the failure of the former NNPCL CEO to appear before lawmakers, the organizations described the situation as disturbing given the gravity of the audit matters under review.
“It is therefore disturbing that despite the seriousness of the audit questions identified by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation and despite repeated invitations from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Mallam Kyari has failed to appear before legislators to provide explanations and clarifications on matters of significant public interest,” the statement read.
The groups revealed that available documents indicate that the Senate committee initiated a detailed examination of NNNPCL’s accounts following audit observations spanning several years and subsequently invited former officials, including Kyari, to assist lawmakers in resolving outstanding issues.
According to the statement, “Rather than providing the necessary cooperation expected of a former CEO of a strategic national institution, the former NNNPCL boss failed to appear before the committee on multiple occasions, culminating in the recent order directing security agencies to produce him before lawmakers.”
The CNPP and CNCSO maintain that accountability remains the foundation of democratic governance and that all public officials must be accountable for their management.
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