The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have thrown their weight behind the Senate Public Accounts Committee’s decision to order the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, over his alleged repeated failure to honour invitations connected to ongoing investigations into audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.
In a joint press statement issued on Thursday and signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the two umbrella bodies described the Senate’s action as a significant step toward enforcing accountability in public office and strengthening democratic oversight institutions.
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 organisations noted that allegations relating to the management of the nation’s petroleum resources during Kyari’s tenure have remained a major issue in public discourse for years, generating widespread calls for scrutiny and accountability.
The statement said, “For several years, numerous allegations relating to financial management, transparency, procurement processes, crude oil accounting, refinery rehabilitation expenditures, fuel subsidy administration, and other matters associated with the operations of the NNPCL under the leadership of Mallam Mele Kyari have dominated public discourse.”
While emphasizing 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 demands for thorough, independent, and transparent scrutiny.”
Expressing concern over the former NNPCL chief executive’s reported failure to appear before lawmakers, the organisations described the situation as disturbing given the gravity of the audit issues under review.
“It is therefore disturbing that despite the seriousness of the audit queries reportedly identified by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and despite repeated invitations by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Mallam Kyari has allegedly failed to appear before lawmakers to provide explanations and clarifications on issues of significant public interest,” the statement said.
The groups disclosed that available records indicate that the Senate Committee commenced detailed scrutiny of NNPCL accounts following audit observations covering multiple 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 chief executive of a strategic national institution, the former NNPCL boss reportedly failed to appear before the committee on multiple occasions, culminating in the recent order directing security agencies to produce him before the lawmakers.”
The CNPP and CNCSOs maintained that accountability remains the foundation of democratic governance and that all public officials must be answerable for their stewardship.
