‘I informed your committee of my medical trip’ – Kyari denies dodging Senate probe

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has responded to the Senate’s decision to declare him wanted.

Kyari maintains that he did not refuse the Senate’s invitation, contrary to what has been suggested.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Thursday, Kyari explained that he had previously informed the committee that he could not attend because he was receiving medical treatment abroad.

This statement came 24 hours after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered Kyari’s arrest for failing to appear before it in an investigation into alleged unaccounted funds amounting to N210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.

Kyari said the decision by the Senate was deeply shocking.

“I refer to the news of the arrest warrant issued against me during the proceedings of your esteemed Committee today, June 10, 2026. I am deeply shocked by the issuance of the warrant,” he wrote.

The former NNPCL chief also denied accusations that he deliberately ignored the Senate’s summons.

He added that he had not received any subsequent summons before the warrant was issued.

“However, I wish to respectfully state that I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation. Had the invitation reached me, I would have gladly honoured it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Thursday distanced itself from the arrest warrant issued by its Committee on Public Accounts against Kyari.