Egbetokun, Cardoso, Kyari, Others Face Possible Arrest Over Senate Summons

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Yemi Cardoso, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari are at risk of arrest following their failure to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC).

Others facing potential arrest include Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji and Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Adewale Adeniyi, along with several other agency heads.

SPAC, led by Chairman Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has vowed to issue warrants of arrest against these officials for ignoring multiple invitations to address audit queries from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF).

Wadada, speaking to reporters, criticized the FIRS chairman for disregarding eight invitations from the committee. He condemned the agency heads’ refusal to honor Senate summons, calling it an affront to the National Assembly and an insult to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Nobody in Nigeria is above the law. If President Tinubu, despite his enormous commitments, can appear before the National Assembly to present the budget, no appointee should feel too busy to respond to a Senate invitation,” Wadada stated.

He further warned that any official who fails to appear before the committee moving forward will face an arrest warrant and a recommendation for dismissal.

“For the FIRS chairman, after eight invitations ignored, the next refusal will result in a warrant of arrest. If he truly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda, he should respect this committee and its mandate,” Wadada added.

Regarding NNPCL and NCS, he expressed frustration over their lack of cooperation, stating that NNPCL’s responses to the committee’s inquiries have been vague and unsatisfactory. The Customs Service, he said, has yet to account for billions of naira flagged in the Auditor-General’s report.

“The NNPCL has never appeared before this committee. If they fail to honor the next invitation, we will issue an arrest warrant and urge the President to act accordingly,” he warned.

Similarly, the committee accused the CBN of avoiding its invitations concerning the Ways and Means financial arrangements.

With tensions rising, the Senate is determined to enforce accountability, ensuring that all agencies comply with audit reviews and transparency requirements.