The Senate, on Thursday, nullified the warrant of arrest issued against former NNPCL GCEO Mele Kyari and disassociated itself from Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s comment describing NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
The resolutions followed a motion by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, on the urgent need to preserve the institutional authority of the Senate, ensure compliance with the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, and safeguard fair hearing, due process, and parliamentary impartiality.
Bamidele told his colleagues that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution confer investigative and oversight powers on the National Assembly for lawmaking, accountability, and good governance.
He said Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act vest the authority to issue warrants compelling attendance of witnesses solely in the President of the Senate, not in any committee acting independently.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts had on Wednesday ordered the issuance of a warrant to compel the Mr Kyari, to appear before it over unresolved audit queries involving N210 trillion contained in the company’s audited accounts between 2017 and 2023.
Bamidele added that during the committee’s deliberations, comments were attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves”, stressing that while the Senate has extensive oversight powers, they must be exercised without bias or predetermined conclusions against any person or institution under investigation.
He noted that NNPCL is a strategic national energy institution incorporated under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and statements suggesting criminal culpability before a court verdict could undermine confidence in Senate proceedings.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended Bamidele, saying the Senate Leader was performing his duty to ensure the chamber and its committees operate within the Constitution and Senate Rules.
Senators Tahir Monguno, Abba Moro, Adamu Aliero, and Orji Uzor Kalu supported the motion, insisting the Senate must be seen to uphold the law and avoid statements that impugn public institutions.
Aliero described Oshiomhole’s remark as “reckless” and warned it could damage NNPCL’s integrity and discourage foreign direct investment, given that the company is Nigeria’s “cash cow.”
Kalu said NNPCL accounts for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and urged Oshiomhole to withdraw the statement, noting that there are proper procedures for summoning officials.
In his defence, Oshiomhole said he spoke under “extreme provocation” after NNPCL’s former Chief Financial Officer accused senators of nepotism during a hearing on an audit report alleging N210 trillion was unaccounted for.
He maintained that the committee knew it lacked power to issue a warrant and that his comment was aimed at defending senators whose integrity was attacked.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, ruled that Oshiomhole’s comment was unparliamentary and put Bamidele’s eight prayers to a voice vote, all of which were adopted.
The Senate reaffirmed that only the President of the Senate can issue arrest warrants, voided the warrant against Kyari, and dissociated itself from Oshiomhole’s remark.
Akpabio said he would meet with the Public Accounts Committee next week, stressing the need to correct the public impression that the Senate had criminalized NNPCL.
