The Senate on Thursday nullified the arrest warrant purportedly issued by its Committee on Public Accounts against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, declaring that the committee lacked the legal authority to issue such an order.
The upper legislative chamber also formally dissociated itself from comments reportedly made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during a committee hearing, in which he allegedly described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who argued that constitutional and statutory provisions reserve the power to issue warrants compelling attendance before Senate committees exclusively for the President of the Senate.
The decision came less than 24 hours after the Public Accounts Committee announced an arrest warrant for Kyari while investigating alleged financial irregularities involving the national oil company.
Presenting the motion, Bamidele stressed that while Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations, the authority to issue warrants is vested solely in the Senate President under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
He maintained that legislative oversight must be conducted strictly within the limits of the law, warning that investigative proceedings should not be mistaken for criminal trials.
“The power to issue a warrant affecting the liberty of a citizen is an extraordinary statutory power which must be exercised strictly in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law,” Bamidele said.
He further emphasised that the principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence require that no individual or institution be declared guilty until a competent court reaches a verdict after due process.
Bamidele also criticised Oshiomhole’s remarks about the NNPCL, noting that such comments could create the impression that the Senate had already reached a conclusion on matters still under investigation.
According to him, statements suggesting criminal culpability before the completion of an inquiry risk undermining public confidence in the impartiality of legislative oversight.
Consequently, the Senate resolved that Oshiomhole’s comments did not represent its official position or findings.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the motion, describing it as necessary to preserve constitutional governance and adherence to Senate rules. He noted that committees operate as subordinate bodies and can only make recommendations to the full chamber.
“The committee overstepped its bounds, and he has done the right thing by drawing attention to it. We need to do things in line with our rules and with the law of the land,” Barau said.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno also backed the motion, saying lawmakers must be seen to uphold the laws they enact.
Minority Leader Abba Moro cautioned senators against making comments capable of damaging reputations, noting that legislative proceedings attract both national and international attention.
Former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, warned that negative remarks about the NNPCL could hurt investor confidence and discourage foreign direct investment.
“The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardise foreign direct investment,” Aliero stated.
Similarly, former Abia State Governor and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu defended the strategic importance of the oil company to Nigeria’s economy and urged Oshiomhole to withdraw the statement.
“It is not good for any committee or individual to criminalise a big company like NNPC. Our future lies in this country. We have no other country than Nigeria,” Kalu said.
Responding to the criticisms, Oshiomhole explained that his comments were made during a tense hearing in which committee members were allegedly provoked by officials appearing before the panel.
He maintained that the committee’s investigation was based on audit reports indicating that about N210 trillion had not been properly accounted for by the NNPCL, adding that the findings originated from auditors engaged by the company itself.
Oshiomhole denied any attempt to undermine the Senate and clarified that the committee had acknowledged it lacked the power to independently issue an arrest warrant, noting that such matters must be referred to the Senate President.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio repeatedly urged lawmakers to remain guided by constitutional provisions and Senate rules.
Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted all eight prayers contained in Bamidele’s motion, including the cancellation of the arrest warrant against Kyari, a reaffirmation that only the Senate President can authorise warrants compelling attendance before committees, and a directive mandating all committees to strictly comply with constitutional and statutory provisions.
Akpabio also disclosed plans to meet with members of the Public Accounts Committee next week to address issues arising from the hearing.
The Senate’s resolutions represent a rare public rebuke of one of its committees and a prominent lawmaker, highlighting growing concerns within the chamber over due process and the conduct of legislative oversight investigations.
