By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
The Senate on Thursday disassociated itself from an arrest warrant issued by its Committee on Public Accounts against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari. The chamber also rejected disparaging remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves”.
The repudiation followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele under a point of order on urgent national importance. Bamidele said the Senate needed to preserve its institutional authority, ensure compliance with the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act, and safeguard fair hearing and due process.
The controversy arose on Wednesday when the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, continued its investigation into queries raised against NNPCL by the Auditor General of the Federation in audit reports from 2017 to 2023. During the session with former NNPCL management, the committee resolved to issue an arrest warrant against Kyari.
At the same session, Senator Oshiomhole, a committee member, made negative comments about NNPCL. He described the company as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” while interrogating the former management team.
Barely 24 hours later, the full Senate in plenary disowned both the committee’s action and Oshiomhole’s comments, stressing that they did not reflect the position of the institution.
Bamidele told the Senate that any committee carrying out oversight under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution must act in accordance with natural justice, fairness, objectivity, parliamentary responsibility and respect for the rule of law.
“While the Senate possesses extensive investigative and oversight powers, such powers must be exercised in a manner that does not create the appearance of bias, prejudice, prejudgment, or predetermined conclusions regarding any person or institution under investigation,” he said.
He specifically argued that the warrant of arrest issued against Kyari was marred by procedural irregularities and should be declared null and void. He also urged the Senate to discountenance Oshiomhole’s description of NNPCL.
“Such procedural irregularities may expose Senate proceedings to avoidable legal challenges and diminish public confidence in the institution,” Bamidele warned. He added that statements suggesting guilt before conclusion of investigations prejudice proceedings.
The motion received strong support from Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Whip Tahir Monguno, Senator Adamu Aliero, who called Oshiomhole’s comments reckless, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who moved that Oshiomhole withdraw the statement.
Responding, Oshiomhole said his remarks were made under extreme provocation triggered by equally disparaging comments made against the Senate and senators by former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Alhaji Umar Ajiya, during the investigative session.
In its resolution, the Senate formally disassociated itself from Oshiomhole’s comment describing NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” clarifying that such remarks do not constitute the official position or determination of the Senate.
The chamber also discountenanced the purported arrest warrant issued by the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, against Mele Kyari.
