By Daily Review Online
The Senate on Thursday distanced itself from remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” while also clarifying that no valid arrest warrant had been issued against the company’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
The upper chamber stated that the comments by the Edo North senator did not represent the official position of the Senate and warned that no committee has the authority to issue or execute a warrant of arrest without following due process and obtaining the approval of the Senate President.
The clarification followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during plenary.
Bamidele stressed that the power to issue a warrant affecting the liberty of any citizen is an extraordinary legal authority that must be exercised strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
He further noted that the principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence require that no individual or institution be declared guilty without a decision from a competent court.
According to him, public statements made during legislative proceedings could easily be misconstrued as the official position of the Senate and might undermine confidence in the objectivity of ongoing oversight investigations.
The motion came a day after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts reportedly recommended an arrest warrant for Kyari over his alleged failure to honour invitations related to investigations into issues arising from the Auditor-General’s report.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said Senate committees are subordinate bodies empowered only to make recommendations to the chamber and cannot independently exercise powers reserved for the Senate.
He maintained that all legislative actions must conform to the Constitution and the Senate Standing Rules.
Several lawmakers echoed similar concerns.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno said the intervention was necessary to protect the integrity of the legislature, insisting that lawmakers must adhere to the same laws they enact for the country.
Senator Abba Moro urged members to avoid statements capable of tarnishing the reputation of individuals or public institutions, noting that Nigerians closely monitor Senate proceedings.
Former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, criticised Oshiomhole’s remarks, describing them as reckless and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s image among foreign investors.
“The NNPCL remains a critical institution in Nigeria’s economy, and such comments could send the wrong signal to the international community,” he argued.
Former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, also defended the state-owned oil company and urged Oshiomhole to withdraw the statement, warning against criminalising a strategic national institution without due process.
Responding, Oshiomhole said his remarks were made in reaction to comments allegedly directed at senators by NNPCL officials. He maintained that he was defending the integrity of the Senate and had no intention of bringing the institution into disrepute.
The former Edo State governor added that if the Senate considered an apology necessary, he would not object.
Oshiomhole also questioned why attention was focused on his remarks rather than the substantive issues surrounding allegations in the Auditor-General’s report concerning an unaccounted N210 trillion and Kyari’s alleged refusal to appear before the relevant committee.
His comments sparked brief exchanges among lawmakers before Senate President Godswill Akpabio restored order and reminded members that the debate was limited to the issue of the purported arrest warrant and the senator’s remarks.
The development comes amid reports that Kyari, in a letter that surfaced after the committee’s recommendation, informed the Senate that he is currently outside Nigeria receiving critical medical treatment.