BREAKING: Senate Disowns Kyari Arrest Warrant, Carpets Oshiomhole Over Remarks

The Senate on Thursday disowned the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and distanced itself from comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the company in uncomplImentary terms.

It said neither the warrant nor Oshiomhole’s remarks reflected its official position, noting that committee actions do not automatically translate to Senate resolutions.

The clarification followed reactions to proceedings of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which summoned Kyari and other former NNPCL officials over issues arising from the company’s audited accounts.

During plenary, lawmakers also condemned Oshiomhole’s comments, which Senate President Godswill Akpabio described as unparliamentary, while reaffirming that Senate committees lack authority to issue arrest warrants without approval from the Senate President and compliance with due process.

The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during plenary.

Bamidele warned that any attempt by a committee to issue or execute a warrant independently would be unlawful.

“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,” he said.

“The constitutional doctrine of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence require that no person or institution be adjudged guilty except by a court of competent jurisdiction after due process of law,” the Ekiti lawmaker said.

He added that such actions or statements could be wrongly perceived as the Senate’s official stance, stressing, “Such statements, if left unclarified, may be misconstrued by the public as representing the official position of the Senate and may undermine confidence in the impartiality and objectivity of ongoing legislative oversight proceedings.”

The Senate thereafter adopted a resolution formally dissociating itself from Oshiomhole’s remarks, insisting they do not represent its findings or position.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin backed the motion, stressing that committees remain subordinate to the chamber.

“The committee overstepped its bounds, and he has done the right thing by drawing attention to it,” he stated.

He emphasised that, “We need to do things in line with our rules and with the law of the land.”

Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno said the intervention was necessary to protect the legislature’s credibility.

According to Monguno, “The Senate, being the highest law-making body of the country, should not only be above board but should be seen manifestly to be above board.”

Benue Senator Abba Moro urged restraint in public commentary by lawmakers.

“We should not make statements that seek to impugn the character of public officers or individuals in society.”

Also, Senator Adamu Aliero described Oshiomhole’s comments as reckless, warning of reputational and economic consequences.

“The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardise foreign direct investment.”

Abia Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also defended NNPCL’s role and called for restraint.

“It is not good for any committee or individual to criminalise a big company like NNPC,” Kalu said.

“Our future lies in this country,” he stated adding, “We have no other country than Nigeria.”

The Senate rejected Oshiomhole’s defence reaffirming its commitment to due process, fair hearing, and proper oversight procedures, while urging the public to distinguish between committee actions and plenary decisions.

The controversy stemmed from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo's bid to consider the company’s account.

The committee had moved to compel Kyari to appear after a motion sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh.

“This matter has lingered for too long. Nigerians deserve answers. The committee cannot continue to wait indefinitely while critical questions concerning trillions of naira remain unanswered,” Umeh had said.

The session turned tense when Senator Tony Nwoye informed the committee that Kyari was receiving medical treatment in Germany.

“I spoke to Mele Kyari about a week ago. He promised that he would be here. But incidentally, I learned last night that the man is hospitalized in Germany,” Nwoye said.

Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi rejected the explanation, saying, “You are not Kyari’s lawyer!”

Nwoye replied, “I am not holding brief for Mele Kyari. I am duty-bound to bring this information to the committee. The decision on whether to issue a warrant of arrest is entirely for this committee to make.”

Kyari, in a letter to the committee, denied evading investigation.

“I remain very willing and ready to honour the invitation of the Committee and to appear before it once I return to the country,” he stated.

“However, I wish to respectfully state that I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation. Had the invitation reached me, I would have gladly honoured it,” he added.

Former NNPCL Chief Finance Officer Bala Ajiya also defended the corporation’s records.

“There is no money missing,” he said. He dismissed claims of N210tn missing, describing them as misinterpretations of accounting entries.

He also clarified that N5.8bn alleged for registration was actually N2.9bn paid to CAC, FIRS, and other agencies, insisting all transactions were properly documented.

The Senate further clarified that Oshiomhole’s remarks did not represent its official position.