From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Senate, on Thursday, disowned a warrant of arrest issued by its Public Accounts Committee against Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over the alleged missing N210 trillion funds.
The Senate also dissociated itself from remarks by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, who described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” during a committee session on Wednesday.
The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo, Gombe North, had issued the warrant after an investigative session with former NNPCL management. The probe was based on queries from the Auditor-General’s reports covering 2017 to 2023. Oshiomhole, a committee member, made the disparaging comments during that session.
At plenary on Thursday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Ekiti Central, raised a point of order on urgent national importance. He said the Senate must preserve its institutional authority and uphold due process, fair hearing, and parliamentary neutrality in oversight proceedings.
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“While the Senate has extensive investigative powers, they must be exercised without bias, prejudgment, or predetermined conclusions,” Bamidele said.
He argued that the warrant against Kyari was marred by procedural irregularities and should be declared null and void. He added that Oshiomhole’s comments could prejudice the investigation and erode public confidence in the Senate.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Whip Tahir Monguno, Senator Adamu Aliero and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu backed the motion. Aliero called Oshiomhole’s remarks “reckless”, while Kalu urged that they be withdrawn.
In his response, Oshiomhole said his comments were made “under extreme provocation” after the former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, allegedly made disparaging remarks against the Senate and senators at the hearing.
The Senate subsequently adopted the motion. It disassociated itself from Oshiomhole’s comments, stating they do not reflect the official position of the chamber. It also discountenanced the arrest warrant issued by the Public Accounts Committee on June 10, 2026.
The Senate urged all committees and members to exercise restraint in public statements on ongoing investigations and avoid comments that could prejudice proceedings or suggest conclusions before investigations are concluded.
