The Nigerian Senate on Thursday moved swiftly to protect its institutional integrity, nullifying an arrest warrant issued by its Committee on Public Accounts against former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.
In the same vein, the upper legislative chamber formally distanced itself from remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who had described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” during the committee’s ongoing probe.
The decision came after an extensive debate on a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. The motion was unanimously adopted, with senators emphasising strict adherence to constitutional procedures in the exercise of oversight powers.
Bamidele argued that the Public Accounts Committee lacked the authority to issue an arrest warrant, noting that such powers are vested exclusively in the Senate President under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
“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 stated.
He further cautioned that legislative investigations must not be misconstrued as criminal trials, stressing the importance of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence.
The Senate also rejected Oshiomhole’s comments, describing them as personal and not representative of the chamber’s position. Senators warned that such remarks could undermine public confidence in the oversight process and negatively impact investor sentiment towards the NNPCL, described by some as the country’s economic “cash cow.”
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, Minority Leader Abba Moro, and other senators including Adamu Aliero and Orji Uzor Kalu threw their weight behind the motion, describing the committee’s action as an overreach.
In his defence, Senator Oshiomhole said his comments were made under provocation during a tense hearing and were based on audit reports showing massive unaccounted funds. He clarified that the committee had intended to refer the warrant matter to the Senate President.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, urged all lawmakers to be guided by the Constitution and Senate rules. He announced that he would meet with members of the Public Accounts Committee next week to address issues arising from the previous day’s proceedings.
The chamber adopted all eight prayers in the motion, including the nullification of the warrant against Kyari, a clear reaffirmation that only the Senate President can authorise such warrants, and a directive to all committees to strictly comply with legal provisions.
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