The Senate has distanced itself from the arrest warrant reportedly issued against Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, by its Committee on Public Accounts.
The upper legislative chamber also dissociated itself from remarks attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), who allegedly described the NNPC as a “bunch of criminals and thieves” during the committee’s hearing on Wednesday.
The senate clarified that the actions and statements credited to the committee and the lawmaker do not represent the position of the entire chamber.
The clarification was contained in resolutions during the plenary on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
The senate also declared that no senate committee has the authority to issue, authorise, or execute a warrant of arrest except in strict compliance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and with the express approval of the President of the Senate.
The resolutions come barely 24 hours after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts reportedly considered and recommended the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, over allegations that he failed to honour invitations extended by the committee.
During deliberations on the motion, lawmakers strongly condemned the comments attributed to Senator Oshiomhole, describing them as an unwarranted attack on the character of public officers.
The Senate maintained that such statements were personal opinions and should not be construed as the position of the institution.
Several senators, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, cautioned the Edo State lawmaker against making remarks capable of undermining the integrity of public institutions.
They urged lawmakers to remain guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate standing orders in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities.
The senate reaffirmed its commitment to due process, legislative decorum, and adherence to established legal procedures in carrying out its oversight functions.
Some lawmakers are asking that he (Oshiomhole) publicly withdraw his statement.
Responding to concerns raised by his colleagues, Oshiomhole defended his actions, admitting that his comments were made under provocation after lawmakers were denigrated and accused by the NNPCL officials.
“I acted under provocation because distinguished members were being attacked without any proof of the allegations being made. We are knowledgeable of the rules and not ignorant of them,” he said. “If it is the view of the senate that I should apologise, I have no problem with that.”
The former Edo State governor stated that he would do nothing to bring embarrassment to the senate, adding that he was merely defending the integrity of the institution and its members.
The senator maintained that he was defending the credibility of the Senate when he reacted to comments he considered disrespectful to lawmakers.
“Rather than provide answers, we were told that senators do not have a monopoly on patriotism and were accused of recommending their children for employment in NNPC. The lawmakers were denigrated, and I reacted in defence of the Senate,” the lawmaker said.
According to him, the least he expected from his colleagues was the opportunity to be consulted before conclusions were drawn or accusations made against him.
He said, “I was not the mover of the motion seeking the issuance of a warrant of arrest, and I do not understand why my name was singled out. The senate leader referred to my reaction and not to the issues that prompted it.”
Oshiomhole recalled that the Senate had deliberated on allegations concerning an unaccounted 210 trillion naira cited in a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which had been referred to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
“We sat here and took a decision regarding the alleged missing N210 trillion. We were informed that Mele Kyari refused to appear before the committee. What brought us here in the first place was the allegation that NNPC’s approved auditors could not account for the funds, according to the Auditor-General’s report,” the Edo North senator told the lawmakers.
At that point, the senate chief whip raised a point of order, urging the lawmakers to confine his remarks strictly to the matter under consideration and avoid expanding the debate.
The intervention triggered a brief uproar in the chamber before the Senate President stepped in to restore order.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reminded members that the motion before the chamber was narrowly focused on the senator’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and the issue of the purported issuance of a warrant of arrest without adherence to established procedures.