The Senate has distanced itself from the arrest warrant issued against former Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
The clarification followed concerns raised within the upper chamber over the committee’s decision, as well as remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the proceedings.
Senators stressed that while committees of the Senate operate with a degree of autonomy, decisions with far-reaching implications must be properly communicated and subjected to broader consultation with the full chamber.
They also emphasised the need for due process, fairness, and institutional harmony in the exercise of legislative oversight functions.
A source close to the Senate leadership described the committee’s action as “premature,” noting that Kyari had earlier informed the panel of his inability to appear due to a medical trip abroad.
The proceedings in which the Senate distanced itself from the arrest warrant took place on Thursday at plenary.
At the session, lawmakers further underscored the need to balance the enforcement of legislative summons with strict adherence to procedural norms.
This development comes after the Public Accounts Committee had, at its sitting on Wednesday, adopted a motion directing security agencies to arrest Kyari anywhere he is found over his repeated failure to appear before the panel and respond to longstanding audit queries.
The queries border on alleged discrepancies amounting to about N210 trillion in the accounts of the NNPCL between 2017 and 2023.
During the committee proceedings, Senator Adams Oshiomhole strongly supported the motion for the arrest warrant, insisting on accountability and transparency at the highest level of public office.