Senate dissociates itself from warrant of arrest issued against Mele Kyari
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Senate has disowned reports suggesting that its Committee on Public Accounts issued a warrant of arrest against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari.
The upper legislative chamber clarified that no Senate committee is empowered to independently issue, approve, or enforce an arrest warrant without strict adherence to the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, as well as the authorization of the Senate President.
It also distanced itself from remarks allegedly made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who was quoted as describing the NNPCL as a “group of criminals and thieves” during a committee session.
The controversy followed the decision of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, led by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), on Wednesday to order the arrest of Kyari for allegedly failing to honour an invitation over questions concerning an alleged unaccounted sum of N210 trillion within NNPCL’s finances covering 2017 to 2023.
The committee had issued the directive during an investigative hearing in Abuja after Kyari was absent from the session.
However, the issue was raised before the Senate on Thursday by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), through a point of order in line with Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules.
In his submission, Bamidele maintained that under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, only the Senate President is legally empowered to authorize a warrant compelling any witness to appear before the Senate or its committees.
He further stressed that no committee has the legal backing to unilaterally issue or enforce such a warrant.
After deliberation, the Senate resolved that all committees must operate strictly within the confines of the law, adding that any warrant connected to legislative investigations must first obtain the approval of the Senate President before it can be validly enforced.
Meanwhile, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) denied claims that he used offensive language during the committee proceedings, insisting that his comments were a reaction to provocation and were aimed at defending the dignity of the Senate.
The dispute arises from an ongoing Senate Committee on Public Accounts investigation into alleged financial discrepancies and unaccounted funds totaling N210 trillion in the NNPCL accounts between 2017 and 2023.