Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senate on Thursday, June 11, 2026, formally dissociated itself from the warrant of arrest issued against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, by its Committee on Public Accounts, declaring that no committee has the authority to issue, authorise or execute a warrant without the express approval of the Senate President. The upper chamber also distanced itself from comments attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), who had described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” during a heated committee hearing on Wednesday.
The clarification followed resolutions adopted during plenary on Thursday after a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), as a matter of urgent national importance. Bamidele, relying on Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, argued that the authority to issue a warrant compelling the attendance of any witness before the Senate or any of its committees is vested exclusively in the Senate President under Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. He emphasised that no committee possesses the independent authority to authorise or execute such a legal instrument.
The warrant of arrest against Kyari arose from his physical absence at an investigative session conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts into 19 audit queries raised against the NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in audited financial statements covering 2017 to 2023. The queries contained unresolved financial entries and discrepancies valued at over N210 trillion. The committee, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe North), had ordered Kyari’s arrest after concluding that repeated invitations had been ignored. A motion seeking the issuance of a warrant was moved by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), who argued that the committee could no longer tolerate continued delays in one of the largest financial accountability exercises ever undertaken by the National Assembly. Backing the proposal, Senator Oshiomhole had urged the committee to act without delay, declaring: “Some people believe they are bigger than Nigeria. The law must be effective when it catches the lion, not only when it catches the rabbit. This committee must have the courage and the will to deploy its powers and issue a warrant of arrest—not tomorrow, but today. Bring Mele Kyari here, dead or alive.”
During the same hearing, an exchange of words occurred between Oshiomhole and the former Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya, who warned that the allegations could harm Nigeria’s international reputation. Ajiya’s statement reportedly irked Oshiomhole, who told him not to lecture the Senate on morals and then proceeded to describe the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.” The Senate on Thursday resolved that the remark was an unwarranted attack on the character of public officers and did not represent the official position, resolution, findings or determination of the Senate.
Lawmakers who contributed to the debate, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (Benue South), cautioned Oshiomhole against making statements capable of undermining the integrity of public institutions. Several senators demanded that Oshiomhole publicly withdraw the comment. In his defence, Oshiomhole said he was shocked to be singled out, noting that he was not the mover of the motion seeking the arrest warrant. He argued that his remarks were made under provocation and that he was defending the Senate from what he described as denigrating remarks by NNPCL officials. “I acted under provocation because distinguished members were being attacked without any proof of the allegations being made. If it is the view of the Senate that I should apologise, I have no problem with that,” he said. Oshiomhole added that he was surprised to be the subject of the motion, given that other senators had also made strong comments during the hearing. “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,” he told lawmakers. His remarks were briefly interrupted by the Senate Chief Whip, who raised a point of order, leading to a temporary uproar before Senate President Godswill Akpabio restored order and reminded senators that the motion under consideration was limited to Oshiomhole’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and the issue of the warrant issued without due process.
The Senate reaffirmed its commitment to due process, legislative decorum and adherence to established legal procedures in carrying out its oversight functions. It maintained that such remarks were personal opinions and should not be interpreted as the position of the institution. The upper chamber urged lawmakers to remain guided by the Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders in the discharge of their duties.
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