The Senate on Thursday overturned an arrest warrant issued by its Committee on Public Accounts against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, declaring that the panel lacked the authority to make such an order.
The committee had, on Wednesday, directed security agencies to compel Kyari’s appearance before it over his repeated failure to honour invitations relating to an ongoing investigation into the company’s audited financial statements and an alleged N2.10 trillion discrepancy.
The decision sparked controversy following a tense session between members of the committee and former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, who appeared before lawmakers to address concerns surrounding the company’s finances.
Isa dismissed allegations that N2.10 trillion was missing from the company’s accounts, arguing that the figure being cited exceeded the N54.5 trillion total revenue generated by the NNPCL during the period under review.
He also defended the company’s management and workforce, insisting that patriotism was not exclusive to members of the National Assembly. Isa further stirred debate when he alleged that some lawmakers often sought employment opportunities for their children in the national oil company because of its status and attractiveness as an employer.
The comments triggered a sharp reaction from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who interrupted the proceedings and reportedly described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
However, the Senate leadership moved swiftly to address the developments during Thursday’s plenary.
Raising a motion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele maintained that a Senate committee does not possess the constitutional or procedural powers to issue arrest warrants against individuals appearing before it. He explained that such authority rests with the Senate President.
Bamidele also faulted Oshiomhole’s characterization of the NNPCL, describing the remarks as inconsistent with parliamentary standards and the decorum expected of lawmakers.
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Following deliberations, the Senate, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, nullified the warrant issued against Kyari and officially dissociated itself from Oshiomhole’s comments.
The matter generated heated exchanges on the floor as Oshiomhole defended his position, insisting that his remarks were made in response to what he considered provocative statements by Isa.
According to the former Edo State governor, the Public Accounts Committee had invited Kyari on nine separate occasions without success, a situation he said justified the committee’s frustration.
Oshiomhole further argued that Isa’s claim that senators routinely seek jobs for their children in the NNPCL was offensive and unfair to members of the National Assembly.
The development adds another twist to the Senate’s ongoing scrutiny of the NNPCL’s financial records, with lawmakers expected to continue investigations into the issues raised in the company’s audited accounts.