The senate has denied claims that it issued the arrest of Mele Kyari, former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, over missing of funds.
In addition, it also distanced itself from comments linked to Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, who reportedly described the NNPC as a “bunch of criminals and thieves” during the committee’s hearing on Wednesday.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader and senator representing Ekiti Central, raised a point of order during plenary, citing Senate Standing Rules 41 and 51.
He also urged the chamber to reaffirm that sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act grant only the Senate President the legal authority to issue a warrant compelling a witness to appear before the Senate or any of its committees.
He further called on the senate to make it clear that no committee has the power to issue, authorise or execute a warrant of arrest except in strict compliance with the law and with the approval of the senate president.
After deliberation, lawmakers rejected the alleged warrant issued by the Public Accounts Committee, ruling that the committee had exceeded its authority.
Additionally, the Senate confirmed that comments purportedly made by Oshiomhole during the hearing do not reflect the chamber’s official position, conclusions, resolutions, or opinion.
Meanwhile, Lawmakers reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to the presumption of innocence, due process, fair hearing, parliamentary objectivity, and institutional neutrality, stressing that courts of competent jurisdiction remain solely responsible for determining criminal liability.
Consequently, the chamber further urged its committees and members to exercise restraint in public comments relating to ongoing investigations and avoid statements capable of prejudicing proceedings or creating the impression that conclusions had already been reached.
BACKSTORY…
This comes following widespread report that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for repeatedly failing to appear before it to explain allegations of N210 trillion in unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.
It also comes amid Edo North senator, Adams Oshiomhole’s scathing attack on the management culture of the NNPC, describing the oil company as an institution plagued by corruption and impunity.
He said, “People want their children to work in NNPC because NNPC is a house of thieves and they want their children to benefit from it. NNPC has no reputation; your reputation is for fraud.”
