Senate Clarifies Authority Over Arrest Warrants and Disassociates from Senator’s Comments
The Senate has taken a firm stance on the issue of arrest warrants, emphasizing that no committee within the legislative body has the authority to issue, authorize, or execute such a warrant without strict compliance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and explicit approval from the Senate President. This clarification came in response to recent developments involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), including controversial remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
During a plenary session, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, introduced a motion that led to a series of resolutions aimed at reinforcing the Senate’s procedural integrity. The resolutions followed a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to issue an arrest warrant against Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, over alleged non-compliance with committee invitations.
Addressing Controversial Remarks
Senator Oshiomhole had previously described the NNPC as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” a statement that the Senate swiftly distanced itself from. Lawmakers emphasized that personal opinions expressed by individual senators should not be interpreted as official positions of the Senate. The Senate adopted a formal resolution to dissociate itself from Oshiomhole’s comments, clarifying that they did not represent the findings, opinions, or official stance of the upper chamber.
Bamidele warned that any attempt by a Senate committee to independently issue or execute an arrest warrant without the Senate President’s authorization could constitute an unlawful exercise of power. He stressed that the power to affect a citizen’s liberty is a statutory responsibility that must be exercised strictly according to legal procedures. “The constitutional doctrine of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence require that no person or institution be adjudged guilty except by a court of competent jurisdiction after due process of law,” he said.
Constitutional Responsibilities and Procedural Compliance
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the motion, describing it as part of the Senate Leader’s constitutional responsibilities. He highlighted that committees are subordinate organs of the Senate and may only make recommendations rather than exercise powers reserved for the chamber. “The committee overstepped its bounds, and he has done the right thing by drawing attention to it,” Jibrin stated.
Tahir Monguno called the motion a necessary intervention to preserve the credibility of the legislature. He argued that it would be contradictory for lawmakers to create laws for national governance while simultaneously violating them. “The Senate, being the highest law-making body of the country, should not only be above board but should be seen manifestly to be above board,” he said.
Concerns About Public Perception and Institutional Trust
Abba Moro emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum and avoiding statements that could damage reputations. “We should not make statements that seek to impugn the character of public officers or individuals in society,” he cautioned. Moro warned that inappropriate conduct by senators could undermine public trust in the institution.
Adamu Aliero was among the strongest critics of Oshiomhole’s comments, calling them “reckless” and arguing that they could harm Nigeria’s investment image internationally. “The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardise foreign direct investment,” he said. Aliero urged the Senate to collectively condemn and distance itself from the remarks to protect both the image of NNPCL and the Senate.
Orji Uzor Kalu also defended the strategic importance of NNPC to Nigeria’s economy and urged Oshiomhole to publicly withdraw the statement. “It is not good for any committee or individual to criminalise a big company like NNPC. Our future lies in this country. We have no other country than Nigeria,” he said.
Oshiomhole’s Defense and the Role of the Senate President
Responding to the controversy, Oshiomhole defended his comments, stating they were made in reaction to attacks on lawmakers by NNPC officials. “I acted under provocation because distinguished members were being attacked without any proof of the allegations being made. We are knowledgeable of the rules and not ignorant of them,” he said. Oshiomhole added that he had no intention of bringing the Senate into disrepute and maintained that he was only defending the institution and its members.
He also expressed surprise at being singled out in the controversy, noting that he was not the mover of the motion seeking the issuance of an arrest warrant. “The Senate Leader referred to my reaction and not to the issues that prompted it,” he added.
Oshiomhole recalled that the Senate had previously deliberated on allegations contained in the Auditor-General’s report concerning an unaccounted N210tn. “We sat here and made a decision regarding the alleged missing N210tn. We were informed that Mele Kyari refused to appear before the committee,” he said.
His remarks were interrupted when the Senate Chief Whip raised a point of order, urging him to confine his comments to the matter before the chamber. The intervention triggered a brief uproar before Senate President Godswill Akpabio restored order.
Kyari’s Response to the Arrest Warrant
The development comes hours after Kyari’s reaction to the arrest warrant, claiming that he is currently outside the country, undergoing critical medical care. His claim was contained in a letter seen by Nairametrics and purportedly signed by Kyari on May 8, 2026. The letter began circulating following the arrest order issued by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
Kyari expressed surprise over the arrest warrant issued against him by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. In a letter dated June 10, 2026, Kyari said he had previously written to the committee on May 8 and that the correspondence was received on May 11, informing lawmakers that he was abroad on medical grounds and unable to attend the hearing physically.
Kyari maintained that his absence was solely due to health reasons and not an attempt to obstruct the committee’s work, pledging his full cooperation with the investigation. “I am deeply shocked by the issuance of the warrant, especially as I had earlier communicated with your committee via a letter dated and received on 11th May, 2026. In that letter, I informed the committee that I was out of the country on medical grounds. I also expressed my willingness to honour the Committee’s invitation as soon as I return to Nigeria,” Kyari wrote.
The former NNPC boss added that he had offered to respond to any questions from the committee in writing to avoid delaying its work.
