Senate distances itself from arrest warrant issued against Mele Kyari

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — The Senate has formally distanced itself from a warrant of arrest that was reportedly issued against Mallam Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), by its Committee on Public Accounts.

The Senate stated that no committee has the authority to independently issue, authorise or execute a warrant of arrest unless it strictly follows the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and obtains approval from the Senate President.

In addition, the Senate clarified that it does not endorse comments attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who allegedly described the NNPCL as a “bunch of criminals and thieves” during a committee hearing.

The controversy began when the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North), decided on Wednesday to order Kyari’s arrest. The decision was based on allegations that Kyari failed to appear before the committee to answer questions about an alleged unaccounted N210 trillion in NNPCL finances between 2017 and 2023.

The warrant was issued during an investigative hearing in Abuja after Kyari did not attend the session.

The matter was brought before the Senate on Thursday by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) through a point of order that cited Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules.

In his submission, Bamidele urged the Senate to reaffirm that, under Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, only the Senate President may issue a warrant compelling the attendance of any witness before the Senate or its committees.

He argued that no committee has the power to issue, authorise or enforce a warrant of arrest on its own.

After deliberation, the Senate resolved that all committees must operate within the limits set by law and that any warrant related to legislative investigations must receive the Senate President’s approval before it can be considered valid or enforceable.

Meanwhile, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) defended his remarks, saying they were made in response to what he described as provocation and were intended to protect the Senate’s integrity and reputation.

The dispute is part of the ongoing investigation by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts into alleged discrepancies and unaccounted funds amounting to N210 trillion in the NNPCL’s financial records between 2017 and 2023.

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