The Senate has disowned the arrest warrant issued against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, by its Committee on Public Accounts, declaring that the action did not follow due legislative process.
The upper legislative chamber on Thursday said no committee has the authority to issue, authorise or enforce a warrant except in strict compliance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and with the approval of the Senate President.
It also distanced itself from comments allegedly made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole during a committee sitting, where he was reported to have described the NNPC as a “bunch of criminals and thieves.”
Kyari had been ordered arrested on Wednesday by the Senate Public Accounts Committee after he failed to appear before it for an investigative hearing into alleged unaccounted funds totalling about N210 trillion covering the period between 2017 and 2023.
The directive was issued during a sitting of the committee chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe North.
The arrest order followed Kyari’s absence from the hearing where he was expected to respond to queries relating to the financial records of the national oil company.
However, on Thursday, the issue was brought before the Senate plenary by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) through a point of order under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Rules.
Bamidele argued that, in line with Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, only the Senate President has the legal authority to issue warrants compelling witnesses to appear before the chamber or its committees.
He maintained that no committee of the Senate can independently issue or enforce such a warrant.
Meanwhile, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), who was criticised over alleged unparliamentary remarks during the hearing, defended himself, saying his comments were made under provocation and in defence of the integrity of the Senate.