The Senate on Thursday annulled a purported arrest warrant issued against Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In distancing itself from remarks attributed to Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole—who had described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves”—the upper chamber emphasized its commitment to due process and institutional integrity.
Adopting a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the Red Chamber clarified that no Senate committee holds the constitutional authority to independently issue or enforce arrest warrants, underscoring the legislature’s adherence to established legal procedures.
This happened as Kyari denied allegations of deliberately dodging the Senate probe.
The former NNPCL said he had formally notified the committee in a letter dated May 11, 2026, that he was receiving medical treatment outside Nigeria.
The Senate stressed that legislative oversight must be conducted strictly within the framework of the Constitution, due process, and the principles of fair hearing.
Presenting the motion, Bamidele argued that although Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations and oversight, the authority to issue warrants compelling attendance before legislative proceedings is vested exclusively in the presiding officer of the chamber.
According to him, Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act clearly reserve such powers for the President of the Senate in matters relating to Senate proceedings and committees. He warned that any attempt by a committee to independently issue or enforce a warrant of arrest without authorisation from the Senate President amounted to an unlawful exercise of power.
“The power to issue a warrant affecting the liberty of a citizen is an extraordinary statutory power which must be exercised strictly in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law,” Bamidele said.
The Senate Leader stressed that legislative investigations were not substitutes for criminal prosecution and that neither individuals nor institutions should be presumed guilty before the conclusion of investigations or judicial determination.
“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 stated.
Bamidele also faulted the remarks attributed to Oshiomhole during proceedings of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, arguing that describing the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves” conveyed a conclusion of criminal culpability before the completion of any lawful investigation.
He cautioned that such statements could easily be interpreted by the public as the official position of the Senate and thereby compromise confidence in the objectivity of ongoing legislative oversight.
“Such statements, if left unclarified, may be misconstrued by the public as representing the official position of the Senate and may undermine confidence in the impartiality and objectivity of ongoing legislative oversight proceedings,” Bamidele said.
Following a debate, the Senate formally dissociated itself from the remarks, declaring that they neither reflected its findings nor represented its official position.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin strongly supported the motion, insisting that committees remain subordinate organs of the Senate and could only make recommendations rather than exercise powers reserved for the Red Chamber.
Reading from constitutional and Senate provisions, Barau said the Public Accounts Committee had exceeded its authority.
“The committee overstepped its bounds, and he (Oshiomhole) has done the right thing by drawing attention to it,” he said.
Barau added: “We need to do things in line with our rules and with the law of the land.”
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the motion as a timely intervention to preserve the credibility of the National Assembly.
According to him, lawmakers must not be seen violating the very laws they enact for the country.
“The Senate, being the highest law-making body of the country, should not only be above board but should also be seen manifestly to be above board,” he said.
Monguno described the motion as a wake-up call for committees to strictly comply with constitutional provisions and the Senate Rules in carrying out their oversight responsibilities.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro also backed the motion, stressing the need for lawmakers to exercise restraint in public comments and avoid statements capable of damaging reputations.
“We should not make statements that seek to impugn the character of public officers or individuals in society,” Moro said.
He warned that Nigerians closely monitor Senate proceedings and that inappropriate conduct could erode public confidence in the institution.
Senator Adamu Aliero, a former Kebbi State governor, was among the strongest critics of Oshiomhole’s remarks.
He described them as reckless and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s economic interests.
“The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardise foreign direct investment,” Aliero said.
He urged the Senate to unequivocally condemn the remarks and distance itself from them in order to protect both the image of the NNPCL and that of the National Assembly.
Also contributing, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Abia State governor, underscored the strategic importance of the national oil company to the country’s economy and urged Oshiomhole to retract the statement.
“It is not good for any committee or individual to criminalise a big company like the
NNPC,” Kalu said.
“Our future lies in this country. We have no other country than Nigeria.”
Responding to his remarks, Oshiomhole maintained that he had not been given an opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding his comments before the motion was introduced on the floor.
The Edo North senator said his remarks were made in reaction to what he considered provocative conduct by NNPCL’s officials appearing before the Public Accounts Committee during its investigation of audit queries involving the national company.
According to him, the committee was probing audit reports indicating that approximately ₦210 trillion had not been properly accounted for by the company; findings he noted were contained in reports prepared by auditors appointed by the NNPCL itself.
“I acted under provocation because distinguished senators were being attacked unjustly,” Oshiomhole said.
The former Edo State governor insisted that he was defending the integrity of the Senate and had no intention of bringing the institution into disrepute.
He also clarified that the Public Accounts Committee had acknowledged it lacked the authority to issue an arrest warrant on its own and had intended to refer the matter to the Senate President for appropriate action.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio repeatedly urged senators to remain guided by the Red Chamber’s rules and constitutional provisions in the discharge of their responsibilities.
At the end of the debate, the Senate adopted all eight prayers contained in Bamidele’s motion through a voice vote.
The resolutions included a reaffirmation that only the Senate President can authorize warrants compelling attendance before Senate committees; a declaration that no committee may independently issue or execute arrest warrants; formal dissociation of the Senate from Oshiomhole’s remarks about the NNPCL; reaffirmation of due process, fair hearing and the presumption of innocence; a directive to committees to strictly comply with constitutional and statutory provisions; and the nullification of the purported warrant of arrest issued against Kyari by the Public Accounts Committee.
Akpabio later announced that he would meet with members of the Public Accounts Committee to address concerns raised during the debate and ensure greater compliance with legislative procedures.
“I would like to see the Committee on Public Accounts, the Chairman and all the members. I will communicate a date to them next week so that I can discuss with them,” the Senate President said.
Also, Kyari claimed that he had not received any subsequent summons before the warrant was issued.
The ex-NNPC boss expressed shock by the decision of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to issue an arrest warrant against him over an ongoing investigation into the company’s financial records.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Kyari stated: “I refer to the news of the arrest warrant issued against me during the proceedings of your esteemed Committee today, June 10, 2026. I am deeply shocked by the issuance of the warrant.
“I also expressed my willingness to honour the Committee’s invitation as soon as I return to Nigeria,” he said. “I wish to reiterate that I remain very willing and ready to honour the invitation of the Committee and to appear before it once I return to the country.
“However, I wish to respectfully state that I have neither received nor sighted the said invitation. Had the invitation reached me, I would have gladly honoured it,” he stated.
Kyari explained that his current health condition makes it impossible for him to appear physically before the committee at this time.
He urged the lawmakers to direct any questions or requests for clarification through his legal team while he continues treatment abroad.
He assured the committee of his full cooperation with the investigation and pledged to appear in person once his health permits.
Defending his tenure at the national oil company, Kyari said his management team transformed the NNPCL from a loss-making organisation into a commercially viable and profitable entity. He added that all transactions undertaken during his administration were properly documented and remain available for scrutiny.
“I remain deeply grateful to my country for the opportunity afforded me to serve with utmost diligence and commitment,” he said.
Former NNPCL Group Managing Director Mele Kyari has reiterated that he has nothing to conceal and remains committed to cooperating fully with the Senate in its ongoing investigation.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts had earlier issued a warrant of arrest after Kyari failed to appear at a scheduled sitting.
The committee is examining the financial records and transactions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, including matters relating to over ₦210 trillion currently under review.
The motion for the warrant was introduced by Senator Victor Umeh and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
