Senate withdraws arrest warrant against Kyari

The Senate on Thursday faulted its Committee on Public Accounts for issuing an arrest warrant against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to honour invitations from the committee. The committee, which is investigating the company’s audited accounts in relation to an alleged N2.10 […]

The Senate on Thursday faulted its Committee on Public Accounts for issuing an arrest warrant against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to honour invitations from the committee.

The committee, which is investigating the company’s audited accounts in relation to an alleged N2.10 trillion financial discrepancy, had on Wednesday directed that Kyari be arrested and brought before it to explain the issue.

During the committee’s sitting on Wednesday, a heated exchange occurred between some lawmakers and former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Umar Ajiya Isa.

Isa rejected claims that funds were missing, arguing that the N210 trillion figure being cited as unaccounted for exceeded the N54.5 trillion total revenue generated by the company during the period under review.

He also told the committee that patriotism was not the exclusive preserve of the Senate, stressing that NNPCL management and staff were equally patriotic Nigerians. Isa further alleged that some senators frequently sought employment opportunities for their children in the company because of its prestige.

During the exchange, Senator Adams Oshiomhole interrupted Isa and reportedly described the NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”

At Thursday’s plenary, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised a motion, arguing that a Senate committee does not possess the authority to issue an arrest warrant against any individual under investigation.

According to Bamidele, such powers rest solely with the President of the Senate. He also described Oshiomhole’s remarks about the NNPCL as unparliamentary.

Consequently, the Senate, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, nullified the arrest warrant issued against Kyari and formally distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s comments.

The plenary reportedly became rowdy when Oshiomhole rose to defend his remarks.

The senator said his comments were made under provocation and were intended to protect the integrity of the Senate and members of the committee. He noted that the committee had invited Kyari on nine occasions without securing his appearance.

Oshiomhole also said he considered Isa’s allegation that senators routinely seek job placements for their children in the NNPCL to be derogatory and offensive to lawmakers.