The Senate on Thursday distanced itself from comments by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” insisting that the remarks did not reflect the position of the Red Chamber.
The upper legislative chamber also declared that no Senate committee has the authority to issue, authorize or execute a warrant of arrest except in strict compliance with the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act and with the express approval of the Senate President.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during plenary.
The clarification came barely 24 hours after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts reportedly recommended the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, over his alleged failure to honor invitations extended by the committee.
Lawmakers who contributed to the debate condemned the comments attributed to Oshiomhole, stressing that personal opinions expressed by senators should not be construed as official positions of the Senate.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, and several other lawmakers cautioned the Edo North senator against making remarks capable of undermining public institutions.
They urged members to remain guided by the Constitution and the Senate Standing Orders in the discharge of their duties.
The lawmakers reaffirmed its commitment to due process, legislative decorum and adherence to established legal procedures in carrying out its oversight functions.
Some lawmakers also demanded that Oshiomhole publicly withdraw the statement.
The former Edo State governor defended his comments, saying they were made in reaction to attacks on lawmakers by NNPCL 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.
“If it is the view of the Senate that I should apologize, I have no problem with that,” he said.
Also Read: Senate orders arrest of Kyari over missing N210tn
Oshiomhole said he had no intention of bringing the upper legislative chamber into disrepute and maintained that he was only defending the institution and its members.
“Rather than provide answers, we were told that senators do not have a monopoly on patriotism and were accused of recommending their children for employment in NNPC. The lawmakers were denigrated, and I reacted in defense of the Senate,” the lawmaker said.
He added that he was surprised to be singled out in the controversy.
“I was not the mover of the motion seeking the issuance of a warrant of arrest, and I do not understand why my name was singled out. The Senate Leader referred to my reaction and not to the issues that prompted it,” he added.
The senator further recalled that the upper legislative chamber had previously deliberated on allegations contained in the Auditor-General’s report concerning an unaccounted N210tn.
“We sat here and took a decision regarding the alleged missing N210 trillion. We were informed that Mele Kyari refused to appear before the committee.
“What brought us here in the first place was the allegation that NNPC’s approved auditors could not account for the funds, according to the Auditor-General’s report,” said lawmaker.
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.
Akpabio reminded senators that the motion under consideration was limited to Oshiomhole’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and the issue of a purported arrest warrant issued without following due process.
The development comes hours after Kyari’s reaction to the warrant arrest, claiming that he is currently outside the country undergoing critical medical care.
The 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.
PUNCH NEWS
