The Senate of Nigeria has formally dissociated itself from comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
The Senate maintained that the remarks were personal opinions and do not represent the official position, findings, or resolutions of the Red Chamber.
The clarification emerged during Thursday’s plenary following a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
The upper legislative chamber also declared that no Senate committee has the authority to issue, authorise, or execute a warrant of arrest except in accordance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and with the express approval of the Senate President.
The development comes a day after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts reportedly recommended an arrest warrant against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before the committee during an ongoing investigation into the company’s financial records.
Speaking on the motion, Bamidele warned that any committee acting independently to issue or enforce an arrest warrant without proper authorisation would be exceeding its legal powers.
“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,” he said.
He further stressed that constitutional principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence must always be respected.
“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 added.
Bamidele argued that Oshiomhole’s comments could be interpreted by the public as the official position of the Senate and potentially undermine confidence in legislative oversight processes.
“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,” he stated.
Following deliberations, the Senate adopted a resolution officially distancing itself from the remarks.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the motion, noting that Senate committees are subordinate bodies whose responsibilities are limited to making recommendations to the chamber.
“The committee overstepped its bounds, and he has done the right thing by drawing attention to it,” Jibrin said.
He emphasised that all Senate activities must be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and established parliamentary rules.
“We need to do things in line with our rules and with the law of the land,” he added.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the motion as necessary to protect the credibility of the legislature.
“The Senate, being the highest law-making body of the country, should not only be above board but should be seen manifestly to be above board,” he said.
Similarly, Senator Abba Moro cautioned lawmakers against making statements that could damage reputations.
“We should not make statements that seek to impugn the character of public officers or individuals in society,” Moro said.
Former Kebbi State Governor and Senator Adamu Aliero strongly criticised Oshiomhole’s remarks, arguing that such comments could harm Nigeria’s international investment image.
“The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardise foreign direct investment,” Aliero stated.
Former Abia State Governor and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also defended the strategic importance of NNPCL to the Nigerian economy and urged Oshiomhole to withdraw the statement.
“It is not good for any committee or individual to criminalise a big company like NNPC,” Kalu said.
Responding to the criticism, Oshiomhole defended his comments, insisting they were made in reaction to what he described as 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,” he said.
He added that he had no intention of bringing the Senate into disrepute and indicated a willingness to apologise if that reflected the wishes of the chamber.
“If it is the view of the Senate that I should apologise, I have no problem with that,” he said.
Oshiomhole further argued that lawmakers had been criticised after raising questions about allegations contained in audit reports relating to NNPCL finances, including concerns over an alleged unaccounted ₦210 trillion referenced during Senate deliberations.
His remarks were eventually interrupted following a point of order raised by the Senate Chief Whip, prompting Senate President Godswill Akpabio to restore order and remind members that the motion was limited to the issue of Oshiomhole’s comments and the procedure surrounding the purported arrest warrant.
The debate comes amid continuing scrutiny of NNPCL’s financial records and shortly after Kyari stated that he is currently outside Nigeria receiving medical treatment, a claim he said informed his inability to honour invitations from the Senate committee.
