Senate Declares Arrest Warrant for Former NNPC Boss Invalid, Rebukes Senator Over Defamatory Comments

The Senate has invalidated a purported arrest warrant issued against Mele Kyari, the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The upper legislative chamber ruled that no committee has the independent authority to issue or execute arrest warrants without the explicit approval of the Senate President.

The decision followed a motion presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, which came shortly after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts recommended Kyari’s arrest for failing to appear before an ongoing financial investigation.

The Senate clarified that committees are subordinate organs meant to provide recommendations rather than independently exercise extraordinary statutory powers.

During the debate, lawmakers also formally distanced the chamber from derogatory remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who had characterized the NNPCL leadership as corrupt.

Multiple senators criticized the statement as reckless, warning that criminalizing the country’s primary state oil firm on the legislative floor could severely damage Nigeria’s international reputation and jeopardize foreign direct investment.

In his defense, Oshiomhole stated his comments were a reactionary response to provocations by NNPCL officials, who had allegedly denigrated lawmakers during previous inquiries. While he expressed a willingness to apologize if required by the chamber, Oshiomhole reminded his colleagues that the underlying issue stemmed from an Auditor-General’s report concerning unaccounted revenue.

Meanwhile, a letter from Mele Kyari addressed to the Public Accounts Committee circulated publicly. Kyari expressed shock over the arrest order, explaining that he had formally notified the committee weeks prior that he was outside the country undergoing critical medical care.

Kyari stated that his absence was purely health-related and offered to provide written submissions to ensure the investigation was not delayed.