Akpabio Backs Reversal of Kyari Arrest Warrant as Senate Distances Itself from Committee Action

The Senate has discontinued the warrant of arrest issued by its Public Accounts Committee against the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr.

Mele Kyari, over an alleged unaccounted sum of ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
The lawmakers resolved to withdraw the warrant following a motion on a matter of urgent national importance concerning the arrest warrant issued by the Senate Public Accounts Committee. The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, who represents Ekiti Central, during plenary in Abuja.
Presenting the motion, Senator Opeyemi cited relevant provisions of the Senate Rules, stating that no Senate committee or its leadership has the authority to issue a warrant of arrest against any chief executive officer except through the President of the Senate or the Deputy President of the Senate.
Senator Opeyemi also criticised and distanced the Senate from comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, during the investigative hearing, where he described the NNPCL as a “house of thieves.”
Seconding the motion, Senators Adamu Aliero, Mohammed Monguno and Orji Uzor Kalu supported the decision to discontinue the warrant of arrest issued by the committee. They also called on Senator Oshiomhole to apologise for his remarks.
However, Senator Oshiomhole, in his defence, rejected the call for an apology. He maintained that the position of members of the Public Accounts Committee was based on the NNPCL audit report covering the period under investigation.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, ruled in support of the discontinuance of the arrest warrant against Mr. Kyari and requested a meeting with the Senate Public Accounts Committee to find a solution to the issue.