The Senate has dissociated itself from the warrant of arrest issued against Mallam Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), by its committee on public accounts.
The upper legislative chamber also distanced itself from comments attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who described the NNPCL as a “bunch of criminals and thieves” during the committee’s hearing.
The matter was raised on the floor of the Senate by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele through a point of order relying on Orders 41 and 51 of the senate standing rules.
Bamidele asked the Senate to reaffirm that, pursuant to Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the authority to issue a warrant compelling the attendance of any witness before the Senate or any of its committees is vested exclusively in the Senate President.
He argued that no committee has the authority to independently issue, authorise or execute a warrant of arrest.
The Senate consequently resolved that no committee shall purport to issue, authorise or execute a warrant except in strict compliance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and with the approval of the Senate President.
