Senate Dismisses Committee’s Arrest Warrant against Ex-NNPC Boss, Kyari

• Distance Self from Oshiomhole’s Remark on NNPC

• Safiu Kehinde

The Senate has on Thursday dismissed the arrest warrant issued against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC), Melee Kyari, by its Committee on Public Accounts.

NPO Reported that the committee chaired by Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo, had raised ordered the arrest of Kyari over his absence before the committee for the probe on the alleged financial misappropriation linked to his administration.

The motion for the arrest for the ex-NNPC boss was raised by the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, who demanding the appearance of Kyari before the committee dead or alive.

Oshiomole faulted Kyari’s presentation of a representative to speak on his behalf before the committee.

In a heated argument which ensued between the former Edo State governor and the ex-NNPCC boss’ representatives, Oshiomhole further labelled the NNPC a house of thieves with a reputation for fraud.

In reaction to the development, the Senate at its plenary session held today adopted a motion for the dismissal of the arrest warrant sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

According to reports, Bamidele, in his motion, clarified that under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, only the President of the Senate has the authority to issue a warrant compelling the attendance of any witness before the Senate or its committees.

Lawmakers, in support of the motion, declared that no Senate Committee has the power to independently issue, authorize, or execute a warrant of arrest without the approval of the Senate President.