Senate Condemns Committee on Public Accounts' Comments On NNPCL's CEO, As Oshiomhole Defends Self
The Senate has dissociated itself from comments formally condemned and dissociated itself from comments attributed to its Committee on Public Accounts ordering the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for allegedly failing to honour invitations extended to him by the committee.
The Senate has dissociated itself from comments formally condemned and dissociated itself from comments attributed to its Committee on Public Accounts ordering the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for allegedly failing to honour invitations extended to him by the committee.
The clarifications are coming barely 24 hours after the Senate Committee on Public Accounts allegedly considered and recommended the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for failing to honour invitations extended by the committee.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Adams Oshiomhole had announced and issuance of the warrant of arrest, describing the NNPCL, as "a bunch of criminals and thieves."
However, according to the Senate, the remarks do not represent the official position, resolution, opinion, finding, or determination of the upper legislative chamber.
The upper chamber made the clarifications during plenary on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
It also, noted that no Senate committee has the authority to issue, authorise, or execute a warrant of arrest except in strict compliance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Actt, with the approval of the Senate President.
During deliberations on the motion, Thursday, lawmakers strongly condemned the comments attributed to Senator Oshiomhole, describing them as an unwarranted attack on the character of public officers.
The Senate stressed that such statements were personal opinions and should not be attributed as the position of the Senate as an institution.
Those who contributed to the debate
ncluded the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro.
The upper chamber made the clarifications during plenary on Thursday following a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
It also, noted that no Senate committee has the authority to issue, authorise, or execute a warrant of arrest except in strict compliance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Actt, with the approval of the Senate President.
During deliberations on the motion, Thursday, lawmakers strongly condemned the comments attributed to Senator Oshiomhole, describing them as an unwarranted attack on the character of public officers.
The Senate stressed that such statements were personal opinions and should not be attributed as the position of the Senate as an institution.
Those who contributed to the debate
ncluded the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro.
They cautioned Oshiomhole against making frivolous on remarks capable of undermining the integrity of public institutions, just as they urged lawmakers to remain guided by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Senate standing orders in the discharge of their legislative responsibilities.
The lawmakers further reaffirmed their commitment to due process, legislative decorum, and adherence to established legal procedures in carrying out its oversight functions, even as some urged (Oshiomhole) to publicly withdraw his statement.
The lawmakers further reaffirmed their commitment to due process, legislative decorum, and adherence to established legal procedures in carrying out its oversight functions, even as some urged (Oshiomhole) to publicly withdraw his statement.
According to them, Oshiomhole: I acted under Provocation but the former governor of Edo State, defended his actions, admitting that his comments were made under provocation after lawmakers were denigrated and accused by the NNPCL officials.
His words, “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. If it is the view of the Senate that I should apologise, I have no problem with that.
“Rather than provide answers, we were told that senators do not have a monopoly on patriotism and were accused of recommending their children for employment in NNPC.
His words, “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. If it is the view of the Senate that I should apologise, I have no problem with that.
“Rather than provide answers, we were told that senators do not have a monopoly on patriotism and were accused of recommending their children for employment in NNPC.
"The lawmakers were denigrated, and I reacted in defence of the Senate.
“I was not the mover of the motion seeking the issuance of a warrant of arrest, and I do not understand why my name was singled out. The Senate Leader referred to my reaction and not to the issues that prompted it.”
The former Edo State governor stated that he would do nothing to bring embarrassment to the Senate, adding that he was merely defending the integrity of the institution and its members.
He recalled that the Senate had deliberated on allegations concerning an unaccounted N210 trillion cited in a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which had been referred to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
“We sat here and took a decision regarding the alleged missing N210 trillion. We were informed that Mele Kyari refused to appear before the committee. What brought us here in the first place was the allegation that NNPC’s approved auditors could not account for the funds, according to the Auditor-General’s report,” he reportedly told the lawmakers.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, informed members that the motion before the chamber was narrowly focused on the senator’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and the issue of the purported issuance of a warrant of arrest without adherence to established procedures.
The former Edo State governor stated that he would do nothing to bring embarrassment to the Senate, adding that he was merely defending the integrity of the institution and its members.
He recalled that the Senate had deliberated on allegations concerning an unaccounted N210 trillion cited in a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which had been referred to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
“We sat here and took a decision regarding the alleged missing N210 trillion. We were informed that Mele Kyari refused to appear before the committee. What brought us here in the first place was the allegation that NNPC’s approved auditors could not account for the funds, according to the Auditor-General’s report,” he reportedly told the lawmakers.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, informed members that the motion before the chamber was narrowly focused on the senator’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and the issue of the purported issuance of a warrant of arrest without adherence to established procedures.
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