Senate rejects bench warrant against former NNPCL chief Kyari

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Senate has dissociated itself from the warrant of arrest issued against the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, by its Committee on Public Accounts, saying the decision was preceded by procedural irregularities.

This followed a motion raised by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele as a matter of urgent national importance.

Following a heated session on Wednesday during an investigative hearing into 19 audit queries raised against the NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in audited financial statements covering 2017 to 2023, the committee, chaired by Ibrahim Dankwambo, resolved to issue a bench warrant on Kyari, which was to be implemented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The warrant followed a motion by Victor Umeh, who argued that the committee could no longer tolerate delays in an investigation involving what lawmakers described as one of the largest financial accountability exercises undertaken by the National Assembly.

“This matter has lingered for too long. Nigerians deserve answers. The committee cannot continue to wait indefinitely while critical questions concerning trillions of naira remain unanswered,” Umeh had said.

During the meeting, former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, and the former Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umar Ajiya, engaged in an exchange of words after the latter warned that the figures under scrutiny were being misinterpreted and did not represent missing funds.

He warned that the allegations and reports emerging from the investigation were among the information gathered by rating agencies to assess Nigeria, thereby causing more harm than good to the country.

His statement irked Oshiomhole, who told him not to lecture the Senate on morals, among other issues. Oshiomhole also described the NNPCL as a “bunch of criminals and thieves”, a statement from which the Senate Leader said on Thursday that the Senate should also dissociate itself.

Speaking in his defence, Oshiomhole said he was shocked that the Senate Leader referred to his reaction to Ajiya and not to the comments that provoked it. He said he acted under provocation and was defending the Senate from what he described as denigrating remarks by Ajiya.