Senate Disowns Arrest Warrant Against NNPCL's Kyari

On June 10, 2026, the Nigerian Senate formally disassociated itself from an arrest warrant issued by the Public Accounts Committee against Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). This decision followed disparaging comments made by Senator Adam Oshiomhole, who referred to NNPCL as a "bunch of criminals and thieves." Senator Opeyemi Bamidele raised concerns about the procedural irregularities surrounding the arrest warrant, emphasizing the importance of due process and fair hearings as mandated by the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate, during a plenary session, declared the arrest warrant null and void and urged that Oshiomhole's comments did not reflect the official position of the Senate. The motion received strong support from other senators, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Whip Tahir Monguno, who condemned Oshiomhole's remarks as reckless.

The Senate's actions aimed to preserve its institutional integrity and public confidence.