Says Comments Personal, Not Position of Upper Chamber
The Senate on Thursday formally distanced itself from remarks attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” insisting that the comments do not reflect the position of the National Assembly.
The development followed intense deliberations during plenary as lawmakers moved to protect the integrity of the Senate and reaffirm adherence to legislative procedures.
In resolutions adopted after a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the upper chamber declared that Oshiomhole’s comments were his personal views and not the official opinion, resolution, finding, or determination of the Senate.
The Senate also clarified that no committee of the National Assembly has the authority to issue or execute a warrant of arrest without complying with the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and obtaining the express approval of the Senate President.
The resolutions came amid controversy surrounding reports that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had recommended the issuance of a warrant of arrest against former Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for allegedly failing to honour invitations from the committee.
During the debate, several lawmakers criticized Oshiomhole’s comments, describing them as excessive and capable of damaging public confidence in institutions.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro were among senators who urged members to exercise caution in public statements and remain guided by constitutional provisions and Senate rules.
Some lawmakers went further by suggesting that Oshiomhole should publicly withdraw the remarks in the interest of preserving the image of the Senate.
However, the former Edo State governor refused to back down completely, insisting that his comments were made in defence of lawmakers who had come under attack from NNPCL officials.
“I acted under provocation because distinguished senators were being attacked without evidence,” Oshiomhole told the chamber.
While expressing willingness to apologise if directed by the Senate, the lawmaker maintained that his intervention was intended to defend the institution against what he described as disrespectful allegations.
According to him, lawmakers were accused of recommending their children and associates for employment in the NNPCL and were told they did not possess a monopoly on patriotism.
“The Senate was denigrated and I reacted in defence of the institution,” he said.
Oshiomhole also questioned why attention was focused on his reaction rather than the issues that triggered it, particularly concerns arising from reports of an alleged N210 trillion that auditors reportedly could not account for in documents cited by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The debate briefly turned rowdy when the Senate Chief Whip raised a point of order, urging Oshiomhole to limit his comments to the matter under consideration.
The intervention sparked exchanges among lawmakers before Senate President Godswill Akpabio stepped in to restore order.
Akpabio reminded senators that the issue before the chamber was narrowly focused on Oshiomhole’s alleged unparliamentary remarks and concerns over the reported attempt to issue a warrant of arrest without following established procedures.
The Senate ultimately reaffirmed its commitment to due process, legislative discipline, and responsible oversight, while making it clear that individual opinions expressed by lawmakers should not be mistaken for the official position of the institution.
