NNPCL: Senator Oshiomole’s ‘Bunch Of Criminals’ Comments Not ‘Collective View’-Senate

The Senate on Thursday clarified and submitted that the comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole in which he described the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as ‘a bunch of criminals and thieves’ was not in any way a ‘collective view’.

That was not all, the senate also said no committee can issue a bench warrant except with the express approval of the Senate President citing Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the senate made the resolutions sequel to the motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Recall that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had issued a bench warrant for the immediate past Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari who was accused of failing to honour invitations extended to him by the committee.

Commenting on the issue during the plenary session held on Thursday, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele warned that any attempt by any Senate committee to independently issue bench warrant without getting the go-ahead from the Senate President can amount to an unlawful exercise of power.

He said, ‘The power to issue a warrant affecting the liberty of a citizen is an extraordinary statutory power which must be exercised strictly in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law.

The constitutional doctrine of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence require that no person or institution be adjudged guilty except by a court of competent jurisdiction after due process of law.

 Such statements, if left unclarified, may be misconstrued by the public as representing the official position of the Senate and may undermine confidence in the impartiality and objectivity of ongoing legislative oversight proceedings’.

The Senate subsequently adopted a resolution formally clarifying and asserting that it had nothing to do with the comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomole while submitting that the comments in question do not represent the findings, opinion, resolution or official position of the upper chamber.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin spoke in support of the motion noting that committees are subordinate organs of the Senate and may only make recommendations rather than independently exercising powers that are reserved for the parliament.

‘The committee overstepped its bounds, and he has done the right thing by drawing attention to it.

 We need to do things in line with our rules and with the law of the land’ he said.

Senator Abba Moro emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum and avoiding statements capable of damaging reputations.

‘We should not make statements that seek to impugn the character of public officers or individuals in society’ he said.

Moro noted that Nigerians are closely monitoring Senate proceedings and he warned that inappropriate conduct can undermine public trust in the institution.

Senator Adamu Aliero also described the statement made by Oshiomole as reckless while adding that it can damage the nation’s investment image internationally.

‘The NNPC is the cash cow of this country. Such reckless statements send wrong signals to outsiders and can jeopardize foreign direct investment’ he submitted while emphasizing the need for the Senate to collectively condemn and distance itself from the controversial remarks to protect both the image of NNPCL and the Senate.

Senator Adams Oshiomole however defended his comments, saying they were made in reaction to attacks on the federal lawmakers by the NNPCL officials.

‘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 apologize, 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..

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 said--Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you