The Senate has distanced itself from remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as “a bunch of criminals and thieves,” stressing that the comments represent his personal views and not the position of the upper legislative chamber.
The controversy arose during a session of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which is investigating allegations of financial irregularities involving trillions of naira within the state-owned oil company.
Tensions flared when Umar Ajiya, former Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, alleged that some public officials had pressured the company to employ their children.
Responding sharply, Oshiomhole accused the NNPCL of lacking credibility and alleged that those seeking employment opportunities for their children within the company were motivated by a desire to benefit from alleged financial misconduct.
“I heard you saying that people want their children to be employed in NNPC. That is because it is a house of thieves and they want their children to benefit from it. NNPC has no reputation; your reputation is for fraud. How can you sit down here and say people want their children employed in NNPC? So you think we are joking here?” Oshiomhole said during the hearing.
The comments quickly sparked widespread debate and reactions across social media platforms.
However, during plenary on Thursday, the Senate formally dissociated itself from the remarks, emphasizing that they do not constitute an official resolution, finding, or position of the National Assembly.
Several lawmakers criticised Oshiomhole’s comments, describing them as inappropriate and potentially damaging to the reputation of public institutions and officials.
Among those who spoke were Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, who cautioned the former Edo State governor against making statements that could be considered defamatory. Some senators also called on him to publicly retract the remarks.
Meanwhile, the Senate announced the withdrawal of the arrest warrant earlier issued by the Public Accounts Committee against former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari over his alleged failure to honour invitations from the committee.
