According to the motion, Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), confer investigative and oversight powers on the National Assembly and its Committees for the purposes of lawmaking, accountability, transparency and good governance.
The Nigerian Senate is set to consider a far-reaching motion which it claimed is aimed at preserving its institutional authority, safeguarding the principles of fair hearing and due process, and ensuring strict compliance with the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
This is amid growing controversy surrounding the Senate Committee on Public Accounts' investigation into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and its former leadership.
The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to reaffirm that Senate Committees do not possess the legal authority to independently issue or execute warrants of arrest.
This is also as the senate formally distances the upper legislative chamber from remarks attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing NNPC Limited as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.”
