NNPC Controversy Deepens as Oshiomhole Accuses Akpabio of Conflict of Interest Over Mele Kyari Probe
Fresh tensions have emerged within the Nigerian Senate following the recent controversy surrounding the decision of the upper legislative chamber to distance itself from an arrest warrant issued against former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari. The development has now sparked a war of words between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who has openly questioned the Senate leadership's handling of the matter.
Speaking during a recent political interview, Oshiomhole alleged that Senate President Akpabio had a personal interest in issues relating to the NNPCL and former NNPC boss Mele Kyari. According to the former Edo State governor, Akpabio's daughter was allegedly employed by Kyari into what he described as a "juicy position" within the national oil company, a role he claimed she may not have secured on merit.
The allegation came amid growing controversy over the Senate's decision to reverse and disown an arrest warrant earlier issued by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts against Kyari. The committee had sought to compel the former NNPC chief to appear before lawmakers over unresolved audit queries reportedly involving trillions of naira in NNPCL financial records.
However, during plenary, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele argued that the committee lacked the statutory authority to issue such a warrant independently. The Senate subsequently resolved that only the Senate President possesses the legal power to authorize a warrant compelling attendance before the chamber or any of its committees. As a result, the warrant against Kyari was nullified.
The Senate also formally distanced itself from comments attributed to Oshiomhole during the committee proceedings, where he reportedly described officials of the NNPCL as "criminals and thieves." Several lawmakers argued that such remarks could prejudice ongoing investigations and potentially damage investor confidence in Nigeria's oil and gas sector.
Reacting to the Senate's position, Oshiomhole insisted that the chamber had no reason to apologize on his behalf, stressing that he spoke in his personal capacity and not as the official voice of the Senate. He further suggested that the decision to rebuke him was politically motivated and part of a broader effort to undermine his influence within the legislature.
The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) went further by accusing Akpabio of attempting to tarnish his image and suppress dissenting voices within the Senate. Oshiomhole claimed that the Senate President viewed him as a political threat and was determined to weaken his standing ahead of future leadership contests in the National Assembly.
His latest allegation regarding Akpabio's alleged connection to the NNPCL has added another layer of controversy to an already heated debate over transparency, accountability, and legislative oversight of Nigeria's oil sector. While Oshiomhole's claims have generated significant public discussion, no official evidence has yet been publicly presented to substantiate the allegation concerning Akpabio's daughter or her employment within the NNPCL. As of the time of filing this report, neither Akpabio nor his office had publicly responded to the specific claim.
The dispute highlights the growing divisions within the Senate over how to approach ongoing investigations into the operations of the NNPCL, a company that remains central to Nigeria's economy. Analysts say the unfolding confrontation could have wider political implications as debates intensify over accountability in the management of public resources and the future of legislative oversight in the country.
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