Akpabio Buries Hatchet with Oshiomhole Over Senate Remarks

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has extended an olive branch to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, apologizing for his earlier criticism of Oshiomhole's comments as 'unsenatorial'. This development comes as a resolution to the disagreement between the two lawmakers. Akpabio made the apology during a plenary session on Thursday, stating that he would no longer describe Oshiomhole's comments in such a manner, particularly referencing the remark about bringing someone 'dead or alive'. He emphasized that the matter has been laid to rest and that the truce between them remains intact. 'I will never refer to your comments as unsenatorial again, especially when you said, 'Bring the man dead or alive'. The truce between us remains upheld,' Akpabio said. This controversy stems from a June 2026 hearing of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which was investigating financial discrepancies totaling over ₦210 trillion in the audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). During the session, Oshiomhole suggested that the former NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, should be brought before the Senate 'dead or alive' for failing to appear before the committee. The comment drew widespread criticism, prompting the Senate to distance itself from both the remark and the committee's subsequent arrest warrant. The Senate's ongoing investigation is focused on approximately ₦210 trillion in unreconciled financial entries found in NNPCL's audited accounts from 2017 to 2023. According to the Senate Public Accounts Committee, this figure comprises sundry receivables and accrued expenses, including outstanding corporate liabilities and joint venture cash calls, rather than missing or stolen funds. The committee initially summoned Kyari and his former management team in March 2026 as part of the investigation and has since formally summoned him again as the probe continues under the current leadership of the NNPCL.