The Nigerian Senate has issued a warrant of arrest against the management of Julius Berger, one of the country’s leading construction firms, for consistently failing to honor invitations to appear before its Committee on Works.
The Senate’s decision, reached during Thursday’s plenary, followed a motion raised by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, who expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s repeated snubbing of the Senate’s summons.
Ngwu highlighted the presence of numerous uncompleted projects awarded to Julius Berger across Nigeria, stressing the need for a thorough investigation into the company’s operations and contract handling.
He accused the construction giant of undermining the Senate’s authority by disregarding its invitations.
Citing the Senate’s constitutional powers, Ngwu stated, “If a committee summons any person or entity to a hearing, and that entity does not appear or send a representative, the appropriate action is to report to the presiding officer, who can issue a warrant of arrest.”
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, supported the motion, emphasizing that the Senate has the constitutional authority to compel the appearance of any individual or organization.
He noted that Senate committees derive their powers from both the Nigerian Constitution and the Senate Rules, which mandate compliance with legislative summons.
“The Constitution empowers the National Assembly to enforce compliance. When a matter like this arises, the committee seeks the mandate of the entire Senate to act,” Ningi explained.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole held a contrary view during the debate. Despite his objection, Senate President Godswill Akpabio affirmed the decision to issue a warrant of arrest, referencing relevant sections of the Constitution and Senate Rules to justify the action.
Akpabio directed the management of Julius Berger to appear before the Senate to address concerns about its contract performance and operational accountability.
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