The Nigerian Senate has issued a warrant of arrest against the management of Julius Berger, a construction company, for repeatedly ignoring invitations to appear before its Committee on Works.

The decision was made on Thursday after Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, raised a motion highlighting the company's consistent failure to honor Senate invitations. Ngwu expressed concern over numerous incomplete and failed contracts associated with Julius Berger across the country, emphasizing the need for an investigation. He accused the company of disregarding the authority of the Senate.

Ngwu referenced the Senate’s constitutional powers to summon individuals or entities for hearings, stating, "If a committee summons any person or entity to come for a committee hearing and that entity does not send a representative or appear in any way, the normal procedure is to report to the presiding officer, who then issues a warrant."

He called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to enforce compliance and compel Julius Berger to appear. Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, supported the motion, citing constitutional provisions and Senate rules that empower the presiding officer to issue warrants of arrest in such cases.

Ningi explained that committees operate under these powers, but the authority to compel attendance rests with the presiding officer and requires the Senate’s collective mandate.

While Senator Adams Oshiomhole expressed a differing view, Senate President Akpabio affirmed the Senate's authority to issue the arrest warrant. He referenced relevant sections of the Constitution and Senate rules to justify the action, ensuring Julius Berger’s management would be compelled to address the Senate’s concerns.