The Senate on Tuesday yesterday threatened to invoke necessary
legislative powers including arrest warrant to drag the
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Ababukar
The resolution followed explanation by the Chairman,
Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Senator David Umaru, on the circumstances
surrounding the failure of Malami to honour the invitation
of his committee.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that the
Senate would be guided by Constitutional provisions to
deal with the AGF if he failed once again to honour the
invitation of the upper chamber.
Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution attached
to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla,
had told the committee that it lacked the power to
summon Malami since the AGF was not an appointee of
the Senate.
Obono-Obla who represented the AGF at a sitting of the
committee insisted before he was walked out of the
meeting that Malami did not commit any offence by
dragging Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu to court
over alleged forgery of Senate standing rule.
Umaru who came under personal explanation said: “The
resolution of the Senate was for the committee on
Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to invite the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
to appear before it and explain the reason behind attempts
to prefer charges against the principal officers of this
hallowed chamber.
“In line with the directive, we invited the Honourable
Attorney General, first on the 23rd of June and on that date
he did not appear but a letter was received by our
committee to the effect that he needed more time to
articulate its position and that he was out of the country.
“The committee obliged him, we scheduled another
meeting for the 30th of June, on that day, the Attorney
General of the Federation and Minister of Justice did not
appear before the committee.
“However, somebody who claimed to be Mr. Oblar
appeared to say that he was appearing on behalf of the
minister.
“The committee therefore told him that he was not an
invitee and that we will not attend to him and we asked
him to leave.
“I have being informed by Senator Ita Enag (Senior Special
Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters)
and I have received lots of attempts to reach me by the
Hon. Attorney General. Senator Ita Enag have informed me
that the Attorney General regrets his inability to respond to
our petition and that he requests time to appear before us.
“I think it is important for the distinguished colleagues to
be informed about this development and for us to request
for more time to give him the opportunity to appear since
he has indicated his willingness to appear before the
committee.”
Saraki who did not allow debate of the matter said insisted
that the AGF must appear before the committee in line with
the resolution of the Senate.
He noted that failure to comply with the resolution of the
Senate to appear before the committee necessary
constitutional steps would be taken to enforce Senate
resolution.
The Senate President noted that they would have no choice
than to follow strictly what he Constitution dictates if the
AGF failed to honour the Senate.
Saraki said, “We all heard the explanation of the chairman
Judiciary. What he is trying to get across to us here is to
tell us the status of the situation because what we have
been reading in the papers was of great concern where the
number one judicial officer of the country will be the one
that will be flouting the Constitution.
“Section 89 (c) of the Constitution is very clear. But it
appears from what you are saying that the Attorney General
is requesting for one more chance to be given to appear
before you.
“The Senate is always in the progress of development; as
such we will do that and ensure that he does come this
time.
“Otherwise, we will have no choice than to follow the
constitution strictly.
“So, you will report back to us before the end of the week
to let us know the status of that situation.
“If that does not happen, we will go ahead and go in line
with the Constitution very clearly.”
No comments:
Post a Comment