The senate has threatened to order the arrest of the Minister of Justice
and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, if his fails
to honor their invitation to explain the trial of senate President,
Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu, on allegations of forgery
of the senate standing order.
According to The Nation,
the aggrieved senate members threatened to invoke necessary legislative
powers including issuing an arrest warrant to drag Malami to appear
before it.
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. Malami who was billed to appear
before the senate last week, sent in a representative, the Special
Assistant to the President on Prosecution attached to the Federal
Ministry of Justice, Okoi Obono-Obla, who had a mild confrontation with
the senators. Obono-Obla at the meeting, told the senators that they
lacked the powers to summon Malami as he, Malami, reports only to
President Buhari and not the legislatures.
The angry senators later walked Obla out of the meeting.
Senator Umaru while briefing the Senators on the outcome of the meeting, 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, insisted that the AGF
must appear before the committee in line with the resolution of the
Senate. He added they would have no choice than to follow strictly what
the Constitution dictates if the AGF failed to honour the Senate.
“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.”he said
