The Senate at its plenary sitting on Tuesday 21st June, 2016 has summoned Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation, to appear before it within two days and give evidence on why his action in prosecuting principal officers of the Senate does not amount to incompetence, gross misconduct, contempt of court and abuse of office.The resolution came after Sen. Dino Melaye (APC:Kogi) moved a motion under matters of urgent public importance titled ‘‘The Imminent threat to Democracy: the alleged Invitation of Principal officers by a Court in Abuja’’ .
Elucidating on the motion, Sen. Melaye alleged that the recent invitation of some principal officers by a Court in Abuja was an attempt by the Executive arm of Government to usurp the Office of the National Assembly through intimidation and harassment. In the motion, Sen. Melaye particularly called on the Executive to stop criminalizing and/ or interfering with the internal administration of the Senate and respect the principle of separation of powers. In addition, he restated the Senate’s powers to regulate its own procedures as provided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and urged the Federal Government to concentrate on its responsibility of confronting Nigeria’s economic recession rather than attempting to commandeer the legislative arm of government.
Seconding the motion, Sen. Albert Bassey Akpan (PDP:Akwa-Ibom) stated that the emergence of Sen. Bukola Saraki(APC:Kwara) and Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP:Enugu) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively was a consensus of the Senate.He also emphasized the importance of an independent legislative arm as an important component of democracy since the Judiciary and the Executive arms of Government are capable of existence under a military government.
Furthermore, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC:Sokoto) restated that the independence of the three arms of Government was in accord with the position of the Constitution while Sen. Isah Hamman Misau (APC:Bauchi) claimed that the Attorney General’s interference on the matter was an attempt to tarnish the image and integrity of Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari.
It will be recalled that a forgery case was initiated by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, against Sen. Olubukola Saraki (APC:Kwara) and Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP:Enugu) on the basis that the 2015 Standing Rules of the Senate which saw their emergence as the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President respectively was forged. However, the Senate continues to affirm that its 2015 Standing rules were authentic.
The Attorney General of the Federation is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to respond to the allegations.
