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Tag: Senate

  • SAN faults Senate’s invitation to Sagay

    SAN faults Senate’s invitation to Sagay

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon has said the Senate lacks the power to summons any private individual over his/her comments or view on the activities of members the legislative house.

    Hon spoke Thursday in relation to reports to the effect that the Senate has summoned the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) over his comments about the legislators.

    The Senior Advocate argued, in a statement yesterday, that the summons by the Senate to Prof Sagay to appear before it over and concerning the Senators is unconstitutional.

    Hon said: “While those comments are not salutary, they do not merit an invitation to appear before the Upper House.

    “A similar situation had played out in the 1980s, in the case of Senate of the National Assembly vs. Tony Momoh ((1982) FNLR 307. In this case, Prince Tony Momoh had published in the Daily Times of 4/2/1980 an article the Senate of the 2nd Republic considered was
    injurious to its image.

    “A Senate Committee then invited Prince Momoh to appear before it to ‘clarify’ those press comments. Prince Momoh challenged the invitation in court.

    “Even though the Court of Appeal held that Prince Momoh’s action was premature – since the Senate had not taken steps to compel his attendance – it laid down general principles regarding exercise of oversight functions by the National Assembly, thus:

    •      The powers of the National Assembly to investigate are not general but are limited to the executing or administration of laws enacted by the National Assembly and the disbursement and administering of moneys appropriated by it. In other words, the constitutional provisions
      granting oversight functions do not constitute the National Assembly as a universal

    “Ombudsman” with power to invite and scrutinise the conduct of every member of the public.

    •       The powers of the National Assembly in this regard are further circumscribed and limited by subsection (2) of the equivalent of section 88 of the 1999 Constitution – in that the National Assembly can only invite members of the public when it wants to gather facts for the purpose of enabling it to make laws or amend existing laws.

    •       Since from the resolution, Exhibit A, and the proceedings of the Senate, Exhibit C, the purpose of the invitation was to show resentment for Prince Momoh’s affront in daring to publish a matter against the Distinguished Senators rather than for the stated constitutional purposes, the invitation was not proper.

    “The same Court of Appeal restated these principles in El Rufai vs. House of Representatives (2003) FWLR (Pt. 173) 162, wherein the present Governor of Kaduna State, then Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, upon being investigated by an ad-hoc
    committee of the House of Representatives, wrote and circulated certain offensive materials against the House.

    “Upon being invited for ‘clarification’ of those comments, he rushed to court; and the Court of Appeal, as stated above, restated the principles in Momoh’s case.

    “Indeed, the Nigerian Supreme Court also, in the case of Attorney-General of Abia State vs. Attorney-General of the Federation (2006) All FWLR (Pt. 338) 604 at 674, brevi manu, circumscribed the oversight functions of the National Assembly in the following words: Oversight functions can only be exercised within the law making powers of the National Assembly. The functions are not at large and must be exercised within the provisions of the Constitution.

    “This line of judicial thinking in Nigeria agrees with the position of the US Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, in a long line of cases – Watkins vs. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 187 (1957); Townsend vs. United States, 95F 2d 352, 361 (D.C. Cir. 1938); McGrain vs.
    Dougherty, 716 Ed. 590, etc.

    “In conclusion, while I agree that Prof. Sagay’s comments against the Distinguished Senators were inappropriate, I make bold to state that the Senate lacks the constitutional competence to summon him to appear before it merely on account of those comments.

    “Let me also add that the Legislature should be cautious in extending summonses to persons under its constitutional oversight functions. If it engages with personalities just because they have made snide comments against it, this will amount to the Legislature reducing its
    constitutional as an arm of government.

    “The Legislature qua the National Assembly should as much as possible conduct itself in such a way as not to be seen to be quarrelsome or petty,” Hon said.

  • Senate welcomes Executive peace initiative

    Senate welcomes Executive peace initiative

    …Says ‘Nothing personal about Magu’s rejection’

     

    The Senate Thursday expressed its readiness to work with the Presidential Committee on Executive-Legislature relations constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement, described the setting up of the peace committee as a welcome development.

    Entitled “The Executive Peace Initiative is a Welcome Development” Abdullahi said that the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general, is ready to co-operate with members of the committee to work and resolve grey areas standing on the way of smooth working relationship between the two arms of government.

    It read in part: “We have heard about the initiative by President Muhammadu Buhari in setting up a Presidential Committee on Executive-Legislature Relations to be headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “This initiative is a welcome development. It is a good step in the right direction. The Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general, is ready to co-operate with the group and work with them to resolve all grey areas standing on way of the smooth working relationship needed to deepen our fledgling democracy and ensure good governance for the benefits of Nigerians.”

    Throwing more light on their understanding of the peace initiative, Abdullahi noted that since a committee had been set up it meant there were some grey areas between the Executive and Legislature hindering cordial relationship between the two arms.

    Asked whether the National Assembly has been officially informed, he said that the leadership of the Senate asked him to react which was indication that Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki must have been communicated.

    He added that when details of the committee are released, they would know the members and the number of National Assembly members that would be constituted to work the committee.

    Asked whether the olive branch by the Executive would make the Senate to soft pedal on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, Abdullah said that before the Magu issue, the Senate has always worked in the best interest of the country.

    He said, “We have worked to support Mr. President. From what I have seen as somebody speaking for this institution, whatever we do, we put the interest of the country first. There was no personal thing about Magu and the decision we took. Other members of the commission sent to us were screened and confirmed. Senators are just doing their job. There was nothing personal about Magu. Nobody should be happy that presidential aides are quick to abuse senators.”

    On the suspension of the consideration and confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners sent to the Senate, Abdullahi said it was informed by the disdain resolutions of the Senate are treated by the Presidency.

    He said, “We passed resolutions, our resolutions are rubbished. If the resolutions are rubbished what are we doing with the consideration of Resident Electoral Commissioners.  If we reject any of them what happens.

    “We therefore mandated the Senate President to convey our worry to Mr. President. We needed a response in order for us to know exactly what we are doing. We did not say we will not confirm the RECs. What we need at this time is understanding of how democracy works. If we do, democracy will work better.”

     

  • Buhari nominates NDDC members for Imo, Ondo, Abia

    Buhari nominates NDDC members for Imo, Ondo, Abia

    President Mohammadu Buhari has forwarded to the names of three new nominees for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Senate.

    The nominees are to replace the ones from Imo, Ondo and Abia that were earlier rejected by the Senate on the ground that they were not from oil producing communities.

    The new nominees are Lucky Omirisan (Ondo), Chuka Amawawa (Imo) and Nwogu N Nwogu (Abia).

    Their nomination letter from President Buhari was read on the floor of the Senate on Thursday by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    The Senate had in October 2016, rejected three nominees from the three states, out of a list of 19 nominees forwarded to it by the President.

    Those that were rejected were Donatus Enyinnaya (Abia), Osita Izunaso (Imo) and Olatokunboh Ajasin (Ondo).

    Enyinnaya and Ajasin were rejected because they were not from oil producing areas of their respective states, while Osita Izunaso voluntarily rejected the nomination.

    The Senate has not given any date for the screening of the three nominees.

  • 2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday gave marching order to Senate standing committees to submit their reports on the 2017 budget proposal to the appropriations committee.

    Saraki who gave the order during Senate plenary, noted that compliance by committees yet to turn in their reports would hasten legislative work on the budget proposal.

    The announcement was said to be part of the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives that met in Saraki’s house on Wednesday.

    A source said that part of the resolution of the joint leadership meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives was to ensure that the 2017 budget was passed earlier than that of 2016.

    He said that committees were to submit their reports to the appropriation committee latest yesterday failing which the appropriation committee would be free to adopt what the executive submitted.

    The 2016 budget was passed end of March, 2016. It was however rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari and returned to the National Assembly.

    The second passage of the same budget proposal was passed April ending 2016 and assented to by President Buhari on May 6th 2016.

    He insisted that should any committee fail to comply to submit its report before the end of work Thursday, the appropriations committee would go ahead to consider and adopted the original proposal made by the executive.

    Saraki said: “All committees yet to complete work on the 2017 budget proposal are hereby requested to submit their reports unfailingly today to the appropriations committee.

    “The committees numbering over twenty or thereabout should endeavour to submit their reports, or the appropriations committee will be left with no option but to consider original estimates sent in by the executive.”

    Most of the defaulting committees had claimed that their inability to submit their reports was due the refusal of the MDAs under them to appear to defend their budgets.

     

     

  • Sagay: Senate summon unconstitutional- SERAP

    Sagay: Senate summon unconstitutional- SERAP

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised the leadership of the Senate to immediately withdraw the summon it issued for Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption to appear before the Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions.

    It described the summon as “unwartanted and unconstitutipnal”.

    SERAP in a statement on Thursday signed by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said that, “the Senate’s decision to summon Professor Sagay simply for exercising his right to freedom of expression is arbitrary, a travesty, mala-fide, and cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny.”
    It said suppression of freedom of expression and public discussion is inimical to peace, order, good governance and the rule of law, and patently inconsistent with the Senate’s law-making and oversight functions.

    The statement read in part: “The Senate is not immune from constitutional control simply because it’s a law-making body. In fact, the Senate has neither special immunity from the operation of the constitution nor special privilege to invade the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to freedom of expression of Professor Sagay or other citizens for that matter.

    “The framers of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) would never have contemplated a legislative power without responsibility, and the Senate can’t continue to carry on in a manner that implies its law-making and oversight powers are not open to question. Therefore, its powers under the constitution ought to be exercised reasonably and responsibly, consistent with the fundamental notions of peace, order, good governance and the public interest.

    “The human rights of Nigerians are secured against not only executive lawlessness but also legislative excesses. To trample on citizens’ freedom of expression is to thwart the ideals of representative democracy and the rule of law.

    “The National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Nigeria but recent events in the Senate would seem to stir the public anger. It seems curious that the Senate will be giving a raw deal to the heads of the two leading anti-corruption bodies in the country—Ibrahim Magu of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Itse Sagay of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption.

    “All public institutions and figures are legitimately subject to criticism and political opposition. The Senate in particular and the National Assembly as a whole would do well to respect the inherent rights of Nigerians that are so fundamental to our constitutional structure. Democracy, constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law require no less. Indeed, no principle is more basic to any proper system of law than the maintenance of the rule of law itself”, it stated.

    It recalled that Professor Sagay’s comment was a reaction to the Senate’s refusal to proceed with confirmation of 27 persons President Muhammadu Buhari nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioners.

  • Sagay: Senate lacks authority to summon me

    Sagay: Senate lacks authority to summon me

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) yesterday said the Senate cannot summon him for expressing an opinion.

    He said the Senate lacks the authority to summon a private citizen.

    Sagay said the lawmakers were embarking on a “futile” exercise that could have “embarrassing consequences”.

    According to Sagay, he does not fall within the category of government officials that the Senate can summon.

    He said he only exercised his constitutionally guaranteed right to hold an opinion.

    Sagay said a government official can be summoned during an amendment of a law that affects the official’s agency, or where the official is directly involved in spending monies appropriated by the National Assembly.

    The eminent professor of law said any senator who feels that his reputation was damaged by his comments could seek redress in court.

    He said the Senate was not a court of law before whom he could be ordered to appear.

    Sagay was reacting to a move by the Senate to summon him over comments he made on the lawmakers.

    The PACAC chairman also faulted the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume for six months, saying it was not justifiable.

    He said: “I expressed an opinion in the newspaper. It’s my constitutional right. Now, they say they’re inviting me.

    “I’ve not got the summons yet, but I’m saying that they absolutely have no authority or power to summon me before them, just as I have no power or authority to summon them before me. Our powers in that regard on virtual summons are exactly the same.

    “So, it is a futile exercise. My advice to them is to ask their legal advisers to tell them how limited their powers are under Sections 82 to 89 of the 1999 Constitution. Then they will know that I am far, far outside the category of people they can ever invite. And they would save themselves the embarrassment of the consequences of that futile invitation.”

    Asked if the Senate has the right to order the arrest of a citizen who refuses to appear before it, Sagay said: “They can do so if that citizen comes within the small group of people they can invite.

    “Usually when they invite, there are one of two reasons: they want to make a new law or improve a law, and you’re an official in that area, an official probably in government in that area, and they invite you to interrogate you so they can improve or get ideas on improving that law they intend to make. That’s one.

    “Additionally, when they have voted money for particular government activities, and you’re the one who is overseeing that activity and spending the money they have allocated, they can invite you to give an account of how you spend the money in order to improve efficiency in that type of expenditure or to check corruption. Those are the two groups of people they can invite. They should know that that has nothing to do with me.

    “They absolutely have no authority to invite a private citizen who expresses an opinion. They have been defeated in court so many times for trying to invite people over whom they have no power.

    “So, that’s why I said they should just save themselves that embarrassment. They can’t intimidate anybody. They can’t stop me from expressing my views, which are guaranteed by the Constitution.

    “They cannot become a court for me to appear before. Courts are established, and I can only appear before a court, not before them.”

    Sagay said any senator who feels his reputation was damaged by his comments could sue. “O, definitely. That’s his constitutional right and then, we’ll meet there,” he said.

    On Senator Ndume’s suspension, Sagay said: “Clearly there’s no basis for that suspension. He brought something that the whole country was talking about to their attention. They had an opportunity of clearing themselves. That’s the kind of offence for which he is suspended for six months”.

  • Sagay: Senate lacks authority to summon me

    Sagay: Senate lacks authority to summon me

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) has said the Senate can not summon him for expressing an opinion.
    Sagay was reacting to a move by the Senate to summon him over comments he made on the lawmakers.
    According to him, the Senate lacks the authority to summon a private citizen.
    Sagay said the lawmakers were embarking on a “futile” exercise that could have “embarrassing consequences”.
    According to Sagay, he does not fall within the category of government officials that the Senate can summon.
    He said he only exercised his constitutionally guaranteed right to hold an opinion.
    Sagay said a government official can be summoned during a amendment of a law that affects the official’s agency, or where the official is directly involved in spending monies appropriated by the National Assembly.
    The eminent professor of law said any Senator who feels that his reputation was damaged by his comments could seek redress in court.
    He said the Senate was not a court of law before whom he could be ordered to appear.

  • Senate summons Sagay over ‘disparaging’ comments

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to invite the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, over his alleged disparaging comments against the upper chamber.

    Sagay’s invitation is seen as further escalation of the current face-off between the Senate and Presidency which blew open on Tuesday with the Senate’s suspension of the consideration and confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The presidential is expected appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to explain why he allegedly described senators as “childish and irresponsible” for pushing President Buhari to sack the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, within two weeks.

    The PACAC chairman is also expected to explain why he allegedly said the Senate is “filled with people of questionable character who put personal interest ahead of the nation.”

    The lawmakers said it is necessary to invite the professor of jurisprudence to name the questionable characters in the Senate.

    The resolution followed a motion of privilege by Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South), who told the Senate that Sagay infringed on his integrity, character and privilege as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

     

  • Senate flexes muscles with Presidency over SGF, Magu

    Senate flexes muscles with Presidency over SGF, Magu

    ‘No confirmation of RECs without Lawal’s, Ag. EFCC chair’s sack’

    SENATORS bared their fangs against the Presidency yesterday. They suspended the screening and confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) nominees.

    The Senate declared its readiness to defend its integrity against attacks by some persons it did not name, signifying a possible showdown between the two arms of government.

    The upper chamber unanimously resolved to suspend the consideration and confirmation of RECs nominated by President Buhari to protest what it called disregard for resolutions by the Presidency.

    Announcing the resolution after about two hours meeting behind closed doors, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the upper chamber would not succumb to blackmail and intimidation in the discharge of its constitutional duties.

    Saraki did not disclose the identity of the “external forces” he said were attacking the Senate as an institution.

    His words: “The Senate in a closed session discussed the various attacks on the National Assembly, especially on the Senate, for performing its constitutional duties.

    “The Senate resolved to defend the integrity of the Senate against such attacks and will not be intimidated from carrying out our constitutional duties at all times.”

    It was learnt that the Red Chamber’s position may not be unconnected to its face-off with some members of the executive, including the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. David Babachir Lawal.

    The Senate rejected for the second time the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman on March 15.

    A National Assembly source disclosed yesterday: “The Senate is not happy that despite its rejection of Magu, the President still keeps him in office in an acting capacity.”

    The resolution to suspend the consideration of the RECs’ nomination followed a motion by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

    But for Nwaoboshi’s motion, the names of the RECs would have been read the second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Independent National Eelectoral Commission (INEC).

    Nwaoboshi prayed the Senate to suspend action on the nominees for two weeks to allow the Senate President convey the feelings of the Senate to President Buhari over alleged disregard of its resolutions.

    The senator said: “Mr. President, taking a leave from America which started this presidential election. Recently the National Security Adviser was sent to the Senate of America and because of his belief in Russia he was disqualified.

    “What am I saying? Issues like this have to transcend the issue of political parties or where you have lived for the interest of Nigerians and also to protect our constitution and protect our democracy.

    “Recently in this Senate, we have dealt with the issue of confirmation and where are we today? The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay went to the press and said that the Senate merely confirms.

    “This is not expected of somebody who had lectured Constitutional Law in the university, a professor of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and, of course, a chairman of such a big body to say that the legislature merely confirms, that the legislature has no power.

    “Here are we again today, now being given a list to confirm and we merely confirm. Look at the list here, we have eight of them here out of 27, eight of them are for reappointment, which means they are acting already, they are already working and they are still in position.

    “Prof. Sagay will cite again Section 171, Subsection (D) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that even if we don’t confirm them, he will say ‘continue to work’.

    “You can imagine this kind of advice that these kinds of persons are giving to Mr. President. They are telling Mr. President to disregard and disrespect the institution, the legislature.

    “Mr. President, lets us not take such a precedence. We cannot destroy our democracy because certain persons, certain individuals feel that it is only their belief or what they want is what will happen in this country.

    “This country does not belong to them; this country belongs to the Nigerian people; the Nigerian people have elected us; they have given us the power to look into those names sent to us for confirmation and to look into their credentials.

    “But when you denigrate such an institution that have the power to confirm and use the word merely, we could not ignore it coming from somebody of that status.

    “My position on this matter is that since our confirmation is ‘merely’, let us suspend it until we know whether we have the power as given to us by the Constitution to look into confirmation matters or any other status.”

    Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) said: “In addition to what Nwaoboshi said, which is the constitutional requirement that this Senate has to confirm nominations sent by the executive arm of government, the act establishing these agencies of government have specified clearly that these officers of these agencies whose appointments will be made by Mr. President have to be confirmed by the Senate.

    ”We are only performing our statutory role and, if by chance, Mr. President sends a name to the Senate for confirmation and they are not confirmed, what happens is that the President is at liberty to send another name but it must be that the Senate too must be properly informed of what has happened to the confirmation either the one that has been upheld or the one that has been turned down by the senate. We deserve the right to know.

    “We cannot keep confirming names or turning down names of nominees of Mr. President only for them to be put in basket, particularly the one that happened recently; we don’t know what has happened.

    “These persons cannot keep acting even when we have turned them down because as it is now they are acting and their names have been sent in for confirmation and we don’t know what has happened in the case of the EFCC.

    “Specifically speaking, is he acting today? If the President knew that he was not going to honour our refusal or rejection of his nominee, they shouldn’t have sent him in the first place, which would have meant an outright violation of the law establishing EFCC and of course, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”

    But Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) countered the two senators’ position.

    Aliero said: “I rise to oppose what my two colleagues have just said for the reason that there is already an impression that is created, particularly by the media that the INEC is not ready for the conduct of 2019 election. The 2019 election is very crucial to us and the preparation and the conduct of the 2019 election is the submission of resident electoral commissioners to the senate for screening and approval.

    “Without that, INEC will never be ready for the 2019 elections, even though what they said is true. I want to ask that we consider the screening of this list and if there is any observation on any nominee, it should be done at the screening stage.

    “I will want to respectfully say that some of the nominees that are set to be on reappointment they have already left the office and they have served their term for four years.”

    Deputy Whip Francis Alimekhana (Edo North), was more vocal in his support that the confirmation of the RECs should be kept in view.

    He said: “I beg to differ from the suggestion of my colleague, Senator Aliero. It is better to do something and do it well. All these nominees reappointed, new appointment, what if we refuse one of them, what will happen? That is the question that the distinguished senators are asking the executive. There is no need to disapprove one and he (President) goes back to say you can continue to act.

    “The EFCC chairman that we disqualified in this hall is he acting? Among the report that are agog in the papers, he is behind it. Magu is terrorising us because we disqualified him and we cannot hide it. We disqualified Magu and he is terrorising our people because we disqualified him and he is still acting and they are still bringing in nominees for us to confirm. If they know they can do it alone, let them do it.”

    Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah urged his colleagues to be cautious.

    Na’Allah said: “This is a defining moment in our journey to nationhood. Having had the privilege of being a leader in this Senate, I have always prided myself with the fact that this Senate is imbued with men of intelligence, courage and character, with determination to play a fundamental role in our journey towards nationhood.

    “I have always said that it consists of former governors, former ministers, former captains of industries. What that means is that at each point we are being called upon to decide on an issue that affects this nation.

    “We must show that we have superiority of thinking and we have more commitment than those anti-democratic forces that survive outside the chambers of the National Assembly. I think this is one situation where that call is relevant and important.

    ”I share the sentiments of my colleagues on this issue. I am in great difficulty to disagree with more convincing reasons as to why I think the Senate will thread cautiously on the request by my colleagues for us to stand down this. I think this matter is going to be referred to the committee, we still have enough time.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu noted that some of the positions of the RECs had been vacant for more than one year.

    He said that any delay should not be blamed on the Senate but on the Executive that failed to submit the nominees on time.

    Ekweremadu said Saraki should be allowed to convey Senators’ feelings to President Buhari on his appointments, noting that it was necessary to do so.

    He proposed that the consideration of the nominees should be stood down for one week.

    Before a vote could be taken on Ekweremadu’s motion, Nwaoboshi moved that the matter should be suspended for two weeks.

    Senator Clifford Odia (Edo Central) seconded.

    When Saraki put the resolution to vote, it was unanimously endorsed.

     

  • We cannot be intimidated -Senate

    We cannot be intimidated -Senate

    The Senate, at the end of a closed-door session on Tuesday, resolved not to bow to any form intimidation in the discharge of its constitutional duties.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who made this known at plenary, said the lawmakers deliberated on issues bordering on the integrity of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.

    Saraki, who did not give details of the “intimidation” the institution is facing, said that the senate, at the executive session, resolved to defend its integrity.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]We cannot be intimidated from carrying out our constitutional duties at all times.

    Nothing will stop the National Assembly, especially the Senate, from performing its duties – Senate President.[/quote]

    Meanwhile, committees that were yet to submit reports of budget defence of the various MDAs were asked to do so by Thursday.

    Saraki said at least 20 committees were yet to submit their reports.

    The president of the senate warned that committees that failed to meet the deadline risked not being considered.

    “If by Thursday, any committee did not send its report to the Appropriation Committee, we will have no alternative than to make do with what we have on the ground.

    “This is the last time I am making the announcement,” he said.