SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Senate has threatened to hold the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in contempt if he fails to appear before its investigative committee following his refusal to honour an invitation by the committee.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters is looking into the alleged falsification of Senate standing rules by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others for which they are on trial at an Abuja high court instituted by Malami.
The upper legislative chamber had summoned Malami on June 23, but he failed to honour the invitation. He also failed to appear on June 30, on the grounds that he was not in the country, but sent a representative which irked the committee.
Expressing his displeasure over the action of Malami, David Umaru, Chairman of the committee, had said: “The purpose of this hearing was to defend Nigeria’s democracy but the attorney-general has faulted the invitation of the senate again.”
Thus, the Senators on return from the Eid-el-Fitri recess, on Tuesday, 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.
The resolution followed an explanation by Umaru on the circumstances surrounding the failure of Malami to honour the invitation of his committee.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Saraki, who did not allow debate of the matter, 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.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
However, there are reports that Malami is currently meeting with Saraki at the National Assembly complex in Abuja – just hours after the threat.
Story by David Oputah
