Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has stated that it is unconstitutional for any legislative chamber to suspend or sack a member.
He made this comment on a Channels Television news programme on Wednesday in reaction to the suspension of Ovie Omo-Agege from the Senate.
Falana said only a competent court of law can suspend or remove a member of the legislature whether at local, state or federal government level.
“No legislative house can suspend or remove a member. It is only a court of law or the constituency that elected them can order the removal or suspension of their representative,” said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“This is because when you remove or suspend a legislator, his constituency no longer has a representative in that house and that is not legal.
“I handled the case of Dino Melaye and others when they were being suspended from NASS in 2011. I handled the case of Dana vs Bauchi house of assembly from the high court to court of appeal. As of today, his case is the locus classicus on the tenure of members,” he said.
DAILY POST recalls that the senate suspended Senator Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days last week over his comment that: “the reordered electoral timetable was targeted at President Buhari.”
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