The House of Representatives on Tuesday warned the Federal Government to “desist” from its bid to prosecute the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over forgery allegations.
It stressed that dragging the two presiding officers to court did not only amount to interfering with the “internal affairs” of the Senate, but was also part of a plot to cripple the institution of the National Assembly.
The Lower Chamber, in a resolution in Abuja, specifically urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene by cautioning top officials of his administration and stop them from “progressing in error”.
They advised the executive to abide by the principle of separation of powers and independence of the legislature as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
A member from Kogi State, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, while raising the issue under matters of urgent public importance, recalled that the lack of respect for the National Assembly was exemplified in the non-implementation of the resolution passed by the House since March, taking over the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The House argued that seeking to prosecute Saraki and Ekweremadu after an Abuja Federal High Court had ruled that the case in question was an internal affair of the legislature, smacked of desperation to rubbish the National Assembly.
The resolution read further, “The House strongly urges Mr. President, who has sworn to an oath to defend and protect the constitution, to prevail on the members of the executive council to desist from further steps that will cripple the National Assembly.
“These include prosecuting the presiding officers of the Senate over alleged forgery of Senate Rules, which a competent court of law has also recognised as strictly the ‘internal affair of the National Assembly’, and which judgement has not been set aside by any superior court.”
Citing other instances of disregard for the National Assembly, the Representatives observed that ministers and heads of agencies ignored invitations to appear before committees for oversight.
“It is now commonplace that ministers and heads of parastatals ignore invitations by committees at will.
“The House committees have therefore been rendered toothless because no consequences are attached to such wanton refusal of ministers to attend sessions,” the House added.
The session was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, who did not allow the motion to be debated because it was “straightforward.”
After the Reps members endorsed the matter in a majority voice vote, it was referred to the joint committees on Justice and Legislative Compliance.
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