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Senate can’t summon IG – Femi Falana

Published

6 years ago

May 10, 2018

Mr Femi Falana ( SAN ) has said the Senate got it wrong when it asked the President , or the Inspector General of Police to appear before it .He said this when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television ’ s breakfast programme , Sunrise Daily , on Thursday .

Falana quoted sections of the Constitution to explain that the President or the governor of a state cannot be summoned by the National Assembly .

He said , “ There is no such power given to NASS by the Constitution to summon everybody .

“ It has given the President the discretion to address the National Assembly either jointly or separately on any matter of national importance. ”

“ The Senate didn ’ t get it right this time around . By virtue of Section 67 of the Constitution, the National Assembly or either chamber can summon a Minister when the affairs of his or her ministries are under consideration .

“ The only other occasion where a public officer can be summoned by the National Assembly is when proceedings are ongoing to expose corruption ( Section 88 ) and when a law is being debated either with a view to amending it or to have a new law entirely . ”

However , the senior advocate stated that the lawmakers can fix areas of the Constitution perceived as weak , rather than going beyond its limits as such actions