… Judiciary Committee members fight over in presence of AGF
Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Malami on Wednesday gave the reason why the forgery case instituted against Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu must proceed saying that investigation revealed the standing Rule was alleged amended through back door.
This just as the members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,frowned at each other in the presence of Attorney General of Federation over when Senator Omoworare was trying to guide the Malami to know what to say because the matter is still in court and it may be prejudicial.
Visibly angry Senator Chukwuka Utazi tackled Omoworare on his comment.
Defending the alleged forgery case, AGF explained that he acted in public interest by charging charging Saraki, Ekweremadu and others for forgery of senate’s standing rules.
AGF said he wouldn’t comment further on the case since it has already been filed in court and suspects arraigned adding he has constitutional obligation to institute criminal case against anybody in the country.
He told the senators that the amendment of the 2011 rules was done without recourse to procedure stipulated for the amendment of the Standing rules.
He said the investigation has been concluded before he was appointed as the Attorney General of the Federation.
Malami, insisted that their 2015 standing rules were amended through the back door.
He said,”The issue that constitute the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate. It is an act that predates my appointment. There are series of suits. The date of interest is 23rd of July, 2015.
“I was appointed on the 12th of November, 2015. That is four months after the investigation was concluded by the NPF. I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that has been concluded. It was based n this that I took the action.
“The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process, but was taken to protect the democracy. There are now two pending cases in court. One is a civil case instituted by some Senators. The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF. These two matters are subjudice. When a matter is before a court of law, nobody is entitled to look into it.
“I am guided by the Senate Standing Rules 53. One of the cases was instituted by the office of the AGF. It will be wrong to make any comments on a case still in court. The two matters are pending. Based n that, I will not say more.
“To my mind, the issue had been overtaken by events. I have a tradition of honouring social invitations, much less of an institution like the Senate. I know what they stand for. My inability to come was not out of arrogance or anything. I was out of the country when the invitations were sent.”