The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Federation, Abubakar Malami has stated that the National Assembly of Nigeria has no constitutional powers to summon President Muhammadu Buhari.
Malami In a shocking statement issued on Wednesday stated that the president cannot be summoned to give account of operational use of the armed forces.
In his words; ‘The National Assembly has no constitutional power to envisage or contemplate a situation where the president would be summoned by the national assembly on operational use of the armed forces.’
The AGF’s comments are coming as the President was scheduled to appear before the House of Assembly to give account of the nation’s efforts towards combating the rising spate of Insecurity and economic challenges. Earlier reports said that the President had cancelled the appearance amidst fears that he may not be able to give a proper account or field questions from enraged lawmakers.
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President Buhari was scheduled to appear before the Lawmakers to give account administration’s perfomance and handling of the nation’s security amidst widespread kidnapping, armed banditry and Terrorism.
Speaker Gbajabiamila had on Wednesday Dec. 2 announced that Buhari has accepted to address the Lawmakers after the House of Representatives on Tuesday December 1 resolved to invite Buhari to address lawmakers on efforts being made to address the security challenges in parts of the country.
The acceptance to address meeting was widely circulated and it read: ‘The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has agreed to address the House of Representatives on the security challenges across the country’. ‘The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after meeting Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.’ ‘He said the date of the address would soon be made public.’
The president’s meeting with the lawmakers was scheduled for December 11, during which he would be taking questions on the high spate of insecurity in the nation. According to Peoples Gazette, the meeting has been called off due to fears that the president could be exposed as ‘too frail to govern’ or ‘not mentally-aware’.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
