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You’ve no such powers, replies president’s aide
Buhari nominates Ocheni, Hassan as ministers
From Fred Itua, Abuja
Senate, yesterday, summoned Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, over alleged disparaging comments against the Red Chamber.
Sagay has been summoned to appear before the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to explain why he allegedly described senators as “childish and irresponsible.”
He is also expected to explain why he reportedly said the Senate is “filled with people of questionable character, who put personal interest ahead of the nation.”
The lawmakers said it became necessary to invite the presidential aide, who is a professor of jurisprudence, to name the questionable characters in the Senate.
The resolution followed a motion of Privilege, moved by Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who informed Senate that Sagay infringed on his integrity, character and privilege as a senator.
Na’Allah referred to a publication by a national daily which quoted Sagay as saying Senate’s demand that President Muhammadu Buhari sack acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in two weeks, as “childish and irresponsible.”
Na’Allah continued: “There is no disputing the fact that, today, Na’Allah is a distinguished senator. If somebody in the standing of Professor Sagay made this comment, it means this Senate is under obligation to invite him to come and name the questionable people. It is very important at this stage of our political development. Let me say, with the greatest respect, that, if due diligence had been done in respect of who the person and personality of Prof. Sagay is, I am absolutely sure that he will not have been appointed in that position.
“But, let me say, with due respect, that I, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, am not a person of questionable integrity. Let me equally say that no senator here is a person of questionable integrity.
“For somebody, in Itse Sagay’s position, to call this Senate irresponsible, and that we are childish and persons of questionable character, it behoves on this Senate to call upon him to appear before the Ethics and Privileges committee to mention those with questionable integrity, because Nigerians are entitled to know the basis for that comment.
Na’Allah further said: “We will argue about this matter here, but, in conclusion, the public will have the benefit of knowing where the irresponsibility lies, and I hope I have made my point.”
Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, who also felt maligned by Sagay’s alleged comments, added: “I believe if there is anything that this administration needs, it is cordiality, a relationship between the legislature and the executive. It, therefore, behoves on every presidential aide, from ministers to the least in the ladder, to behave responsibly to encourage and sustain the very cordial relationship between the National Assembly and the administration. Mr. President, we are elected people just like the president.
“Nigerians have every right to call us to order where we err and proffer suggestions where necessary. But, I take serious exception when a presidential aide, instead of trying to bring people together from the two sides of government, would speak in a manner that is so divisive and necessarily creating tension and pulling down this administration.
“I, therefore, take this opportunity to advise presidential aides, ‘if you have to speak, use the language that will bring the executive and the legislature into some understanding for us to achieve what Nigerians need most.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi urged his colleagues to ignore Sagay “because it is in his character to cause confusion.”
He said: “I want to create three scenarios so this Senate will be able to understand the person we are talking about and for us to know if there is any need, at all, to invite him.
“Mr President, recall that last year, when the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a ruling in a matter by ordering a stay in proceedings in an action, Prof. Sagay came out and cast aspersions on the judges of the Supreme Court that served in that panel.
Nwaoboshi recalled that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)then, under Barrister Alegheh (SAN) came out to apologise on behalf of Sagay, but he took on the NBA and said all sorts of things about the association.
“The same Prof. Sagay, when he was a professor of law in University of Benin and a woman, Prof. Alele Williams was appointed Vice Chancellor for the university from Delta, Sagay, with two other professors, became intransigent and tried to pull down the administration of the woman, and that led to his sack, alongside the other two lecturers, by the government of Ibrahim Babaginda.
“It is his trademark and, like my friend said, if they have done some screening about him, there won’t have been any need to have appointed him. He doesn’t thrive where there is peace, his best is when there is confusion and trouble, he creates problems everywhere and that is why I have created three scenarios.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, after listening to the contributions, referred the matter to the Ethics committee, to report back in four weeks.
On Tuesday, the Senate refused to consider 27 names of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), forwarded to it by President Buhari.
Giving reasons behind the refusal, the Senate said since Buhari has refused to act on its resolution to reject Magu, there was no need to consider new appointments.
Meanwhile, Sagay has said Senate has no power to summon him.
In his reaction to the summons, Sagay said: “They have no power or authority to summon me. I am not in the category of persons they can summon.”
Also, yesterday, president Buhari forwarded his nomination of Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni’s as the ministerial noninee from Kogi State Ocheni will replace James Ocholi, who died in an auto crash along Kaduna-Abuja road in Noverber 2015.
Similarly, Suleiman Hassan’s name was sent to the Senate for confirmation as Minister. He is to replace Amina Mohammed, who currently serves as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). She resigned last month, while President Buhari was away in the United Kingdom (UK) for a routine medical checkup.
Professor Ocheni is a lecturer in the Kogi State University. Buhari’s letter was read to Senators at the commencement of yesterday’s session reads:
The letter reads: “In accordance with section 147 (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward the underlisted ministerial nominees for confirmation of the Senate.Stephen Ikani Ocheni (professor), Kogi State and Suleiman Zana Hassan, Gombe State.
“It is my hope that this exercise will receive the usual kind of expeditious consideration of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
