......As Saraki Saves Buhari from Impeachment Move
THE Senate has
begun moves to probe President Muhammadu Buhari for paying a whopping sum of
$496 million to the United State Government for the purchase of Tucano Aircraft
without approval by the National Assembly.
The Senate described
the action as a total breach of the Constitution especially section 80 where
the procedure for that was not followed by the Executive arm of government,
just as some Senators described the action of the President as an impeachable
one.
The Senate has however mandated Senator David Umaru, APC, Niger East led
Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal matters to investigate the
matter and report back at plenary next week Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Senate
President Bukola Saraki however saved President Muhammadu Buhari from
impeachment moves for paying a whopping sum of $496 million to the United State
Government for the purchase of Tucano Aircraft without approval by the National
Assembly, as he referred the matter to the Senate Committee. Saraki came to the
rescue of the President, however said that the arguments raised on the matter
was valid.
Actions of the Senate followed a motion by the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South who
raised it that the action of President Buhari was a complete violation of the
law and asked that section 143 should be invoked.
The motion was supported by
Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North, saying, ” it is an impeachable
offence, things must be done in their right perspectives.” Senator Urhoghide’s
motion came shortly after the deputy Senate leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah
presented the Executive Communication on Inclusion of USD 496, 374, 470
(Equivalent of N151, 394, 494, 335.00) in the year 2018 Appropriation Bill that
the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-n-C on the inclusion of
USD 496, 374, 470 (Equivalent of N151, 394, 494, 335.00) only in the year 2018
Appropriation Bill for the purchase of Super Tucano Aircraft from the US
Government. According to Senator Urhighide, Section 143. reads,
“1) The
President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the
provisions of this section.
(2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing
signed by not less than one-third of the members of the National Assembly:-
(a)
is presented to the President of the Senate;
“b) stating that the holder of the
office of President or Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the
performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall
be specified, the President of the Senate shall within seven days of the
receipt of the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the
office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also cause any
statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be
served on each member of the National Assembly.
(3) Within fourteen days of the
presentation of the notice to the President of the Senate (whether or not any
statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation
contained in the notice) each House of the National Assembly shall resolve by
motion without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.
(4) A motion of the National Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall
not be declared as having been passed, unless it is supported by the votes of
not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the
National Assembly.
(5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the
foregoing provisions, the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall at the request of the
President of the Senate appoint a Panel of seven persons who in his opinion are
of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service,
legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provide
in this section.
(6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being
investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in
person and be represented before the Panel by legal practitioners of his own
choice.
(7) A Panel appointed under this section shall –
(a) have such powers
and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be
prescribed by the National Assembly; and (b) within three months of its
appointment report its findings to each House of the National Assembly. (8)
Where the Panel reports to each House of the National Assembly that the
allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in
respect of the matter.
Read much more at source:
No comments:
Post a Comment