Ebun Francis || The Senate has asked the Attorney General of the Federation Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), to explain to Nigerians why he has been “running around the courts seeking to stop the probe by the two chambers of the National Assembly into how Mr. Abdulrashid Maina, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Interior, was reinstated into the service after being dismissed”.
A statement on Tuesday by the Senate Spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the Upper Chamber was surprised that the AGF who had utilized the ample opportunity given to him by both chambers of the National Assembly to state his case on the Maina issue, is now the one going to court to stop the legislature’s investigation.
“We are wondering what the AGF is afraid of. When he appeared before our committee, he was well received and fairly treated. He indeed expressed his happiness with the protection given to him by the committee handling the Maina case,” the statement read.
“Why then is it very important and urgent for him to stop the investigative hearing? What is the AGF trying to hide Let it be known that the legislature has the power of investigation on all institutions, bodies and individuals, particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by us.
It, however, commended the judiciary for upholding the principles of separation of powers and insisting on a fair hearing.
The statement continued, “We, however, expressed our commendation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of separation of powers and insisting on fair-hearing. We believe that is the reason why the judge refused to grant the prayers of the AGF yesterday and rather insisted that the national assembly should be put on notice and served all the court processes so that we could enter our own defence.
The statement further noted that while the Senate respects the position of the court and would respond accordingly, it has further directed the committee investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit their reports on time.
This follows the Federal High Court’s failure to grant an order of interim injunction stopping the National Assembly from probing the Attorney General of the Federation over the reinstatement.
Malami had in a motion ex parte, sought a restraining order against the National Assembly but the court on Monday refused to grant the order of injunction in a ruling it delivered after a chambers hearing of the ex parte application brought by the minister.