Ebun Francis
The minister of Justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami on Thursday said that national assembly does not have the power to declare a vote of no confidence on Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police.
Malami made the assertion while speaking on a Channels TV programme.
The AGF said: “Within the purview of the constitution, if you look at section 4 of the constitution alongside Section 88 of the constitution, I think the fundamental functions of the legislature is lawmaking within the context and spirit of section 4 of the constitution and two, is oversight.
“The oversight function is not open-ended in all sincerity. Within the context of the workings of the ministries, departments, and agencies, the major responsibility of the national assembly is exposing corruption. That is the bottom line.
“I cannot in all sincerity come to terms with the reality of the declaration of the vote of no confidence against the IG, where to situate it within the context of the lawmaking responsibility of the national assembly and within the context of exposing corruption.”
A joint closed-door session of the national assembly on Tuesday passed a no-confidence vote on the IGP, accusing him of harassing their colleagues, including Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.