Democracy-advocate Femi Falana has advised theEthics Committee of the Senate to withdraw its illegal summons on the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman.
On Tuesday, the committee asked the chairman to appear before it on Thursday despite knowing he is supposed to be seating at the tribunal on that day in trial over Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Mr. Falana said in a public statement it was confirmedthat the leadership of the Senate has resolved to frustrate the trial of Mr. Saraki, noting that only on Monday, the Tribunal ruled that the case would be conducted daily under the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 until concluded.
In a swift but contemptuous reaction to the ruling, he said, the Ethics Committee purportedly summoned the Tribunal Chairman to testify in respect of a petition alleging corrupt practices against him.
“Instead of exposing the Nigerian people to further undeserved embarrassment over the Saraki case the Senate is enjoined to enhance the fight against corruption by passing the Whistle Blowers Bill, the Proceeds of Crime Bill and the Witness Protection Bill which were passed by the 7th National Assembly but were not signed into law by former President GoodluckJonathan,” Mr. Falana said.
He advised that for the Nigerian people to take the war against corruption seriously, the members of the legislative and executive arms of Government ought to be prepared to demonstrate leadership by example, adding that given the majority of States are now owing arrears of salaries, the legislators should be prepared to make a sacrifice by reducing their fat salaries and jumbo allowances.
He pointed out that the Ethics Committee of the Senate lacks the power to summon the Tribunal Chairman to testify in respect of a criminal investigation, especially given that the allegation being examined by the committee is the subject matter of a pending criminal case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja.
Earlier on Tuesday, 28 civil society organizations promoting justice and good governance in Nigeria called on President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent to a bill being hurried through the Senate to amend the law setting up the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the CCT, should it be passed.
They stressed that the underhand moves in the Senate are aimed at whittling down the powers of the agencies with a view to helping Senate President Bukola Sarakiescape justice.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)alsowarned the Senate to return the Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs they are currently buying and distributing among themselves, or be prepared to meet the Nigerian people in the streets.
On Sunday, the Abuja-based Daily Trust newspaper had reported that the Senate dubiously purchased each of the cars for N35.1 million, over twice the showroom price in Nigeria, where the 2016 model sells for N17 million.
Full text of the statement by Mr. Falana:
The Iillegal summons on Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman
We have confirmed that the leadership of the Senate has resolved to frustrate the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal Holden at Abuja. Yesterday, the Tribunal ruled that the case would be conducted day by day until it is concluded under the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. In a swift but contemptuous reaction to the ruling, the Ethics Committee of the Senate has purportedly summoned the Tribunal Chairman to appear before it on Thursday, December 20, 2016. The Judge is required to testify before the Senate Committee in respect of a petition alleging corrupt practices against him.
It is pertinent to note that the enormous investigative powers of the national assembly are circumscribed as they are exercisable subject to other provisions of the Constitution. In Senate of National Assembly v. Momoh (1983) 4 NCLR 269 at 295 the Federal Court of Appeal dwelt in extenso on the provision of Section 82 of the 1979 Constitution when it held:-
“It appears to me that section 82 is not designed to enable the legislature to usurp the general investigative functions of the executive nor the adjudicative functions of the judiciary. ... They can only invite members of the public when they want to gather facts for the purpose of enabling them make law or amend existing laws in respect of any matter within their legislative competence or as witnesses in a properly constituted inquiry under section 82(1)(b). "
It is submitted, with respect, that section 82 of the 1979 Constitution is in pari materia with Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution. In Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai v. The House of Representatives, National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors. (2003) 46 WRN 70 the Court of Appeal subjected to section 88 of the 1999 Constitution to a critical judicial interpretation. Oguntade JCA (as he then was) who read the leading judgment of the Court said:
“The crucial question that follows is this: when the 1st Defendant sent the letter of 20/3/2002 to the Plaintiff to appear before its Ethics and Privileges Committee, was it engaged in the making of law within its legislative competence or to expose corruption and inefficiency in a public department? Clearly, the answer is in the negative. It is apparent that the 1st Plaintiff and was intent on taking further steps following its antecedent determination. That this was the intention of the 1st Defendant which is made clear by the opening paragraph of the letter which stated that the Plaintiff had published defamatory matters concerning it.”
With respect to the matter on hand, it is submitted that Senate lacks the power to investigate allegations of corrupt practices and other criminal offenses. In Akomolafe v. The Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly(1984) 5 NCLR 355 at 367 Ogundare Ag CJ (as he then was) of blessed memory held:-
“Neither the Speaker nor the House is empowered by the Constitution and statute law to deal with the issue assigned to the panel. The investigation of crimes is for the police, and the trial of criminal offenses is for the courts. The Speaker on receipt of Mr. Aladeselu’s letter ought to have referred it to the police for necessary action.”
Conclusion
In the light of the foregoing, the Ethics Committee of the Senate is advised to withdraw its illegal summons which has been issued and served on the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman. Instead of exposing the Nigerian people to further undeserved embarrassment over the Saraki case the Senate is enjoined to enhance the fight against corruption by passing the Whistle Blowers Bill, the Proceeds of Crime Bill and the Witness Protection Bill which were passed by the 7th National Assembly but were not signed into law by former President GoodluckJonathan. For the Nigerian people to take the war against corruption seriously, the members of the legislative and executive arms of Government ought to be prepared to demonstrate leadership by example. In a country where the majority of the states are owing arrears of salaries, the legislators should be prepared to make a sacrifice by reducing their fat salaries and jumbo allowances.
Femi Falana SAN
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