The Senate, on Tuesday, berated the Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), for
his moves to stop the National Assembly’s investigation into the
controversial reinstatement of a former Chairman of the
Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdulrasheed
Maina.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly said Malami had been
“running around the courts” to stop the investigation of Maina, who
it said was “surreptitiously” reinstated into the Federal
Government’s service after he had been dismissed.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have begun separate
probes into the controversial reinstatement of Maina, who was
promoted as an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Interior.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja by the Chairman of
its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu
Sabi-Abdullahi.
It stated that it was surprised that the AGF, who had utilised
the ample opportunity given to him by both chambers of the National
Assembly to state his case on the Maina issue, was now the one
going to court to stop the legislature’s probe.
The statement read, “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.
“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 into all institutions, bodies and individuals,
particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by
us.”
It stated that the National Assembly should be put on notice and
served all the court processes so that it could enter its own
defence.
It added, “While we respect the position of the court and would
respond accordingly, the Senate has further directed the committee
investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit its
report on time.
“The Senate believes Nigerians are interested in knowing the
how, who, why and where of what is now known as the ‘Mainagate’. We
definitely will not allow those who want the facts buried to
prevail.”
In his substantive suit, the AGF had asked the court to
determine whether the National Assembly had the right to probe
issues relating to the “employment, attendance at work,
disengagement, reinstatement and or promotion of a civil
servant.”
The AGF contended that the power of investigation, vested in the
National Assembly by Section 88 (1) of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), was limited.
The court had adjourned until January 15 for the National
Assembly to show cause why the AGF’s request should not be
granted.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to begin the immediate probe of Malami.
Sagay, while speaking with The PUNCH on the telephone on
Tuesday, said Malami’s role in the return of Maina was
disappointing.
He said the AGF was either naive or complicit and the Presidency
would need to take action.
Sagay said, “As the attorney general, you met a fugitive who is
wanted for a very heinous crime of depriving thousands of elderly
people of their rights. You don’t, for any reason, go to hold
discussions with such a person.
“Your job should be to extradite and try him. He compromised
himself by meeting with him. He says he didn’t write any letter
regarding the reinstatement of Maina but the letter emanated from
his ministry. So, let the President investigate the attorney
general.”
The senior advocate, however, agreed with Malami that the Senate
was being overzealous by probing his role in the Maina scandal.
Sagay added, “I think the Senate is overzealous in its approach.
It investigates everything and in the end, we hardly see anything.
I think it is spending too much time setting up sub-committees to
investigate everything.
The Senate, on Tuesday, berated the Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), for
his moves to stop the National Assembly’s investigation into the
controversial reinstatement of a former Chairman of the
Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdulrasheed
Maina.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly said Malami had been
“running around the courts” to stop the investigation of Maina, who
it said was “surreptitiously” reinstated into the Federal
Government’s service after he had been dismissed.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have begun separate
probes into the controversial reinstatement of Maina, who was
promoted as an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Interior.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja by the Chairman of
its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu
Sabi-Abdullahi.
It stated that it was surprised that the AGF, who had utilised
the ample opportunity given to him by both chambers of the National
Assembly to state his case on the Maina issue, was now the one
going to court to stop the legislature’s probe.
The statement read, “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.
“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 into all institutions, bodies and individuals,
particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by
us.”
It stated that the National Assembly should be put on notice and
served all the court processes so that it could enter its own
defence.
It added, “While we respect the position of the court and would
respond accordingly, the Senate has further directed the committee
investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit its
report on time.
“The Senate believes Nigerians are interested in knowing the
how, who, why and where of what is now known as the ‘Mainagate’. We
definitely will not allow those who want the facts buried to
prevail.”
In his substantive suit, the AGF had asked the court to
determine whether the National Assembly had the right to probe
issues relating to the “employment, attendance at work,
disengagement, reinstatement and or promotion of a civil
servant.”
The AGF contended that the power of investigation, vested in the
National Assembly by Section 88 (1) of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), was limited.
The court had adjourned until January 15 for the National
Assembly to show cause why the AGF’s request should not be
granted.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has called on President
Muhammadu Buhari to begin the immediate probe of Malami.
Sagay, while speaking with The PUNCH on the telephone on
Tuesday, said Malami’s role in the return of Maina was
disappointing.
He said the AGF was either naive or complicit and the Presidency
would need to take action.
Sagay said, “As the attorney general, you met a fugitive who is
wanted for a very heinous crime of depriving thousands of elderly
people of their rights. You don’t, for any reason, go to hold
discussions with such a person.
“Your job should be to extradite and try him. He compromised
himself by meeting with him. He says he didn’t write any letter
regarding the reinstatement of Maina but the letter emanated from
his ministry. So, let the President investigate the attorney
general.”
The senior advocate, however, agreed with Malami that the Senate
was being overzealous by probing his role in the Maina scandal.
Sagay added, “I think the Senate is overzealous in its approach.
It investigates everything and in the end, we hardly see anything.
I think it is spending too much time setting up sub-committees to
investigate everything.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/maina-senate-knocks-agf-sagay-seeks-malamis-probe/