Buhari apologises to senate over remarks by presidential aide about attorney-general

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to the senate over statements by one of his aides Okoi Obono-Oblo by saying that it lacked the powers to summon the attorney-general and justice minister Abubakar Malami.

 

Last week, the senate summoned Mr Malami to appear before it to comment in the recent planned prosecution of its president Senator Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu. However, Mr Obono-Oblo fired back at the senate saying it had no right to summon the minister as he was not answerable to senators.

 

His comments have sparked fury among senators who feel it is showing contempt for the legislature and the National Assembly. Apologising to senators for the gaffe,  Senator Ita Enang, President Buhari's special assistant to on National Assembly matters, tendered an unreserved apology for the statement.

 

 “I heard the statements after and I want to apologise to the distinguished senate, to the committee on judiciary and the distinguished senators because that statement ought not to have been made. The attorney-general is appointed by Mr President, cleared by the Senate and responsible for the federation.

 

“We will handle this matter but I first have to tender my unreserved apology for the impression it may have created to the distinguished senate, senators and the committee members. The attorney-general is currently indisposed but he will honour the invitation of the senate when available," Senator Enang added.

 

Furthermore, Senator Enang also explained that his enlistment as a prosecution witness in the trial of senate president Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was mainly on account of the testimony he deposed to the police before his appointment as a presidential aide. He stated that the testimony was mainly because of his position as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business in the preceding senate at the time.

 

Mr Obono-Oblo, the special assistant to the president on public prosecution, who appeared before the Senator David Umaru led Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters had lampooned the senate last Thursday saying that the red chambers lacked the powers to summon the justice minister. However, Senator Enang said that there was no way the attorney general will not respect senators because the lawmakers screened and cleared the ministers as ministerial nominees.