Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), constitutional lawyer and human rights activist on Wednesday said the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers the National Assembly to summon President Muhammadu Buhari to address them over the state of the nation.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said the National Assembly lacks the power to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to speak on security matters, arguing that the right of the President to engage the National Assembly and appear before it is “inherently discretionary in the President and not at the behest of the National Assembly.”

However, speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Ozekhome said the constitution in Section 88 and 89 empowers the National Assembly to compel the President as a public officer to appear before it.

He said “It depends on the angle you are looking at it. if it is from the angle of presenting a national budget, the constitution requires the President to lay the budget directly before the National Assembly, which will be sitting as a joint House presided over by the Senate President who is the chairman of the National Assembly. In such a case, the President must come directly and present his budget”.


“In America, once every year, the President is compelled to give a State of the Union address to the American people. We do not have such a provision in Nigeria. But in Nigeria, under Section 88 and 89 of the constitution, the National Assembly has oversight function on matters having to do with the well-being and security of the country”.

“If the national assembly feels that the security of the country has become so parlous and the economy has become so poor that we have entered a second recession, then they can use their powers in Section 88 and 89 because the constitution says “any public officer”. It did not mention that the president is excluded”.

“They can also use Section 4 of the constitution, which mandates them for the peace and order of Nigeria, they can summon him that they want to know the state of insecurity or the economy or why corruption is increasing. They can say that they need his appearance so as to get his information to enable them make laws for the peace, order and stability of the country”.

“In addition to this, even if it is not constitutionally provided for, is it not moral and ethical for the President who has only appeared before the National Assembly few times since he became president six years ago to appear before them to explain to them why the country is in topsy-turvy, upside down and why things have becomes so poor, why prices of petroleum have gone up three times in less than six months”.

https://www.independent.ng/ozekhome-counters-malami-says-nass-has-constitutional-powers-to-summon-buhari/

Mike don come again with his gibberish.

The USA he is referring to , ordinary subpoena by Democrats to Mike Pompeo, he did not appear not to talk of Bolton

Good Job...!
Malami is just another Fulani Quota system Lawyer with Pass degree in Law School after several references. A baby lawyer with questionable SAN or better still, Senior Almajiri of Najeriya... he knows next to nothing in Law just like Buhari his Boss....

How can legislature, an arm of government with the powers of Section 306 to summon and to even impeach the old Cow in Aso Rock is suddenly not qualify to Invite the president to NASS??

Did Buhari go?
Yes or No?

Buhari setting the pace for upcoming presidents.

Malami, who became Minister of Justice because he belongs to CPC, Buhari's party

What's the essence of National Assembly sef?
They asked him to sack Service Chiefs, he refused
They summoned him, he refused

NO NEED COUNTERING DULLARDS IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE THEM

he go he no go we Muvee

Nigeria is finished.

However, speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Ozekhome said the constitution in Section 88 and 89 empowers the National Assembly to compel the President as a public officer to appear before it.

If not that this country is somehow, you do not even need the Constitution before you can call on your leader or representative to explain the situation of things to the citizens. Especially, when it has to do with lives and properties of the people.

For good men with erectile/performance/sperm issues, https://www.nairaland.com/3152927/testimonies-100-herbal-tea-cures#46368527-weak-oragan+quick-release

backbone503:
Section 67 (1) of the 1999 Constitution gives the president a discretion whether to attend the National Assembly or not.
It states thus:
"The President MAY attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly or any meeting of either House of the National Assembly, either to deliver an address on national affairs, including fiscal measures, or to make such statement on the policy of government as he considers to be of national importance."
The operative word in this provision is MAY. In law, MAY conveys discretion; unlike the word SHALL which conveys a mandatory or compulsory meaning.

No wonder many are saying that our constitution is our problem.

descartes400:


Dont be sentimental. If you know the working of the constitution, and government and the different branches of government, the executive can claim executive privileges and the principle of separation of power. Summoning the president to appear before the legislature is summoning the executive branch of government. There will be power play and the executive will have the upper hand.

Even when human lives are involved?
I am not on anybody's side.
Whatever they can do to arrest the situation should be done.
People are being kidnapped every day.
Lives are being wasted every days.

Who is on aso rock

That's the question every sensible Nigerians should asking


Buhari now

See example intolerance

Section 67 (1) of the 1999 Constitution gives the president a discretion whether to attend the National Assembly or not.
It states thus:
"The President MAY attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly or any meeting of either House of the National Assembly, either to deliver an address on national affairs, including fiscal measures, or to make such statement on the policy of government as he considers to be of national importance."
The operative word in this provision is MAY. In law, MAY conveys discretion; unlike the word SHALL which conveys a mandatory or compulsory meaning.

You mean a dictatorial President can't be summoned by the other arms of the government..

Nawaoh

The Nigerian constitution is crude. It needs an overhaul. So many limitations, ambiguities and loopholes. It's not uncommon for laws to have more than one interpretation and I understand the concept of exceptions in law but what we have in Nigeria is just vague. It's not detailed enough to explicitly exclude or disprove some interpretations or arguments thus increasing the subjectivity in the judiciary system to an unhealthy level. Heck, some cases don't even have provisions at all. We can't continue deceiving ourselves like this.

These are interesting times

Malami is suppose to be a Sharia Court charge and bail Lawyer.

Malami na mumu man abeg

H

E

Malami is a CRIMINAL.Dey should withdraw d SAN from the worthless man

helinues:
Mike don come again with his gibberish.

The USA he is referring to , ordinary subpoena by Democrats to Mike Pompeo, he did not appear not to talk of Bolton

gibberish is your surname

helinues:
Mike don come again with his gibberish.

The USA he is referring to , ordinary subpoena by Democrats to Mike Pompeo, he did not appear not to talk of Bolton

No matter how una lick their dirty balls, Tinubu will never rule this country because obviously he is another disaster in the making.

Since all Tinubu urchins keep supporting this disaster of a president hoping he will be handed power, it will never happen.

Qwantinue

You dey mind the dullard aboki?



PDP is the most useless opposition party in the whole wide world

backbone503:
Section 67 (1) of the 1999 Constitution gives the president a discretion whether to attend the National Assembly or not.
It states thus:
"The President MAY attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly or any meeting of either House of the National Assembly, either to deliver an address on national affairs, including fiscal measures, or to make such statement on the policy of government as he considers to be of national importance."
The operative word in this provision is MAY. In law, MAY conveys discretion; unlike the word SHALL which conveys a mandatory or compulsory meaning.

Oga I MAY decide to take a stroll to a court and listen to a hearing as I please, but am mandated to be at that court if am invited for questioning ..

The constitutional statement was for a casual NAS meeting, not when invited to explain matters of national interest.

Sometimes I wonder the kind of pace Buhari is setting for future Nigerian leaders...
I guess he normally forgets he is a democratically elected president...

So what's the rationale for choosing senior advocates of Nigeria? Here we have 2 SAN and one is obviously very confused. I'm not calling anybody a fool but.......WTF?

[s]

helinues:
Mike don come again with his gibberish.

The USA he is referring to , ordinary subpoena by Democrats to Mike Pompeo, he did not appear not to talk of Bolton

[/s]

Rubbish comment as usual.

Coming from the number one defender of Nigeria resources looting gangs!

helinues:
Mike don come again with his gibberish.

The USA he is referring to , ordinary subpoena by Democrats to Mike Pompeo, he did not appear not to talk of Bolton

I see no gibberish here oga...
He is answerable to the people anytime, any day.