– For being very vocal, the Senate has ordered for the investigation of Senator Kabir Marafa over statement that is seen by the Senate’s leadership as bringing the red chamber to disrepute
– The planned investigation has drawn condemnation by Senator Ahmed Lawan and others who described it as unnecessary
– The senators said that the Senate has too much tasks to oversee saying that the investigation of Marafa for mere statement amount denied of free speech

The Senate was divided on Tuesday, February 16, over moves by its leadership to investigate Senator Kabir Marafa on allegation of bringing the Senate to disrepute. Some senators who are opposed to the investigation called it unnecessary. The senators said that the senate had more pressing issues to consider. Recall that the Senate had mandated investigation into allegation of an interview published in The Punch granted by Sen. Marafa which allegedly brought the Senate to disrepute. Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) said that the Senate ought to be more sensitive in discharging of its function so as to ensure probity, transparency and accountability. He said that the Senate should concern more about building a reputable image through its actions rather than being concerned with the actions or interview of one individual senator. Lawan said: “I think at the moment, we are hypersensitive to what the public feels about us because an individual senator bares his mind on an issue. “So I will advise the Senate that instead of spending so much time an individual senator, we should rather take the bull by the horn and focus on our fundamental functions and mandates. “If we do that, no Nigerian will disrespect the National Assembly or indeed the Senate.” In his view, Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC Katsina South) said that the Senate was a very big institution with great responsibilities and should not limit itself to individual’s free speech. He said that the moment the Senate begins to make mountains out of small issues then it could lead to the Senate investigating itself. “Our main function requires freedom of speech: the moments you start instilling fear among ourselves that whether the Senate will impute meanings to whatever we say, then we have to call ourselves to order. “I believe that our colleagues should be very careful in this kind of situation. We should consider statements according to their merits. “What did Marafa say really that impinged on the integrity and the public image of the National Assembly? “We have so many pressing problems in this country. We should concentrate on those issues that will move the nation forward. But here we are trying to cause more troubles for ourselves. “If we are doing anything to our colleague, we are doing so to ourselves collectively,” the lawmaker said. On his part, Senator Ibrahim sounds one of warning that he and other senators will be waiting for the report of the committee but stressed that the Senate ought to tread cautiously.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/733310-allegedly-disrespecting-senate-read-happen-senator-marafa.html