Just last week, National Assembly worried by the spate of killings and bomb attacks in the country especially in the North,invited President Goodluck Jonathan to a closed door session. Also summoned by the lawmakers are the security chiefs including Azazi. One week later, Azari and the defense minister were sacked, an act which releases them from testifying since they no longer hold their positions.

A new invitation must be issued to Azazi and the fired defence minister. Azazi should now be free to testify honestly by what he meant by "elements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) helped create the environment that created the Islamic sect, Boko Haram"

Azazi must tell the us what he meant by following statement he made while speaking at the Second South-South Economic Summit in Asaba :

“The issue of violence did not increase in Nigeria until when there was a declaration by the current President that he was going to contest. PDP got it wrong from the beginning. The party started by saying Mr. A can rule, and Mr. B cannot rule, according to PDP convention, rules and regulations and not according to the Constitution. That created the climate for what is happening. Is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, he could cause a problem in the society?”

I hope the firing of Azazi is not another ruse by GEJ to put the wool over our eyes. Immunize Azazi and let him speak!

And after hearing d names nothing will happen! So y stress urself

It wont be neccessary cos he wont give the truth.

GEJ has no reason to obey their invitation.

Billyonaire: GEJ has no reason to obey their invitation.

you just dey disgrace yourself for public.

mikuz: you just dey disgrace yourself for public.

Welcome to Nigeria!

The next time NASS summons any other person and that person refuses, watch what the very same will claim then.

Kobojunkie:
Welcome to Nigeria!

The next time NASS summons any other person and that person refuses, watch what the very same will claim then.

Great nation,Great people!!

Kobojunkie:
Welcome to Nigeria!

The next time NASS summons any other person and that person refuses, watch what the very same will claim then.

Thank you!

Billyonaire: GEJ has no reason to obey their invitation.

GEJ will not honour that invitation
and nothing will happen.

mikuz: you just dey disgrace yourself for public.

. My let's leave sentiments and partisan politics, GEJ alone cannot over see every parts of Nigeria...That is why he has appointed dis people and if they're not giving d result,he can fire them and employ new hands to over see. Why is house didn't summon d state governors and only d security thieves + NSA and minister of defense alone cos of their lack of competency As d overseers ?? They wants to fight back d blow of there corrupt house...

Blackheritage: . My let's leave sentiments and partisan politics, GEJ alone cannot over see every parts of Nigeria...That is why he has appointed dis people and if they're not giving d result,he can fire them and employ new hands to over see. Why is house didn't summon d state governors and only d security thieves + NSA and minister of defense alone cos of their lack of competency As d overseers ?? They wants to fight back d blow of there corrupt house...

Because the house is well aware that the state Governors are not in charge of security and the handling of security in Nigeria. That job belongs to the President, who then turns around and hires the IG, NSA and Minister of defense.

Please read up on your National Constitution.

http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm

89. [size=13pt](1) For the purposes of any investigation under section 88 of this Constitutional and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution shall have power to -[/size]

(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter;

(b) require such evidence to be given on oath;

(c) [size=13pt]summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, subject to all just exceptions; [/size]and

(d) [size=13pt] issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the committee in question, and order him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons, and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refused or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.[/size]

(2)[size=13pt]A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person authorised in that behalf by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may require.[/size]

I then wonder why state governors are called the chief security officers of their states. LOL

State Governors - just watch as the people you are answerable to are killed daily like chickens and fold your arms believing the job of securing your state belongs to the Federal Government and you have nothing to contribute. I hail o.

I wonder if we should now go with what people are called and not what the law really states.

http://www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm

215. (1) There shall be -

(a) an Inspector-General of Police who, subject to section 216(2) of this Constitution shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Nigeria Police Force;

(b) a Commissioner of Police for each state of the Federation who shall be appointed by the Police Service Commission.

(2) The Nigeria Police Force shall be under the command of the Inspector-General of Police and contingents of the Nigeria Police Force stationed in a state shall, subject to the authority of the Inspector-General of Police, be under the command of the Commissioner of Police of that state.

(3) The President or such other Minister of the Government of the Federation as he may authorise in that behalf may give to the Inspector-General of Police such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, and the Inspector-General of Police shall comply with those direction or cause them to be compiled with.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Governor of a state or such Commissioner of the Government state as he may authorise in that behalf, may give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary, and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with:

Provided that before carrying out any such directions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection the Commissioner of Police may request that the matter be referred to the President or such minister of the Government of the Federation as may be authorised in that behalf by the President for his directions.

^^ In English--- any orders to the police from Governors have to be first approved by the President, or any one he appoints.

Blackheritage: . My let's leave sentiments and partisan politics, GEJ alone cannot over see every parts of Nigeria...That is why he has appointed dis people and if they're not giving d result,he can fire them and employ new hands to over see. Why is house didn't summon d state governors and only d security thieves + NSA and minister of defense alone cos of their lack of competency As d overseers ?? They wants to fight back d blow of there corrupt house...

NASS can't order any governor to appear before it. Governors are answerable to various Houses of Assembly in their respective states not NASS. So NASS has no such powers.

However, they can ask the president or a cabinet minister, etc to appear and clarify some issues. But when such matter borders on National Security and taking into cognizance our peculiar environment where some honorable members are sympathetic to the cause of Boko Haram, where a senator is facing prosecution for his links with the Islamic sect, such an appearance is a pointless waste of time. Nothing useful can come out of it.

Kobojunkie:
Welcome to Nigeria!

The next time NASS summons any other person and that person refuses, watch what the very same will claim then.

exactly....

Dem never born NASS to de call GEJ.
Who wan invoke?

People are funny! Because the fool, Tambuwal does not know his station is no reason for normal people to become fools too.
The NASS cannot even summon a governor.

bayooooooo:

NASS can't order any governor to appear before it. Governors are answerable to various Houses of Assembly in their respective states not NASS. So NASS has no such powers.

However, they can ask the president or a cabinet minister, etc to appear and clarify some issues. But when such matter borders on National Security and taking into cognizance our peculiar environment where some honorable members are sympathetic to the cause of Boko Haram, where a senator is facing prosecution for his links with the Islamic sect, such an appearance is a pointless waste of time. Nothing useful can come out of it.

Are you calling for the intentional subversion of the constitution by the President? It is people like you who will complain when impeachment proceedings are instituted against the President. At that time you will not remember encouraging him to act lawlessly.

I don't believe the President needs to initiate any new drama here. Its time for the executive and legislative wings to work together on a solution. The hearings should not be adversarial in nature and the President must be accorded all due respect.

I have been thinking hard....the Governor of Borno state is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer of his state as they claim. It would be interesting to know how much his monthly security vote is since the BH crisis started....

ndu_chucks:

Are you calling for the intentional subversion of the constitution by the President? It is people like you who will complain when impeachment proceedings are instituted against the President. At that time you will not remember encouraging him to act lawlessly.

I don't believe the President needs to initiate any new drama here. Its time for the executive and legislative wings to work together on a solution. The hearings should not be adversarial in nature and the President must be accorded all due respect.

89. (1) For the purposes of any investigation under section 88 of this Constitutional and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution shall have power to -

(a) procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter;

(b) require such evidence to be given on oath;

(c) summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, subject to all just exceptions; and

(d) issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the committee in question, and order him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons, and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refused or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

(2) A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person authorised in that behalf by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may require.

The above quote is where the NASS derives the power to summon "any person", let's look at "any person":

1. What happens if "any person" in this above quote for House of Representative is the Senate President or vice versa? Can Tambuwal(House of Reps) order David Mark to appear before him? Is it enforceable? That "any person" even when interpreted loosely is still not applicable to everyone in Nigeria. The supreme court will have to interpret if that "any person" can be applied to the office of president.

It's my opinion that GEJ is not duty bound to appear and can not be compelled to appear before NASS. NASS also does not have the means of enforcing such a resolution. Can they also order CJN to appear? Shunning such an invitation more so when it does not have any precedent can not amount to impeachable offence. SO on technicality of law, GEJ is not duty bound to appear.


2.

The hearings should not be adversarial in nature and the President must be accorded all due respect.

They don't have any choice than to accord the president deserved respect. What exactly is "hearings" in this case? Public or Private? It does not make sense to call public hearing on national security issue. Besides the president can not discuss such an issue when a sitting senator is implicated and answering charges on terrorisms? If such meeting ever take place, it can't be frank and sincere as it is inherently adversarial in nature.

Nigerians are their own worst enemies.!

gregg2: GEJ will not honour that invitation
and nothing will happen.

see ur mouth....for ur info...dey will impeach him and dat wud b d end...and ofcos...david mark wud make d senate follow suit...cos if dey remove gej successfully...i tell u,sambo will appoint mark as vp

Kobojunkie: Nigerians are their own worst enemies.!

How?

bayooooooo:
They don't have any choice than to accord the president deserved respect. [b]What exactly is "hearings" in this case? Public or Private? [/b]It does not make sense to call public hearing on national security issue. Besides the president can not discuss such an issue when a sitting senator is implicated and answering charges on terrorisms? If such meeting ever take place, it can't be frank and sincere as it is inherently adversarial in nature.

Regarding the bolded above, the hearing/briefing/meeting will be in closed doors. You don't want to discuss these kinds of security issues in a public hearing. GEJ should use this as an opportunity to build new bridges between the exec and legislative branch towards resolving these security issues. If GEJ and other officials do not honour NASS' request, then they are asking for unnecessary trouble.

ndu_chucks:

Regarding the bolded above, the hearing/briefing/meeting will be in closed doors. You don't want to discuss these kinds of security issues in a public hearing. GEJ should use this as an opportunity to build new bridges between the exec and legislative branch towards resolving these security issues. If GEJ and other officials do not honour NASS' request, then they are asking for unnecessary trouble.

Will Senator Ndume be part of the closed door session? What if he insists on being part of the meeting but the president disagrees? What if the president says several Honourables and senators like Ndume are still in NASS and that their patriotism is in question?

Ultimately if the president declines the invitation what trouble awaits him?

bayooooooo:
How?

Here is a better question for you, if Tambuwal, on behalf of the House, requests that David Mark show up for a hearing, How does that change what the Constitution says ought to happen? Cause I am of the opinion that you are not stupid enough to suggest here that Tambuwal would(not as a NASS officer)of his own use this power given, not to individual members, but to the house/senate.

My other question to you, if the law says the rule applies to 'ANY PERSON' in Nigeria, and the Presidents happens to be an ANY PERSON in NIGERIA, how then can the President not be duty bound to adhere to this law, given that the law makes no exception for even the President in this case, he is sworn to uphold the law?

bayooooooo:

Will Senator Ndume be part of the closed door session? What if he insists on being part of the meeting but the president disagrees? What if the president says several Honourables and senators like Ndume are still in NASS and that their patriotism is in question?

Ultimately if the president declines the invitation what trouble awaits him? Impeachment, Loss of goodwill?

The whatif scenarios playing out in your head are far from realities. This kind of closed door hearing will probably be attended by members of the senate committee on Security and Intelligence, the Speaker, and a few other members. Ndume will not have any role whatsoever and will not and should not be in attendance.

F.Y.I


NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE

1. Sen. Mohammed Magoro - Chairman

2. Sen. Shaaba M. Lafiagi - Vice Chairman

3. Sen. Mohammed S. Saleh - Member

4. Sen. Akin B. Odunsi - Member

5. Sen. Boluwaji Kunlere - Member

6. Sen. Magnus N. Abe - Member

7. Sen. Saidu A. Alkali - Member

8. Sen. Gilbert Nnaji - Member

9. Sen. Sulieman A. Adokwe - Member

10. Sen. Joshua M. Lidani - Member

ndu_chucks:

The whatif scenarios playing out in your head are far from realities. This kind of closed door hearing will probably be attended by members of the senate committee on Security and Intelligence, the Speaker, and a few other members. Ndume will not have any role whatsoever and will not and should not be in attendance.

F.Y.I


NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE

1. Sen. Mohammed Magoro - Chairman

2. Sen. Shaaba M. Lafiagi - Vice Chairman

3. Sen. Mohammed S. Saleh - Member

4. Sen. Akin B. Odunsi - Member

5. Sen. Boluwaji Kunlere - Member

6. Sen. Magnus N. Abe - Member

7. Sen. Saidu A. Alkali - Member

8. Sen. Gilbert Nnaji - Member

9. Sen. Sulieman A. Adokwe - Member

10. Sen. Joshua M. Lidani - Member

The bolded got me laughing. My whatifs are not far from reality. You mentioned closed door meeting without defining who would be present or absence. Are you saying Ndume does not have a right to be present at any of such enlarged closed door meeting?

As per NASS members on National Security and Intelligence Committee, they should , if not already, be carried along. But if the president declines, what trouble awaits him?

bayooooooo:

The bolded got me laughing. My whatifs are not far from reality. You mentioned closed door meeting without defining who would be present or absence. Are you saying Ndume does not have a right to be present at any of such enlarged closed door meeting?

As per NASS members on National Security and Intelligence Committee, they should , if not already, be carried along. But if the president declines, what trouble awaits him?

The President can refuse to honour the summons and try to fight its constitutionaly and claims that it encroaches on his executive authority e.t.c. That to me, is simply not the most prudent way to handle this. NASS can respond with impeachment proceedings or in other ways. Why start another war with the legislative branch at a time that Nigeria is at war with BH?

ndu_chucks:

The President can refuse to honour the summons and try to fight its constitutionaly and claims that it encroaches on his executive authority e.t.c. That to me, is simply not the most prudent way to handle this. NASS can respond with impeachment proceedings or in other ways. Why start another war with the legislative branch at a time that Nigeria is at war with BH?

Nope. There is nothing wrong in having a civil dispute between NASS and the Executive. Such litigation will deepen and enrich our democratic experience. Besides, it removes such ambiguity in case this type of scenario re-occur in future. Impeachment is non starter. What would the offence be? He failed to honour NASS invitation?

It's not really a war. It's all politics. What will GEJ tell them that NSA or Defence Minister can not say? It's more practicable to summon Ministers or Head of Agencies than to summon GEJ himself. That type of summon is inherently adversarial.

bayooooooo:

It's not really a war. It's all politics. What will GEJ tell them that NSA or Defence Minister can not say? It's more practicable to summon Ministers or Head of Agencies than to summon GEJ himself. That type of summon is inherently adversarial.

Tell the hundreds if not thousands of people who have died as a result of the insecurity that its all politics. Your time is running out quickly- just in case you work for these incompetent government officials. There is nothing adversarial in the summons and the President is not above the law. Period.

Kobojunkie:

Because the house is well aware that the state Governors are not in charge of security and the handling of security in Nigeria. That job belongs to the President, who then turns around and hires the IG, NSA and Minister of defense.

Please read up on your National Constitution.

Oga mi, I stand to be corrected o. I believe they are 1st chief security officer of their individual state, what I understand is that all this BH was started from state level, if we continue blaming FG or looking unto FG along for solution we may not find one o.

My best Regards