Don’t embarrass yourselves, you can’t summon me, Sagay tells senators
Itse Sagay, presidential advisory committee against corruption (PACAC) chairman, has said the Nigerian senate lacks the authority to summon him for expressing an opinion.
The professor of law advised the senate to seek legal advice over the limit of its powers, urging the lawmakers not to embarrass themselves.
Sagay said he has a constitutional right to air his views on the pages of the newspapers, adding that he is not in the category of government officials that can be summoned by the senate.
He urged any senator who feels aggrieved by his statement to head to court and sue.
“I expressed an opinion in the newspaper. It’s my constitutional right. Now, they say they’re inviting me,” he said.
“I’ve not got the summons yet, but I’m saying that they absolutely have no authority or power to summon me before them, just as I have no power or authority to summon them before me. Our powers in that regard on virtual summons are exactly the same.
“So, it is a futile exercise. My advice to them is to ask their legal advisers to tell them how limited their powers are under Sections 82 to 89 of the 1999 Constitution. Then they will know that I am far, far outside the category of people they can ever invite. And they would save themselves the embarrassment of the consequences of that futile invitation.
“They absolutely have no authority to invite a private citizen who expresses an opinion. They have been defeated in court so many times for trying to invite people over whom they have no power.
“So, that’s why I said they should just save themselves that embarrassment. They can’t intimidate anybody. They can’t stop me from expressing my views, which are guaranteed by the Constitution.
“They cannot become a court for me to appear before. Courts are established, and I can only appear before a court, not before them.”
Mr Prof so you mean the people’s representatives of this country CANNOT summon you?! Incredible!
Mr Mamman Bako, I ask with all respect and sincerity. Have you ever felt represented in the senate or H.O.R?
@Mamman Bako, it’s not a case of can or cannot. It’s simply the law as expressly stated in the quoted constitutional section, feel free to refer to it yourself
This tragedy is played out because men of limited/little education and outsize egos have managed to find a way into the Senate.
When we then consider that many of them thrive on theiving from the national coffers, we should not be surprised that folks like Sagay, Magu, Ali, Sowore, and others are like smoke to their eyes.
The 8th legislature reminds us all of the urgent need to re-examine our democracy and to see if it is still fit for purpose; and if not, time is now to change it.
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Well said my brother, what do u expect. When you have people of questionable characters as principal officers in national assembly. In a saner clime people like saraki should have tread the path of honour by resigning long time ago.