ABUJA, JULY 13, 2016 – The senate on Tuesday threatened to invoke its constitutional powers in compelling Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, to appear before it.On two occasions — June 21 and June 30 — failed to appear before the senate’s committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters to explain the rationale behind the forgery charges against Bukola Saraki, the senate president and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
On one of those occasions, the senate walked out a representative of the AGF.
Saraki’s ruling was sequel to a point of order raised by David Umari, who informed the senate that Malami had expressed regrets and was seeking another chance to appear before the aforementioned committee.
Saraki and his deputy are accused to have masterminded the usage of a forged Senate Standing Rules for the June 9, 2015 election, which led to the duo’s emergence as leaders of the senate.
The trial of the two, which was supposed to have started on Monday, was postponed to September 28 due to the vacation of Justice Yusuf Halilu.
