Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to turn around in turning down the invitation to address the joint National Assembly on the state of insecurity in the country.
Falana, on Wednesday, faulted the claim of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that the National Assembly had no power to summon the President over the rising insecurity in the country.
The Senior Advocate noted that the President had been under pressure from the governors under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC) not to honor the invitation.
He said that the Progressive Governors fear that they might similarly invited to address their respective houses of Assembly.
He insisted that the National Assembly has the powers to summon the President to appear before it.
He said, “The members of the House of Representatives unanimously resolved to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to address them on the state of the nation with respect to the huge funds appropriated for the war on terror without tangible results.
“The President accepted the invitation and announced that he would address the House on Thursday, December 10, 2020. Regrettably, the President has been under pressure from APC governors not to honour the invitation for fear that they too may be similarly invited to address their respective houses of Assembly.
“On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation has questioned the constitutional power of the National Assembly to invite the President on the grounds that as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he cannot be compelled to disclose operational details of the defence of the country. With respect, the President is under a moral and legal obligation to honour the invitation. Having accepted the invitation, the President should not allow himself to be embarrassed by turning round to turn down the invitation.
“By the combined effect of sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, the National Assembly is empowered to summon any public officer, including the President, in the course of investigating any matter concerning which it has the power to make laws and the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly.”
