You Have No Power to Summon Me – Prof. Sagay Tells Senate

Prof. Itse Sagay has declined to honour the
invitation by the Senate over his
questionable comments about the activities
of the Red Chamber members.

Professor Itse Sagay
Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee
Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse
Sagay on Wednesday said the Senate lacks
the power or authority to summon him to
appear before its committee on Ethics over
alleged disparaging remarks he made
against the senators.
Speaking in a chat with INDEPENDENT,
Sagay said the Senators lack the power to
summon him because he does not fall
under the category of persons they can
summon.
His words “They have neither power nor
authority to summon me. I don’t come within the
group of persons or officials they can summon. I
will advise them to ask their lawyers to look very,
very closely at the provisions of Sections 82 to 89
of the Constitution”.
Sagay’s invitation is seen as further
escalation of the current face-off between
the Senate and Presidency which blew open
on Tuesday with the Senate’s suspension of
the consideration and confirmation of 27
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs)
submitted by President Muhammadu
Buhari.
The presidential aide is expected to appear
before the Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions to explain
why he allegedly described senators as
“childish and irresponsible” for pushing
President Buhari to sack the Acting
Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu,
within two weeks.
The PACAC chairman is also expected to
explain why he allegedly said the Senate is
“filled with people of questionable character who
put personal interest ahead of the nation.”
The lawmakers said it is necessary to invite
the professor of jurisprudence to name the
questionable characters in the Senate.
The resolution followed a motion of
privilege by Senate Deputy Leader, Senator
Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South), who told
the Senate that Sagay infringed on his
integrity, character and privilege as a
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Alabatvnews.