Ministers, SGF Shun Senate Invitation |PoliFocus

The frosty relationship existing between the Presidency and the Senate further deepen Thursday.

Three ministers and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, summoned by the Senate to appear before its separate committees failed to honour the invitation.


The development emerged as Senate Thursday adjourned plenary for three weeks to observe its end of session.

The Senate, Thursday, got messier, as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and four Ministers, shunned summons extended to them by the Upper Legislative Chamber.

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Ababakar Malami, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; and Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, were invited to face various Senate committees to clear certain grey areas.

Specially, the Senate summoned the AGF on Tuesday to appear before its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to explain why the suit against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules of 2015 became necessary.

This resolution to invite the AGF followed the adoption of a motion of national urgent importance raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).
On the other hand, the SGF, Mr. Lawal and Foreign Affairs Minister, Onyeama did not also turn up to clarify in honour of their invitation.

Lawal and Onyeama were invited to explain the criteria adopted in the selection of ambassadorial nominees recently forwarded to the Senate for consideration and confirmation by President Buhari.

While Minister of Communications, Mr. Shittu who was invited by the Senate committee on Communications to explain the reduction of the fine imposed on MTN for alleged operational misconduct by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Shittu did not also show up.

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