The Senate has asked the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami to explain why he has been running around the courts seeking to stop the probe by the National Assembly into how the dismissed chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrashid Maina, was secretly reinstated into the Federal Civil Service.
In a statement by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said it was surprised that the AGF who had utilized the opportunity given to him by both chambers of the National Assembly to state his case on the Maina issue has gone to court to stop the legislature’s investigation.
On Monday, a federal high court sitting in Abuja had struck out an ex parte motion filed by Malami to stop the National Assembly from probing the recall of Maina.
The judge, Binta Murtala Nyako ordered the applicant to put the National Assembly on notice as there was no urgency to grant an ex parte motion. The motion on notice will now be heard on January 15, 2018.
The upper legislative chamber wondered why the AGF would approach the court to stop the probe when he had already appeared before the two chambers of the National Assembly on the matter.
Recall that on October 24, 2017, the Senate mandated its committees on Public Service, Interior, Anti-corruption, Establishment and Judiciary to probe the circumstances of Maina’s return to the country and the public service.
According to Abdullahi, the panel has been mandated to expedite action on its investigation and submit its report.
The statement read: “We are wondering what the AGF is afraid of. When he appeared before our committee, he was well received and fairly treated. He indeed expressed his happiness with the protection given to him by the committee handling the Maina case. Why then is it very important and urgent for him to stop the investigative hearing? What is the AGF trying to hide?
“Let it be known that the legislature has the power of investigation on all institutions, bodies and individuals, particularly those who access funds that have been appropriated by us. We however expressed our commendation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of separation of powers and insisting on fair hearing. We believe that is the reason why the judge refused to grant the prayers of the AGF and rather insisted that the National Assembly should be put on notice and served all the court processes so that we could enter our own defence.
“While we respect the position of the court and would respond accordingly, the Senate has further directed the committee investigating the Maina issue to expedite action and submit their reports on time. The Senate believes Nigerians are interested in knowing the how, who , why and where of what is now known as the ‘Maina Gate’. We definitely will not allow those who want the facts buried to prevail”.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
