By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post)- Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the suspension of Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, by the Senate, was as illegal as it is unconstitutional.
Salami made the submissions at the court’s hearing of the suit filed by Omo-Agege to challenge his suspension by the Senate.
Sundiata Post recalls that Senator representing Delta Central, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was on April 13 suspended for 90 legislative days over his comment that the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 seeking the re-ordering of the general elections was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.
But the Senate and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, represented by their lawyer, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), justified the senator’s suspension.
Magaji argued that Omo-Agege, being a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which recommended the suspension, must not be allowed to go without serving his punishment.
“Those who live by the sword must die by the sword,” Magaji said.
While taking his turn to make his submissions after Magaji, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, who represented the AGF, urged the court to nullify Omo-Agege’s suspension by the Senate.
He said, “By virtue of Section 150 of the Constitution, the Attorney-General of the Federation is the protector of the Constitution and other Nigerian laws.
“He is bound by the Constitution to react to constitutional questions.
“He is saying that all the steps leading to the suspension of the plaintiff in this matter are unconstitutional and lawful. And we urge the court to so hold.”
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba fixed May 10 for judgment to determine the legality and validity of the senator’s suspension.
He fixed the date for judgment after all the parties to the suit addressed him on Monday.
Recall that one of the conditions the senate gave Senator Omo-Agege while suspending him was to withdraw the suit he filed against the senate.