The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has said that his decision to reopen the alleged case of 2015 Senate Standing Rules forgery was in public interest.
He stated that while the Senate had powers to regulate its procedures, the case was instituted because there was alleged breach of procedure.
Malami stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, to answer questions about the forgery case against the Senate leadership.
“I wish to state that I have a clear obligation to do whatever that can possibly be done to sustain democracy.
“Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (Amended) states that the National Assembly shall have powers to regulates its own procedure.
“If the procedure in question was not followed, then it does not fall within section 60 of the constitution. “When the need for amendment of the Senate Rules arose in 2011, the senate conducted a proceeding and passed resolution for amendment.
“The 2015 rule as allegedly amended did not pass through the traditional way of doing things. That is where the inherited quarrel comes into being.
“In as much a senate has powers to regulate its procedures any rule that did not following the processes as stated above is a breach.
“The need to prevent abuse behooves on me. The parameter, arising from the breaching of section 60 is to ensure that I take logical criminal step to ensure things are done within the constitutional provision,’’ he said.
“We feel the AGF owes a duty to the citizens of Nigeria including the senate to know if his power was exercised in public interest and that there was no abuse of public interest,” he added.
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