From Fred Itua, Abuja
Senate and Kogi State Government may be heading for a major clash over the recall of Senator Dino Melaye who represents Kogi West Senatorial District.
Already, about 52 per cent of Melaye’s constituents have reportedly endorsed his recall and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the exercise, by pasting a verification notice in Lokoja, capital of the senatorial district.
The exercise may have, however, been stalled, following an interim injunction issued by an Abuja Federal High Court, which instructed INEC to maintain status quo until the substantive suit is heard when the courts resume in September, 2017.
Raising a point of order yesterday, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Attorney-General of Kogi State, Mr. Ibrahim Sanni Muhammed, erred in a three-page advertorial in some national dailies.
In the said advertorial, Kogi Attorney-General, said the Senate has “no role, whatsoever, in the recall exercise than to receive the certificate under the hand of the chairman of INEC, stating that the provisions of 69 of the Constitution have been complied.
“Indeed, by the provisions of the INEC regulations for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided at plenary, came hard on Kogi government when he alleged that the state government was behind the recall exercise.
“Honestly, I am concerned with the calibre of people holding very senior positions. Even those of us who only have association with the legal profession by being married to one have learnt, over the years, that this is straight forward.
“What is even more disturbing and irresponsible is how you can spend N10 million on adverts. I have been a governor. When you file money for adverts, it is a difficult issue.
“This pretty shows that government is truly behind the entire process. When a government can go about and take an advert on an issue like this, it becomes worrisome.
Ekweremadu, in earlier remarks, urged the state government to channel the resources used in sponsoring the recall exercise to payment of workers’ salaries.
“I understand every page of advertorial costs about N700,000, and five other papers published the same thing. We are talking about N12 million of Kogi money spent. He (Kogi Attorney-General) is saying that the Senate has no role. I stand by what I said the other day and I would like to take him to Section 68(1H) and (2). It shows the role of the Senate, which he said has no role. I am chairman of the Constitution Review Committee of this National Assembly, since 2010. So, if I am taking about the Constitution, I know what I am talking about,” said Ekweremadu.
“I expect the Attorney-General, instead of displaying his ignorance, to simply call me to educate him on the correct position of the law.
“So, I take exception to this, and I believe he needs to refund the money spent on this to the people of Kogi.”
Ekweremadu called on the Kogi House of Assembly to institute an inquiry on who paid for the advertorial and find a way of getting the money back to pay the salaries of the workers in the state.
“Kogi should constitute an inquiry to know who paid the money.”