As the face-off between the Senate and the Executive deepens, the upper legislative chamber has vowed that it will not be intimidated by external forces.
This comes barely 24 hours after Senate President Bukola Saraki alleged that the Senate was being blackmailed and witch-hunted for insisting that the retroactive customs duty on vehicles in Nigeria must be reversed.
The Senate also vowed that it will protect its integrity, by doing whatever it takes to ensure that it is not taken for granted while discharging its constitutional duties.
The Senate which made the position after a closed door session on Tuesday, said it took the decision following series of coordinated attacks against it by external forces.
However, the Senate President who made the disclosure, did not reveal the identities of the external forces.
“The Senate in a closed session, discussed the various attacks on the National Assembly, especially on the Senate, for performing its constitutional duties.
“And the Senate resolved to defend the integrity of the Senate against such attacks and will not be intimidated from carrying our constitutional duties at all times,” Saraki stated.
The Senate’s position, may not be unconnected to its recent face-off with key members of the executive, particularly the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali (retired), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) David Babachir Lawal, Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and Acting Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Saraki and his closest ally, Dino Melaye, are also being probed by the Senate Ethics Committee over claims that the Senate President’s imported bullet proof Ranger Rover Sport vehicle, valued at N289 million, seized by Customs officers, had fake National Assembly documents, while the latter is battling to clear his name over claims that he forged his university degree certificate.
Senate has however absolved the two based on the submissions of the vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and the importer of the said vehicle before the senate committee on ethics and privileges
