Members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) caucus of the Nigerian Senate in a statement signed by the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan on Monday night have released a statement distancing themselves from the decision of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to file a suit at the Supreme Court seeking clarification on whether President Muhammadu Buhari has the constitutional backing to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr. Walter Onnoghen.
In the statement released, the APC caucus members said that the senate never met to make such a decision. This statement was released after the media aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu told the public that the Senate had filed a suit at the Supreme court questioning the legality of the suspension of Mr. Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the statement to the public, Yusuph Olaniyonu also stated that the planned sitting of the Senate scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the issue has been cancelled.
The APC caucus of the Nigerian Senate issued a counter-statement distancing them from the decision of the Senate President. In the statement they said, “It has come to the notice of the Senate APC Caucus that the Senate has approached the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen by the President Commander-ln-Chief of the Armed Forces. “For the records, the Senate never met to take such a resolution and at no time mandated anyone to approach the Supreme Court on this matter on its behalf. “Consequently, the Senate APC Caucus dissociates itself from the said request for the legal interpretation of the suspension.”
The Special Assistant to the Senate President Bukola Saraki on New Media, Olu Onemola in replying to the statement of the APC caucus of the Nigerian Senate stated that Senate President Bukola Saraki met with the senate leadership and got approval to file a suit against President Buhari at the Supreme Court.
Olu Onemola further clarifies that, “Issues like going to court on behalf of the Senate has never been a decision taken to the floor or plenary. It is a decision for the leadership of the Senate which consists of 10 members. He stated that the Senate President got the support or consent of a very good majority of the ten on the need to seek interpretation from the apex court.”
