Senate can’t intimidate me, I won’t appear before them-Sagay

Constitutional lawyer and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, has vowed not to appear before the senate and insisted that the upper chamber has neither the power nor authority to summon him.

Professor Sagay told Channels Television that he could not be intimidated by the lawmakers.

He, therefore, asked them to get legal advisers to check sections 88 and 89 of the constitution to get advice on the limitation of their powers in this regard.

Sagay further explained that in making the statement which seemed to have offended some senators, he was merely exercising his constitutional right to express his opinion.

He challenged anyone offended by his statement to approach a court of law, insisting that the Senate cannot constitute itself into prosecutor and judge, vowing not to succumb to illegal and unconstitutional acts.

The Senate had directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate remarks allegedly made by the professor, saying that the Senate is filled with people of questionable character.

The Nigerian Senate had on Wednesday directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate remarks allegedly made by the Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay.

Raising a point of order on the floor, Deputy Senate leader, Bala Ibn Na’allah, drew the attention of lawmakers to a report in a newspaper publication, where Professor Sagay was allegedly quoted as saying that the Senate is filled with people of questionable character.

Senator Ibn Na’allah maintained that Senators do not have questionable characters and therefore asked the Senate to summon Professor Sagay to name those who he feels have questionable characters in the Senate.

The Senate consequently referred the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate and report back to the Upper Chamber.