‘NASS Lacks Power To Pass Vote Of No Confidence On IGP Idris’

The national assembly does not have the power to pass a vote of no confidence on the inspector-general of police, Ibrahim Idris, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has said.

Malami said the oversight function available to the lawmakers as contained in the constitution, is not open-ended.

Recall that the lawmakers had earlier this week declared the no-confidence vote on the IGP at an emergency joint meeting.

The declaration follows the refusal of the IGP to appear before the Senate on two occasions in April and May to answer questions regarding the harassment of senator representing Kogi west senatorial district Dino Melaye and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

“Within the purview of the constitution, if you look at section 4 of the constitution alongside Section 88 of the constitution, I think the fundamental functions of the legislature is lawmaking within the context and spirit of section 4 of the constitution and two, is oversight,” the AGF said while speaking on a Channels TV programme.

“The oversight function is not open-ended in all sincerity. Within the context of the workings of the ministries, departments and agencies, the major responsibility of the national assembly is exposing corruption. That is the bottom line.

“I cannot in all sincerity come to terms with the reality of the declaration of the vote of no confidence against the IG, where to situate it within the context of the lawmaking responsibility of the national assembly and within the context of exposing corruption,” he added.

Spokesman of the Senate, Gabi Abdullahi, however, disagreed with the AGF, saying the lawmakers’ constitutional power is not limited only to the issue of corruption.

“I don’t agree with that (Malami’s position) because that section says inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it. So, it is not just the issue of corruption itself,” he said.