Reps Trying To ‘Hijack’ Executive, Judicial Functions – Itse Sagay

Professor Itse Sagay has alleged efforts by the House of Representatives to “hijack” functions of Nigeria’s executive and judicial arms of government.

Sagay was reacting to an order to unfreeze six accounts of former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, by the House Committee on Public Petitions.

The panel had claimed that the banks, on the orders of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), froze Mrs. Jonathan’s accounts without obtaining competent court restriction orders.

The banks affected were identified as: Union Bank, First Bank, EcoBank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and Skye Bank.

But Sagay, who is Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), claimed the House went beyond its lawful rights.

“The House of Representatives is acting totally outside of its functions and constitutional rights. It is trying to take over a court. Only a court higher than the High Court which froze the accounts can say they should be unfrozen,” said the PACAC chairman.

“It seems the legislature, which has been trying to carry out executive functions, is now trying to hijack judicial functions. I think the House is trying to ridicule Nigerian democracy and I thought they were the more thoughtful arm of the National Assembly.

“The EFCC has the power to temporarily freeze an account and then obtain a court order. Normally what the EFCC does is to flag such accounts and then get a court order and I am sure they are in the process of that.

“So, I think we should just ignore the vituperations of the House of Representatives which seems to have lost sense of its true functions and is now delving into a judicial work,” he said.