The Presidency has apologised to the Senate over the comment of the representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at a meeting with the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate), tendered the apology while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Friday.
Enang said it was wrong for Malami’s representative, Okoi Obono-Obla, to have said that the Senate had no right to have invited the AGF.
He said: “I heard the statements after and I want to apologise to the Distinguished Senate, to the Committee on Judiciary and to the distinguished senators.
“That statement ought not to have been made.
“The Attorney General is Attorney General of the Federation, appointed by Mr. President, cleared by the Senate and responsible for the federation.
“We are going into this matter.
“We will handle this matter, but I first have to tender my unreserved apology for the impression it may have created to the distinguished Senate, senators and the committee members.”
The Senate had on Tuesday summoned Malami to appear before its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to explain why he charged to court for alleged forgery the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
Obono-Obla represented Malami.
He told the Senate that it lacked the power to summon the AGF.
The committee then walked Obono-Obla out of the chamber, saying: “Our invitation is for the AGF and not you.
“So, we cannot listen to you.
“We will report back to the plenary for us to take decision on this.”
Obono-Obla, who spoke to journalists while leaving the Senate chamber, said the alleged forgery suit against Saraki and Ekweremadu wass not an internal affair of the Senate.
He said the Senate had no right to invite the AGF and that the AGF was not answerable to the Senate.”
But Enang told newsmen on Friday: “The Attorney General spoke with me yesterday on the matter in the morning that he is on official assignment on behalf of the country.
“When he is in, we will make arrangement for him to respond appropriately.
“We want to apologise pending when he is back to respond appropriately.”
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