Senators on Thursday protested against the deployment of Nigerian troops to Gambia without recourse to the Senate.
This came from a point of order raised by Senator Utazi Chukwu, who argued that President Muhammadu Buhari ought to have sought the approval of the Senate before the deployment of the troops.
Utazi hinged his argument on section 5 (4) (b) of the Constitution, which says: “It is also particularly noteworthy that even though the President can, in the face of imminent threat to the nation, deploy troops on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria he can only do so after consultation with the National Defence Council. Even at that, the President shall within seven days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the Senate and the Senate shall thereafter give or refuse the said consent within 14 days. In other words, combat operation by the armed forces outside Nigeria cannot be sustained beyond 21 days without the approval of the Senate.”
The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, noted the order raised by Senator Utazi.
Saraki, however, said the proviso under section 5(5) that the President can deploy members of the armed forces on limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the National Security is under imminent threat or danger applies.
But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, objected, arguing that the issue at stake only applies to section 4(b) of the Nigerian constitution.
Saraki however noted the issue raised by both Utazi and Ekweremadu.
Trending
- CSOs to EFCC, others: Don’t desecrate the courts while fighting corruption
- Why we’ve not paid stipends of Niger Delta ex-militants – Amnesty Office
- Eko DisCo reiterates commitment to improved service delivery
- Transcorp Hotels sells Calabar subsidiary
- FA, Premier League agree to scrap FA Cup replays
- Alake: Tinubu reforms yielding results
- NAPTIP arrests ‘Reverend Sister’ for allegedly trafficking 38 children
- Breaking: Police allegedly arrest Rivers lawmaker, Fubara loyalist in Abuja