For failing to seek approval from the National Assembly before withdrawing $496million used for the purchase of aircraft from the United States, some senators have called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s impeachment.
Moving a motion on the issue on Thursday, Matthew Uroghide (Edo State) argued that Buhari’s action is a violation of the constitution, and so, should face the consequences.
He prayed the Senate to invoke Section 143 to start the impeachment process of the president. Section 143 of the constitution provides for the removal of the president from office.
Seconding the motion, Chukwuka Utazi spoke in support of the move.
“This is an impeachable offence,” an obviously angry Utazi, said.
President Buhari had said he gave approval for the withdrawal of the fund because he believed the National Assembly would have no objection to his action.
His explanation was conveyed in a letter read at the Senate on Wednesday. A copy of the letter had earlier been sent to the House of Representatives.
Buhari explained the processes that led to the approval.
“I wish to draw the attention of the Senate to the ongoing security emergencies in the nation. These challenges were discussed with the state governors and subsequently at the meeting ot the National Economic Council on the 14th of December 2017, where a resolution was passed with the council approving that up to $1 billion may be released and utilised from the Excess Crude Account to address the situation.”
The debate was ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile again on Thursday, the House of Representatives witnessed another stormy session over Buhari’s $496 million request for the purchase of Super Tucano aircraft from the United States government.
A letter from the president announcing the development had caused an uproar in the House on Tuesday when the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara read it. Members were outraged that the president would unilaterally expend funds not legislated.
But the speaker saved the day, saying that the members would have another chance to make inputs when the matter is formally enlisted on the Order Paper for Second Reading. On Thursday when the matter came up, the members also flared up yet again on the matter, asking the House to “throw it” away.
Relying on Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution, the House said that it was an illegality, saying that the President had breached all known legislative norms and conventions. Members took turns to aggressively bare their minds on the issue, condemning the presidential action.
But ruling on the matter after aggregating the views, the Speaker referred it to the House Committee on Rules and Business to dust the archives of the House for possible precedent on the matter.