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Senate may invite CJN, Ademola, others over alleged graft

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CORRUPTION IN JUDICIARY: NJC sets up 10-man Ethics Committee
The Senate on Tuesday, indicated plans to summon the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed and others named in the ongoing corruption saga and invasion of private residences of Justices of the Supreme and Federal High Court.
Others who may be invited by the Senate are Justices John Okoro and Sylvester Nguta of the Supreme Court, as well as a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike.
Justices Namdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabiru Auta from Kano; and Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court in Gombe may also be included.
Senator David Umaru who chairs Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters committee, at plenary, sought the permission of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to invite all the Justices and Judges whose residences were invaded by the DSS for further investigation.
Senator Umaru said: “Mr President, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution as amended and order 96, Rule 37 of our Rules, my committee has powers to oversight the Judiciary and particularly its powers include judicial matters and Judges and Justices of the court.
“Mr President, I am bringing this to the attention of the Senate so that we can take the permission of this Senate to enable us conduct proper oversight on this matter and invite the Justices to enable us interact with them in order to conduct proper oversight as we are enjoined by the provision of our rules and the 1999 constitution.”
The lawmaker was rebuked by the Senate President, who maintained that Umaru did not need the permission of the Senate to carry out his committee’s statutory legislative function.
“You do not need to come to us. You have your powers under the oversight and you should be able to use the powers and do whatever you deem necessary. So, do your job in line with your powers,” Saraki told Umaru.
Senator Umaru further explained, while making his case that his plea was based on a letter he received from the CJN, detailing what has transpired so far and the roles he has played in setting the records straight.
Saraki did not make further comments. Other lawmakers did not make contributions or opposed the position of the Senate President.
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