By Yusuf Alli
House member Farouk Lawan may head for a Federal High Court to seek the protection of his fundamental rights as the police insist he must show up.
A source said: “The House, an independent arm of government, is already investigating this matter and the police should be patient.
“We suspect that there is more to the police hastiness than meet the eye. I think Lawan may go to court against Otedola and the Police.
“If Lawan is in court, the matter may become prejudicial for consideration and the police will not be able to arrest him.”
A police source had told The Nation that the lawmaker may be arrested of declared wanted. House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and his principal officers yesterday met for hours on the bribery saga and the “odium” it is attracting to the House.
It was gathered that the House management unanimously decided to convene an emergency session to review the issue and find a solution to allow the chamber move forward.
A source at the session said: “Even though we are on recess, we have decided to recall our members for an emergency session on this bribe matter. Our members are getting agitated that it is casting a stain on them as if it was a corporate thing.
“We also approved a suggestion to throw the debate at the emergency session open to Nigerians. It will be widely televised by the electronic media, especially television stations.A statement by Clerk of the House of Representatives Mr. M.A. Sani-Omolori, reconvening the emergency session for tomorrow, said: ?
??This is to inform all Honourable members of the House of Representatives that the House would reconvene to hold a plenary session on Friday June 15th, 2012 at 10am prompt. Honourable Members are advised to take note and attend promptly, please.”
A spokesman of the House, Hon. Victor Ogene, said the meeting is to protect the institutional integrity of the House.
“In the light of the recent happenings, we think that an attack on the institutional integrity of the House is a direct attack on all members. And no responsible institution will sit back especially when the attack is directed at the subsidy report which goes to the root of the rot in the oil sector.
“Instead of waiting for the debate and allegations to go back and forth, we want to stay the focus on the fuel subsidy report.”
On if Lawan will be suspended on Friday as believed in many quarters, Ogene said it is for the members to decide at the session.
The House as a bastion of democracy will only take a decision based on the submissions of its members and majority opinion not pre-conceived notions. But the institutional integrity of the House will be on their minds and this goes beyond any single person’s interest. We will do what we need to do to be on the side of the rule of law and the people of Nigeria. We cannot be expected to fall short of that,” he said.
Via The Nation
