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LequteMan
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Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has opened up on why he refused to appear before the police for questioning on the current crisis rocking the House.
Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Dogara said no one or agency has the powers to pry into activities of the House. "Most of the things we do in the National Assembly are privileged," he said.
He said the legislative business of the House, “cannot be grounds for any investigation or any procedure or proceeding to be commenced in court against a member of parliament, either the Speaker or even the Senate President, once they are done in exercise of their proper function.
“The law is there. Both communications, whatever it is, they are privileged. That is in order to give independence to the legislature. If the legislature is not independent we can’t do anything. If whatever you say on the floor or before a committee or whatever you communicate is subject of litigation then all the members will be in court and at the end of the day when debate come you cannot even air your views”.
Dogara and other principal officers of the house have been accused by ex Chairman of the House's Appropriation Committee, Jibrin Abdulmumin of padding the 2016 budget.
Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Dogara said no one or agency has the powers to pry into activities of the House. "Most of the things we do in the National Assembly are privileged," he said.
He said the legislative business of the House, “cannot be grounds for any investigation or any procedure or proceeding to be commenced in court against a member of parliament, either the Speaker or even the Senate President, once they are done in exercise of their proper function.
“The law is there. Both communications, whatever it is, they are privileged. That is in order to give independence to the legislature. If the legislature is not independent we can’t do anything. If whatever you say on the floor or before a committee or whatever you communicate is subject of litigation then all the members will be in court and at the end of the day when debate come you cannot even air your views”.
Dogara and other principal officers of the house have been accused by ex Chairman of the House's Appropriation Committee, Jibrin Abdulmumin of padding the 2016 budget.
