Politics Nigeria: Only FEC Can Impeach Buhari - Lawyer

[ProfRem]

An Abuja based lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo said only two-third majority of the Federal Executive Council can ask the President to vacate his office on health ground.

The lawyer said it is unconstitutional for some people to be asking for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Ajulo, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not under any obligation to write or give explanations to the public regarding the purpose of his absence.

Ajulo said this on Wednesday in Abuja during an interview with newsmen.

According to him, the only people empowered to ask the president to vacate his office by virtue of section 144 of the constitution is the two-third majority of the Federal Executive Council.

This, he said, could be done by the council by declaring the inability of the president to carry out his functions.



Ajulo explained that based on this majority vote, the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives would set up a medical committee to look into the health status of the president and deliver its report.

“Until this is done, no one has the right to inquire into the health status of the president or demand that he should step down by reason of his health.

“It is therefore ludicrous that certain people are asking for the resignation of Mr President when the provisions of section 144 of the constitution is yet to be evoked or complied with,’’ Ajulo said.

 

[curator]

Me thinks the lawyer misses the point. When would he, as a citizen of Nigeria, think we should say, this man cannot carry on in office. Should we wait 6 months, 1 year, 2 years? No one is demanding anything of anyone. But if a president we elected just under two years cannot give assurance that he will be back in the saddle in a few weeks, what should be done.

 

[ProfRem]

Me thinks the lawyer misses the point. When would he, as a citizen of Nigeria, think we should say, this man cannot carry on in office. Should we wait 6 months, 1 year, 2 years? No one is demanding anything of anyone. But if a president we elected just under two years cannot give assurance that he will be back in the saddle in a few weeks, what should be done.

You are right @curator but me still think the lawyer as a point. So it is more of constitutional problem than Buhari's, citizens or any lawyer's headache.
If we have a working National Assembly, someone somewhere, somehow should have raise a point of order on Buhari's health and amendment of sector 143-144 of the 1999 Book as amended just as what played out during late Yar'Adua's tenure.

 

[abujagirl]

I don't think we'll have a constitutional problem considering Buhari's transfer of power to Osinbajo. We'll have a political problem

 

[curator]

You are right @curator but me still think the lawyer as a point. So it is more of constitutional problem than Buhari's, citizens or any lawyer's headache.
If we have a working National Assembly, someone somewhere, somehow should have raise a point of order on Buhari's health and amendment of sector 143-144 of the 1999 Book as amended just as what played out during late Yar'Adua's tenure.

Yes I agree but he is being condescending. He knows very well what the current position is... no need to add "No one has a right to ask the president... ". That is half the problem, power is supported until it affects you.

 

[ProfRem]

Yes I agree but he is being condescending. He knows very well what the current position is... no need to add "No one has a right to ask the president... ". That is half the problem, power is supported until it affects you.

Yes, that is what we get when our politicians hide under a faulty constitution to ride on the citizens.