The Senate may cut short its break and reconvene on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 to debate the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A highly-placed source in the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, informed our correspondent that a leadership meeting is billed for Sunday.
“Yes, it is true. Lawmakers may reconvene on Tuesday,” the source who pleaded anonimity stated.
Although Senate President Bukola Saraki condemned the action on Friday and accused President Buhari of usurping the powers of the Legislature and the Judiciary, he was, however, silent on the next cause of action by the apex legislative chamber.
It would be recalled that the Senate had on Thursday last week, adjourned plenary to February 19, three days after the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
Since President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to suspend Onnoghen and appoint Justice Tanko Mohammed as acting CJN, there have been calls in many quarters for the National Assembly to take action.
Those who canvassed for this position include the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mike Ozekhome (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) among others.
Already, the NBA has summoned an emergency meeting for Monday to discuss the matter with indications that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) could be recommended to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for professional misconduct or the Bar may boycott the courts in protest.
The suspension has also drawn strong condemnations from the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
