Falana faults Senate summon of CCT chairman

Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday, faulted the invitation extended to the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Justice Danla-di Umar, by the Senate Ethics Committee. Falana, in an open letter to the Senate, noted that apart from the fact that the committee lacked the powers to extend such invitation to the judge, that there was a pending case at the High Court sitting in Abuja rendered such invitation invalid. He said:

“It is necessary to point out that the Ethics Committee of the Senate lacks the power to summon the Tribunal Chairman to testify in respect of a criminal investigation. More so that the allegation being examined by the Ethics Committee of the Senate is the subject matter of a pending criminal case.”

 The lawyer disclosed that the invitation at a time the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was before the court, showed that “the leadership of the Senate has resolved to frustrate the trial.” He advised them to withdraw the summons.