Constitution Amendment: FG Refutes Senate’s Ambush Claim

The federal government yesterday said the claim by the Senate that the suit challenging the procedure for amending the constitution was an ambush, was incorrect.

It however lauded the resort to the due process of law by the lawmakers, in resolving the controversy surrounding the amendments.

The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), had claimed on Wednesday that the suit taken to the Supreme Court by the federal government was an ambush, because the National Assembly was not put on notice.

The Senate nevertheless resolved to respect the order to maintain the apex court’s order that parties maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit by refusing to stop the plan to override President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto of the amendment bill.

Reacting to the Senate’s claim, the plaintiff through its counsel, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), said records at the apex court showed proper service of all the requisite processes on the defendants.

Ojo added that apart from the service conducted by the court bailiff, letters were also written to the principal officers of the two chambers, informing them of the pendency of the suit and why nothing should be done to over-reach the highest court in the land.

He said: “There was no ambush. All the processes were duly served on the National Assembly but they chose not to come on the day of hearing. While we commend their decision to obey the highest court in the land, our distinguished lawmakers should please not misinform the public.