Barely 24-Hours After Buhari’s Departure, NASS Commences Impeachment Process, As 250 Lawmakers Invoke Section 144

There are alleged reports making rounds, that the National Assembly is making attempts to invoke section 144 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, aimed at ascertaining the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, for his immediate impeachment.

This came to bear, as Buhari on Sunday night, left for the United Kingdom, UK, for a follow up medical examination, despite spending 50 days on an earlier medical vacation, between January and March.

As at last week, there was an attempt by the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Kingsley Chinda, to present the issue under matters of urgent importance, on the floor of the House of Representatives.

However, it was learnt that the initiative failed to see the light of the day, because the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, was not favourably disposed to having such a weighty issue with grave political implications in the polity, listed on the order paper of the Lower Legislative Chamber.

It was gathered, that key Lawmakers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may either re-present it as a motion, or through the guise of a matter of privilege, on either the floor of the Senate, or the House of Representatives, this week.

However, Human Rights Activist and Constitutional Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, maintained that it would be impossible to get 28 out of 42 cabinet Ministers, who are appointees of the President, to invoke such constitutional provision, even if the motion sails through.

He expressed concern, that there were attempts by what he termed the cabals, to hoodwink Nigerians, by creating the impression that all was well with the President’s health status.