The Senate has given the Department of State Service, DSS, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, a 24-hour ultimatum to submit their memoranda over the invasion of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by DSS operatives.
Also mandated to submit memoranda to the Senate panel are human rights activist and counsel to detained convener of #Revolutionnow Campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, Femi Falana; the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Barrister Tony Ojukwu, Office of the Chief Judge of Federal High Court and the presiding Judge at the time of the alleged invasion, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.
Recall that DSS operatives allegedly invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja to re-arrest Sowore, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporter, a few hours after he was released.
The order was given Thursday by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele led Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, led by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
They were asked to submit their memoranda to the Committee Secretariat.
Speaking in Abuja, Senator Bamidele stated that the panel was unable to proceed with the scheduled investigative hearing after the Senate had suspended all activities in honour of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu who slumped and died in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said: “We are not able to proceed with the hearing because we lost one of our colleagues yesterday. He was on the floor of the Senate two days ago. We need to show concern for the departed soul. ”Therefore, avail us with memoranda within 24 hours. We have contacted the office of the Chief of the High Court to give us perspective if what happened, including the presiding judge. We’ll like to have the memoranda before the close of work on Friday.”
Present at the hearing were the Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, and a representative from Falana Chambers.