Saraki cancels Senate emergency session protesting Onnoghen’s suspension, goes to court

The Bukola Saraki-led Nigeria’s Senate has cancelled its plan to hold emergency session on Tuesday in protest to suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen.

Instead of holding the session, which is supposed to be in the collective interest of the nation, the Senate leadership decided to court to challenge the CJN’s suspension.

The Senate had summoned an emergency meeting for Tuesday, but Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, said the session had been cancelled and the activities in the red chamber will resume on 19 February after the general elections, which was earlier scheduled when members went on break last week.

But in a separate statement, the senate explained why it abandoned its plan to hold an emergency plenary.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the Senate had decided to challenge the suspension by President Buhari of the CJN at the Supreme Court.

Olaniyonu said: “Earlier today, the Senate filed a case in the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, seeking its interpretation on whether President Muhammadu Buhari acted within the provision of the constitution in his suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Walter Nkannu Onnoghen or whether the action of the President does amount to usurpation of the powers of the Senate as provided for in Section 292 of the constitution.

“Following the filing of the case, the matter of the suspension of the CJN which is the main issue for which the Senate had planned to reconvene tomorrow, has become subjudiced.

“Therefore, in line with the standing rules of the Senate not to debate issues that are already pending before the court, the reconvening of the Senate tomorrow has been put off. The previous adjournment of the Senate till February 19, 2019 stays.”