Respect Separation Of Powers Or We Part Ways – Dogara
- Slams persons using judiciary to gag NASS
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has challenged the judiciary to strictly uphold the principles of separation of powers enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended.
He frowned at a situation where some persons are using some judges to gag the National Assembly, noting that such unhealthy development spells danger for Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking at House plenary on Thursday, Dogara said Nigeria is not a Banana Republic and therefore warned that if the judiciary continues to cross the line, the National Assembly will be left with no option than to part ways with it.
According to him; “We would part ways with the judiciary if it continues to gag the National Assembly.
“There are external forces pushing the judiciary to tackle the legislature. Some persons somewhere are intimidating the nation’s judiciary to gag the National Assembly.
“We know that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic, and operates on basic principles such as rule of law and separation of powers, which states that none of the arms of government should gag the other.
“Just as we cannot gag the judiciary, we also expect same from them. We make laws and the constitution only empowers them to interpret the laws.
“But for us to sit here and the judiciary tells us what we should consider or not consider and when to seat, then we are no longer practicing democracy.
“The way the judiciary is going, nothing stops them (the judges) from coming tomorrow and saying the national assembly should not sit.
“I don’t think it is us that is intimidating the judiciary like is being alleged. It is some people that are intimidating them from somewhere else, to gag the National Assembly.
“We have respected the judiciary a lot and we expect same from them. When the judiciary gets to the level they are now, that spells danger for our democracy. If they insist they must continue this way, we have to path ways,” Dogara insisted
