Ndume’s trial: We won’t interfere –Senate (You better not)

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Latest Politics, Legislature, Senate Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Less than 24 hours after Ali Sanda Umar Konduga implicated Senator Ali Ndume as one of the sponsors of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Senate has distanced itself from his travails.

Ndume represents Borno South Senatorial District and chairs the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Committee.
In his first term in the Senate after two terms in the House of Representatives, Ndume was Minority Leader in Sixth Session of the House of Representatives.

Senators at an Executive Session on Tuesday decided not to meddle in the matter having resolved to allow the law take its course.
Meeting behind closed doors for over an hour, Daily Sun gathered that some northern lawmakers wanted the institution to offer protection for Ndume, a move that was stoutly rejected by a cross-section of the chamber.

Some Senators from the north, it was learnt, painted a picture of the allegation against Ndume being more of a “witch-hunt” and they wanted the Senate to “back the man.”

Again, some Senators resisted.
Those against the move posited that, “coming out to stand by Ndume at this point will send a wrong signal to the Nigerian people moreso when we have on several occasions taken a stand against the general insecurity in the country brought about by the activities of Boko Haram.”

Although, it was agreed that the Senate will not abandon him, the general consensus in the chamber was that the security agencies should be allowed to do their work
“We won’t interfere. Let the security agencies do their work. It’s purely a security matter,” a ranking Senator present at the session recounted to Daily Sun.
Regardless, briefing newsmen at the end of the session, Senate Spokesman Enyinnaya Abaribe said the Senate would stand by Ndume.

His words: The Senate went into an executive session and the purpose was to discuss matters that border on the national security, national interest and matters that border on the smooth running of the National Assembly and the Senate President also made it very clear when we came out of the executive session that everything that we do is in the national interest.

“The Senate is very much aware and has gotten the same information that other Nigerians have gotten about an alleged claim by a member of the Boko Haram sect concerning a member of the Senate and a member of the National Assembly.

“The Senate wishes to state very clearly that it has always been in the forefront of urging the security agencies to do the necessary job to make Nigeria safe for everyone of us.
“And so, the Senate wishes to urge the security agencies to continue their investigation because they have told us that the investigation is continuing and at the end of their investigation, they should come out with their report and if anyone is indicted, they should go ahead and follow the dictates of the rule of law as enunciated in the constitution.
“So, we stand by our member until the investigations are concluded.

Asked whether the Senate has suspended Ndume, Abaribe replied: “Naturally, the Senate would be sympathetic with its member and it is also worried about such an insinuation but at the moment, we are very well aware that it is just a mere allegation and the security agencies have said they are investigating the allegation.

“What we mean is that an allegation has been made and the personality involved is still a member of the Senate and the Senate cannot on the basis of mere allegation, go ahead to make any statement concerning the person.
“What we are saying in effect is that investigation should be concluded, indictment made and then, the Senate can now come out with a position.

“As at today, what we know is that a mere allegation has been made and investigation has not been concluded.
“The Constitution of Nigeria has a presumption of innocence and what that means is that every accused person is presumed innocent until he is found guilty.

“So, what we are saying is that it is a mere accusation and we want due process to be followed. The due process of course, is what the state security agencies have told us that they are still investigating the matter. The Senate cannot come to any conclusion when the investigation is going on.
“It is not the job of the Senate to do security investigation, it is the job of security agents and we have given them free hand, supported them and done everything to make sure they do their job as efficaciously as possible.”

-Sunwp_posts