Emergency rule extension: Senate summons ministers, service chiefs

By The Rainbow

Senate on Tuesday agreed to summon the Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), National Security Adviser (NSA), the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police. They would appear in the Senate on Thursday.

The Senate wants them to offer explanations on the situation at the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa..

The Seanate said the security chiefs and their bosses were invited follow­ing the request of President Goodluck Jonathan, seeking an extension of the emergency in these states which began a year ago. They are to explain the present situation in the states.

Senate Leader, Victor Ndo­ma-Egba (SAN), who was to move the motion for the ex­tension of the emergency rule in the affected states, urged members to allow the item to be stepped down on the day's Order Paper till the next legis­lative day.

He cited the aspect of the 1999 Constitution (as amend­ed) dealing with emergency rule declaration which has not been gazetted for circulation in the upper chamber and the fact that the Senate was yet to re­view the success or otherwise of the one in place.