Supreme Court Wrong To Have Stopped Constitution Amendment – Senate

supreme courtThe Supreme Court lacks the powers to stop the National Assembly from amending the constitution, Senate spokesman, Eyinnaya Abaribe has said.

The apex court had last week ordered the National Assembly to discontinue any further action on the constitution’s fourth amendment Bill pending hearing of the substantive suit.

The suit was sequel to President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to veto the constitution fourth amendment Bill and thereafter dragged the National Assembly to the apex court in order to stop the legislature from overriding his veto.

However, Abaribe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Public Affairs, in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday, insisted that the apex court does not have powers to encroach into the constitutional duty of the legislature.

Abaribe argued that the judiciary’s attempt to stop the fourth amendment Bill was an infringement on the doctrine of separation of powers.

Jonathan had vetoed the Bill on the grounds that the senate failed to avail him with empirical evidence that it was passed by 4/5 majority as required by the constitution.

The lawmakers had planned to override the president’s veto after a review by the Constitution amendment Committees of the two chambers.

Abaribe said: “The Supreme Court is wrong. The law does not allow one arm of the government to stop another arm of government from performing its duties”.