The Federal Government has faulted the Senate over its claim that the suit challenging the procedure for amending the constitution was an ambush.
It hailed the legislature for electing to defer to the court rather than proceeding to override the President’s veto as it had vowed.
The Senate has, through Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), claimed on Wednesday that the suit taken to the Supreme Court by the Federal Government was an ambush, because the National Assembly was not put on notice.
The Senate, however, resolved to respect the order by the Supreme Court that parties maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit initiated by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) seeking to void the amendment to the Constitution on the ground that the was wrongly effected.
Speaking on behalf of the AGF yesterday, his lawyer, Bayo Ojo (SAN), said records at the apex court showed proper service of all the requisite processes on the defendants.
Ojo added that apart from the service conducted by the court bailiff, letters were also written to the principal officers of the two chambers, informing them of the pendency of the suit and why nothing should be done to over-reach the highest court in the land.
“There was no ambush. All the processes were duly served on the National Assembly, but they chose not to come on the day of hearing. While we commend their decision to obey the highest court in the land, our distinguished lawmakers should please not misinform the public.
“We appreciate their decision to follow the due process of law. It is gratifying that the entire nation had been saved a needless crisis. The rule of law and its due process is the only option. Any alternatives would have been catastrophic,” Ojo said.
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