Lawyers tackle senate over armed forces commission bill

Some lawyers across the country have vowed to resist any attempt by the senate to pass the proposed armed forces commission bill into law.

Sponsored by Enyinnaya Abaribe, lawmaker representing Abia south senatorial district, the bill, among others, seeks to address the “lopsided appointment” of heads of security agencies by the president.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, the lawyers declared that as legal practitioners, it is their duty to ensure that the rule of law, justice and separation of powers are upheld for the betterment of the ordinary citizens”.

They argued that it is the lofty duty of the Federal Character Commission to enforce the Federal Character Principle and not that of the Senate and if passed the bill would lead to several administrative crises among the various bodies involved.

The lawyers, therefore, warned it “ will resist any attempt by narcissist elements within and outside the country to assail and defile our sacrosanct Constitution”.

They said the bill will serve no useful purpose for the development of Nigeria.