Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has criticised the recent summons issued by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions to the governors of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, and Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, saying the National Assembly lacks constitutional powers to compel governors to appear before it.
Falana made his position known in an interview with Leadership, following the refusal of both governors to honour the summons on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Peak Newspaper Nigeria reports that the summons stemmed from a petition filed on March 27, 2025, by Ihensekhien Samuel, legal representative of Guardians of Rule of Law and Democracy, a civil society group.
The group had accused the governors of influencing the suspension of lawmakers in their respective State Houses of Assembly and urged the National Assembly to take over the legislative functions of the affected state assemblies, invoking Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution
