By Can Nigeria’s House of Representative really arrest CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso?
Ghazali Ibrahim
In a letter dated 27 November, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Account issued a warrant of arrest for Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and which indeed sparked reactions and raised questions about the extent of the House’s powers and the legality of such action.
The looming confrontation between the legislative and executive arms of government has left many wondering: Can Nigeria’s House of Representatives really arrest the CBN Governor?
At the crux of the matter lies the issue of accountability and oversight. The House Committee on Public Account, charged with scrutinizing government expenditures and ensuring transparency, has repeatedly summoned Mr. Cardoso to appear before it to address concerns over revenue leakages through the Remita platform.
Despite multiple invitations, the CBN Governor has failed to personally attend, sending representatives instead.
The committee, citing its constitutional powers under Section 89 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution, asserts its authority to compel the attendance of individuals who disregard its summons.
According to the committee’s chairman, Bamidele Salam, failure to comply with the summons could result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Mr. Cardoso.
It could be argued that the power to arrest individuals is not explicitly granted to the House of Representatives under the Constitution. Instead, the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act of 2017 outlines procedures for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and punishing contempt of Parliament, which typically involves fines or imprisonment, rather than physical arrest.
As the standoff between the House Committee on Public Account and the CBN Governor continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. While the committee asserts its constitutional mandate to hold government officials accountable, the ultimate resolution of this issue may require a delicate balance between the powers of the legislature and the prerogatives of the executive.
@Ganiu Oloruntade @+234 808 308 0955
