Itse Sagay, the chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is above everyone in the country and cannot be summoned to appear before the National Assembly. 

Mr. Sagay said Mr. Buhari is expected to appear before the National Assembly only during presentation of annual budget and the National Assembly lacks the power to summon the president. 

“The constitution has clearly stated the circumstances in which public officers can be invited,” Mr. Sagay said. “President wears two caps; he’s the head of the executive and he’s the head of state. Protocols demand that you cannot summon the head of state; he’s above everybody.”

“He is the number one in the country, so it is very ambitious for any group of persons, whether the National Assembly or not, to in effect compel him to come there without his wanting to come,” Mr. Sagay added.

The House of Representative had invited the president to appear before it over following the slaughter of rice farmers by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State two weeks ago. 

However, Mr. Buhari failed to honour the invitation, confirming an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette which earlier revealed that the president had backed out amidst fears of his mental incapacity by his close political associates.