Falana Advices Osinbajo Not to Sign 2017 Budget

Popular legal luminary and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has advised the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo not to sign the 2017 budget since it was illegally increased by the National Assembly.

Speaking during a colloquium organized by the Movement for Genuine Change to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Kwara State Falana said “The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a President who is on a vacation and an acting president, who is standing proxy for him will be exercising presidential powers simultaneously.

“To that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the NASS.

“If President Buhari did not exercise powers during his vacation even though he was in the country, why would he want to do so while he is on medical vacation abroad?

“Instead of dissipating energy over the competence of an appropriation bill signed into law by the Acting President, Nigerians should subject the 2017 budget to scrutiny.

“We are therefore calling on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a professor of law not to endorse and sign the illegal appropriation bill of 2017 into law.”

Falana also charged authorities in the military to fish out her members who are involved in the planned coup that has been making the rounds since Army Chief Buratai sounded the alarm.