N’ASSEMBLY LACKS POWER TO REGULATE TELECOM OPERATORS — LAWYER

Lawyer Sesan Bankole has challenged the House of Representatives’ threat to order the arrest of telecommunications executives, arguing that lawmakers must keep their investigations within constitutional limits.

The dispute follows the failure of chief executives of major telecom companies to appear personally before a House committee investigating poor network services.

The committee gave the executives and other senior management officials until November 4, 2026, to appear, warning that non-compliance could lead to arrest.

In a statement on Thursday, Bankole said the National Assembly could invite telecom operators to provide information in the public interest. However, he argued that this did not give lawmakers the power to regulate the companies or impose fines.

According to him, those responsibilities belong to the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Bankole cited Section 88 of the Constitution, saying legislative investigations must serve constitutionally permitted purposes, including making or amending laws and examining the administration of appropriated public funds.

He also referred to the case of Senate of the National Assembly v. Tony Momoh in support of his position on the limits of legislative investigations.

The lawyer questioned the insistence that company chief executives attend personally, arguing that corporate organisations could appoint authorised representatives to speak for them.

He further said a related lawsuit brought by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria in 2018 remained pending, raising concerns about legislative action on a matter before the courts.

His comments represent a legal challenge to the committee’s approach. The supplied report did not include the House’s response to his arguments.