President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Senate requesting consent for the deployment of Nigerian troops to Benin Republic.
Naijaonpoint reports that this was disclosed on Tuesday in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary
Tinubu stated that the deployment is for a peace mission in response to the ongoing attempted coup in Benin.
The President explained that the deployment is to provide support in the country as requested by President Patrice Talon, following the recent failed coup attempt.
The deployment is in line with the protocol of the regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
Tinubu said it also in tandem with section 30 sub 5 of Nigeria’s constitution in consultation with Nigeria Defence Council.
The Senate referred the request to the committee of the whole for immediate consideration.
Nigeria had earlier provided air intervention following the unconstitutional breach in Benin Republic.
Naijaonpoint reported earlier that a source in the 10th Senate revealed that President Tinubu needs at least 14 days to consult with lawmakers for approval before deploying troops for combat operations in another country.
The source, who spoke with Vanguard, disclosed this amid claims in some quarters that the President needed to seek the Senate’s approval 24 hours before or after the deployment of troops.
The presidency had earlier described Nigeria’s response to the attempted coup as a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in promoting peace and constitutional order across West Africa.
Troops were deployed to Benin after some soldiers operating under the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou on Sunday, announcing the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s administration.
However, the coup was thwarted by the intervention of fighter jets and troops deployed in the neighbouring country by President Tinubu.
Explaining circumstances that informed Tinubu’s intervention in the Benin coup, the source quoted Section 5(5) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution which deals with the President’s power to deploy armed forces outside Nigeria for limited combat duty due to imminent national security threats, requiring Senate consent within 14 days of actual combat, with the Senate having seven days to approve or deny, ensuring executive power balance with legislative oversight.
According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, the Constitution emphasises that the President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, can act but must quickly inform the Senate for ratification, highlighting checks and balances on military deployment.
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