The House of Representatives has denied apologizing to President Muhammadu Buhari or the Presidency for inviting him to address Nigerians on the rising insecurity in the country.

This is coming as a reaction to reports making the rounds online that the lawmakers apologized to the Presidency over the resolution of the House which arose from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting for the invitation of the President to brief the nation on the state of insecurity in the country.

In a statement signed by Benjamin Kalu, Spokesperson of the house, on Monday, December 28, the lawmakers said that the President or the Presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate.

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The statement read: "It has come to the knowledge of the House that few sections of the media reported that the House apologized to the Presidency over the resolution of the House which arose from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting for the invitation of the President to brief the nation on the state of insecurity in the country.

"The President or the Presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate. 

"Where then did the media get the report that the House as an institution apologized to anyone? Media professionals are advised to uphold the ethics of their profession.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the House never apologized to anyone for exercising her constitutional mandate and the 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila will not do anything to desecrate or destroy the critical institution of democracy the Legislature. 

"We strongly believe that President Muhammadu Buhari subscribes to these democratic ethos and ideals as well."

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Recall that the House of Representatives on Tuesday, December 1, summoned the President over the recent killing of about 43 rice farmers by Boko Haram Insurgents in Zabarmari community in Borno State.

But, Buhari failed to honour the invitation by members of the House of Representatives to address them on rising insecurity in the country as plenary commenced in his absence on December 10.

Shortly after the invitation was served, Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said the national assembly has no constitutional power to summon President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami said it was outside the constitutional powers of the national assembly to summon the president over his “operational use of the armed forces”.