Senate keeps Amaechi waiting, screens Shittu, Khadijah Ibrahim
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HE Senate yesterday, again, failed to screen former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi whose name had appeared in the first list of ministerial nominees.
The inability to screen him alongside 18 others last week was to enable the Committee on Ethics and Privileges conclude investigation on petitions brought against Amaechi by senators from his state.
Nothing was heard from the committee which claimed to have completed investigation and had promised to table the report on the floor of the Senate for debate.
The production of two different Order Papers for Tuesday’s plenary signaled the behind-the-
The first Order Paper which was later withdrawn shortly before the commencement of the session had eight nominees including Amaechi, only for it to be withdrawn and replaced with an Order Paper showing three nominees for screening.
It was gathered that the reduction of the number of nominees to be screened to three was sequel to a decision from the meeting of the body of principal officers before the session.
When The Guardian sought from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Babajide Omomworare, the circumstances that led to the change in schedule, he replied: “The time and terrain are too sensitive, so, no comments.”
Consequently, only Adebayo Shittu and Khadijah Abba Ibrahim, a three-term member of House of Representatives and wife of a former governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, were questioned by the senators.
The plenary which had been expected to continue today was postponed to tomorrow, a decision that came four hours after the Upper Chamber had formally adjourned.
Signed by Senate Acting Clerk, Nelson Ayewoh, the statement which communicated the postponement to senators yesterday evening reads: “This is to inform all distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that resumption of the Senate in Plenary has been rescheduled from Wednesday, October 21, 2015, to Thursday, October 22, 2015.”
Though no reason was given for the postponement, it came as the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) begins hearing on the asset declaration charges against Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki today.
It was gathered that the suspension of plenary became necessary following a decision by many senators both of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to follow Saraki to the CCT.
Responding to questions on poor justice administration, Shittu regretted that successive administrations failed to separate the office of Minister of Justice from that of Attorney General of the Federation through a constitutional amendment.
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