Senate suspends CCB/CCT amendment

Nigeria’s apex legislative body has bowed to pressure and has suspended further moves to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

The action comes less than 24 hours after the media office of the Senate President, issued a release that Senate President Bukola Saraki would not benefit from amendment of the CCB/CCT law.

The amendment which passed First and Second Reading last week, was aimed at whittling down the powers of the CCB and CCT and remove them from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Also, the upper chamber stayed down further action on the amendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which also passed First Reading last week.

Speaking after a three-hour closed door session today, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, stated that the Red Chamber also agreed to suspend the discussion of its Committee on Ethics on Senator Kabir Mafara (APC, Zamfara Central), a critic of Saraki.

The Senate President is currently facing trial at the CCT over false assets declarations, even as analysts expressed concern that amending the Act was tantamount to evading justice and shifting the goal post in the middle of the game.

Ekweremadu also announced that despite the ongoing trial, Senate resolved to stand by Saraki. While setting up a 12-man reconciliation panel, he urged lawmakers who have dragged the Senate to court to have a rethink.

Marafa and four other senators are currently in court to challenge the Senate leadership over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders.

“We agreed that this Senate should stand by the Senate President in his trial until proven guilty by the court, in accordance with our Constitution and democratic practices all over the world including South Africa, Brazil and Russia.

“We also agreed to set up a committee, two from each geopolitical zone to address all remaining issues. And as part of the reconciliation, those in court should consider withdrawing the cases”, said Ekweremadu.

Members of the reconciliation made up of two senators from each geopolitical zone include: Godswill Akpabio, James Manager (South South); Sani Yerima, Suleiman Hunkunyi (North West); Bukar Ibrahim, Joshua Lidani (North East); Sam Egwu, Hope Uzodinma (South East); Barnabas Gemade, Abdullahi Adamu (North Central) and Monsurat Sunmonu, Gbenga Ashafa (South West).

Commenting on the development, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), said the decision of the Senate is in line with the wishes of Nigerians who voted them into office.

He said: “We spoke where it matters, to conform to the wishes of Nigerians. We dissolved the amendment of the CCB and CCT Act”.