ABUJA – Premonition of possible futility that awaits their bid to amend the Code of Conduct Act initiated, and its anti-people stigma, the Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday resolved to suspend further discussion on the matter.
The amendment sought to whittle down powers of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where Senate President Bukola Saraki is standing 13-count trial for alleged falsification in his asset declaration.
Rising from about 3 hours closed doors session, presiding Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also announced resolve of the senators to unite behind Senate President Saraki until his case is dispensed with.
“After exhaustive deliberations and being sincere to ourselves, we have decided to put behind us all things that have divided us since the inception of the 8th Senate; and work as a united Senate in the best interest of our country.
We also agreed to suspend the discussion of the Committee on Ethics report on Sen. Marafa.
We agreed to suspend further deliberations on the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act; and the Criminal Administration of Justice Act.
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.
Further to agreement to set up the committees, the geopolitical zones have sent names of their representatives.
1. South-South (Godswill Akpabio and James Manager); 2. North-West (Sani Yerima, Suleiman Hunkunyi); 3. North-East (Buka Abba, Joshua Lidani); 4. South-East (Sam Egwu, Hope Uzodinma); 5. North-Central (Barnabas Gemade, Abdullahi Adamu): and 6. South-West (Monsurat Sumonu, Gbenga Ashafa)”, the DSP announced.
The controversial CCT Bill was initiated at the Senate Tuesday last week by Sen. Peter Nwaobosi (Delta-North) and was passed through its Second Reading within 72 hours.
