REVEALED: Why Nigerian Senate Suspended The Screening Of Ex-Gov Amaechi

 

Former governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi was dropped from ministerial screening at the last minute on Tuesday because lawmakers had resolved to have thorough screening of nominees, chairman of Senate ad-hoc committee on communication Senator Dino Melaye has said.

 

Four other nominees earlier listed were also dropped by the Senate.

 

Speaking to Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) during a live broadcast of proceedings at the red chambers, Melaye said a decision had been reached to screen eight nominees today but that “after meetings by principal officers of the Senate, yesterday evening (Monday) and today (Tuesday), the Senate resolved to follow the demand of Nigerians who want a more thorough screening exercise”.

 

He said the senate has observed that “Nigerians have been complaining that the senate was rushing” the confirmation hearing.

 

Melaye said as a result of the new position to cut down on the number of nominees to be screened “to three or four per day,” the report by the senate’s ethics and public petition committee which was stepped down which is expected to pave the way for the screening of Amaechi and Aisha Muhammed.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, the order paper of the senate listed eight nominees for screening, Amaechi inclusive.

 

Others were Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Heineken Lokpobiri, Hon BawaBwari, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Barrister James E. Ocholi, ZainabShamsuna Ahmed and Brigadier General Muhammad Dan-Ali (Rtd).

 

The senators went into a closed-door session and later came out with a new order paper with only three nominees. No reason has yet been offered officially by the senate.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari sent a list of 21 ministerial nominees on September 30 and another 16, a week after.

 

So far, 18 have been confirmed by the senate and 18 left after the first nominee from Niger state Musa Ibeto was withdrawn and replaced with BawaBwari by President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Although, Amaechi was on the first list of nominees by president Buhari but the senate has refused to screen him over allegation of corruption when he was governor.

 

The senate committee on ethics, privilege and public petition led by Senator Sam Anyanwu said it was still considering a petition against him by one “Integrity Group”.

 

The former Rivers governor had gone to court to challenge the petition and the case is currently pending in court.

 

Credits: Dailytrust.com.ng

 

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