Determined to pass the Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act in a record time, the Senate Thursday unanimously endorsed the crucial second reading of the bill.
The sponsor of the controversial bill, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, (Delta North) appeared radiant in his red cap as he presented his lead debate.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presided in the absence of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Debate of the proposed amendment was done in a jiffy with only one Senator, Yahaya Abbdullahi, (Kebbi North) managing to chip in some words of caution about the timing of the bill.
A total of seven Senators, Dino Melaye, (Kogi West), Barau Jibrin (Kano North), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe ), Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East) and Ekweremadu (Enugu West) supported the bill while Senator Yahaya Abdullahi appeared to have dissented.
Nwaoboshi told his colleagues that he sponsored the amendment bill that was promulgated in 1989 and came into operation in 1991 based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as it were.
He insisted that it is clear that the Act did not contemplate criminal trial “so the usage of Criminal Procedure Act and Criminal Procedure Code should not be used as a procedural template in the Tribunal.”
He promised to provide a comprehensive amendment of the Third Schedule to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Rules of procedure which should be the distinct rule for proceedings in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He noted that the 1999 Constitution has two schedules-Third schedule and the Fifth schedules dealing extensively with the Code of Conduct for public officer.
Nwaoboshi noted that the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides: 3 “The Bureau shall have power to: (a) Receive declaration by public officers made under paragraph 12 of part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of this Constitution;
(b) Examine the declaration in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law;
© Retain custody of such declaration and make them available for inspection by citizens of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe;
(d) Ensure compliance with and, where appropriate, enforce the provisions of the Code of Conduct of any law relating thereto;
(e) Receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct or any law in relation thereto, investigate the compliant and, where appropriate, refer such matters to the Code of Conduct Tribunal;
Nwaoboshi urged his colleagues to support the bill.
Senator Melaye in his contribution said that he studied the bill and it is clear to him that the Code of Conduct Act should be amended.
Melaye noted that it has become apparent that the Code of Conduct Tribunal had begun to dive into criminal proceedings and criminal trial which was not the intention of the framers of the Act.
He noted that the Act clearly stated that before trial, the person involved shall be communicated and the person will respond accordingly.
He also said that the Tribunal should have at least three judges even though the Act stipulates five judges “but today the Tribunal has just two judges which is against the spirit and letters of the Act.”
Senator Jibrin on his own said that it remained the duty of the National Assembly to make and amend laws where necessary to ensure that justice is always done.
He added that in doing so, there should be fairness at all times.
Senator Anyanwu reminded his colleagues that the only thing constant in life is change.
He added that the Senate has the duty to amend gray areas of any legislation.
Senator Olujimi said the amendment should be done “as quickly as possible.
Senator Ibrahim also said the amendment should be done as quickly as possible and urged the presiding officer to find out if any senator was against the amendment.
Senator Gobir described that amendment as “timely and important” and asked the Senate to go ahead to effect the amendment.
Abdullahi however cautioned that timing of the presentation of the amendment was not auspicious.
He said, “I want to point a word of caution. The question of the timing of this bill should be taken into consideration. Nigerian people can easily interpret that since 1991, this Act was not challenged but because our principal officer is being tried, we decided to come up with this amendment.”
Abdullahi asked the upper chamber to re-examine whether the timing of the bill is right.
Senator Ekweremadu asked if any senator was against the bill. There was pin drop silence on the floor.
The Deputy Senate President noted that the bill has nothing to do with the proceedings going on in which the Senate President is involved.
He said that Senators are only doing their job as parliamentarians adding that that Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal have come to stay.
He however insisted that in carrying out their function, there must be equity and fairness.
Ekweremadu who said that the Senate is not trying to frustrate anybody or institution, added “we must always do our jobs without fear or favour.”
The bill was referred to the joint committee on Judiciary and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in two weeks. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Ike, don't allow yourself to be used the way Nwa Metu was used. Please you guys from the south east should be very carefully with these northern and western guys. There are so many banana pills on the floor of NASS.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame! Senators r expected to be servant n responsible not these set of bastards who at all means r trying to kill growing democracy in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteD wrath of GOD will soon visit u all!
They are all in fear and looking for a way to save their heads. They knw they are all guilty of false declaration or one form of skeleton in their cupboard. Useless and shameless thieves. Always using the power they stole from the ppl for their own selfish interest.
ReplyDeleteThunder go fire all of una One by one. You are all rogues. Senators my ass.
ReplyDeleteThunder go fire all of una One by one. You are all rogues. Senators my ass.
ReplyDeleteI weep for this country. Those idiots were actually elected to serve our interest. Smh
ReplyDeleteIf at all anything should be said, the timing is wrong! They are afraid of their crooked life! Is this the most pressing thing to demand legislation on? Why was Saraki absent? Oo oo, he doesn't want to be seen presiding over the attempt to alter the CCB acts to favor him, understood. Each move you all in the senate makes, exposes your dubious nature the more.
ReplyDeleteIt beats my imagination to note again! that we have elected unintelligent and selfish people as parliamentarians. DINO MELAYE! a hitherto social critic joining the bandwagon. Nigeria and Nigerians shall prevail over you. just imagine Saraki absconded from the plenary, God's willing he (saraki) shallface the wrought.
ReplyDeletePlease let us always reason very well and not sentimental. If 10 people are thieves and we are just punishing one person out of them when we can identified the remaining ones, then our justice system is wrong and our shout on corruption amount to nothing. Nobody is supporting corruption but at the same time all the politicians are corrupt. If we are truly looking for society that is free of corruption we need to be sincere and not selective in our approach. APC government is missing it already because they are selective. They started the nonsense because Sariki is not in their good book today. Today Saraki is in CCT primarily not because he is corrupt but because he is against the party rules. Is this a 'change' APC preaches. For the gathering of unrighteous people will not last forever, and that of deceits will be no more soon. For those who think packaged foolishness can be liking to wisdom, let them know that they are just wasting their time for nothing good will come out of it. Today, some elders/politicians think that they are older than truth, this is just a joke. For the truth has no hiding place. There is not short cut to success, do all things right with sincerity.
ReplyDelete@ josh bam,i strongly agreed with your point that all politicians are thieves,but the fact remains that to curb corruption in this country it has to start from somewhere.Either saraki was in APC good or bad book,the truth of the matter is that he is corrupt.Pls,let's join hands to clean this country of all these rogues calling our leaders.God bless Nigeria
DeleteMay the African gods rise and start killing and crippling these prodigal sons of the devil. Nigerian youths! We need to stand and fight for our future. The is a call to arm
ReplyDeletePlease let us always reason very well and not sentimental. If 10 people are thieves and we are just punishing one person out of them when we can identified the remaining ones, then our justice system is wrong and our shout on corruption amount to nothing. Nobody is supporting corruption but at the same time all the politicians are corrupt. If we are truly looking for society that is free of corruption we need to be sincere and not selective in our approach. APC government is missing it already because they are selective. They started the nonsense because Sariki is not in their good book today. Today Saraki is in CCT primarily not because he is corrupt but because he is against the party rules. Is this a 'change' APC preaches. For the gathering of unrighteous people will not last forever, and that of deceits will be no more soon. For those who think packaged foolishness can be liking to wisdom, let them know that they are just wasting their time for nothing good will come out of it. Today, some elders/politicians think that they are older than truth, this is just a joke. For the truth has no hiding place. There is not short cut to success, do all things right with sincerity.
ReplyDeleteThe question is: did he commit the offence or not. Justice always starts somewhere. Let it starts from saraki
ReplyDelete