By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
Senate, yesterday in the absence of its embattled President, Bukola Saraki, rescinded on its recent subtle move made to weaken some of the relevant laws governing the conduct and operations of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where Saraki is standing trial on alleged false assets declaration.
The Senate had, during its sittings last week, considered and passed for second reading, a bill seeking for amendment of the CCB/ CCT Act as regards jurisdiction on criminal matters and as well facilitated the first reading of another Bill seeking for amendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) with a view to removing jurisdictional powers of Court Marshall and other tribunals from criminal matters.
But the Senate after about three hours closed door session yesterday presided over by its Deputy President, Ike EKweremadu, resolved to suspend action on such bills in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
It also directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to suspend action, forthwith, on Senator Kabiru Marafa’s suspension over alleged disparaging comments against the 8th Senate.
Reeling out issues discussed at the meeting before plenary to the Senators, EKweremadu said a 12-man committee comprising two senators from each of the six geo- political zones has also been set up to look into other contentious issues affecting the smooth running of the Senate with a view to addressing them very objectively and fairly in the interest of all.
He disclosed that in resolving the issues, senators having one litigation or the other in the court of law against the Senate had been directed to withdraw them.
He said: “The senate in a close-door session discussed a number of issues affecting the smooth working of the Senate and I am happy to announce to our colleagues and the entire nation that after exhaustive deliberations and being sincere to ourselves, we 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 agreed to suspend discussion of the committee on Ethics report on Senator Marafa. We agreed to suspend further deliberation on the amendment of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal’s act and the administration of Criminal justice act.
“We also agreed to set up a committee two from each geo-political zones to address all the remaining issues and as part of the reconciliation those in court should consider withdrawing the cases.”
He, however, added that the Senate, at the meeting, agreed to stand by its President, Bukola Saraki, in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), until found guilty in line with practices in some other parts of the world.
“We agreed that this senate should stand and we do 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.”
Members of the 12-man committee on zonal basis are Senators Godswill Akpabio and James Manager for South-south, Sani Yerima and Suleiman Hunkunyi, for North-west and Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Joshua Lidani for North-east.
Others are Sam Egwu and Hope Uzodinma for South-east, Barnabas Gemade and Abdullahi Adamu for North Central and Monsurat Sunmonu abd Gbenga Ashafa for South-west.
The committee is expected to address issues bordering on alleged forgery of the senate standing rule and alleged violations of its provisions as regards constitution of the senate’s standing committees now 65, but which are not recognised up till now by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central) on alleged violation of the ranking rule.
Meanwhile, the Senate, in another closed-door session held with the Inspector-General of Police , Solomon Arase, and Director-General State Security Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, over the fate of the Chibok girls after two years of abduction by Boko Haram terrorists, urged the service chiefs to redouble their efforts in rescuing the girls.
He said: “The senate was briefed by the Director- General of State Security Service and the Inspector-General of Police on the abduction of the Chibok school girls and efforts to rescue them between the last two years.
“We urge them to continue and should leave no stone unturned in achieving the rescue of the Chibok girls; thereafter they answered questions bothering on topical national security issues from very distinguished senators.”
