14/04/2016

Saraki absent, as Senators endorse review of CCT, CCB Act



SENATE CHAMBER ABUJA- THE Senate on Thursday, unanimously endorsed the amendment of the Code of Conduct Act to remove the Code of Conduct Tribunal from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and the Presidency. SENATE CHAMBER With the Senate approval and for legislative processing, arrangements to amend the Code of Conduct‎ Act to ensure fair hearing for accused persons, as well as remove the powers of the Code of Conduct Tribunal from adjudicating on criminal matters has begun. Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki was absent at today’s plenary for undisclosed reasons as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu presided. The Senate President is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT following a 13- count charge levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets. ‎With the fresh initiative and when passed into law, the powers of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) ‎and Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT would whittle down. The Code of Conduct Act CAP C15 LFN 2004 bill which was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta North was first read on Tuesday and passed first reading, just as it sailed second reading and refered to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, as well as Committee on Judicairy, Human Rights and Legal matters to report back to the Senate in the next two weeks. In the Bill titled, “Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016”, the Senate is seeking to transfer the control of both the CCT and CCB from the Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) to National Assembly or the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). The Deputy Senate President who presided over the session, however explained that the amendment ‎was not intended to influence the trial of Saraki for allegedly making false asset declaration. Ekweremadu said, “Let me just say that this bill absolutely has nothing to do with the proceedings going on at the code of conduct tribunal in which the senate president is involved because his trial has commenced as you are aware, and if you look at the last paragraph of the bill which says ‘this bill maybe sighted as a code of conduct bureau tribunal Act amendment bill, 2016. “That means that the bill is not being made retrospective as to affect the proceedings at the code of conduct tribunal, certainly it has nothing to do with it. We are only doing our work as a parliamentarians and it is our responsibility to ensure that there is justice for all at all time and we must not be afraid or scared to the job which the constitution has given us. I believe that it is in the course of our duty that this amendment is being proposed because the code of conduct tribunal has come to stay and with all intent and purpose, we support the tribunal, we support the bureau but we would also make sure that in doing their work there is also fairness, equity and all the principles enunciated in the chapter four of our constitution dealing with human rights and also respected. “So that is why we are here and we are not intended, we are not planning or trying to frustrating particular trial because of what this bill is just coming now and the trial the code of conduct tribunal as since commenced. It actually as nothing to do with but we must at all times be courageous to do our work.”  


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