Legislators trying to change CCB Act to save Senate President - report

chika ebuzor

April 13, 2016 8:39 AM

There are allegations that the amendment is a plot by Senators loyal to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to get him off the hook.

Also, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, sponsored by Isa Misau has passed its first reading.

Sahara Reporters alleges that the amendment is a plot by Senators loyal to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to get him off the hook.

Saraki is currently before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over a 13 count charge of false assets declaration.

The sponsor of the bill, Nwaoboshi has dismissed the allegations saying “The intent is not because of what is happening (to Saraki); it is because we want to save Nigerians. We want Nigerians to see. You cannot put a quasi judicial arm under the control of the SGF, who is a politician appointed by the President, doing political job. Then, you put him in charge.”

He also said “We want to save Nigerians from overzealous politicians. The Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Code of Conduct Bureau now is under the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government.

“The Secretary to the Federal Government is a politician and can use it against political opponents or perceived political opponents. He oversees the CCB and the CCT, as they report to his office.

“So, since the Supreme Court in its judgment has said that CCT is a court of some sort, it must be seen to be neutral in nature and should not report to a politician.”

The Senator added that “The CCB said you declare your asset upon assumption of office and when you are leaving office, you declare your asset.

“Within the time you came to the office and the time you are leaving office, they must have investigated that your asset, what is left, is to investigate the asset declared when leaving office.

READ: Tribunal says Saraki must be arrested

“You do not just leave it for 100 years, then all of a sudden someone wakes up and says 56 years ago, you did not declare your asset. That should not be so.”

The National Assembly is reported to have increased the budget of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by over N4 billion.

A move many see as a bid to get the agency to soft pedal in the ongoing trial od Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

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chika ebuzor