The Senate on Wednesday bowed to public criticisms and pressure and suspended further deliberation on amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Tribunals Act as well as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, announced the suspension following a two-hour closed door session.
The close-door session was informed by a Point of Order raised by Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo West) on the need for the senate to discuss some issues affecting the integrity of the upper house.
The Bill to amend the Acts, sponsored by Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP-Delta North), passed through the first and second readings on April 12 and April 14.
And the hurried treatment of the bills raised legal and moral issues for the senate. Senate President Bukola Saraki is facing trial on a 13 count charge of false asset declaration. Lawyers such as Mr. Femi Falana, the senior advocate of Nigeria issued a statement questioning the legal and constitutional basis of the amendments being pursued in the Senate.
But the Senate appeared to have taken heed of the public criticisms, thus announcing a volte-face today.
The senate, while declaring support for the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in view of his trial, also suspended discussions on the petition of inflammatory statements on the Senate against Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara Central).
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