The Senate having resumed from two weeks recess on Tuesday has moved to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau Act and that of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, suggesting an effort towards killing the ongoing trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Rising from over an hour closed door meeting, the Senate President announced at the commencement of Tuesday’s plenary that the Senate discussed on 2016 appropriation budget and the smooth operations of the National Assembly which he put to vote.
“Is it a true reflection of the Senate that 2016 appropriation and the smooth running of the National Assembly were discussed at closed door session?”, he askedThough the proposed amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and that of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 did not reflect on the Order Papers that had 6 presentations of proposed bills, the Chief Whip, Senator Bala Ibn N’allah, while introducing the bill did mention that these two bills be considered for amendment, corroborated by Clerk to the Senate on the floor and was subsequently taken.
“Mr Senate President, a Bill for amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau and Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 be taken by the Senate,”N’allah said.
The implication of taking a proposed amendment of any bills means that they can start work any moment.
It is recalled that Nigeria’s Senate President’s case is trapped within the armbit of Code of Conduct Bureau and Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which was just passed into law by the 7th SenateHowever, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP) irked by the trial of Saraki in an interview with Judiciary Correspondents at the Code of Conduct Tribunal vowed that the National Assembly would amend those Acts which he described as fatal to Nigeria’s Judicial system.
