CCB/CCT Bill: Senator Condemns Amendment; Declares It’s Self-Seeking

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, October 30th, 2016

JIGAWA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The move by the National Assembly (NASS) to amend the constitution establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been condemned by a serving Senator.

Speaking with the NAN Sunday in Birninkudu, Senator Abdullahi Abubakar, representing Jigawa North West Senatorial district, said the intention to pass the bill was mischievous and self-seeking.

It would be recalled that the Senate passed CCB/CCT amended Bill last week Thursday, with the main provisions of withdrawing the body from the Presidency, as well as legislating that the Chairman and members of CCT must be subjected to the Senate screening before being appointed by the President.
The bill has earlier been passed by the House of Representatives.

Senator Abubakar argued that: “Laws are meant to outlive individuals not meant for individuals.” He also challenged that the current Bill on inheritance before the Senate negated the provisions on freedom of worship, as such would not see the light of the day.

While contending that both Christians and Muslims were against the Bill, Senator Abubakar declared: “We are there as representatives of the people and anything that the people don’t want will not scale through.

“We will make sure that the aspirations of the people we represent are not sacrificed at the altar of a few members of the Senate.

“Even though the bill has passed second reading, I believe any law can be stepped down at any stage and this is not an exception’’.

The general view is that NASS attempt to whittle down the President’s power and control of the body and Tribunal is one of the calculated attempts to frustrate the successful trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is currently standing trial before the Justice Danladi Umaru-led CCT over his alleged false and anticipatory assets declaration when he was elected Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011.