Senate: Petitions Stall Obanikoro Ministerial Screening

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State, Nigeria 2015 Election Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

From Abdul Gafar Bello – The screening of President Jonathan’s new eight Ministerial nominees suffered a setback Wednesday at the senate as the exercise was cancelled allegedly due to petitions against a Lagos State nominee, Musiliu Obanikoro.

The screening exercise has been shifted till next week Tuesday.

Addressing journalists after the postponement, opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti), said the development was necessitated by two different petitions against Obanikoro’s nomination, which were made available to the Senate President, David Mark.

The petitions, Senator Ojodu pointed out were submitted through him and Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) which highlighted Obanikoro’s alleged role in the rigging of Saturday, June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

One of the petitions equally highlighted the use of armed soldiers to stop Ilubirin Housing Project in Lagos Island, under the state’s central senatorial district and other accusations.

Besides, Senator Ojudu revealed that the former Senator was also embroiled in a suit in a Lagos court vide No: ID/433GCN/14, contending that it would be prejudicial for the upper legislative chamber to screen and confirm Obanikoro with other nominees.

“There’s a court case against Obanikoro in Lagos and that case is coming up for hearing March 6. Should the Senate go ahead to screen Obanikoro next Tuesday, it means the Senate has prejudiced the case.

“That would be illegal because the tradition and the rule is that if there is a case before the court, the matter should not be entertained”, Senator Ojodu emphasized.