Saraki’s Trial: Nigerian lawmakers speed up controversial bill to amend anti-corruption law - Premium Times

A bill for an amendment of Code of Conduct Tribunal and Bureau Act scaled second reading at Senate, Thursday, just 48 hours after it was first read.

In Nigeria’s lawmaking process, rarely do bills get such accelerated legislative action.

The bill sponsored by Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP-Delta State), passed second reading and subsequently referred to the committees on Judiciary and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The committees will report back in two weeks.

THE AMENDMENT

The bill seeks to amend Section 3 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act “to give every public officer appearing (before the) Bureau fair hearing provided for under Section 36 (2)(a) of the CFRN 1999 which provides:

“for an opportunity for the person whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representations to the administering authority before that authority makes the decision affecting that person.”

CCT Dismisses Saraki's Application, Trial begins April 5th.

Code of Conduct Tribunal has againg dismissed an application by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration charges against him to be dropped.

The lawyer to the Senate President, Barrister Kanu Agabi, had argued that the 13-count charge was invalid procedurally because the Code of Conduct Bureau which filed the charges, failed to allow Mr. Saraki explain discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as required by law.

However, the chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, in his ruling Thursday said there was no breach of law as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1989, still allows the senate president raise his clarifications at the level of the tribunal. Mr. Danladi said by law, the CCB could receive complaints of breach of the Act and refer such complaints to the Tribunal, provided that it will allow the person involved to give a statement affirming or denying the said misconduct.

Also, upholding the argument made by the prosecution, Mr. Umar said Section 3 (e) of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution gives the bureau the right to receive complaints of such nature and where necessary refer such matter to the tribunal.

According to Mr. Danladi, Section 174 of the Constitution also gives the Attorney General of the Federation the prerogative to file criminal proceedings and does not owe any explanations to any one on how to go about it.

He therefore ordered the continuation of the trial. 

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