Senate passes CCB Act amendment Bill for second reading

The Senate on Thursday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau and its tribunal.
Leading debate on the Bill, which was read for the first time on Tuesday, the sponsor, Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North), said the amendment would redraft section 3(d) of the Act.
Nwoboshi said the procedural codes that were being employed by the bureau’s tribunal, were not provided for in the nation’s Constitution.
He said: “It is clear that the Act does not contemplate criminal trial, so the usage of Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code should not be used as a procedural template in the Tribunal.
“In due course, I will present to this distinguished Senate a comprehensive amendment of the Third Schedule to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Rules of procedure which should be distinct rules for proceedings in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
Senators who contributed threw their weight behind the amendment of the Act.
Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) said the amendment was very apt as it had become clear that the CCT was delving into criminal trials.
Mealy said: “Section 3b stipulated that before a prosecution can start, the person in question would have to be communicated and he must respond to the bureau.
“After investigation by the bureau, then they will transfer for prosecution.
“It is stipulated that you must have a minimum of three judges before they can sit, but as it is today, we have two judges, yet trial is ongoing.
“When the two judges take different positions, what happens?”
Melaye urged all senators to support the amendment, stressing that it was justified.
Other senators who contributed included Jubrin Barau (APC Kano North), Sam Anyanwu (PDP Imo East) and the Minority whip, Biodun Olujimi.
Olujimi said: “We are licensed as senators to look at Acts and Laws to see how we can make them better: there is no doubt that this Act needs amendment.
“We do not want the Act to be used inconclusively.
“This is a straightforward thing, it should go to the committee and we conclude.”
However, Senator Yahaya Abdulahi (APC-Kebbi North), while supporting the amendment, expressed reservations over the timing of the amendment in view of ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the CCT.
Abdulahi said although the amendment was apt, the perception of Nigerians, especially with regard to the timing, should be taken into consideration.
He said: “What I am against is the timing.
“We must be wary about public perception about the position of the senate.
“The Nigerian people could perceive this to mean that we did not challenge this Act until now that our principal officer is standing trial.
“I have nothing against this amendment because it brings fairness.
“If I am being treated the way our principal officer is being treated, it would not be good.
“But for the credibility of this Senate, I think we should re-examine the timing of this.”
In his remark, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, said the amendment had nothing to do with the trial of Saraki at the CCT.
Ekweremadu said Saraki’s trial had already started before the amendment bill was introduced, adding that they had no link.
He added: “This bill will not affect the proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“We should not be afraid to do the job, which the Constitution has given us.
“We support the CCB and the CCT, but we must make sure that in doing their work, there must be fairness and respect for human rights.
“We must at all times be courageous to do our work.”
The lawmakers voted for the passage of the bill for second reading and it was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and its Judiciary and Human Rights counterpart.
The committees were directed to submit their reports in two weeks
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that CCB amendment bill was laid on Tuesday alongside seven other bills, among which is the amendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
NAN.