Connect with us

Politics

Petition on CCT chair: I won’t favour Saraki –Sen Anyanwu

Published

on

Saraki's endless saga of proving his innocense by evading trial

Although the Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition has received a petition against Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, the committee says would not kowtow to the desire of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

According to the chairman of the committee, Sen. Sam Anyanwu (PDP-Imo East), the committee, would take a neutral position in the investigation of Umar.

Saraki is presently facing a 13-charge of false assets declaration before the CCT.

But according to Anyanwu, the fact that the petition is coming at a time when Saraki is standing trial at the CCT will not stop the committee from carrying out its constitutional responsibility creditably.

He stated this in Abuja while reacting to the allegation that the committee would likely do the biddings of Saraki.

Anyanwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the committee owed Nigerians and nobody else, the responsibility to treat the petition on merit.

“Once the petition against Danladi is sent to our secretariat, we will take a look at it, and be rest assured that if we find nothing in the petition, of course, we will write our report.

“I want to say that I am not doing anybody’s bidding; I have the capacity and I make researches and I have time for fact-finding and come out with a position.

“Why should Saraki use me to do his bidding? Why would Saraki use any senator to do his bidding?
“He is my colleague; he is just the Senate President, one among equals.

‘’He was elected by his constituents and my constituents brought me here. So, it not about doing Saraki’s bidding.

Read also: Review… Alleged N25b TSA scam: Another puzzling debate

“If I have a responsibility to discharge my duty based on the petition because I am Chairman of Ethics and Privileges, I will do it; the most important thing is your conscience,’’ he said.

On whether Nigerians would have faith in the committee following issues around the confirmation of nomination of Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, in spite of its recommendation, Anyanwu said Nigerians believed in the committee.

He said that no fewer than 42 petitions were pending before the committee and assured that all would be attended to.

“I do not have any grudges against anybody; I am only doing my job. I am one man nobody can put in the pocket.

‘’I don’t fight for anybody, I do the right thing. If people do not have confidence in this committee, they will be demoralised and discouraged from sending in petitions,’’ he said.

It would be recalled that the Senate on Thursday received a petition alleging impropriety against the CCT chairman.

The petition, which was presented on the floor of the Senate by Sen. Obinna Ogba (PDP-Ebonyi Central), was signed by one Ajaso I. Ajaso on behalf of a group, Anti-Corruption Network.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now