Amaechi’s Screening Deferred

The Senate on Wednesday cleared 18 ministerial nominees which it screened between Tuesday and Wednesday but deferred the screening of former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The screening of more ministerial nominees continues today.

Senate President Bukola Saraki

Those cleared were Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Osage Ehanire, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Amina Mohammed and Suleiman Adamu.

Also cleared were Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Senator Chris Ngige, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Senator Aisha Alhassan, Mr. Solomon Dalong, Ms. Kemi Adeosun, Mr. Hadi Sirika and Mr. Ibrahim Jibril.

But before the commencement of yesterday’s screening, President Muhammadu Buhari had written a letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki announcing the withdrawal of the name of a former Niger State Deputy Governor, Ahmed Ibeto, as a ministerial nominee without giving any reason.

“I write to withdraw the nomination of Ahmed Ibeto that I earlier submitted. Please accept Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration," the president said.
THISDAY learnt that the withdrawal was not unconnected with the nomination of Mr. Bawa Bwari in the second batch of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate on Monday.

Also, the Senate president had asked for the report of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the petition against Amaechi. But the committee’s chairman, Senator Sam Anyanwu, said the report was not ready for the second day in a row. The report had been slated for consideration on Tuesday.

Amaechi had been listed as the 10th ministerial nominee to be screened yesterday but the absence of the committee’s report on the petition against him stalled his screening.

The committee was scheduled to meet yesterday at 2 pm but could not do so because it could not form the required quorum, as some of the committee members were absent due to cases against them at the election petition tribunals.

The committee, however, was said to have slated a meeting for 7 pm yesterday.
At yesterday's screening, Fashola, Kachikwu and Adeosun gave impressive performances, as they showed a mastery of the subjects they spoke on and were lucid in their delivery.

Fashola who held the Senate spellbound for an hour, addressed questions on several issues including clearing the air on allegations that he spent N78 million on his website and almost N200 million on the construction of boreholes at the Lagos State Government House when he was the governor of the state.

He was also philosophical in his response on what he understood by the concept of loyalty when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) questioned him on his perceived disloyalty to his benefactor, Senator Bola Tinubu.

On both issues, Fashola said when he was governor, he didn't sign any cheque neither had anybody accused him of corruptly enriching himself.