SaharaReporters has learned that the Senate has decided to suspend the amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, following public outrage at their attempt to disempower many laws which govern the conduct of public officials.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is currently charged with breaching laws outlined in that Act, was using his influence in the Senate to rush through amendments which would weaken the power of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the tribunals.
The first and second readings of the amendment took place at an expedited pace last week, which was observed by many media outlets. Mr. Saraki also recused himself from overseeing the readings of the bill in order to create the appearance of objectivity.
The decision to suspend the amendment follows news that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions which summoned Justice Umar Danladi, the judge overseeing Mr. Saraki’s tribunal for corruption, would no longer call on him to appear. The Ethics Committee’s decision to summon Mr. Danladi to answer for corruption allegations was seen as politically motivated and another attempt to protect Mr. Saraki from legal proceedings.