By Kassim Omomia
The House of Representatives is set to join the Code of Conduct tribunal as a normal court in the administration of justice in the country and detach it from the supervisory role of the presidency.

The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Chapter 58 LFN 1990, gave the bureau the mandate to establish and maintain a high standard of public morality in the conduct of government business; and to ensure that the actions and behaviors of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality.

But a Bill for An Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria CAP. C.23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, for the establishment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal as part of the Judicature under the constitution in order to ensure its independence and for related matters has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, seeking to join the tribunal as a court now under the supervision and discipline of the NJC and no longer the Presidency, If approved in the current review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The bill is sponsored by Hon. Olajide Olatubosun, and has been referred to the House Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, after a debate on the general principles.

At the debate, Olatubosun explained, the bill only seeks to amend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to establish the Code of Conduct Tribunal as part of the administration of justice in the country, as well as guarantee its independence under the constitution.

He noted that, when approved, the tribunal will no longer be under the presidency, but will be independent like the normal courts, and supervised and disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Olatubosun’s bill, however, is notwithstanding the original role of the tribunal in another bill sponsored by Hon. Solomon Bob.

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Bob said the bill entitled, “An Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Third Alteration) ACT 2011, also seeks to amend the constitution for the establishment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal as a Superior Court of record to try offenses under the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act.