By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday screened 14 senatorial nominees but extended legislative privileges of bow and go to eight of them.
The red chamber extended the gesture to former and serving federal lawmakers as the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed cabinet members commenced.
Those who benefited from the legislative privileges were Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Senator John Owan-Enoh (Cross River) Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), and Nkeiruka Onyeojiocha (Abia), and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo).
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, explained that Wike, who was not a federal lawmaker was asked to bow and go because he had appeared before the red chamber before when he was cleared to become minister in 2011.
He also said his performance as governor of Rivers State spoke volumes of his competence.
Former acting governor of Taraba State, Senator, Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State, who was a member of the Senate, did not enjoy the gesture.
He was asked to explain the circumstances surrounding his allegations against him that the Supreme Court barred him from holding public office for 10 years.
The Senate President said before he could bow and go, he should clear the air on an allegation that the Supreme Court gave a judgement banning him from holding political office in the country for 10 years over forgery.
The nominee said, “There was no such pronouncement.”
He said, “Senator Shaibu Lau took the matter to the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the court gave me judgement.
“He went to Appeal Court and the Appeal Court affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court. He took the matter to the Supreme Court, then the Supreme Court gave me judgement.
“So, there is no judgement from the Supreme Court barring me for ten years. The Supreme Court is hearing me as I’m speaking and lawyers are there. There was nothing in Appeal Court, they just struck out the case for lack of merit.
“At the Supreme Court, the same thing happened as Justice Odili said that the Federal High Court in Jalingo was wrong to have passed the judgement in that manner. When I was a deputy governor in 2007 they used their executive power at that time to nullify me.
“So, from Supreme Court, I had to go back to the Federal High Court in Jalingo since the Supreme Court said there was no basis for the Federal High Court in Jalingo to do that judgement. Then the same jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Jalingo now sat on the same judgement and set aside that judgement that is hanging on me.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said, “The Federal High Court in Jalingo gave a judgement against you that you were not qualified to contest on the bases of perjury that you lied on oath in respect of your date of birth, then later the Federal High Court sat on the same matter and cleared you?
“What we are saying is that the moment the Federal High Court gave the first judgement they become Fontus Officio in Law and can no longer sit as appellate court over its judgement.
“So, you will say what you want to say, we will study this because it is in the interest of Nigeria and it is of public interest”.
Also, senators queried the Benue State nominee, Prof Joseph Utsev, for claiming that he finished primary school at the age of nine.
He was, however, defended by Senator Elisha Abbo, (Adamawa North) and others, who claimed that the professor was exceptionally brilliant.
The nominee from Sokoto State, Bello Muhammad was asked to bring a certificate because he had two credits in his General Certificate in Education.
The nominee said he had done other examinations. Senate asked him to bring the certificate before he would be cleared.
Other nominees who appeared before the Senate for screening were Uju-Ken Ohaneye (Anambra), Dr Betta Edu (Cross River), and Imaan Ibrahim (Nasarawa).
