Again, Senate defers Amaechi’s screening

A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, may not be screened by the Senate today as his name was not listed in the Order Paper, which gives details of the business of the day at the Senate.

This is the third time Mr. Amaechi’s screening was suspended by the Senate.

Earlier, the Senate Order Paper showed names of eight ministerial nominees billed for screening, but another paper later emerged showing only three names of ministerial nominees.

In the earlier schedule, the names of Adebayo Shittu, Heineken Lokpobiri, Rotimi Amaechi, Khadija Ibrahim, Baba Bwari, Ocholi James, Mansur Mohammed and Zainab Ahmed were listed, while the subsequent paper only showed the names of Adebayo Shittu, Khadijat Ibrahim and Claudius Daramola.

The submission of report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Mr. Amaechi was also not listed in the Order Paper.

Last week, the Senate spokesperson, Dino Melaye, said Mr. Amaechi would be screened on Monday as petitions filed against him would not stop the Senate from screening him.

Mr. Melaye explained that the Standing Rule provides that a petition would not be entertained when the subject matter was in the court.

Mr. Amaechi had also written the Senate, asking the legislative body to put aside the petition brought against him.

Premium Correspondent: Adebayo Hassan