The Senate on Thursday was divided over the amendment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal as the National Assembly took over power to appoint staff of CCT/Code of Conduct Bureau from the Presidency.
The Senate took the decision few minutes after the Court of Appeal dismissed the request by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to stop his trial at the CCT.
During the consideration of the bill, senators were divided along party lines.
In the amendment, the Bureau will first invite the person suspected of falsely declaring his asset for clarification before taking the person to the Tribunal.
The Senate had previously stepped down the consideration of the bill due to public outcry that followed the move.
The bill had already been amended by the House of Representatives and was sent to Senate for concurrence.
Section 4 (2) was also amended to substitute the word “President” with “the National Assembly” as the one to appoint members of staff of the Bureau and exercise disciplinary control over them.
Section 1 (4) was deleted and replaced with: “The Chairman and members shall serve for a term of five years subject to renewal for one further term only.
“(E) upon complaint(s) of any breach or where it appears to the Bureau that there is a breach of the provision of this Act, any person concerned shall be given particulars of such noncomplaince or breaches to explain before any reference to the Tribunal.”
