15th October, 2015
Rotimi Amaechi, the former Governor of Rivers State, southern Nigeria, will not have any problem being screened and approved for ministerial appointment despite the petitions against him, Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman of Senate Committee on Media said on Thursday.
The screening of the former Governor who was among the first batch of ministerial nominees submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari which was scheduled to have taken place on Thursday was postponed till next Tuesday.
Amaechi could not be screened on Wednesday because the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions which was saddled with the task of investigation of allegations of fraudulent dealings against the former Governor contained in a petition submitted by the three Peoples Democratic Party senators on behalf of a group said it is yet to conclude its work.
But Melaye said reports available to him indicated that the Committee report is now ready and will be presented next Thursday.
He added that the essence of the report is to clear the former governor for screening and it has been resolved that it should come on the same day.
He added that in considering the report, Senate will comply with its rules and regulations that any matter that is in court or that is undergoing judicial remedy cannot be presented or even looked into.
“And that is our resolution, because the matter is still undergoing judicial remedy, we cannot look into it. Rotimi Amaechi has no problem,” said Melaye.
The Senate spokesperson also said the Senate postponed the screening of nominees in the second list submitted by the President scheduled to commence today because some of the nominees were yet to submit their resumès and other necessary documents required.
The Senate had said on its Twitter handle – @NGRSenate, earlier on Thursday – “Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no ministerial screening today (Thursday). We will continue on Tuesday, October 20, 2015. We will tweet CVs of new nominees.”