As Senate Begins Ministerial Nominees’ Screening Today…

The Senate will today commence the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees amid allegations levelled against some of them, writes Sunday Aborisade.

With eight out of the 28 ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu expected to bow and go when they appear before the Senate from today, the anticipated grilling of the proposed cabinet members are in doubt as some of them may escape questioning due to the tradition of the red chamber.

The Senate had last Thursday after reeling out the list of Tinubu’s Ministerial nominees that would form his cabinet, boasted that the nominees would be thoroughly grilled before their appointment would be confirmed.

Tinubu had beat the two-month deadline which the constitution mandated him and all the governors to present the list of their nominees for their proposed cabinet for legislative screening.

After weeks of anxiety and speculations

President Tinubu, finally on Thursday, forwarded the much expected ministerial list to the Senate for consideration and approval.

The list, which contained 28 names was personally delivered to the Senate in plenary by the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Senate, after approving the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day, had invoked relevant sections of its Standing Rules, to receive the Chief of Staff to the President, to deliver the communication.

The nominees, comprising four former governors, seven women, serving and former lawmakers and technocrats, were picked from 25 out of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Since the constitution mandates the President to pick at least a minister from every state, Tinubu is expected to submit at least 11 more names to the Senate in the coming days.

Four former governors, including the current Deputy Senate Leader, Senator David Umahi (Ebonyi State) made list. Others are, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa).

Seven women including Hannatu Musawa, Dr. Betta Edu, Dr. Dorris Aniche Uzoka, Hon. Nkiru Onyeojiocha, Hon. Stella Okotette, and Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye and Mrs Iman Suleiman Ibrahim, also made the list.

Other nominees include Abubakar Momoh, Ambassador Yusuf Miatama Tukur, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa, Chief Uche Nnaji, Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Mr. Bello Muhammad G, and Mr. Dele Alake.

The rest are, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Mr. Muhammad Idris, Mr. Olawale Edun, Mr. Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, Professor Ali Pate, Professor Joseph Utsev, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Senator John Eno, and Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi.

Tinubu in the letter said, the 28 names formed the first batch of his proposed cabinet list and promised to forward the others in due course.

The Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had an interactive session with journalists after the unveiling of the 28 wise men at plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Adaramodu said there will be thorough ministerial screening like never before.

According to him, “We are very much aware of the high expectations from Nigerians regarding those who will assist the President in the fulfillment of his mandate and the constitution.

“To satisfy the expectations of Nigerians for high velocity performance, we will “eyemark” not “earmark”, the performances. The screening will be very thorough but there will still be take-a- bow and go.

“The senate will scrutinize the character and the ability of every nominee. Thorough screening for anybody who will be minister entails that he or she must have ideas about everything, but in core specialties like health, yes the minister must be a professional.

“The 10th Senate will not disappoint Nigerians. The team will bring oxygen hence the nominees must carry the resume, but we will not manufacture questions and allegations against anyone.”

He advised that as the list has been read out anyone who has anything against them can channel such to the right quarters.

Adaramodu said, “Although the Senate is not supposed to sit on Mondays, but because of the importance attached to this national assignment, we have suspended all our rules.

“On Monday (today) we are not supposed to have plenary which you know but we have suspended all rules, all laws for us , infact we are supposed to go on our annual vacation we have suspended it for the benefit of this assignment.

“This is a national assignment, very crucial and very pertinent, it is necessary and compulsory for us to be at the chamber on Monday at 11am, all other days will be 10am.”

He said there is no allocation of time for any nominee and if a single nominee takes up to three hours or a whole day, so be it.

“A nominee who has been brought forward must explain himself if after explaining and nobody is asking question that you are this or that, we will not manufacture it,” he added.

On the usual take-a-bow tradition which has become a norm for former federal lawmakers, the Senate spokesperson said it is a norm and not an anathema.

His words, “Even if you came to National Assembly to submit a paper you must take a bow, so the issue of taking a bow is not an anathema, it is a tradition, it is not a slang for complacency. It does not mean you cannot be held accountable. It is just a norm.

“The job of a Minister is like the job of a Governor who is supposed to oversee and ensure that bureaucrats and technocrats do their jobs well.”

On the allegation that some of the nominees are battling with corruption cases before the anti-graft agencies, Adaramodu pledged that all the wise men and women had already undergone security screening and checks from the executive.

He, however said, “if there is any red flag raised we will look into it. Nigerians will never be disappointed by the Senate”.

Many Nigerians have, however, expressed doubts over the possibility of the red chamber to grill the nominees as promised by Adaramodu because eight serving and former federal lawmakers would escape questioning because of the bow and go tradition of the National Assembly.

Those affected are, Umahi, Onyeojiocha, Tunji-Ojo, Kyari, Enoh, Danladi, Ekpo and Tugar.

The Senate over the weekend, received a petition against one of the nominees, Stella Okotete from a law firm, Messrs Jurymamn Associates Chambers.

The firm in its petition signed  by Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq,  sought the  disqualification of the appointment of Okotete as a Ministerial designate based on pending case instituted against her at the Federal High Court which has also been submitted to the Senate.

The letter sighted by THISDAY on Saturday in Abuja, had been acknowledged by the office of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

The ministerial nominee, the petitioner alleged, has a pending suite at the Federal High Court with No:FHC/ABJ/C8/2233/2023 bothering on serial false misrepresentation and forgery.

Part of the petition reads, “Based on the pending case before the Federal High Court suite No: FHC/ABJ/C8/2233/2023 /Public complaint against criminal conspiracy to wit: Violation of the CBN’S regulations on Appointment of Heads of Financial Institutions.

“Gross contemptous Violation of Senate Ruling and Unimplemented 2019, Senate resolution on removal recommendation over serial fraudulent misrepresentation, No NYSC records, False information in respect of her CV on Appointment as Delta State Government’s Director of Millennium Development.

“No accurate records, lack of prerequisite qualifications and deceitful withholding of CBN’s statutory position, obligations and duties as the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) against Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete.”

However, a letter from the CCB dated 21st March 2023 with file number CCB/HQ/II&M/007/NB/099 addressed to Okotete, was also sighted by THISDAY in Abuja on Saturday.

The correspondence confirmed that the Ministerial hopeful is under investigation over cases concerning breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

In view of its ongoing investigation, the Code of Conduct Bureau in its letter signed by Director, intelligence and monitoring (II&M),Dr. Gwimi S.P., directed Okotete to furnish the Bureau with all necessary documents needed to carry out their investigation.

The letter read in part,  “Alleged Breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officer”

The Bureau is currently investigating a case of alleged breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers against your office.

“In view of the foregoing, you are requested to furnish the Bureau with the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the following documents:

“Copies of your letters of Appointment, Promotion Letters, Record of Service and Payslips from 2019 till date.

“All lists of loans processed and approved under you. Acknowledgement slips of all Assets Declaration made to Code of Conduct Bureau since you joined the Public Service.

“All documents of your buildings and landed properties both developed and underdeveloped in Nigeria and abroad.

“Bank Account Statements of all your personal bank accounts from January 2019 to date.

“This request is made pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the 3rd Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended; Section 137 (a) and (b) and 138 (a) and (b) Panel Cede laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and section 104 of Evidence Act 2011.”

Similarly, a 2019 report of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has also revealed that Okotete was indicted for forgery and was recommended for voluntary resignation or sack over fraudulent misrepresentation.

The report of the 8th Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions which was then chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was also sighted by THISDAY on Saturday.

The report found Okotete guilty after thoroughly going through oral and written submissions available to the committee by the petitioners, Myson Law Practice on Behalf of Ilaje Global Think Tank Initiative and Stella Okotete.

It was revealed that Okotete allegedly misrepresented her qualification to hold the post of Executive Director at the bank.

The Senate document observed that the chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress did not have 15 years post-graduation experience which is required to occupy the office as specified by the Central Bank of Nigeria circular of 15th October, 2015.

Meanwhile, a Police action plan has been instituted to investigate the series of allegations against Okotete.

The action plan was entitled, “Re: Case of Criminal Conspiracy, Offense to Wit: Falsification of Documents, Fraudulent Misrepresentation of Qualification to Hold CBN’S Statutory Position, Corrupt Practice, Monumental Fraud and Misappropriation,”

The police authority ordered for discreet investigation of the allegations.

The petition was endorsed to the DIG FCIID Abuja via letter No. CB:7000/IGP SEC/AB)/VOL.613/ 312 dated 23/01/2023 and re-endorsed to the CP GI Section via letter No.CB:7000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.592/85 dated 03/02/2023 for discreet iinvestigation.

Nigerians are expecting how the Senators and the Senate as an institution, would handle the screening in a way that would meet the expectations of the public.