Senate Committee clears embattled Sokoto ministerial nominee

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges on Monday absolved Sokoto Ministerial nominee, Aisha Abubakar of allegation of incompetence raised against her and presented at plenary last Thursday by Senator Ibrahim Gobir.

The Committee which began hearing today observed that the Petition was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and not the President of the Senate as is the guiding rule of the Senate that has powers of investigation.

Senator Dino Melaye observed: “I have gone through the petition and I discovered that it was not addressed to the Senate President in compliance with Section 41 of Senate rules which requires that all petitions be addressed to the Senate President. Therefore, this petition against Sokoto Ministerial nominee, Aisha Abubakar is dead on arrival,” he said.

The sitting which lasted less than 10 minutes began when Dino Melaye and Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly, Ita Enang had a brief discussion with the nominee behind close doors, but in what appears to be premeditated, Melaye said that Abubakar Aisha seems to have met the requirements as enshrined in section 147 and 14(3), section 66 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which stipulates the qualifications of a potential minister, hence, it should be dismissed

Responding to inquiries whether she belongs to any political party, the nominee responded that she is a public servant and that she is still in service.

The Chairman in his ruling noted that its report would be ready as soon as possible.

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