As at the time this report was prepared, the Senate had moved into close door session in preparation of the confirmation of the 18 ministerial nominees.
However, Vanguard reports that senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have laid down a certain condition to the Senate President Bukola Saraki before the confirmation of one of the nominee as minister.
According to the PDP senators, the confirmation exercise can only be done if the report of Samuel Anyanwu – led Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Rotimi Amaechi, is considered.
The Senate had received a petition against Amaechi on grounds that he mismanaged state funds while serving as governor of River state.
Rotimi Amaechi answer questions raised on the floor of the Senate
There was an allegation of misappropriation of funds which pointed out that the former Rivers governor converted about N70 billion public funds into personal foreign bank account.
The opposition senators insisted that anything short of their demand would not be acceptable today, October 29, putting the Senate President in a difficult situation now.
At the resumed sitting this morning, the PDP Senate Caucus, speaking through the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ekiti South, said it was necessary that the Senate tabled the Anyanwu report for consideration before going into the confirmation of the nominees.
Olujimi, raised a point of order that Senate President Bukola Saraki to suspend all the processes leading to the confirmation of the ministerial nominees until the consideration of the report.
But she was, however, ruled out of order by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who said the Senate would first handle the screening of nominees for appointments as federal commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Saraki added that the issue raised by the senator would be handled when the Red Chamber goes into ministerial confirmation.
Among the 19 minister nominees listed on the Senate Order Paper for confirmation today, Amaechi’s name is the last.
