The Senate on Tuesday proceeded on an eight-week annual recess, suspending the confirmation of Mr Folasodun Adebisi Shonubi as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Also listed on the Order Paper of Tuesday was the confirmation of the appointment of Dr Muiz Adeyemi Banire as Chairman of the Board of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria.
The lawmakers, who were billed to proceed on the holiday on Thursday, however, went on recess on Tuesday in protest against the clampdown on President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Operatives of the Department of State Services and men of the Nigeria Police had on Tuesday morning laid siege to the Abuja home of Saraki. Policemen and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had also cordoned off the street leading to Ekweremadu’s home.
While Saraki later found his way to the chamber to preside over the session, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu-North) had moved a motion for the Senate to demand Ekweremadu’s freedom and proceed on the recess. The prayers were unanimously granted by the lawmakers.
However, before the plenary was adjourned, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos-West), laid a petition against Banire before the Senate. He said the petition was filed by the senators from Lagos State.
“This is the petition of the three senators from Lagos State against that nomination,” Adeola said.
Others from Lagos are Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos-Central) and Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos-East).
Saraki referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to report back in two weeks.
Banire, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, had been suspended by the Executive Committee of the APC in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State over alleged anti-party activities. The suspension followed a recommendation by his ward (Ward C, Ilasamaja, Mushin).
The lawyer had dragged the leadership of the APC in Lagos to court over the conduct of party congresses in the state.
Banire had led a faction of the APC in Lagos State that held parallel congresses with the faction loyal to a former governor of the state and national leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate to seek legislative confirmation of the chairman and members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Saraki read Buhari’s letter, dated October 27, 2017, at the plenary on Tuesday.
