A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have described the move by the Senate to amend the Acts establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal as an escape route for the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
At a news conference today, Monday in Abuja, the groups said that the plan would make the two organizations to be toothless bulldogs, adding that the move is aimed at whittling down the powers of the agencies, thereby helping the embattled President of the Senate to escape justice.
The 28 Civil Society Organizations comprises the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative and Women Advocate Research and Development Centre.
Others included Accountability Maternal New-born and Child Health in Nigeria, Protest to Power Movement and Civil Society Network Against Corruption among others.
Kolawole Banwo, CISLAC Senior Programme Officer, read the statement jointly signed by the groups.
They advised Saraki to step down and face the series of allegations leveled against him in the judiciary.
They explained that the amendment plan was not about making it better to strengthen the anti-corruption fight but rather to halt the momentum in the war against corruption.
The CSOs noted that some of the allegations against Saraki included receiving double salaries long after he ceased to be governor of Kwara State, false and anticipatory declarations of assets and breaching the law by keeping secret foreign accounts in offshore tax heavens.
They said the Senate president was also indicted for forgery of Senate Rules, among others, describing these allegations as weighty that should had compelled Saraki to step down.
According to them, the Senate president has insulted the sensibilities of Nigerians by attempting to use the instrument of legislative process to subvert his trial at the CCT.
The statement said: The ongoing undemocratic, self-serving and dubious attempt by the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to hasten the passage of the proposed amendment to the law setting up the Code of Conduct Tribunal is a move to help him escape justice.
“It is therefore clear move to amend the legislation in question is not about making it better to strengthen the anti-corruption fight rather it is a clear move to halt the momentum in the war against corruption.
“We condemn the irresponsibility of the senators who have abandoned work on so many critical bills like the Gender Equality to concentrate on the amendment of the CCT Act.
“Key legislations of critical importance to addressing poverty and supporting economic growth have remained dormant for years while all energies are now focused on protecting Senator Saraki.”
The CSOs called on Nigerians to rise up against the unethical behaviour of legislative leaders weakening laws in order to continue to enjoy impunity.
They also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent when the said Act gets to him.
They asked the House of Representatives to disassociate itself from endorsing such “unscrupulous, immoral and illegal mutilation of the Act.”
The CSOs added: “We wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to the end game of the Senate to strip the CCT of the power to sanction corrupt individuals hence they claim that the tribunal was delving into criminal proceedings and criminal trials which was not the intention of the framers.” [myad]
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