Senate delays Amaechi’s screening

The senate may not screen Chibuike Amaechi, former Rivers state governor and ministerial nominee, on Wednesday as scheduled.

‎Amaechi was named as one of 10 ministerial nominees scheduled to be screened on Wednesday, but Samuel Anyanwu, chairman senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, said the report on the probe of the former governor for alleged corruption and fraud was not ready.

‎Going by the convention of the senate, the report of the committee must be presented on the floor of the chamber before Amaechi can be cleared for screening.

Amaechi was also not screened‎ on Tuesday, and Dino Melaye, acting spokesman of the senate, had said he would be cleared for screening on Wednesday.

Amaechi had appeared before the committee on Monday, but hearing on his case was suspended on the grounds that the matter was in court.

The committee was expected to report to the senate on the matter Tuesday, but it only presented a report on its investigation of Amina Mohammed, another ministerial nominee, who was screened by the senate.

“You will recall that Amaechi appeared before the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions yesterday, and some how the report of the committee was not ready before we went into the ministerial screening,” Melaye had said.

“‎I want to assure the general public that the report will be presented tomorrow, and it will be adopted and Ameachi will be cleared for screening tomorrow.”

Senators from the state of the former governor have shown opposition to his nomination.

Ten ministerial nominees were screened on Tuesday, and the exercise is expected to end on Thursday