We won’t do Saraki’s bidding in probe of CCT chairman, says ethics committee

The senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petition says it would not do the bidding of Senate President Bukola Saraki on the petition against Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Sam Anyanwu (PDP-Imo East), chairman of the committee, said this during an interview with NAN in Abuja on Saturday.

Anyanwu said the committee owed Nigerians and nobody else, the responsibility to treat the petition on merit.

According to him, the fact that the petition is coming at a time when Saraki is standing trial at the CCT will not stop the committee from carrying out its constitutional responsibility creditably.

“Once the petition against Danladi is sent to our secretariat, we will take a look at it, and be rest assured that if we find nothing in the petition, of course, we will write our report,” he said.

“I want to say that I am not doing anybody’s bidding; I have the capacity and I make researches and I have time for fact-finding and come out with a position.

“Why should Saraki use me to do his bidding? Why would Saraki use any senator to do his bidding? He is my colleague; he is just the senate president, one among equals.

“He was elected by his constituents and my constituents brought me here. So, it not about doing Saraki’s bidding. If I have a responsibility to discharge my duty based on the petition because I am chairman of ethics and privileges, I will do it; the most important thing is your conscience.”

The lawmaker said the national assembly was determined to support President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption. He said the legislature would stop at nothing to ensure that Nigeria assumed its pride of place in the comity of nations.

On whether Nigerians would have faith in the committee following issues around the confirmation of nomination of Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transport, Anyanwu said Nigerians believed in the committee.

He said the committee would look into about 42 pending petitions, which are still pending.

“Our report on Amaechi cannot be faulted in any way. We have received commendations from over five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) for standing firm,” he said.

“Through our probe, even ordinary Nigerians who were wrongfully dismissed from their offices, who did not have money to go to court or fear of persecution, their consolation was the senate.

“When we ask agencies to reinstate people who were wrongfully dismissed, we equally insist that such persons are not victimised. This is people’s parliament; we are the voice of the voiceless.

“I do not have any grudges against anybody; I am only doing my job. I am one man nobody can put in the pocket.

“I don’t fight for anybody, I do the right thing. If people do not have confidence in this committee, they will be demoralised and discouraged from sending in petitions.”

On Thursday, the senate received a petition alleging impropriety against chairman of the CCT.

The petition, which was presented by Obinna Ogba, a PDP senator from Ebonyi state, was signed by one Ajaso I. Ajaso on behalf of a group known as Anti Corruption Network.