TheCable

The Nigerian senate has postponed decision on the petition against the ministerial nomination of Rotimi Amaechi, immediate-past governor of Rivers state.

After the senate adopted the recommendation of the ethics committee on Amina Mohamed, who was falsely petitioned as a candidate from Kaduna state, the senate stood down decision on Amaechi.

The Senate leader, Ali Ndume, said the report of the ethics committee’s work on Ameachi’s petition was not ready. He requested more time, promising that it would be ready on Wednesday.

Bukola Saraki, president of the senate, accepted his request and announced that the matter would be reviewed on Wednesday.

The senators from Rivers state, led by George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers east), had petitioned the ethics committee, claiming that Amaechi looted N70billion of Rivers state funds. Amaechi continues to deny the allegation, maintaining that he is being witch-hunted by his successor, Nyesom Wike.

Sekibo said the president might not have seen the document, but said that stopping Amaechi’s confirmation at the senate was the next option.

“I’m informed that this petition reached the EFCC two months ago. And soon they will begin investigation. As a serving minister, how can Amaechi be investigated for corruption?” he asked, adding that Ameachi was not clean enough to be a minister.

In its screening procedures, the senate had said every ministerial nominee must have the support of at least two of the three senators from his or her state – a support Amaechi has been unable to find.