Abuja – The House of Representatives said yesterday that it wholly supported the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government and its decision to cleanse the polity of sleaze.
But, the House urged “great circumspection” in the ongoing prosecution of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, over alleged false asset declaration “in order to maintain proper focus in the pursuit of the common good.”
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, conveyed the position of the House in an address to lawmakers as they reconvened in Abuja after a six-week annual recess.
The House commended Saraki for submitting himself to the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to pass the message that nobody was above the law.
Dogara added, “The barometer of the polity has been on the rise of late because of certain developments concerning the arraignment of the President of the Senate.
“While commending the President of the Senate for submitting himself to the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the recognition that no person is above the law, I wish to caution that there is need for great circumspection in times such as this in order to maintain proper focus in pursuit of the common good.
“In this regard, I wish to commend you, my dear colleagues, for the maturity of avoiding further escalation through media commentaries.
“We commend and fully support the effort of government towards sanitising the polity through the war against corruption, impunity and other vices. “
Dogara noted that the House expected institutions created by Acts of the National Assembly to be fair and ensure that justice was seen to have been done at all times.
He noted that acting to the contrary could be a
stain on the success of democracy.
“As legislators with the mandate of making as well as reforming the law, we expect that these institutions, which are the creation of these laws, would prove their capacity for fairness, justice and strict adherence to the rule of law in order not to endanger our democracy.
“I am confident that our justice system has the capacity to do justice to all citizens. In any case, the legislature remains the bulwark in defence of our democracy, fundamental human rights and rule of law,” the speaker added.
To his colleagues, Dogara reminded them of the fact that they must lead by example by being above board to be able to perform their duties of over-sighting Ministries, Agencies of government.
“We must, at all times, remind ourselves that we are equally been over-sighted by the people whose mandate we hold and indeed ultimately by God.
“We will therefore do well to adopt the righteous doctrine of leadership by example. Only then shall we be able to face accountability with confidence,” the speaker told his colleagues.
Although, Dogara applauded the introduction of the Treasury Single Account by the government, describing the policy as “commendable”, he observed that extra-budgetary expenditure by agencies also fell under revenue leakages.
Meanwhile, Senate of the Federal Republic resumed from its six week break yesterday, with eighty-three Senators passing a Vote of Confidence on Senate President Bukola Saraki and his leadership team.
This has apparently served as a moral booster for the Senate President who is currently standing trial for criminal charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja.
The Vote of Confidence which was brought to the Senate by Sen. David Umaru (APC-Niger East), overwhelmed a dissenting voice of Sen. Kabir Marafa (Zamfara).
No sooner had the motion scaled through than furious Sen. Marafa, attempted pushing the red chamber into a pandemonium.
Sen. Marafa, a staunch opponent of the embattled Senate President, was so incensed by the motion and the proceedings on the floor that his reaction almost disrupted the session.
He vociferously criticised the motion, arguing that it should not have been entertained in the first place, wondering why issues surrounding Sen. Saraki’s corruption trial was entertained as a motion even while the matter was still pending in courts.
The Senate has a standing rule barring it from discussing matters pending in court.
For minutes, a visibly livid Sen. Marafa engaged the senate president in a heated argument resulting in the later directing the Sergeant-At-Arms to lead the former out of the chamber, but for quick intervention of some senators, who pleaded on his behalf.
