Senate Fails To Screen Amaechi Again

Once again, the screening of Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers state, has been deferred. The Senate failed to screen Amaechi today, October 14, due to the inability of the Simon Anyanwu-led committee on ethics and public petitions to submit its report on petitions against the former governor, Vanguard reports. Senator Anyanwu informed the Senate President, Bukola Sarai that his committee’s report was still not ready to be submitted to the floor of the Senate. “You will recall that the Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges has been investigating Mr Rotimi Ameachi, a ministerial nominee from Rivers State. As I speak, the report is yet to be concluded,” he said. Saraki ruled that Amaechi’s name be delisted from the Order Paper, while asking the committee to ensure its report was ready by tomorrow for subsequent treatment. This is the second time the screening of the former governor would be deferred. He was not among the first batch of ministerial nominees who were screened yesterday, October 13, by the Senate. Amaechi’s nomination is facing stiff opposition in the Senate especially from senators from his state who have presented petitions of alleged corrupt acts against him. Report has it that Saraki and other influential senators like Godswill Akpabio were helping Amaechi assuage the Rivers senators. A source in Saraki’s camp said the price is that Amaechi should ensure withdrawal of the APC petition at the election tribunal against the election of Governor Nyesom Wike.