The Nigerian Senate has commenced screening of the 10 members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, appointed by the then acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, despite a court order.
The order had tasked relevant authorities to put all screening on hold until a final verdict is given on February 8, 2018.
A source at the CCB confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday via text message.
The appointment of the 10 persons was made when President Muhammadu Buhari was on sick leave in the United Kingdom.
He (Buhari) had, on November 29, forwarded the names of 10 nominees and copies of their curricula vitae to the Senate for confirmation.
The nominees and their states of origin are Muhammad Isah (Jigawa State, North-west) who will serve as chairman; Murtala Kankia (Katsina, North-west); Emmanuel Attah (Rivers, South-south); Danjuma Sado (Edo, South-south); and Ubolo Okpanachi (Kogi, North-central).
The others are Ken Madaki Alkali (Nasarawa, North-central); S.F. Ogundare (Oyo, South-west); Ganiyu Hamzat (Ogun, South-west); Sa’ad Abubakar (Gombe, North-east); and Vincent Nwanli (Ebonyi South-east).
The president, in the letter to the Senate requested it to expeditiously confirm the nominees, whose appointment he said was made in compliance with section 541 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and in pursuant to sections 1 (2) and (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act LFN, 2004.
The newly-appointed members are to replace Sam Saba (Chairman) from Niger State; Christy Ekoja (Benue); Chris Nwadinobi (Abia); Ibrahim Manzo (Jigawa); Ademola Adebo (Ondo); Stephen Bekefula (Bayelsa), all of who were controversially disengaged in June.
If confirmed, the new appointees will replace two others –who retired from office after attaining 70 years – and another one who never reported when they were appointed in 2010.