Nigeria, October 15, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) –
Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC], has refuted alegations of a court order restraining the Senate from Screening former state governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a ministerial nominee.
The Senate had today, Thursday October 15, 2015 deferred the screening of two ministerial nominees, who are the former Governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and a former Commissioner in Oyo state, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, to Tuesday, October 20.
Already, 18 nominees were confirmed as ministers having been screened in batches of 10 and eight on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Also, the 16 nominees on the second batch list would be screened on Tuesday next week.
Recall that the petition against Mr. Amaechi bordering on corruption had been dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges because the case is still in court.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC], says its attention has been drawn to a statement being circulated in the media that Mr. Livingstone Wechie has obtained a court order restraining the Senate from Screening Rt. Rotimi AMAECHI as a ministerial nominee.
The APC said following the announcement, it made frantic search at the Federal High Court across the Country and did not find any such proceedings pending or ORDER before any Court in the Country, the Federal High Court being the only Court that has jurisdiction to determine any matter in which the Senate is made a party and its duties and functions are the subject matter, in view of Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Continuing the party said, “again, because we are aware of the desperation of the PDP and Mr. Livingstone Wechie on this matter, we have nonetheless carried out a search at the High Court Registry in Rivers State, and no indication that such Order exists at the High Court of Rivers State, except if such order is given to Mr. Livingstone WECHIE in the sitting room of a Judge, which we know that no right thinking judicial officer will do so, especially at this time that the National Judicial Council is desirous of sanitizing the Judiciary.”
“Clearly, the State High Court has no powers or jurisdiction under the Constitution to determine a matter in which the subject matter relates to the duties or functions of the Senate. The distinguished and Honourable Judges of the Rivers State High Court are fully aware of this Constitutional provision. We strongly believe that none of them would be drawn into such level of judicial rascality or abuse of office, no matter the inducement or incentive” the APC said in a statement signed and made available to Blank NEWS Online by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone.
The APC urged all good people of Rivers State to remain calm and await the Senate Report and action as has been announced by the Most Distinguished Senate President.
“We hereby give notice to the Directorate of State Security Services and the Nigerian Police to investigate this level of misinformation that is capable of breaching the peace. We urge them to be vigilant and watch for any attempt to forge and criminally alter documentation at the Rivers State High Court Registry”, the statement concluded.
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