The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), have both kicked against the move by the Senate to amend the law setting up the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with a view to reduce and checkmate the agencies’ powers.
The Senior Advocates of Nigeria said the commencement of the amendment of the Act, establishing the CCB and CCT by the Senate, has exposed the self-centered intentions of the legislator’s will to encourage corrupt practices and shield corrupt leaders from prosecution.
Sagay quoted the move by the senators as an exposure of the level of lack of moral integrity on the part of the members of the legislators.
Sagay stated that It was a surprise to him, because he couldn’t subscribe to why people who were sent to the National Assembly to make laws for the benefit of all Nigerians, have started a process that will allow a complete crisis; an Act that corruption cannot be prosecuted.
Falana described the proposed amendment of the CCB/CCT Act as “ill wind that would blow no good to those behind it”.
Falana said, “Any amendment of the law under the constitution cannot and will not have retrospective effect. The amendment will not have any effect on pending cases in court.
“The excuse being advanced for the devilish agenda is ‘jejune’ because the CCT, whose members are screened for appointment by the Senate, cannot be said to be under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The proposed amendment also amounts to a conflict of interest because you cannot, because of one man, amend the law of the land. It will amount to an exercise in futility.”
PUNCH
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