Why Musiliu Obanikoro was not confirmed by the Senate

It was gathered that the nominees and their family members, friends and wishers who were already at the National Assembly left disappointedly without being screened.

Meanwhile, though the names of all the nominees which included Obanikoro (Lagos), Senator Patricia Akawashiki (Nasarawa), Prof. Nicholas Akis Ada (Benue), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (rtd) (Abia), Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba) were listed in the order paper for today, but was later withdrawn and replaced with another one which did not contain the names.

A motion in the first order containing the list of the nominees titled: “Confirmation of Nominations” billed to be moved by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, reads: “That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President, Commander-In-Chief, for the confirmation of the following nominees as Ministers of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

However, there was not clear explanation from Senate President, David Mark on why the scheduled screening and possible confirmation of the appointments of all the ministerial nominees had to be put on hold, a source within the Senate who didn’t want his name published said, the lawmakers decided to abandon the screening of the ministerial nominees to enable it debate the 2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) which is vital to the passage of the 2015 Appropriation Bill.

Nevertheless, the postponement came against the backdrop of mounting opposition against the nomination of Senator Obanikoro to represent Lagos State.

The lawmakers opposing Obanikoro’s nomination insisted that since there is a case against him pending in court, it would be against the standing orders of the Senate to screen him, adding that Senate’s rule prohibits the upper chamber from acting on any issue that is pending before a competent court of jurisdiction, source disclose!!