Senate Passes FCT High Court Judges Amendment Bill, Concur With House Of Reps On Kogi House Of Assembly
The Senate on Thursday, March 17, 2016 passed into law the High Court of Federal Capital Territory Number of Judges Act No. 15, 2003 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (S.B. 176). The legislation sponsored by Sen. David Umaru was presented for the Chamber’s consideration and passible passage by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
On receipt of the report, the Red Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole for the Bill’s clause by clause consideration; at the Committee of the Whole, two clauses and short title of the Bill were passed. In fact, clause one amended the number of FCT Judges from 37 to 75 stating that the FCT High Court shall comprise of 75 Judges while clause two stipulates that in the High Court of the FCT, the Federal Character principle shall apply in the appointment of the Court’s Judges, this was closely followed by the passage of the Bill’s short title. Thereafter, the Senate Leader moved that the Bill be read the third time and put before the Hallowed Chamber passed into law.
Similarly, the Senate has concurred with the resolutions of the House of Representatives on the Report of the Green Chamber’s Delegation to Kogi State on the illegal removal of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly by five out of the 20 law-makers. Accordingly, the Upper Legislative Chamber approved the four resolutions of the Lower Legislative Chamber stated below in fulfilment of Constitutional requirement:
1) In view of the fact that the Kogi State House of Assembly cannot perform its legislative functions due to intractable crisis and volatile security situation in the State, the National Assembly hereby invoke the powers conferred on it by Section 11 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take over the legislative functions of the State House of Assembly pending the restoration of normalcy in the Assembly.
2) Declare the impeachment proceedings embarked upon by five out of the 20 members of Kogi State House of Assembly null and void.
3) Condemn the role played by the Nigeria Police in subverting the provisions of the Constitution by providing cover for only five members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to commit illegalities.
4) Direct the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to seal the Kogi State House of Assembly Complex until the matter is resolved.
Also, the Senate has passed two Bills for second reading; the Bill that progressed to the next legislative stage include:
a) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 and for other matters connected therewith, 2016 (S.B. 231), sponsored by Sen. Tijani Y. Kaura. The legislation sought to validate the use of Card Reader in future elections in the country. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to report back in four weeks.
b) A Bill to strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by giving it more powers, and providing for the substitution of candidates after the conduct of primary election in the event of death; and for related matters, 2016 (S.B. 234), sponsored by Sen.Muhammad Ubali Shittu. The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to report back in four weeks