News Post

In fulfillment of one of the campaign promises of the present administration, “fighting corruption”, the Upper Legislative Chamber has equally thrown its weight behind the actualization of the promise by providing the much needed legislative backing to the fight against corruption via the passage into law the “Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between Nigeria and other Foreign States Bill, 2017” (S.B. 224), standing in the name of Sen. David Umaru (Niger East).

The passage of the very important Bill was sequel to the presentation of the legislation’s Report by the Senate Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Foreign Affairs and Anti-Corruption led by Sen. David Umaru before the Chamber for consideration. The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where clauses 1 – 87, explanatory memorandum of understanding, short and long titles of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Thereafter, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

Commenting on the passage of the Bill, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki commended the Joint Committee members for their effort; stating that the Bill’s passage into law was intended to assist the Executive arm of government in fighting corruption to a standstill and check the menace of money laundering and other financial crimes  to the barest minimum. 

Similarly, the Red Chamber has also passed into law the Nigerian Football Federation (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (S.B.154), sponsored by Sen. Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central). The passage of the Bill into law followed the presentation of its Report by the Senate Committee on Sports before the Chamber for consideration. The Chamber resolved into Committee of the Whole where clauses 1 – 47, explanatory memorandum of understanding, short and long of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Afterwards, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

Meanwhile, the Senate has also deliberated  upon and passed a Motion titled “Non-Transparent Transaction relating to planned Concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery to Agip and OANDO by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources”, sponsored by Sen. Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa South). Sen. Mohammed noted that the Federal Government recently entered into agreement with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), a subsidiary of ENI, an Italian Oil giant to construct a 15 billion dollars Refinery in the Niger Delta region, a deal which also include investment by Agip in a power plant with the Italian Company assisting Nigeria in the repairs of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The Motion scaled through with two resolutions below:

i) Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to carry out a holistic investigation to determine how and why such a deal was sealed and the criteria used to select Agip/ENI and OANDO Plc to maintain and operate the Port Harcourt Refinery at what cost and timeframe.

ii) All processes concerning the concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery be put on hold until the Ad-hoc Committee submits its report on the matter.