Senator Phillip Aduda has been accused of scuttling the corruption hearing on chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Prof Isa Mohammed, by the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions under the chairmanship of Senator Ayo Akinyelure representing Ondo central Senatorial District.
According to News Band correspondent, the Committee, which sat on Thursday, October 6, 2022, was on the path of justice until the appearance of Senator Aduda.
Those present were all taken aback with the sudden twist of events with Aduda’s appearance.
A source told this medium that Aduda was invited by the CCB chairman, Prof. Mohammed, who it was learnt, is the brother-in-law to Mr. Bulus Zephaniah, a stooge of the Bureau’s chairman.
Mr. Zephaniah is the Director of Education and Advocacy Services of the Code of Conduct Bureau and is married to Philip Ajuda’s sister, according to information available to News Band.
Our correspondent reported that Aduda came in midway into the public hearing and his first moves was to unseat Senator John Manager from sitting directly to the chairman of the committee, Senator Akinyelure.
Senator Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory, reportedly threw caution to the wind in the glare of all Nigerians by attacking the petitioners “in a very strong language that is unbecoming of any Senator”.
His words: “What rubbish are you bringing here when we have directed you to go and make peace and return in two weeks.”
Reacting to the development, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, frowning at Aduda’s rascality, said:
“To start with, Senator Philip Aduda is not a member of the committee on Ethics but he dominated the committee.
“He influenced the decision of the Senators in the committee. He then insulted the petitioners as if he is an emperor.
“How can the likes of Aduda Philip destroy the future of Nigerians? Why would Senator Philip Ajuda invade a committee he is not a member?
“I sat and watch him rant as if he was sitting in a ‘Burukutu’ joint. Despite his position in the red chamber, it doesn’t make him a superman.
“The likes of Philip Aduda is a disgrace and destruction to well-meaning Nigerians. He aids and abates criminality.
“We as Nigerians have no singular reasons to blame any President as our destinies are in our hands.
“People like Philip Ajuda should not be allowed near leadership if we know what we want.
“I sat and watched him display rascality in the full glare of cameras. No shame, no caution just because of stomach infrastructure.”
Another eyewitness, present at the hearing and condemning the resolution of the Committee, told News Band:
“How can the Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and public Petition be advocating for peace settlement over a reported glaring act of corruption by Prof Mohammed Isah?
“What is the hope of Nigerians with this type of indifference often shown by appropriate authorities when corruption cases are reported?
“There is no difference between CCB, ICPC & the committee as it stands because the trend now is that when intelligence/ evidence of corruption is supplied to CCB, ICPC, etc., they use the same evidence to negotiate with the suspects.
“With my experience in the Senate yesterday, I give up on the space called Nigeria.”
It could be recalled that Commissioners at the Code of Conduct Bureau had asked the Nigerian Senate to probe the chairman of the CCB, Professor Mohammed Isah.
This was contained in a petition jointly signed by the Commissioners.
They accused the CCB Chairman of corrupt practices including allegedly blocking the probe of the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
Idris, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was accused of allegedly having assets worth over N109 billion.
On his part, Isah reportedly lied in his letter to the Senate Committee Chairman.
In the letter read to the floor of the Senate on September 30, 2022, he stated that he was unavoidably absent from the invitation extended to him by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges & Public Petitions as he is on official assignment in the USA-UNGA.
He added that he regretted the inconvenience his absence might cause the Committee.
In a sharp twist, however, it was discovered that the CCB Chairman was seen in the country on September 25, having returned from USA-UNGA meeting that was concluded the previous weekend.
An ultimatum was then issued to the CCB Chairman to appear before the Senate Committee on October 6, 2022, unfailingly.
He, thereby, set himself up to get whacked by the lawmakers, which was unfortunately scuttled by Senator Phillip Aduda. Read more.
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