The Senate Thursday made good its promise to amend the Code of Conduct Act by passing the Code of Conduct Amendment Bill, 2016. The House of Representatives had earlier passed the Amendment Bill on May 31, this year. The Senate merely concurred with the House.
The journey to amend the Code of Conduct Act started shortly the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets.
Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has lost his appeal against his trial by the CCT. Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by the Senate President, Justice Abdul Aboki affirmed that the CCT has jurisdiction to try the case.
The five-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, agreed that the tribunal erred in discharging former Lagos Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu but the tribunal has since corrected itself in subsequent judgment.
Saraki also lost on the count that a quorum was not formed before he was charged. Justice Aboki resolved that three men at the Code of Conduct bureau can adjudicate any matter. His judgment was supported by the four other members of the panel.
