THE Senate ad hoc committee on investigation into the transport sector yesterday issued a warrant of arrest on the minister, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest and present him before the panel. But in a dramatic turn, the minister made a sudden appearance before the committee.
The Senate has also rejected the nomination of Justice Pius Aderemi as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on the ground of age.
In the warrant dated January 9, 2011 with reference number NASS/S/SACITS/IGP/W/01/11/02, the chairman of the committee, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said: “Pursuant to section 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a warrant is hereby issued by the ad hoc committee on the investigation of the transport sector, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the arrest and compelling attendance of Yusuf Suleiman-minister of transport, Nigerian of federal ministry of transport.”
The warrant continued: “Mr. Yusuf should be produced by the Nigeria Police Force to the committee on 15th February, 2011, at the meeting Room 415, New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja. This warrant is to be executed by the Nigeria Police”.
The warrant was also signed by the clerk of the committee, Obong.
It was learnt that the minister later met with the committee yesterday behind closed doors.
The Senate rejected Aderemi following the report of the committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Anti-Corruption. The report to the Senate was presented by the chairman of the committee, Senator Sola Akinyede. The committee said that the nominee could not answer questions put to him satisfactorily.
“He was asked some questions relating to his views on what the public and some members of the committee see as the unimpressive performance of the ICPC since its inception and what he intends to do to improve the commission if he is confirmed as the Chairman. He was not able to answer these questions to the satisfaction of the committee. He was also unable to answer satisfactorily questions relating to the global dimensions on anti-corruption.
“As a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, the integrity of the nominee is not in doubt. The committee however has serious concerns about the capacity and ability of the nominee to meet the demands of the job. The retirement age in the public service is 60 years. In the case of Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the retirement age is 70 years.
“By the time most people are more than 70 years of age, their energy, drive, productivity, vibrancy and adaptability to cope with a job as rigorous and demanding as that of the head of an anticorruption agency (especially in a country as large as Nigeria where corruption is a serious problem) is virtually.”
The report said that the nominee has integrity but that alone would not be sufficient for the job because age is not on his side. “By the time this nominee is nearing the end of his five year term he will be nearer 80 years than 70 years of age. The committee therefore does not recommend the confirmation of the nominee,” the report said.
The report added: “The simple interpretation of this section is that any person who has been called to the Nigerian Bar and has been qualified to practice as a lawyer for at least 10 years is qualified to be the Chairman of ICPC.
“Such a person may be a practising lawyer, a lawyer in employment, a serving Judge or Justice. He does not have to be a retired Judge.”
The committee noted that in countries such as South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and Hong Kong the chairmen of their agencies are young people.
Senators Victor Ndoma-Egba, Hosea Ehinlawo, Bassey Ewa-Henshaw and James Manager who contributed to the debate asked the Senate to reject the nominee.
Senator Olorunmibe said: “We are not operating a gerontocracy, the government of the old for the old. We are told in the Bible that God created the world in six days and then he rested. There should be a time of rest for people who have been serving this country.
“I think we should commend the committee for coming up with a reasoned position and I feel that the nominee should not be confirmed.”
Senate President David Mark put the question and it was overwhelmingly rejected.
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