Prominent Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Itse Sagay (SAN), on Thursday, decried the move by the Nigerian Senate to amend the Act that set up the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

It would be recalled that a bill to amend the CCT and CCB Act was introduced to the floor of the senate by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi on Tuesday.

The bill is said to have passed the second reading on Thursday, less than two days after it was introduced.

Coincidentally, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is at present embroiled in a false declaration of asset trial at the CCT, with many observers noting that the bill was meant to scuttle Saraki’s trial.

Sagay and Falana stated that the move by the Senate showed that the upper chamber wants to encourage corrupt practices and protect corrupt public official.

Sagay stated that: “It’s a surprise to me, because I really don’t know that our mentality has degenerated to such a level of self-service that the people, who were sent to the National Assembly to make laws for the benefit of all Nigerians, have started a process that will allow a complete crisis; an Act that corruption cannot be prosecuted.”

“To me, this is the highest level of shameless misconduct by the generality of the members of the red chamber. Obviously, there is no limit to the level of disgusting things they can do.”

On his own part, Falana, in a phone conversation with Punch, stated that the amendment of the bill was a devilish agenda and superficial.

He was quoted as saying that: “Any amendment of the law under the constitution cannot and will not have retrospective effect. The amendment will not have any effect on pending cases in court.”

“The excuse being advanced for the devilish agenda is jejune because the CCT, whose members are screened for appointment by the Senate, cannot be said to be under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

“The proposed amendment also amounts to a conflict of interest because you cannot, because of one man, amend the law of the land. It will amount to an exercise in futility.”

Mazi Emeka