Rowdy session as senator moves motion to suspend Keyamo’s screening

The session became rowdy when Mr Nwokocha accused the former Minister of Labour and Productivity of disrespecting the Senate.

Ahmed Oluwasanjo and News Agency of Nigeria • August 7, 2023

Festus Keyamo

The Senate was on Monday thrown into a rowdy session after Darlington Nwokocha, the senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, moved for the suspension of Festus Keyamo’s screening as a ministerial nominee.

The session became rowdy when Mr Nwokocha accused the former Minister of Labour and Productivity of disrespecting the Senate. The senator thereafter sought the suspension of Mr Keyamo’s screening.

Mr Nwokocha had raised the motion to suspend Mr Kayemo’s screening pending investigation and explanation on how the disbursement of N52 billion public works programme to Nigerians across 774 local governments during his tenure as a minister.

The senator recalled how Mr Keyamo, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, failed to honour the 9th National Assembly when invited for questioning.

” And when he was invited, he (nominee) expressly, in public, told us that ‘we want to hijack his role’, he blackmailed us that we (lawmakers) are corrupt.

“And today, Mr Senate President, we need to find out for Nigerians to know what happened to the N52 billion.

“Therefore, Mr President, I am of the opinion that we hold down a little bit, and I moved the motion that we suspend forthwith this nomination,” he said.

Seconding the motion while citing section 8 (1b) of the constitution, Sen.Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA -Abia) said, “I do support that this nominee should be step down, pending when he decides that the National Assembly has that right to enquire into the working of a minister and his ministry.”

Following the request for a voice vote for or against the motion from Senate President Godswill Akpiabio, the plenary session became rowdy.

At this point, the leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidela (APC-Ekiti), moved a motion to resolve it into a closed session.

Mr Akpabio, however, left the screening for a meeting in the Villa, postponing activities for another day amid a rowdy session.

Mr Keyamo, nominated to replace Maryam Shetty, took to social media to celebrate his nomination, attributing it to a “miracle-working God.”

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