The House of Representatives has moved to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
In a motion titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HBs.1819, 576, 859, 955, 1000, 1685 &1805) sponsored by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Hon. Solomon T. Bob, Hon. Obina Chidoka, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, Hon. Olajide Olatubosun, Hon. Ben Rollands Igbakpa & Hon. Tasir Olawale Raji.”
Leading the debate, Mr. Solomon Bob explained that the Bill seeks to protect judicial officers from control and abuse by the executive.
This according to the lawmaker include, arbitrary or forceful removal from office, without going through the requirement of section 292 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
He said: “The section mandates only an address from a state assembly as being the basis upon which a judicial officer can be removed from office. It’s either such a removal that the officer can be tried by a court of law.”
Contributing to the debate, a member from Anambra State Mr. Ifeanyi Momah, suggested that since the code of conduct covers all public officers and not only judicial officers, the house can amend the code of conduct bureau and tribunal Act in isolation from the constitution.
After a voice vote, the house passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the Committee on Anti Corruption.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the Code of Conduct Bureau was a very important agency to Nigeria.
