The Senate has pointed out that the screening and confirmation of a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister, will not be hampered by the petitions against him.
The Senate spokesperson, Dino Melaye, said this on Thursday.
The Senate on Wednesday deferred the screening of Mr. Amaechi to Thursday, following the inability of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to submit report on the petition against the former governor.
A petition by the Peoples Democratic Party senators from Rivers State had stalled his screening, earlier scheduled for Wednesday.
On Thursday, when the Senate resumed plenary, it was again announced that Amaechi’s screening had been postponed till next Tuesday.
Mr. Melaye, however, said the Senate would not consider the petition since the matter is before a court.
According to him, the Senate had a standing rule that any matter before a court should not be examined.
“So Amaechi has got no problem”, he said.
The ex-governor had appeared before the Senator Simon Anyanwu-led ad hoc Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Monday.
Mr. Melaye also explained why the Senate postponed the ministerial screening to next week, saying some of the nominees were yet to submit their resumè and other documents required of them.
