Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the swearing-in of three new senators during Tuesday’s plenary session, filling previously vacant seats in the upper legislative chamber.
The lawmakers are, Prince Pam Mwadkon (Action Democratic Party, Plateau North); Professor Anthony Ani (All Progressives Congress, Ebonyi South), and Mustapha Musa (All Progressives Congress, Yobe East).
The oath-taking was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Chinedu Akubueze at about 11:41 am.
These appointments come after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted bye-elections on February 3rd, 2024, to fill vacancies created by the resignation or death of previously elected lawmakers.
Recall that two senators were appointed to key positions by President Bola Tinubu, while another was removed from office by the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, the fight against corruption in Nigeria took another dimension on Monday in Abuja with a call for visa ban against allegedly corrupt judges and justices in the High Courts and Court of Appeal, made by Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo.
Senator Abbo who represented Adamawa North Senatorial District in 9th and 10th Senate before nullification of his mandate by the Court of Appeal on October 16, 2023, made the call at a press conference held at his residence in Katampe Extension, Abuja.
Specifically, the embattled Senator had at a similar press conference in Abuja last week, informed the media that he had filed petitions against Justice Chioma Nwosu – Iheme, Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe and Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo , to the National Judicial Council and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) , over their judgment in the electoral case between him and Reverend Amos Kumai of the PDP.
He alleged that the justices carried out judicial coup against democracy by nullifying election he won with close to 12, 000 votes against his closest rival through cancellation of votes in 253 polling units out of 924 polling units in Adamawa North Senatorial District.
He said while he is awaiting response on petitions filed against the allegedly corrupt justices from President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kayode Ariwoola, and the National Judicial Council ( NJC).
He has also petitioned the United States of America, European Union and United Kingdom, to slam visa ban against the affected justices.
“The cause I’m fighting is not a personal one between me and Justice Chioma Nwosu – Iheme and others but between good and bad.
“War against corruption in Nigeria must be taken to the judiciary where some judges and justices are carrying out judicial banditry or coup against democracy through unjustifiable nullification of elections of people validly voted for by Nigerian electorates,” he said.
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