Speaking when he appeared before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Professor Garba told the Senators that Senator Melaye graduated ABU with a third class degree in Bachelor of Arts( Honours) in Geography.
According to the Vice Chancellor, Senator Melaye was a student of ABU with the name Jonah Daniel Melaye. Professor Garba who had sat in room 120 where the hearing took place was excused out at 1.21 before Melaye spoke.
The Vice Chancellor later came in at 1.40pm, swore to an oath at 1.41pm, then he was asked questions on whether Melaye graduated from the institution. The Committee had on Thursday last week written and summoned the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba to appear before it today to explain his side of the story regarding the alleged certificate scandal levelled against Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West that he did not graduate from the institution.
It would be recalled that the Senate on Tuesday last week, commenced an investigation into allegation that Senate President Bukola Saraki went on a vengeance mission against Customs Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali after the agency impounded a bulletproof SUV valued at N298 million imported into the country by him because of his alleged refusal to pay the Customs duty of N74 million that was expected to be paid on the car.
The Senate is also probing the alleged certificate scandal levelled against Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West that he did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over Tuesday’s plenary session, referred the two issues to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for thorough investigation, with four weeks to report back.
Ekweremadu had said, “The matter is referred to the committee on Ethics and Privileges and to report back in four weeks.” The resolution of the Senate Tuesday followed a point of order raised by the immediate past Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South. Senator Ndume in his presentation said that as a tradition of the National Assembly where allegations were raised against principal officers and members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with such cases referred to various Committees and investigated, the 8th Senate must emulate its predecessors by investigating Saraki and Melaye, adding that in the spirit of transparency, orders 14 and 15 of the senate standing rules be adhered to.
Senator Ndume who based his motion on separate publications by an online medium last weekend against Saraki and Melaye, said, “This matter that borders on our privileges came up. One has to do with the distinguished senator Bukola Saraki, the senate president and it was reported in a paper I have it here with your permission i will want to after making presentation lay it down that “Senate on vengeance after Nigeria Customs seized senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover over fake documents.
“My colleagues that are following events particularly online have seen, heard or read the rein of abuses on this senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the customs CG based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent but now we are faced with this and the president has been found in this National Assembly.
“During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery, he was investigated and determined after that in the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school) it was investigated and was cleared. In the 6th senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he has to show his NYSC certificate. “Now, that brings me to the second matter, in the National Assembly here in the senate.
In the 4th Assembly, Enwerem was accused and it was also investigated, Wabara was accused of collecting bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence haver been set. Now the second matter of privilegeee affects my colleague Sheikh Dino Melaye and it is in the Punch of today page 10 and I have the newspaper. But in Punch, it says “Dino Melaye in first degree certificate scandal…”.
“Another online paper, Dailypost also it says “Dino Melaye allegedly did not graduate from university”. Therefore, accordingly I will appeal we refer the matter to ethics and privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this senate will stand as it supposed to.”
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