From Victor Osula, Abuja
President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan
Professor Sani Adam whose nomination as National Commission of the Independent National Electoral Commission to represent North Central was stepped down alongside Ms Lauretta Onochie on Tuesday, has been cleared by the Senate.
While Onochie, Presidential aide was declined on the grounds of the Constitutional provision on Federal Character principle which would have made it a duplication since she is from Delta State and South South, which already has a National Commissioner in INEC, in the person of Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, Prof. Adam has a case on abuse of office pending in the Supreme Court.
His confirmation on Thursday however, followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC, which was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South).
Gaya, in his report, said: “After a thorough investigation into the petition against the nominee (Adam), the Committee found out that the petition against him was paltry and that the reason for the termination (not dismissal as alleged by the petitioner) was not based on gross misconduct but on rationalisation policy of the Federal Government.
“The court judgement was based on whether or not his appointment should have been terminated and this has nothing to do with his integrity or moral uprightness.”
The same Gaya, while adducing reasons for stepping down Adams clearance on Tuesday had explained that when the university’s management dismissed Adams’ service, he went to Federal High Court for redress and he won.
He said the university appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal, and the appellate court vacated the judgement of the lower court and upheld the university’s action and imposed a stay of execution on the judgement.
He said the professor is currently at the Supreme Court to seek redress because he claimed that the appellate court determined the case on technical grounds.
Senators who reportedly felt ambushed by the Gaya committee stand are crying blue murder, wondering why the second arm of government could so flagrantly usurp the powers of the third arm, the court.
