The Volunteers Legal Practitioners Foundation for Morals and Values, on Monday, asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to stop the confirmation of Stella Okotete as minister.

Recall the President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee from Delta is currently under investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau over allegations of “Abuse of Office”.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday afternoon read out the 28 ministerial nominees sent in by President Bola Tinubu for screening at the National Assembly scheduled to commence on Monday.

Former Governors of Ebonyi and Rivers, Dave Umahi and Nyesom Wike, made Tinubu’s ministerial list read on the floor of the Senate.

Former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and a former Executive Director Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Stella Okotete also made the cut.

However, a letter from the CCB dated 21^st March 2023 with file number CCB/HQ/II&M/007/NB/099 addressed to Okotete, confirmed that the Ministerial hopeful is under investigation over cases concerning breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

In view of its ongoing investigation, the Code of Conduct Bureau in its letter signed by Director intelligence and monitoring (II&M), Dr Gwimi S.P. had directed Okotete to furnish the Bureau with all necessary documents needed to carry out their investigation.

In latest development, the law firm in a letter signed by Ifeanyichukwu Obasi-Nweze on Monday, urged the Code of Conduct Bureau to inform the Senate to disqualify the Delta nominee.

According to the group, the ex-NEXIM MD refused to declare her assets as required by law since her appointment in 2015 not until she allegedly smuggled in a purporting declaration of assets in 2022 when she was already in violation.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau is the conscience of Nigerian society and can also ensure that only persons of proven integrity to be allowed to sheer the ship of leadership in our present day Nigeria can be overemphasised. We make bold to say Stella Okotete is not such person to be considered for ministerial appointment.

“In view of this, we implore you to use your good offices to act immediately on this petition and inform the Senate during plenary for the distinguished Senators to disqualify Stella Okotete running afoul of the law,” the petition partly read.

Similarly, the Campaign for Transparency Network (CTN) and Messrs Juryman Associates Chambers last week also asked the Senate to disqualify Stella Okotete.

In a statement by its Programme Director, Ebube Nwanka, CTN asked the Senate to reject Okekete based on her alleged questionable academic records. (Nigerian Tribune)

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