The Senate has debunked media reports (not by News Express) that it dropped Mr. Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, a nominee of President Muhammdu Buhari as a non-executive commissioner on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), after he was purportedly cleared by the Senate.

‎Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi, made the clarification on Monday. He said in a press statement: “The nomination of Mr. Obla was never confirmed or voted for, since no decision of the Senate is said to be approved if not adopted during the consideration of the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate at the next legislative day.”

Sabi added: “The Senate also wishes to note that the business of the Senate can only be binding when the votes and proceedings have been adopted and approved without any objection.

“The implication of the directive by the Senate President to the Secretariat is that Senator Garbai’s observation or correction was correct and therefore the votes and proceedings should be amended to reflect the true situation.

“On that fateful day, November 22, 2016, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, objected to the alleged confirmation of the nominee, saying, ‘My name is Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai representing Borno Central Senatorial District. Mr, President, what is actually reported in the votes and proceedings is not a true reflection of what transpired on Thursday with regards to the confirmation of one of the commissioners under NCC, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla. The decision then was a resounding Nay. So, because of that, it was a mistake’.

“Responding to the observation made by Senator Garbai, the Senate President said: “Secretariat take note.

“The Senate hereby calls on those who are peddling these half truths to avail themselves of the proceedings of the Senate on the above stated dates to confirm if the nominee was rightly cleared by the Senate or not.”

•Photo shows Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi

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