Barely 24 hours after the embattled Minister of Innovation, Science and Know-how, Uche Nnaji, resigned from his place over allegations of certificates forgery, the Senate has absolved itself of any wrongdoing.
Orji Uzor-Kalu, the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District affirmed that the Senate has by no means been saddled with the accountability of verifying certificates of nominees despatched to the Pink Chamber for screening.
The lawmaker’s defence on behalf of the Nigerian Senate comes on the heels of condemnation of Nnaji’s profitable screening and additional appointment on August 16, 2023, regardless of a forgery allegation levelled in opposition to him on the time.
In line with Uzor-Kalu, the Senate is just accountable for screening nominees, and within the case of Nnaji, the lawmaker acknowledged that the Pink Chamber did a very good job.
Uzor-Kalu’s phrases, “Effectively, we (the Nigerian Senate) aren’t speculated to be taking a look at certificates, our responsibility is to display screen the candidates not certificates.
“And the Senate did an excellent job by screening him,” the lawmaker mentioned.
He additional recommended Nnaji for the braveness to resign his place as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria amid the continued forgery controversy.
“I congratulate him for resigning as a result of in case you have something that’s in battle with what you do, you quietly resign and it’s an honourable factor to do.
“So I don’t even assume it is a matter to debate,” Uzor-Kalu added.
Requested whether or not he believes the minister’s certificates forgery ordeal and subsequent resignation is a dent on the Southeast, its leaders and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uzor-Kalu mentioned, “No”.
He boasted that, with the minister gone, the president stays at liberty to exchange him with one other nominee from the APC and almost definitely of the Southeastern extraction.
“When one door closes one other window opens, it’s simply that I pity him, he’s an excellent pal of mine; sadly, it occurred,” he added.