Senate Leader admits procedural errors in probe of Lamorde

Explains visits to Buhari, Tinubu

SENATE Leader, Ali Ndume yesterday admitted that there were procedural errors in the ongoing Senate investigation into the alleged diversion of N1 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.

He however, refused to provide details of the errors as he simply disclosed that the Senate would take appropriate steps to correct those mistakes. He cautioned against dwelling on issues that promote division and frustrate development ‎efforts.

Ndume said: “‎I think there were some procedural lapses there, but I don’t want to believe it was deliberate because there is no way you can cut corners or use the institution of the Senate to settle personal scores, it doesn’t work that way. After all, whatever decision you take has to be considered on the floor of the house and it has to be passed. So, even if it is a committee recommendation, after the committee work, the report has to be presented in plenary and a simple majority will have to agree with its content before the report becomes acceptable.”

‎On his reported visits to Buhari and Tinubu, Ndume said: “I am the Senate Leader of the Eighth Senate. My duties are: One, to lead the legislative business of the Senate. Two: to prepare the schedules of the Senate. Three: to liaise with other committees. I am supposed to be the presenter of all government bills. In fact, I am supposed to be in the Aso Villa almost every day. My going to the president is not supposed to be a big deal.

Ndume also assured that the crisis that heralded the election of the Senate President has been put to rest. “Yes, there were some issues we had after the inauguration of the Senate leadership, but as you can see we have put all those issues behind and moving forward. The president has communicated several times to the Senate.

Who did he address letters to? He writes not only to the Senate President, but he puts Bukola Saraki. We have moved beyond that.

On his relationship with Tinubu, he said: “A newspaper reported yesterday that I was seen at Asiwaju’s place. Asiwaju is one of my mentors and of course the president, too. I have two political mentors: the President and Asiwaju. Asiwaju is one of the people I respect and appreciate. During his sixtieth birthday, he invited sixty people that were close to him and I was one of them.”