Senator Neda Imasuen
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions has defended its recent decisions to dismiss several petitions, insisting that its actions were strictly guided by law, evidence, and respect for existing court judgments.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, said this on Wednesday in Abuja shortly after a public hearing, stressing that the Senate cannot override judicial rulings under the guise of legislative intervention.
“The committee’s actions were guided strictly by the law and available evidence,” he said, adding that as the highest law-making body, the Senate must respect court decisions even when petitioners seek redress through it.
Imasuen explained that some petitions failed because complainants withheld critical information, including prior court judgments, which ultimately weakened their cases during review.
On a petition involving the Nigeria Customs Service, the committee held that the agency acted within the law.
“The complainant violated import regulations by failing to declare goods contained in a truck,” Imasuen stated, adding that a Federal High Court had already ruled in favour of customs, ordering forfeiture of the undeclared items.
He said that in another case involving Fidelity Bank, evidence showed no wrongdoing by the financial institution.
“The petitioner admitted to taking a loan which was credited into his account, and records confirmed that withdrawals were duly authorized,” he explained.
However, the committee said it would continue investigations into a pension-related dispute involving retirees of the defunct Afribank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), expressing concern over alleged missing pension funds.
Imasuen disclosed that all parties involved have been given two weeks to submit additional documentation before a final determination is made.
He assured Nigerians that while the committee remains open to petitions, only cases backed by merit, transparency, and full disclosure will receive favourable consideration