Thursday, June 8
Nigerian Senate Passes Bill To Protect Whistle-Blowers
The Senate has passed a bill to protect whistleblowers and witnesses directly involved in the prosecution of certain criminal cases.
The bill, titled Witness Protection Programme (Establishment etc), SB 157, was passed on Thursday, following a report submitted by the committee on human rights, legal matters and judiciary chaired by David Umaru (APC-Niger).
It was sponsored by Isiaka Adeleke, the Osun West APC Senator who died in April.
When the bill scaled the second reading in October 2016, the Senate had resolved that it be merged with a similar proposal to protect persons making disclosures for public interest and other forms reappraisal, sponsored by Abiodun Olujimi, PDP-Ekiti.
In his lead debate when the bill was being considered for second reading last year, Mr. Adeleke had said a law protecting witnesses was usually required in the prosecution of organised crimes like terrorism.
In such trials, Mr. Adeleke said, the witnesses would be allowed to wear masks, bear pseudo names and receive protection from authorities.
On her part, Mrs. Olujimi said “this is a cardinal bill in the fight against corruption.” She said fighting corruption hung on effective protection of whistleblowers.
She mentioned three instances at the Ministry of Aviation, Women Development Centre and the Police Service Commission where whistleblowers were fired.
Abdulmumin Jibrin, a former chairman of the appropriations committee of the House of Representatives, was just recently suspended for 181 legislative days on the ground that he breached members’ privilege.
In his remark after the bill was passed Wednesday, the deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, thanked his colleagues for the bill, which he said, was in honour of the deceased Adeleke.
The bill must also be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the president to be law.
Popular Tags:
Latest-News
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
Trending News
-
A ‘suya’ meat seller in Enugu State was weekend nabbed while reportedly stealing meat from a butcher’s shed at the popular Ogbete main mar...
-
Father Chibuike Okpala Fears has been spread in the streets of kubwa village in Abuja, as a priest was found half dead in the early morn...
-
The school children were caught dancing provocatively while twerking Many people have reacted angrily after school chidren were caught o...
-
On Wednesday , dozens of people took over the streets of Venezuelan capital in Caracas calling for the government of President Nicholas ...
-
A very gigantic snake that was suspected to have eaten a calf, has been killed by some locals. The locals were amazed to find out that t...
-
24 year-old Anastasia Deeva appointed as Deputy Minister on European integration of Internal Affairs of Ukraine A newly appointed 24-...
-
This woman who was reportedly intoxicated with drugs and alcohol, have been captured on camera in the streets of New York, twerking n*ked ...
-
Blac Chyna posted her bathroom selfie flaunting her figure on her instagram page and just an hour later, her baby daddy's ne...
-
Did you know that if you’re using tobacco, you may develop this kind of cancer? This cancer may also trigger when your family has a histor...
-
West African countries' leaders are in Niamey, Niger Republic, for talks on the proposed single currency for the Economic Community of...
No comments :
Post a Comment