The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Professor Ibrahim Garba on Monday disclosed to the Senate that Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West is a bona-fide graduate of ABU and that graduated from the Institution in 2000.
Speaking before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Professor Garba told the Senators that Senator Melaye graduated ABU with a third class degree in Geography with a Bachelor of Arts( Honours).
Speaking before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Professor Garba told the Senators that Senator Melaye graduated ABU with a third class degree in Geography with a Bachelor of Arts( Honours).
According to the Vice Chancellor, Senator Melaye was a student of ABU with the name Jonah Daniel Melaye.
The Committee had on Thursday last week written and summoned the ABU Vice Chancellor to appear before it to explain the true situation regarding the alleged certificate scandal leveled against Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West that he did not graduate from the institution.
The Senate had on Tuesday last week, commenced an investigation into allegation that Senate President Bukola Saraki went on a vengeance mission against Customs Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali after the agency impounded a bulletproof SUV valued at N298 million imported into the country by Saraki because of his alleged refusal to pay the Customs duty of N74 million that was expected to be paid on the car.
The Senate also commenced the probe of alleged certificate scandal leveled against Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West that he did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The investigations were referred to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP; Imo East led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions within a period of four weeks.
Ekweremadu who presided at the Tuesday sitting had said, “The matter is referred to the committee on Ethics and Privileges and to report back in four weeks.”
Immediate Past Senate leader, Senator Ndume, APC Borno South had raised a point of order saying that as a tradition of the National Assembly where allegations were raised against principal officers and members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, such cases were referred to various Committees and investigated.
He insisted that the 8th Senate must emulate its predecessors by investigating Saraki and Melaye in the spirit of transparency and that orders 14 and 15 of the senate standing rules must be adhered to.
Senator Ndume based his motion on separate publications by an online medium last weekend against Saraki and Melaye.
“This matter that borders on our privileges came up. One has to do with the distinguished senator Bukola Saraki, the senate president and it was reported in a paper I have titled ‘Senate on vengeance after Nigeria Customs seized Senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover over fake documents’.
“My colleagues that are following events particularly online have seen, heard or read the rein of abuses on this senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the customs CG based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent but now we are faced with this and the president has been found in this National Assembly.
“Now the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Sheikh Dino Melaye and it is in the Punch, page 10. But in Punch, it says “Dino Melaye in first degree certificate scandal…”.
“Another online paper, Daily post also says “Dino Melaye allegedly did not graduate from university”. Therefore, accordingly I will appeal we refer the matter to ethics and privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this senate will stand as it supposed to.”
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