The Senate on Monday resolved to go into a closed session following the heated session during the ministerial screening of Barrister Festus Keyamo. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who served as a Minister of State in the last administration, was the last of 48 ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu.
Keyamo had made his opening remarks to commence his screening and was being questioned by the senators when the drame broke out.
Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) had moved a motion for the suspension of Keyamo’s ministerial, and it was seconded by former Senate minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South).
Nwokocha raised a point of order relying on Section 88 of the Constitution and moved a motion asking the Senate to step down Keyamo’s screening on the ground that he ignored the invitation of the National Assembly in 2020 when he was minister to explain an issue of public. The lawmaker said Keyamo accused the last National Assembly of being corrupt.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subjected the motion to a voice vote but the lawmakers were divided on the matter.
The red chamber immediately erupted into a rowdy session.
