VANGUARD
FOUR days into the unveiling of 28 Ministerial Nominees to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, strong indications have emerged that issues and allegations are being raised against some of the nominees ahead of commencement of screening by the Senators.
One of such nominees is the one from Delta State, Stella Okotete who is currently under investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau over allegations of “Abuse of Office”.
At the moment, a letter from the CCB dated 21st March 2023 with file number CCB/HQ/II&M/007/NB/099 addressed to Okotete, confirmed that the Ministerial nominee is under investigation over cases concerning breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
In view of its ongoing investigation, the Code of Conduct Bureau in its letter signed by Director intelligence and monitoring (II&M),Dr. Gwimi S.P. directed Okotete to furnish the Bureau with all necessary documents needed to carry out their investigation.
Recall that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio had on Thursday read out the 28 ministerial nominees sent in by President Bola Tinubu for screening at the National Assembly scheduled to commence on Monday.
Former Governors of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State and Ebonyi, Nyesom Wike and Dave Umahi respectively made Tinubu’s ministerial list read on the floor of the Senate.
The immediate Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru and a former Executive Director Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Stella Okotete also made the cut.
The letter from the ICPC is titled, ; “Alleged Breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officer”
According to the Bureau in the letter, it was currently investigating a case of alleged breach of Code of Conduct for Public Officers against your office, adding, “In view of the foregoing, you are requested to furnish the Bureau with the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the following documents: i. Copies of your letters of Appointment, Promotion Letters, Record of Service and Payslips from 2019 till date.ii. All lists of loans processed and approved under you. iii Acknowledgement slips of all Assets Declaration made to Code of Conduct Bureau since you joined the Public Service. iv All documents of your buildings and landed properties both developed and underdeveloped in Nigeria and abroad. v. Bank Account Statements of all your personal bank accounts from January 2019 to date.This request is made pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the 3° Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended; Section 137 (a) and (b) and 138 (a) and (b) Panel Cede laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and section 104 of Evidence Act 2011.”
