The Nigerian Senate stepped down the ministerial confirmation hearing for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro today.
The Senate did not give any reason the hearing was suspended or whether it was connected with the several petitions against his nomination.
Obanikoro and his family were sighted at the Senate gallery today, but left after it appeared the hearing has been suspended, tweeted Senator Babafemi Ojudu today.
The embattled former minister of state for defence, had resigned his appointment last year October to contest the governorship seat in Lagos, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He lost to Jimi Agbaje and after initially decrying his loss as a fraud and instituting a legal challenge, he dramatically withdrew his suit in a Federal High Court, in Abuja.
He was subsequently nominated as a minister, by President Goodluck Jonathan.
But the nomination is facing a barrage of criticisms aa Obanikoro is mired in the scandal of working in cahoot with the military to rig the 21 June election in Ekiti state, last year, in favour of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
An audio, documenting the rigging plan, with Brigadier Aliyu Momoh of the Nigerian army has gone viral, further fuelling public resentment against deploying the military for poll duties.
President Goodluck Jonathan has had to reverse his position on the scandal.
He initially dismissed the audio as a fabrication in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. As public anger swelled, he said again in an interview with ThisDay, that investigation of the audio tape by the DSS, has been stalled because the man who recorded it, Captain Sagir Koli, has run out of the country.
Jonathan did not acknowledge that Koli ran away after he sensed danger to his life, by superiors who ordered his arrest. His 15 year old brother was arrested and tortured, after he escaped.
The Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has joined the chorus of demands for a probe into the scandal.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Soyinka asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to work with the international community to conduct the investigation and make the findings of the exercise known to save Nigeria’s democracy.
He said brushing the issue aside as just electoral malpractice approaches criminal subversion and treason.
Mr. Fayose defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate and then governor, Kayode Fayemi, in the election.
The leaked tape captured the voices of Obanikoro, Mr. Fayose, former senator Iyiola Omisore; the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; his predecessor, Caleb Olubolade; and army brigadier-general , Aliyu Momoh.

I do not know if anyone would read this, but here goes.

At the moment , we face two great threats to our nation...the crisis in the North East , and the potential economic crisis orchestrated by the drop in oil prices.

And all this while,I do not hear any of the major parties and their hangers on detailing how we would handle these problems over the next four years.Instead, I hear immuendo, abuse and worryingly threats of war.

If we are to make this democracy work, we have to end the lies and abuse from both sides, and face the issues. It is getting too old and annoying.

corruption in all respects of life...nd yet ur hard earned money is given to them for miracle...sha hope its not true.

lol, this guy is vexing. The romance between CAN, Politics and the presidency wouldn't allow CAN a saving face from this. Meanwhile Oritsejet4 is unusually silent recently.

2face be like; "No smoke without fire, na who come be liar".

All these bribes you are sharing.....

It will still hunt them

thunder fire pdp and Gej

PDP is the most corrupt..forget wot u knw

Naija don fall my hand big time look at all these so called pastors calling themselves man of GOD surpporting devils pdpiggs just because of N3m bribe to the state CAN in 36states

Booked

Wonders...

When did our pastors start lying??




Dis ones dat called demselves






Lord watch over me nd my Family

“I text (message) to the leadership of the CAN to repent or be exposed.”

Abeg they should repent and return the money back to source!

Give names Mr. Pastor, stop ranting becos of cheap fame. You are happy that the news is making you popular. Please give us the names of the pastors that participated in sharing the largesse.

CAN and PDP, Birds of the same feather..

So they got N7b, and gave out N3m to reach state chapter. That's less than N150m. So, where is the rest of the money? E be like say this pastor no sabi money. People go just come out they mention money anyhow. You no wetin be N7b? 7 BILLION NAIRA!

lalasticlala Seun fp....