Senate’s Hammer May Fall On Marafa Over Alleged Misleading Information

The Senate

THE SENATE has on Tuesday directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to investigate Senator Kabir Marafa over an alleged false publication in a national daily.

The Committee would investigate the allegations and make recommendations to the upper chamber. According to information, the outcome of the investigation may lead to his suspension as most of the Senators are bent on slamming disciplinary sanctions having considered the press interview embarrassing to the Upper Chamber.

Relying on a Point of Order, Senator Isah Misau said the said the report published on February 7, 2016 and credited to Senator Marafa was misleading and has brought the Senate to disrepute and opprobrium and as such cannot be overlooked adding that misleading the generality of Nigerians with falsehood by its member is condemnable.

Threatening to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion, Misau said that on no account would he sit and watch Senate be reduced to ridicule recalling that it took him 11 years to actualize his ambition as a member of the Senate, and therefore could not overlook the situation where his integrity and the Senate’s are being rubbished by another senator.

“Senator Kabir Marafa granted an interview misleading the public telling lies against this institution, the Senate. I think I have received more than 500 calls from my constituency in respect of this publication.

“I will not allow somebody who enjoyed the seventh Senate to come and not allow us to do our work properly here. Mr President, I think the leadership has to do something about this, we cannot allow one person to continue to tell lies against the Senate misleading the public.

“I think it is better we take a decision so that we correct things not only Marafa, anybody that is here would not be allowed to be misleading the public,” he said.

Other Senators that spoke re-echoed the threat stating that the Senator would not escape sanctions if indicted by the Committee accordingly.

In reaction, Senator Marafa reportedly dispelled fears stating that he was ready to face the committee as well as open up more on in the Senate.

“Do they have any rules in the Senate? How many times did I raise Points of Order to call their attention to the violation of Senate Orders? I will gladly honour the invitation of the committee.”

I have been waiting for the opportunity to appear before them. I am waiting for them. Let them expedite action on it. I am calling on all Nigerians to come and witness the mother of all trials,” the embattled Senator said.