All 17 nominees by President Bola Tinubu to oversee key commissions in Rivers State have officially declared their assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), following security clearance from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.
The development was confirmed by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, who also chairs the Senate ad hoc committee tasked with overseeing the activities of Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.).
This disclosure was made during the screening exercise held at the National Assembly.
The nominations which cover the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Local Government Service Commission were sent to the Senate barely a week ago by Tinubu for legislative confirmation.
A breakdown of the nominees shows that the Rivers State Civil Service Commission has five nominees with Barikor Baribuma (chairman), Lot Egopija, Ms. Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry as members
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has seven nominees, with Michael Odey (chairman), Mr. Lezaasi Torbira, Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Mbudiogha, Prof. Joyce Akaniwor, Mrs. Olive Bruce, and Prof. Chidi Halliday serving as members.
Also, the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission has seven nominees, with Israel Amadi (chairman), Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel George-Didia, Tonye Willie Pepple, Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (rtd), and Sammy Apiafi as members.
Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, presented the nominees before the committee, categorising them according to their designated commissions.
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Sen. Bamidele emphasised that all nominees had met the constitutional and procedural requirements, including undergoing security screening and declaring their assets, as mandated by law.
“Let me quickly inform distinguished colleagues and members of the public that the nominees before us have gone through security screening by the DSS and the police.
“None had any issues with security clearance,” Bamidele said.
He further added that no petitions or objections had been raised against any of the nominees, stating further that “as a committee, we did not receive any petition against any of the nominees here.
“So there is no inhibiting factor that would prevent us from proceeding with the screening.”
Sen. Bamidele noted that once the screening process is concluded, the committee’s findings and recommendations would be presented to the full Senate during the next plenary session for final confirmation or otherwise.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to upholding democratic governance and restoring due process in Rivers State.
