Senate backtracks, screens Keyamo after tendering apology

Just like the prodigal son, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN) on Monday showed some remorse and tendered an apology to the Nigerian Senate which had earlier suspended his screening as the 48th ministerial nominee of President Bola Tinubu.

Persecondnews reports that Keyamo, who told the Senate while introducing himself that paternally he is from Delta State, and maternally he is from Ilaro, Ogun State, suffered serious embarrassment when the Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, raised a Point of Order to step down the screening of the former Minister of State for Labour and Employment for being disrespectful to the 9th National Assembly.

Keyamo, who was summoned to appear before the House under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to explain the N52 billion Public Works Scheme for youths under his purview, had failed to honour the invitation.

The Senate had during Tuesday’s plenary session, dissolved into closed-door session after the suspension of the screening.

Nwokocha said: “I move that we suspend forthwith screening of the nominee and wait until when this is cleared.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had run to the Presidential Villa while the three hours closed-door session was ongoing.

Persecondnews reports that Keyamo was finally screened after he tendered an unreserved apology for his attitude towards the 9th Senate.

As soon as he was ushered back into the hallowed chamber of the Senate he said: “ I apologise to the Senate. I am sorry, I am sorry and I am sorry.”

He went further to clarify the N52bn public works scheme.

“Regarding that programme, the account was handled by the World Bank. So, we, the head of the agencies, never saw one kobo. We only generated the list and the money was paid directly to the people’s account,” Persecondnews quotes Keyamo as saying.

He said: “For the sake of transparency every detail of that account was captured and kept in a file.

“All the records of the beneficiaries and their data are in the ministry.”