NIGERIA (Abuja)-There was mild drama at the floor of the Senate yesterday during the screening of ministerial nominees as Alhaji Abduljeli Adesiyan from Osun State was asked to prove his innocence that he has no hand in the death of late Chief Bola Ige, who was murdered in Ibadan twelve years ago.

This was requested by Senator Uzamere, representing Edo South when the nominee told the Senate that he was wrongly accused and jailed for three and halve years over the death of the late politician.

He said this when he was asked by the Senate President David Mark to tell the senators about what he felt was not included in his CV already in their possession.

 Alhaji Adesiyan said: “I am delighted and highly honoured to be standing before you this day as a nominee from Osun State. I am an educationist as contained in my CV before you. I am a member of Afenire and also a pro-democracy activist of the NADECO stool.

“But I have a blend of experience in educational study and education administration as a former Commissioner of Education in Osun State. I blend my wealth of political experience as a committed party man through the UPN to SDP to AD and now to PDP.I am
not just an educationist but a pro-democracy grassroots politician.

“Distinguished senators, I also want to inform you that I was wrongly accused of having hand in the death of my political mentor, Uncle Bola Ige.

“I want to say here, before you the representatives of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that such accusation is political blackmail.

“I was wrongly accused and detained for more than three and halve years over something I knew nothing about. I was tried by a court of competent jurisdiction in this country and I was discharged.

“I want to say once again, before man and God that I, Abduljeli Oyawale Adesiyan, I know nothing about the assassination of Chief Bola Ige, I am innocent.”

Senator Uzamere, who stood up to lead the question session insisted that the nominee should be given a copy of the Holy Quran to swear that he knew nothing about the death of the late sage.

Senator Uzamare said: “Mr nominee, you just mentioned Mr Bola Ige that he was your mentor, before I ask you this question with the kind permission of Mr Chairman, can you swear to a Quran before the question I am going to ask you? Can you swear to a Quran that you did not kill Bola Ige?”

This sparked off a loud shout of “no, this is a Senate Chamber and not a shrine”,no, is this a shrine? It is not a shrine, so it can’t happen here” from other senators.

The confusion thrown up as a result of this development lasted for several minutes before the Senate President intervened by ruling that the issue be brushed aside.