The Senate Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen of Edo South, picked apart several contentious claims and shut them down, citing weak evidence, legal shortcuts, and overreach.
Senator Imasuen made the committee’s stance clear from the start. The rules would not bend for emotional appeals or incomplete filings. He stressed that the National Assembly is not a substitute for the courts.
“People assume they’ll find justice here no matter what,” the chairman said. “But we are bound by the law. We cannot ignore it.” 
Across the session, the committee hammered one point. Petitions need verifiable facts, proper documentation, and clear legal grounding. Without those, they face immediate dismissal.
The first case involved the Nigeria Customs Service and a disputed seizure. Customs said a Mercedes truck was declared at port without full disclosure of its contents. Duties were paid only on the truck, while undeclared goods were allegedly concealed inside. When found, officials seized the vehicle under import regulations. They added that a Federal High Court had already ruled in favor of forfeiture, making any Senate reversal legally untenable.
The businessman involved insisted the seizure was unjust and suggested other ways to resolve it. He hinted at procedural irregularities and argued his grievances deserved legislative attention. Under questioning, his explanations appeared inconsistent and lacked the documents lawmakers requested.
After reviewing both sides, the committee saw no basis to challenge Customs. “For us to overturn that would be to trample on the law,” the chairman ruled. The petition was dismissed.
Attention then turned to Fidelity Bank and Zenith Bank. The petitioner alleged misconduct involving massive sums, including claims above $3.2 billion. He said funds were mishandled and withdrawn without proper authorization, and pointed to multiple accounts and transactions as proof of irregularities.
Lawmakers pushed back on credibility. Records showed the petitioner opened the accounts, received loan disbursements, and ran transactions over time. “At what point do you not know what’s happening in your own account?” the chairman asked. Finding the allegations incoherent and unsupported, the committee dismissed the case.
Another petitioner accused the Nigerian Immigration Service of ignoring a years-old court order to release his passport. He also said he was denied entry into Kenya and wanted Senate intervention. He argued that without his passport and mobility, he could not pursue legal action abroad and urged lawmakers to compel action locally and internationally.
The committee rejected the request outright, calling it legally impossible. “What kind of order is that?” the chairman asked. “We cannot direct another sovereign nation to admit you.” Lawmakers said court orders must be enforced through the judiciary, and international grievances belong in those countries’ legal systems. They noted physical presence is not required to file abroad. With no actionable claims, the committee discharged Immigration. “We are done with Immigration,” the chairman declared. “Take it back to court.”
In contrast, unpaid pensions drew a more urgent response. Concerns were raised about workers contributing for decades only to face uncertainty at retirement. The chairman expressed frustration at the accountability gaps. “You cannot serve for 20 or 30 years and then be told the money is missing,” he said. “Where is it?”
Unlike the earlier petitions, the pension matter remains open. The committee requested detailed documentation and set a follow-up hearing in two weeks, signaling intent to pursue it further.
By the end of the session, the message was unmistakable. The Senate will not entertain claims built on speculation, incomplete evidence, or legal impossibilities. For the committee, this was about reinforcing legislative limits and the primacy of the rule of law.
As the dust settled in the Senate Public Petition hearing, one rule held. In this chamber, only facts survive.
