The Senate has passed the Code of Conduct Amendment Bill, 2016.

The exercise follows months of debate in the Senate regarding the need to amend the bill.

The actual amendments to the act were done by the House of Representatives and passed on May 31, with the Senate concurring and passing the bill today, October 27, 2016.

Early in the year, the upper legislative chamber had sought to amend the act, but a public outcry forced it to shelve it; although a similar bill has been reintroduced.

This passage is coming months after the trial of Senate President Bukola for false asset declaration, commenced at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has lost his trial by the CCT. Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by the Senate President, Justice Abdul Aboki affirmed that the CCT has jurisdiction to try the case.

The five-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, agreed that the tribunal erred in discharging former Lagos Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu but the tribunal has since corrected itself in subsequent judgement.

On the claim that a quorum was not formed before he was charged, the court resolved the issue against the Senate President.

Justice Aboki resolved that three men at the Code of Conduct bureau can adjudicate any matter.

All the four other members of the panel unanimously agreed with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Aboki‎.

•Based on Channels TV reports. Photo shows the Senate during plenary.