Nigerian Senate on Tuesday accepted President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for a refund of N148,141,969,161 to Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Osun and Ondo State Governments.

The sum was for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

The approval followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, according to Daily Post.

The committee is chaired by Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP – Edo Central).

Ordia said most of the federal highways in the beneficiary states “were at a deplorable state before the intervention of the state governments”.

He said: ''Series of visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on all federal roads completed by the States and ascertained that the quality of work done met the required standard.''

The lawmaker noted that Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo States embarked on the project execution as far back as 2005 to date.

He added that while all states paid the contractors, the Federal Bureau of Procurement certified that due process was followed accordingly.

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Also, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Benedict Umeano (Anambra – South East); Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo – South South); and Olayinka Babatunde Balogun retd (Ogun – South West) as members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

In a related development, the upper chamber on Tuesday referred Buhari’s request seeking the confirmation of nominees to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Tribunal to its Committee on Trade and Investment.

The nominees who are expected to appear for screening before the Committee include: Mrs Sadatu Mama Shafi, (North Central), Chairman;

Others are, George Chukwuma Mbonu, Member (South East); Thomas Okosun (South South); Umar Dauda Duhu (North East); Ibrahim El-Yakubu (North West); Mrs Sola Salako Ajulo (South West); and Kenneth Tersoo Gyado (North Central).