The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Akpabio, Abbas step in as Senate President, Speaker

    Akpabio, Abbas step in as Senate President, Speaker

    • •Ex-Akwa Ibom governor defeats Yari by 63-46 votes
    • •Kaduna Rep triumphs by 353-3-3 over Wase, Jaji

    The National Assembly turned a new page yesterday with the election of Godswill Obot Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest) as President of the Senate and Tajudeen Abbas (Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State) as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Also elected are Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) unopposed as Deputy President of the Senate and Benajmen Okezie Kalu (Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State) as Deputy Speaker. He was also unopposed.

    Many Nigerians woke up to a live telecast of the election process on the floor of the two chambers as early as 8:00 am against the expected 10:00 am commencement time.

    It was learnt that the time change was communicated to the lawmakers by the National Assembly bureaucracy but was unknown to many Nigerians.

    Akpabio, who was nominated by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) and seconded by Senator Adeola Olamilekan (Ogun West) got 63 votes to Senator Abdulaziz Yari’s 46. All 109 senators were present.

    Following the collapse of last-minute efforts to agree on a consensus around Akpabio, Yari (Zamfara West), contrary to the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning arrangement, was nominated by Senator Elisha Aboh (Adamawa South) and seconded by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), two APC senators.

    Following Yari’s defeat, Barau sailed through without a contest because the Yari camp knew they did not have the number. 

    Senator Dave Umahi nominated Barau, seconded by Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central). 

    Proceedings at the House of Representatives were held simultaneously with that of the Senate.

    But the election in the Senate ended ahead because of the fewer senators compared to the House of Representatives with 360 members. One seat is vacant because of disruption of election in a an Akwa Ibom constituency.

    Abbas was nominated by Ninth House leader Ado Doguwa (Kano State), seconded by Nnolim Nnaji (Enugu).

    Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano) was elected unopposed as Deputy Senate President.

    There was no other nomination after Jibrin was nominated for Deputy Senate President.

    Following the nominations, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal, called for additional nominations.

    Since there was none, Tambuwal declared nominations closed and called for the division to enable senators-elect to cast their votes for their preferred candidate.

    After the votes were sorted, Akpabio’s supporters began to jubilate as it was obvious that he had won.

    Tambuwal declared the winner. Akpabio was then led to take the chair as Senate President.

    After taking his oath of office and the oath of allegiance administered by the Clerk, Akpabio signed the oaths and used the gavel for the first time.

    The Clerk thereafter called for nominations for the position of Deputy Senate President.

    Since there were no other nominations, Tambuwal declared nominations closed for the position and thereafter declared Jibrin as Deputy Senate President.

    There was a mild drama when Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno opposed the nomination of Yari, citing Order Three, Rule Three, which he said, spells out conditions for eligibility for the position of the Senate President.

    He described Yari’s nomination as an academic exercise, saying the Senate cannot waste its time on it.

    However, Clerk to the National Assembly overruled him and sustained the nomination.

    All the Senators from the states voted in alphabetical order.

    The proceedings were observed from the gallery by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume; Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

    Read Also: Akpabio, Yari and triumph of democracy

    After Akpabio was declared winner, he went to where Yari was sitting to embrace him. Other senators cheered them.

    Speaking with reporters, the Chairman of the Media Committee of the Yari Campaign team, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), described the election as free and fair.

    He said that the minority caucus was pleased with the process that led to Akpabio’s emergence, saying it was devoid of untoward drama.

    Ningi said: “The election was free and fair without the much-anticipated drama. That is what makes the institution of the Senate different.

    “The animosity, the fear of what happened in the last two days completely vanished. You go into the hall and you see how people are embracing themselves and that is parliament and that is democracy.

    “We have refused to be intimidated by any law enforcement agency and that is why we said there must be an election.

    “The sitting government had the day. We have no problem. We know we are in the minority, we are in total agreement. The election was free and fair and to be honest, I was expecting it to be so.”

    Ningi who was elected on the platform of the PDP, added: “The position I took was not the position of my party, but that of the minority caucus and you could see that not all of us actually voted on the same page.”

    How Abbas, Kalu became Speaker, Deputy

    Abbas, who scored 353 votes of the 359 votes, was declared the winner at exactly 11.44 am by the Clerk.

    Also, the immediate past spokesman of the House, Benjamin Kalu, emerged unopposed as the Deputy Speaker.

    The election of the Speaker was through the open ballot system, with members calling out the name of the person they intended to vote for.

    Order Two, Rule 2 sub-rule 3(F)(iii) provides that “every member voting shall name clearly and in the open the candidate of their choice”.

    The immediate past Majority Leader, AlHassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) nominated Abbas. The nomination was seconded by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu).

    Also, Tijani Kayode Ibrahim (APC, Kwara) nominated Ahmed Idris Wase to contest against Abbas and it was seconded by Ali Mohammed Abdulmumin (APC, Nasarawa).

    Aminu Sani Jaji was nominated by Ahmed Idris Doro (Katsina) and it was seconded by Mohammed Ibrahim (Katsina).

    The member who died immediately after the election, Isma’ila Yushua Maihanchi, was the only member that did not vote. He was from Taraba State.

    Kalu, who emerged unopposed as the Deputy Speaker, was nominated by Babajimi Benson from Lagos State and seconded by Khadijat Bukar Abba Ibrahim from Yobe State.

    Benson said the nomination has fostered inclusion and addressed perceived marginalisation.

    In the absence of another nomination, the Clerk to the National Assembly declared Kalu elected as Deputy Speaker.

    Read Also: NASS Leadership: Gov. Sanwo-Olu congratulates Akpabio, Jibrin

    Immediate past Speaker and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who took part in the election, handed over his notes to Abbas.

    Gbajabiamila said Abbas will be a good Speaker.

    There was heavy security around the National Assembly as the senators-elect and members-elect were inaugurated.

    Security operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, as well as National Assembly security, ensured no incident in and outside the Assembly complex.

    The National Assembly entrance from the Federal Secretariat junctions was blocked by heavily armed security personnel.

    Staff and others accredited to the National Assembly could only gain access to the premises by using the gate at the SGF axis.

    Many of the lawmakers were ferried to the National Assembly in coaster buses, while others preferred to drive themselves to the venue.

    There was traffic gridlock at the only entrance into the complex.

    Many of the Assembly staff, who were not accredited, were not allowed into the premises.

    The ongoing construction work in the Complex was also put on hold.

    Many supporters came to felicitate the lawmakers on their inauguration.

    Two huge white tents were set up at the National Assembly arcade.

    We contested to protect Democracy, say Wase, Jaji 

    Wase and Jaji said they contested in the true spirit of democracy.

    While Wase said democracy should be allowed to thrive, Jaji said he contested to protect democracy.

    Wase said democracy should not be truncated and the hands of members should not be tied.

    In accepting his nomination, Wase said: “I hereby submit myself to be the voice of the voiceless, to be the true representatives of the Nigerian populace, to be a co-partner in the Nigerian development project. I hereby accept the nomination.

    “We stand to believe power is from God. It is only God that will give power to whoever he wishes and if given the opportunity, we will do the needful.”

    Lawmakers from Plateau (where Wase comes from) and Zamfara (where Jaji comes from) voted against the two candidates.

    Tijani Kayode from Kwara and Abdulmumin Mohammed Ari from Nasarawa, who nominated and seconded the nomination of Wase, as well as Yusuf Ahmed Doro and Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim, both from Katsina, who nominated and seconded Jaji’s nomination, voted for the two aspirants. 

  • How lawmakers defied parties

    How lawmakers defied parties

    Many opposition senators and House of Representatives members yesterday defied their political parties’ directive by supporting Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President, Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President as well as Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker and Benjamen Kalu as Deputy Speaker.

    Some All Progressives Congress (APC) senators-elect also worked against their party’s directive to vote for the preferred choices as endorsed by President Bola Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC).

    Apart from the rival contender for Senate President, Abdulaziz Yari, his campaign managers – Senators Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo), Elisha Aboh (Adamawa) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe), who rejected pleas from Vice President Kashim Shettima to back Akpabio, during the vice president’s  visit to his house, it was learnt that some other senators among the 59 APC senators didn’t vote for their party’s preferred candidates.

    Among these are a new senator in the Southwest and some prominent others from the Northwest and Southeast.

    The APC has 59 senators but Akpabio at the close of poll scored 63 votes to beat Yari, who had 46 votes.

    Also, in the House of Representatives, Abbas got 353 votes to defeat his rivals, former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase and Aminu Jaji, who got three votes each.

    Opposition Reps openly voted for the APC choice in defiance of their parties.

    There was tension in the morning, as senators-elect got to the National Assembly Complex, Abuja as early as 4am.

    Deputy Director-General of the Akpabio/Jibrin Campaign Organisation, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the pro-Akpabio senators, arrived early to prevent a repeat of the 2015 scenario whereby senators loyal to former Senate President Bukola Saraki kept vigil at the complex to install him while other senators were at the International Conference Centre in Abuja to meet with former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Bamidele said: “I have not been able to sleep for the last 48 hours in order to ensure that Senator Godswill Akpabio emerged as Senate President.

    “We entered the National Assembly Complex around 4am in order to avert what happened in 2015. The victory wouldn’t have been possible if not the efforts of the immediate past Senate President.”

    Sources said pro-Yari senators-elect, who also demonstrated their determination to install him, mobilised themselves and also stormed the complex very early.

    Prominent businessmen, foremost traditional rulers, technocrats, bankers and opposition politicians lent support for the pro-Yari forces, a source said.

    According to him, many newly-elected senators were easily swayed to the anti-Akpabio campaign group.

    Giving credence to this last night, leader of the Akpabio campaign team, Senator Ali Ndume said that after a thorough check on the list of 72 senators projected to vote for Akpabio by his strategist, the leaders of the group lowered their projection to a minimum 62 because the loyalty of 10 were in doubt.

    Ndume said: “The emergence of Senator Akpabio was not a magic, but more of politics. We thank God, it came out the way we wanted it. This is good for the country, the party and for the people. And now, I feel that this singular act of today gives all Nigerians a sense of belonging.”

    Read Also: Ex-council chief accuses successor, lawmaker of sponsoring attack on him

    Ndume said the election has also shown that religion does not matter in governance, warning politicians against playing religious cards.

    He added: “If people do a critical analysis of the way the election played out, you’ll realise that some of the things that people out there talk about do not really matter. For instance, I am a Muslim, but I campaigned vigorously for the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio. 

    “On the other side, Senator Cliff (Elisha Aboh) led the campaign for Senator Yari.  He is a Christian from Adamawa State, seconded by Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo State.

    “So, you can see that religion that people harped on is not the real thing people put into consideration.  It is all about interest.

    “And also interestingly, we have 54 Christian senators out of the 109, while the Muslims are 55.  But the vote turned out to be 63 against 46.”

    Explaining the factors that aided Akpabio’s victory, Ndume said: “As of Tuesday’s morning, after a critical analysis of the situation, we were sure of clinching 62, but we ended up getting 63. So, many factors helped.

    “One, the party and the president had a preferred candidate.

    “Because this president is an experienced politician, he deployed his foot soldiers to complement our efforts and that made a difference.

    “He visited, pleaded with some people to buy into Akpabio’s candidature. He has his reasons for doing so.  That is politics.”

    A contestant for Speaker, who had earlier stepped down for Abbas, Sada Soli, said he withdrew from the race in national interest.

    According to him, the President and his vice appealed to him with convincing reasons, hence, he could not have done otherwise.

    House of Representatives member Dachung Bagos, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member from Plateau State, said the opposition in the House decided to support Abbas, to ensure a vibrant 10th House of Representatives.

    He said their decision to support him was done in national interest.

    He added: “It was a collective resolve to vote for Tajudeen. We did it on the platform of national interest and not personal interest.

    “The entire opposition looked at who we can trust with the leadership of the House.”

  • Let’s work for our people, Tinubu urges National Assembly leaders

    Let’s work for our people, Tinubu urges National Assembly leaders

    It is time to work, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told presiding officers and members of the 10th National Assembly yesterday after their election and inauguration.

    The executive, he said, will work harmoniously with the legislature under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and will resolve disagreements without malice.

    He reminded the legislators that their constituents expect a lot from them, so they must not fail.

    According to him, they cannot afford to waste the opportunity because Nigerians want them to make every day of the next four years count.

    President Tinubu stated these in a personally-authored congratulatory message to Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abass and their deputies Jibril Barau and Benjamin Kalu

    The President stated: “We have all been called upon and accepted the responsibility to diligently and faithfully serve our fatherland with the oath we took. 

    “It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.

    “As your President, I am prepared to transparently work with the National Assembly. 

    “Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.

    “In the course of our work together, disagreements may occur. When we disagree, it will not be out of malice, ill will and a quest to diminish the institution of the National Assembly or any individual member.

    “Our people across the length and breadth of our country expect so much from us. They want us to lift their economic burden. They want us to eliminate insecurity so our farmers in rural communities can go to their farms and produce the food we eat.

    Read Also: I’ll work with NASS to change fortune of Nigerians – Tinubu

    “Our people look up to us to change the fortune of our country for good and remove all barriers that impede progress. All of these we can make happen with dedication and commitment.”

    President Tinubu stressed that campaign promises can only be fulfilled by working together in harmony and in the country’s best interests.

    He added: “Justifiably, our people want more from their government. They truly deserve progressive good governance that will improve their standards of living. We must give them our best.

    “I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. 

    “I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey. Once again, I send my best wishes.”

    The President commended the contenders who lost out, noting that their participation in the election process enriched it.

    He urged them to deploy the same energy and enthusiasm in the service of their constituents.

    “I wish Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Honourable member Idris Wase and Honourable Aminu Jaji who enriched the process with their participation in the leadership election the best and a successful tenure in the 10th National Assembly. 

    “I urge them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.

    “My congratulations to all members of the National Assembly, across party lines, who, today, enlisted into the service of the blessed people of our great country.”

    The President congratulated the new leadership on “their well-deserved victories”.

    “Being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly is a great honour that comes with a huge responsibility. I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians,” the President added.

  • Financial markets rebound on Emefiele’s suspension

    Financial markets rebound on Emefiele’s suspension

    Nigeria’s financial markets roused to a new start yesterday as investors and dealers shrugged off weekend’s suspension and arrest of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.

    In the first trading session after the announcement of the suspension and arrest, the markets traded positively across all segments.   

    In the foreign exchange (forex) market, the naira is appreciated across the official and parallel markets, a correlation that usually denotes the convergence of traders’ and users’ opinions on the dynamics of the forex market.

    At the official Investors & Exporters (I & E) Window, the naira appreciated by 0.18 percent to N471.67 per dollar. At the more volatile and unregulated parallel market, the naira also showed appreciable signs of recovery, trading around N754 per dollar as against N767   recorded at the weekend.

    At the stock market,   equities spurred to a major rally in an all-session positive trading, closing with net capital gains of N1.215 trillion.

    The All Share Index (ASI)- the value-based common index that tracks all share prices at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), rose by 4.0 per cent from its opening index of 55,930.97 points to close at 58,163.55 points.

    The ASI is widely regarded as the sovereign index for the Nigerian stock market, a measure of investors’ mood within a particular period.

    Consequently, the aggregate market value of all quoted equities at the NGX crossed another threshold from its opening value of N30.455 trillion to close at N31.670 trillion. Turnover at the NGX doubled by 106.4 per cent with the exchange of 1.19 billion shares valued at N19.23 billion in 10,269 deals.

    At the international markets, trading on Nigerian sovereign securities was also broadly positive.

    Financial market experts were unanimous that the positive performances across the markets represented a range of indifference and endorsement of the suspension of Emefiele.

    President Bola Tinubu had at the weekend suspended Emefiele in order to allow for unfettered investigations against the apex bank’s chief. The apex bank’s Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr Adebisi Shonubi was appointed as acting governor.

    Emefiele, who had had a running battle with the Department of State Security (DSS) over allegations of money laundering, terrorism and other economic crimes, was subsequently arrested by the secret police. Earlier attempts by the DSS to arrest, investigate, and prosecute him failed.

    Managing Director, Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited, Mr Olatunde Amolegbe, said the financial markets “reacted today(yesterday) as if a heavy boot had been lifted from its neck.” He pointed at the various indices that denote moods across the markets.

    Read Also: Emefiele: Don’t make him a hero

    Amolegbe said: “The equities markets closed 4.0 per cent up, which is the second highest one-day gain in about two years. The short end of the local bond curve also gained while the Eurobond market remained bullish.

    “Market expectations is that the imminent harmonization of the foreign exchange rate should bring renewed interest in Nigerian assets by foreign investors, be they portfolio or foreign direct investors.

    “Also the potential for a lowering of interest rate as stated by the president in his inauguration speech will also be positive for the equities market since both asset classes have an inverse relationship.”  

    President, the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said the positive sentiments in the market over leadership change at the CBN will continue to reflect positively on the domestic exchange rates.

    “The naira is appreciating against the Greenback in the black market. The naira has gained over N10 per dollar from a high level of N767 per dollar on Monday morning to a low of N754 per dollar at the close of business on Tuesday(yesterday), at the parallel market. As positive sentiment continues to usher in confidence there is a likelihood of naira increasing its strength across markets,” Gwadabe said.

    Group Executive Director, Investment Banking, Cordros Capital, Mr Femi Ademola, said the markets appeared to have suffered significantly from the regulatory flip flops of the CBN in the past few years.

    According to him, the regular interventions in the market and the deluge of circulars and policy actions from the apex bank had resulted in volatility in the market.

    He noted that the implementation of the recent naira redesign policy affected the market quite negatively and pitched the populace against the CBN Governor.

    “Therefore, the immediate market reaction to the news of his suspension is likely to be positive,” Ademola said.

    He, however, noted that the steps taken by the Federal Government within the next few days and weeks would determine the long-term reactions of the markets.

    Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Mallam Garba Kurfi, noted that the international response to the decision to suspend the apex bank’s chief could have an impact on the domestic market.

    He said the direction of the market reflects its response, adding that the action of the acting CBN Governor would also influence the markets going forward.

    Afrinvest Securities said there was a “positive market reaction to CBN shake-up,” citing the general mood of the market.

    Coronation Asset Management stated that the new administration’s “bold reforms continue” to elicit positive market reactions. It attributed the equities’ market rally to investors’ reactions to “huge implications for different sectors and stocks” of the new administration’s reforms.

    SCM Capital attributed the market’s performance to “prevailing positive sentiments,”  which have continued to drive demand for Nigerian stocks. 

  • Atiku, PDP plan to call INEC Chair, Secretary as witnesses

    Atiku, PDP plan to call INEC Chair, Secretary as witnesses

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar plan to call Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the commission’s Secretary and a National Commissioner as witnesses in their case before the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), their counsel hinted yesterday.

    The lead lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), dropped the hint yesterday at the resumed hearing in the petition filed by the PDP and Atiku against the outcome of the last presidential election.

    Uche said although his clients have informed INEC’s legal team about their intention, they plan to apply by Thursday for the court to issue subpoena against the officials of the electoral umpire for them to appear and produce certain documents.

    “We have already informed them. We are going to apply for subpoena on Thursday for the INEC Chairman and others to appear before the court to produce some documents…”, Uche said.

    The petitioners called two witnesses yesterday, including Dr. Alex Ter, who claimed to have acted as the National Coordinator of the PDP’s National Situation Room.

    Ter, who claimed to be a lawyer and politician, said the allegations in his written statement on oath about electoral infractions in many parts of the country were derived from information provided by his party agents across the country.

    The witness, who said he was at his party’s National Situation Room in Abuja throughout the election period, said it was impossible for him to have witnessed all that happened, which he reflected in his statement.

    He said his party had agents in all the polling units and collation centres, adding that he voted and the results were collated, announced to the hearing of everyone in his polling unit.

    Ter said the result issued by INEC officials in his polling unit captured the signed result sheet with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) device as required, but could not upload it immediately.

    He said his main grouse about the whole process was that the results of the presidential election were not uploaded real time as promised by the INEC chairman.

    Uche tendered through the witness, some documents, including the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) report, which he said reflected that as at March 1, only results from 9403 polling units had been uploaded out of the total 176,846 polling units nationwide.

    Under cross examination by lawyer to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), Ter claimed that the glitches experienced during the transmission of results were deliberate.

    He also claimed that as at when INEC declared President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the election, less than 50 per cent of the results had been uploaded.

    Under cross examination by lawyer to Tinubu, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Ter said he was aware that the polling unit is the primary source of vote cast in an election, that it is at the polling unit that Form EC8A is issued and that it is at the polling unit that BVAS machine is used.

    He, however, admitted that he was not at any polling unit on the day of the election and did not work in any of the collation centres.

    The witness also admitted that he did not, in his statement, differentiate between the information that were from what he observed and those that were passed to him by his party’s agents on the field.

    He also agreed that although he disputed the results as announced by INEC, he did not indicate, in his statement, what he believed were the correct results.

    While being cross-examined by lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Solomon Umoh, (SAN), said it was only at the conclusion of election, after the results sheet has been signed that its image is to be uploaded to IReV.

    Before Ter commenced his testimony, the petitioners served and played three short videos. The first was where INEC Chairman spoke about preparations for the election and assured that BVAS would be deployed and that results would be transmitted real time.

    The second showed where INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, said appropriate arrangements had been made to ensure transparent process, including making it impossible for one to vote with somebody else’s voter card, and the elimination of the use of incident forms.

    The third video was of a press briefing by members of the European Union (EU) election observers mission who gave their assessment of the election, and noted that results were not uploaded as promptly as expected.

    Read Also: Onoh hits Atiku over Tinubu, says PDP almost destroyed judiciary

    The petitioners’ second witness for the day, Olatunji Shelle, identified himself as a retired Naval Captain and Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State.

    Shelle, under cross-examination by Mahmoud, said he voted during the election, but did not wait for the results to be announced, so he did not know which party won his polling unit.

    He confirmed that election went well in his polling unit and that results were collated and entered into the Form EC8A as required.

    The witness, who said he left his polling unit at about 2: 30pm, told the court that he visited about 40 polling units, where he spent about a minute in each of them.

    Under cross examination by another APC lawyer, Yusuf Ali, (SAN), Shelle, who claimed in his statement that ballot boxes were snatched, said he did not know the number of such ballot boxes.

    The witness, who claimed in his statement that violence took place in 15 polling units, said he witnessed the incidents, but took no action. He said although he is an ex-military officer, it was not his responsibility to take any action.

    Further hearing resumes in the petition on Wednesday at 2pm.

    During the morning session, Obi and the LP, who now have 10 days left in the three weeks allocated to them to present their case, tendered more documents.

    According to the court’s schedule, Obi and his party are to present their case between May 30 and June 23.

    The documents, which were mostly objected to by the lawyers to INEC, Tinubu, Shettma and the APC, were mainly certified true copies (CTCs) of election results sheets and reports used by INEC during the election.

    The documents were then served from the bar by one of the petitioners’ lawyers, Peter Afuba (SAN).

    The breakdown showed that 45 EC40GPU forms were tendered in 10 local government areas of Niger State, 23 in seven local government areas of Osun, 17 in three local government areas of Edo State and 52 EC40GPU forms in five local government areas of Sokoto were tendered.

    They also tendered 15 forms EC40G in eight local government areas of Osun State, 12 forms EC40G1 in 12 local government areas of Edo, 15 forms EC40G in four local government areas of Sokoto and 9 forms EC40G1 in two local government areas of Sokoto.

    The petitioners also tendered five reports on the conduct of the election in Niger State and eight in Edo to back up his allegations of malpractices during the conduct of the election.

    They tendered IReV reports in 21 local government areas of Adamawa State, 20 in Ogun State, 16 in Ekiti State, 19 in Rivers State and 25 in Akwa Ibom State.

    Further hearing in the petition continues at 9am today.

  • Akpabio: we’ll partner Tinubu to provide for, protect Nigerians

    Akpabio: we’ll partner Tinubu to provide for, protect Nigerians

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio yesterday said the 10th National Assembly would partner with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide for and protect Nigerians.

    The National Assembly would provide the required legislative framework for the President to anchor his policies and programmes, he added.

    In his inauguration address after he was elected as the President, Akpabio pledged to operate on the principles of Servant Leadership and Uncommon Leadership.

    Among his legislative agenda is a focus on gender, with specific affirmative provisions to guarantee women’s inclusivity, as well as issues relating to persons with special needs, and equality.

    Akpabio spoke on the need to engage, empower and reward resourceful and innovative youths and enhance access to finance for technological start-ups.

    “We must recognise and prepare for a mid-21st century global economy that places a premium on intellectual content and knowledge, and our young men and women must be supported to engage competitively,” he said.

    The National Assembly under him, he said, would work to expand the revenue streams available to the country, especially from the huge but largely unregulated natural and solid mineral resources base.

    These additional sources of revenue, he added, will build the nation’s resilience to shocks and stresses resulting from the fluctuation of oil prices in the international market.

    “We will, as a forward-looking Senate, pass laws that emphasise economic viability, social acceptability and environmental sustainability, to encourage alternate and green technologies without prejudicing our developmental needs,” Akpabio said.

    He extended hands of fellowship to his opponent as well as lawmakers who had divergent views on who should emerge as President of the Senate.

    Akpabio said: “We must, therefore, as a Senate, rise to partner with His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and provide the required legislative framework and legal environment for him to anchor the policies and programmes that he espouses for the country.”

    “In doing this, I will particularly like to address our Distinguished colleagues from other parties.

    “Yes, we may have come to the National Assembly through the instrumentalities of different political parties, so it is appropriate to recognise and respect our differing perceptions and positions on issues that will be brought before this chamber.

    “However, in all matters of national interest, we are enjoined to remember that we are first and foremost, Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, before our roles as representatives and members of our individual political parties.

    “There is, therefore, every reason to support good policies and programmes of the Federal Government, and I call on you to put this national interest first at all times.

    “Our Senate, the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will be a senate for all Nigeria.

    “Together, we shall be greater than the sum of our individual political parties. On my part, Distinguished Senators, I affirm that this leadership shall be yours.”

    Read Also: Akpabio judicious choice for Senate President – Umana

    He said he was pleased that Tinubu is the President because of his commitment to a strong economy, national security, inclusion and the rule of law.

    “I am pleased, as I am sure that you too are, that we have in His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu…who is committed to a strong economy, national security, inclusion and the rule of law.

    “The antecedents of Mr President and his actions in office these past two weeks give not just a pointer but bear witness to an executive government that knows the challenges of the country and is in a hurry to resolve same,” he said.

    He said Nigerians should anticipate an executive that is proactive, progressive and practical.

    “Our laws must therefore, align with the vision of Mr. President to protect and provide for our people at the innermost core of their essence while our actions must also guarantee the best and most efficient use of our national commonwealth,” the Senate President said.

    According to Akpabio, his election marked a historic moment “as we embark on a new chapter in the Senate.

    “I stand before you humbled, honoured, and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and responsibility as I acknowledge and accept your call to serve as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “I assure you that I will discharge the responsibilities of this office with utmost dedication, integrity, and fairness.

    “I am humbled because your choice reflects the collective will of the Senate, this assembly of Nigerians whose role and responsibilities for Nigeria are at the apex of the demands of true patriotism, loyalty and devotion to the country.

    “As the Senate, you represent the entire country and your choice is a reflection of the choice of your constituents, of all Nigeria. And I thank you very sincerely for it.

    “Many of the challenges we have had, and many of the defining moments of our historic journey as a nation towards true democracy, have been met and made by those who have hitherto occupied this seat.

    “I am, therefore, immensely grateful not only for the great trust you have placed in me today by electing me as the President of the Senate but also for the opportunity to serve our great nation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

    He pledged to run a servant and uncommon leadership model.

    “To the Nigerian people, I say this: your dreams, your aspirations, and your well-being will be at the heart of everything we will do in this Senate. I urge you to remain hopeful, steadfast and united.

    “Nigerians must remember that the nation is caught up in global challenges and upheavals which have far-reaching consequences; the impact of armed conflicts in Europe and Africa, as well as global political and economic realignments, are but a few of these events impacting Nigeria, other countries in Africa and even beyond.

    “Our Senate will remain watchful of, and will be responsive to, these events,” he added.

  • JAMB director arraigned for allegedly threatening Oloyede’s wife to blackmail her husband

    JAMB director arraigned for allegedly threatening Oloyede’s wife to blackmail her husband

    A Deputy Director with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr. Yisa Usman, was arraigned yesterday on allegations bordering on threatening Mrs. Raheemat Oloyede on phone with intent to blackmail her husband, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the board’s registrar.

    Usman was arraigned by the police on behalf of the Federal Government on a five-count charge before Justice Nkeonye Maha of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    He allegedly committed the offence with Abdulfatai Usman, said to be on the run, between February 14, 2022 and February 15, 2022.

    They were alleged to have intentionally communicated through a network computer system with phone number: +447529723948 with Mrs. Oloyede “a communication which is grossly offensive, indecent, criminal intimidation for the purpose of causing inconvenience or needless anxiety” to her.

    The accused were alleged to have committed the offence contrary to Section 24(1)(a) & 1(b) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Usman is a sole defendant in the charge, dated March 29 but filed March 30.

    He pleaded not guilty to all the counts after the charge was read to him.

    Police prosecutor, Eristo Asaph, made an application for a trial date after the defendant took the plea.

    But Moses Balogun, who appeared for Usman, applied for a bail.

    “Having pleaded not guilty, we shall be applying for a bail, my lord,” he said.

    The lawyer informed the court that a bail application, dated and filed on June 7, had been served on the prosecution on same day.

    Read Also: JAMB, tertiary institutions decide admission cut-off marks June 24

    Balogun said the motion on notice was brought pursuant to sections 35 and 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    He told the court that during the investigation of the matter and while Usman was admitted to an administrative bail, he complied with the terms of the bail.

    The lawyer, who said Usman was a deputy director, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal terms or self-recognition pending the hearing and determination of the case.

    Asaph did not oppose the application.

    In a ruling, Justice Maha admitted Usman to a bail in the sum of N2 million with a surety who must be a civil servant on Level 14 and must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    She ruled that the defendant and the surety must submit their travel documents and a passport photograph each to the court’s registrar.

    In the alternative, the judge held that the surety could also be a responsible citizen with evidence of tax payment for a period of two years and must have a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    She said the surety must also depose to an affidavit of means.

    Justice Maha ordered that Usman should be remanded at a correctional centre pending the perfection of his bail and adjourned the matter till October 26 for trial.

    But Balogun, who prayed the court to order a release of his client to him pending the perfection of his bail within five days, pledged to write an undertaking to the effect.

    The judge granted the plea and ordered that the undertaking must be completed before the close of work.

  • Agbakoba urges Tinubu to probe Bulkachuwa, NDIC

    Agbakoba urges Tinubu to probe Bulkachuwa, NDIC

    • •Ex-NBA president says senator’s comment a ‘monumental disgrace’

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to probe Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa over his suggestion that he obtained favours from his wife on behalf of his fellow senators.

    Bulkachuwa’s wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (retd.), is the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal (PCA).

    The lawmaker, in a video clip which surfaced yesterday, spoke at the valedictory session of the Ninth Senate.

    Bulkachuwa claimed that he encroached on his wife’s “freedom and independence” in the course of her official duties as head of the second highest judicial office in Nigeria.

    According to him, his wife did not rebuff him.

    But immediate past Senate President Ahmad Lawan quickly interrupted and dissuaded the senator from continuing his speech.

    Senator Bulkachuwa was elected to represent Bauchi North in 2019.

    He said: “…Particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence were encroached upon when she was in office. She has been tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended it to my colleagues.”

    Stopping him from continuing, Lawan, said he did not think it was appropriate for the senator to make such comment.

    “Distinguished Senator, I don’t think that is the right route to go,” Lawan said.

    Read Also: APC suspends Sen Bulkachuwa over ‘neglect of constituency’

    Condemning the incident in a post on his Twitter handle, Agbakoba described the senator’s statement as a “monumental disgrace” which needed to be probed.

    He said: “Senator Bulkachuwa’s statement at the Valedictory of the 9th Senate is a monumental disgrace for our institutions. This man deserves to be taken up immediately by the authorities.

    “It is a blight on my confidence in our systems. I represented Usman Tuggar in relation to disputed elections between him and Senator Bulkachuwa for Bauchi North senatorial. We lost in three courts.”

    He advised President Tinubu to cleanse the Judiciary.

    Agbakoba said: “Senator Bulkachuwa seems to suggest why President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT must cleanse the system in a most dramatic and fundamental process, if he wishes to succeed.”

    Justice Bulkachuwa bowed out of the Bench in March 2020 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years for justices of the Appeal Court.

    The former PCA told The Nation and other journalists at a valedictory service in her honour in Lagos that she kept her husband’s politics and political career out of her home.

    She said this helped her to guard against being influenced by politicians.

    The retire Justice Bulkachuwa said: “My husband is a politician, but politics is a no-go area in the house. Even my children are aware of that. No politician is invited to the house. My husband can pursue whatever he wants to pursue as a politician, but we hardly discuss politics in the house. All these help to guard against any influence from any politician.”

    Agbakoba also alluded to a recent comment by National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Chairman AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef on why President Tinubu needs to act fast.

    Abdullateef alleged on June 12 that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed a doctored NDIC Bill hours before leaving office.

    He said the new law contains 35 sections that were hitherto not in the Bill that was passed by the National Assembly. 

    Reacting to the claim, Agbakoba said: “The chairman of @NDICNigeria has also made dramatic revelations pointing to possible deep rot in our systems of government, which is responsible for financial and monetary policy.

    “The President ought to act now.”

  • Poverty shouldn’t limit any child from attaining highest education level, says Tinubu

    Poverty shouldn’t limit any child from attaining highest education level, says Tinubu

    • •President promises to commit more resources to education
    • •NANS: some people asked us to protest but we declined

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday promised his administration’s commitment to committing more resources to the Education sector to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.

    President Tinubu made the promise when he hosted the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    A statement by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, said the President stressed that poverty should not be a barrier to education, underscoring the transformative power of education in combating poverty.

    “If we all believe that education is the greatest weapon against poverty, then we have to invest in it.

    “Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller, ‘bole’ (roasted plantain) seller or yam seller, from attaining their highest standard of education, to eliminate poverty.

    “If you eliminate poverty from one family, you can carry the rest of the weight,” he said.

    President Tinubu, who also promised to consider the requests of NANS leaders, urged the students’ body to ensure unity among its members across the country to achieve better results.

    “You have to promote unity and stability among each other. You have to employ democratic means in your programmes and elections. I have to say anyone who is unable to accept and celebrate a free and fair election does not deserve the joy of victory,” he said.

    Read Also: State of emergency on education in Taraba: rhetoric or reality?

    The President expressed his appreciation to the students’ body for supporting the removal of subsidy on petrol, explaining the reasons behind the decision and the need to curb smuggling.

    “I’m glad you understand the reason for the subsidy removal. We were at a point where Nigeria tried to draw water from a dry well. That is no longer acceptable. We equally must not continue to service the smugglers because they used to take our tankers and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol) across the borders. We will put our money where our mouth is,” he said.

    Leader of the NANS delegation, Umar Barambu, said the leaders of the students’ body visited the President to thank him for signing into law the Students’ Loan Bill, which will provide loans to indigent students.

    The students’ leader noted that the law would ensure that no Nigerian student in tertiary institution will drop out of school over inability to pay school fees.

    The Bill, sponsored by former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, was signed into law by President Tinubu on June 12, the nation’s Democracy Day.

    “We are here to congratulate you and to thank you for what you have been doing for the country since you assumed responsibility as the President. We want to equally thank you for the Students’ Loan Bill,” Barambu said.

    Declaring the students’ support on the removal of fuel subsidy, the NANS president said: “It takes a great person to take that bold step of removing the subsidy on petrol. Some people contacted us to protest against that decision, but we said no!

    “The well is dry and ‘Baba’ cannot give what we don’t have now. We have to accept reality and face that challenge squarely so that together we can rescue the country.

    “Today, we are saying ‘yes’ to fuel subsidy removal and we will stand with that decision,” he said.

  • Alleged false claims: Court fixes October 18 for Ifeanyi Ubah’s arraignment

    Alleged false claims: Court fixes October 18 for Ifeanyi Ubah’s arraignment

    The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday fixed October 18 for the arraignment of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and his firm, Capital Oil and Gas, for allegedly making false claims to the Assets Management Corporation (AMCON).

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo fixed the date following the Federal Government’s complaint that Ubah had repeatedly been absented from appearing to take his plea on the charge filed against him.

    The judge directed that a summons be issued to Ubah and his firm through his counsel for the lawmaker’s appearance in court on the adjourned date.

    Justice Oweibo declined an application to issue a warrant for Ubah’s arrest, as requested by prosecution counsel, Mr. Tunde Lawal of the law firm of Kunle Adegoke (SAN) & Co.

    But the judge warned that the senator risked an arrest warrant should he fail to appear on the next date of adjournment.

    The Federal Government initiated criminal proceedings against Ubah in 2019 in an eight-count charge over his indebtedness to AMCON.

    The counts included conspiracy in making false claims in relation to the actual value of certain assets transferred to AMCON under a consent judgment obtained in 2012.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Seven feared killed as gunmen attack Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy

    In previous proceedings, the Federal Government told the court that it had been unable to serve the defendants their October 30, 2019 charges, alleging that Ubah had been evasive.

    When the matter came up yesterday, Lawal informed the court that the defendants had been served with the amended charge and hearing notice.

    He reminded the judge that on the last adjourned date, Ubah was absent, even after receiving the hearing notice.

    On that basis, Lawal sought the issuance of a bench warrant against the lawmaker.

    But defence counsel, Mrs. Ifeoma Esom, opposed the prayer.

    She informed the court that the matter was for a report of settlement/plea, saying her team had just been informed that the settlement had failed and that it was on the basis of settlement that Ubah was absent.

    Countering her, the prosecutor averred that a settlement could not be reported on the matter, as it was a criminal case.

    He said parties could choose to settle outside the court but could not make that part of the business of a criminal court.

    Lawal added that the best that could happen was a plea bargain while also noting that a settlement outside a court did not give the first defendant Ubah, the authority to be absent from court.

    In its ruling, the court declined to issue a bench warrant but ordered that the summons be served on Ubah through his counsel.

    The court also stated that if on the next adjourned date, Ubah does not appear in court, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

    It adjourned proceedings till October 18 for arraignment.

    One of the counts in the charge reads: “That you, Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, and Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, sometime between 2012 and 2018, conspired in making false claims in relation to the actual values of certain assets transferred to AMCON under the consent judgment delivered in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/714/2012 on July 1, 2013 in partial payment of the Indebtedness of Capital Oil and Gas Industries with a view to defeating the realisation of the said judgment debt of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited to AMCON, then standing in the sum of N135 billion.”