Category: Lead

Gunmen on Friday shot dead five policemen at a checkpoint at Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

Also, a couple identified as Mr. and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu who hailed from Amankwo Okpala community were equally killed.

According to eyewitnesses the incident which occurred around 8 am sent panic to residents and passersby in the area as they scampered for safety upon hearing gunshots. It also brought commercial activities to an abrupt halt.

One of the witnesses told The Nation that three of the police were shot dead at the scene, and two others ran to a nearby shop but their attackers raced to the shop and equally killed a couple who owned the shop they ran into.

The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five rifles.

“It was a Black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8 am shot five policemen dead at Okpala Junction. The policemen drove in a white-coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise Division to eat at the junction.

“As they were eating, gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple was selling meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came to the shop where the two other officers were hiding, and shot them dead. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop.

“They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is in a panic. Everybody is in hiding. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. The market is shut. People have run away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”

Also, a source told our correspondent that the police officers drove to the junction to commence the stop and search when the gunmen stormed the area and attacked them.

“This is horrible. The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. We have not witnessed such a shooting before.”

The Nation recalls that on March 27 some fleeing gunmen ambushed and killed five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the same Ngor Okpala LGA.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye,  said he had not gotten an official report on the incident. “Are you calling in respect of what happened in Ngor Okpalla, I’m yet to get an official report on it.”

• Says May 29 handover date sacrosanct
• Pardon me if I’ve hurt you, President tells Nigerians
• Sultan to politicians: accept outcome of election in good faith
• Govs, CAN, others felicitate Muslims at Eid-el-Fitri

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed his readiness to receive Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29.

The President also declared that the handover of power from him to the President Elect on that date is sacrosanct.

Buhari and Tinubu spoke on the phone to exchange pleasantries on the occasion of the Eid el Fitri.

The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said his principal assured Tinubu that he was ready to welcome him as his successor in the Presidential Villa on May 29.

“President Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Friday morning exchanged Eid greetings in a phone call to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan,” Shehu said in a statement.

“Both leaders thanked God Almighty for seeing this day and prayed for the stability and the wellbeing of the nation.

“President Buhari expressed his readiness to welcome Asiwaju Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29th.”

And fielding questions from journalists at the Eid grounds in Abuja after the Sallah prayers, Buhari said Nigerians have fully embraced and demonstrated their love for democracy, hence the handover of power to Tinubu is not negotiable.

“Nigerians appreciate the stability of democracy,” he said.

“The outcome of the elections, in which more than 10 governors failed to make it to the Senate, sent a clear message that ordinary Nigerians know the power of their votes and how to use it.

“Nigerians cherish democracy. They have shown their love for it and will defend it against real or perceived threats.

“They will continue to vote one way or the other depending on their preferences.”

Reiterating the sanctity of the handover date, the President said, “God willing, nothing will stop it.”

Buhari, who later hosted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja community as part of his last Sallah celebration as President in the Villa, apologised to those he might have hurt with his actions during his eight years in the saddle.

Buhari, while tendering the open apology, also pledged to be far away from Abuja after his tenure to avoid distracting his successor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“There is no doubt I hurt some people, and I wish you will pardon me and those that think that I have hurt them so much. Please pardon me,” he said moments after returning home from the Abuja Eid grounds where he had joined other residents for the Sallah prayers.

Buhari told his guests, led by FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, that God has been kind to him, having served the country in various capacities.

He said once his tenure is over next month, he will be as far away from Abuja as possible to allow the incoming administration run without any interference from him.

He said: “I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and a half years now.

“I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible, not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.

“Having been a governor, minister and president twice, I think God has given us an incredible opportunity to serve as your president, and I thank God for that. So, please, whoever feels I have done wrong, we are all humans.”

He said he could not wait to go home after eight years as president.

His words: “I can’t wait to go home to Daura. If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for Niger Republic.

While thanking Nigerians for tolerating him since 2015, Buhari described himself as lucky to have led Nigeria in various capacities.

Describing democracy as the best form of government, Buhari said without it, he could not have been President, having already served as military head of state and given the side of the country he hails from.

His words: “I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing, otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My home town to Niger Republic is eight kilometres.

“I honestly consider myself very lucky. I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God, through technology and PVC, I became president.

“I tried in 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at the Supreme Court three times.”

He  took a swipe at those who claim  they cannot get justice at the courts, recalling that all the Supreme Court justices that heard all his election petitions were not only  from the north but were also Muslims, yet he lost.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President  Ahmad Lawan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff  Ibrahim Gambari, Senator Philip Aduda, Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman in the FCT the Reverend Timothy Amakum and Umaru Shagalinku, the man who started one of the oldest restaurants in Abuja, were also at the Sallah homage.

In his remarks during the FCT residents’ homage to the president, FCT Minister Bello thanked the President for hosting the delegation and allowing more people into the Villa for the last homage before his handing over on May 29.

Bello said the conceptualization and realization of the FCT was historic and deserved commendation, reminding Buhari of his role as part of the military Recce Team for the capital in the 70s.

The Rev. Amakon thanked God for using Buhari to transform the nation and to maintain peace and development of the country.

He prayed that God will continue to strengthen him even after he leaves office to continue to play the role of an elder statesman.

 The cleric also prayed that God will help the incoming administration to continue the great work of the Buhari administration.

He commended the Minister of FCT for the good job he has done and prayed that Christians and Muslims will continue to co-exist peacefully.

Accept election outcome in good faith, Sultan tells politicians

More goodwill messages also came yesterday from political and religious leaders on the occasion.

In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, appealed to politicians currently seeking redress at the various election tribunals to accept the results of the last general elections in good faith. 

“The elections have come and gone, people should go ahead with their routine activities peacefully. Politicians seeking redress in courts should take the outcomes in good faith and support whoever emerges for the sustenance of peace, unity and development,” he said.

Abubakar, who appreciated the Almighty Allah for the successful completion of Ramadan fasting by the Muslim Ummah across the country, added: “As mankind, we always appreciate the Almighty Allah for the gift of life and good health to be among those that will celebrate this great day.

“During the period of Ramadan, we have learned a lot from our scholars. We should continue to sustain those lessons to be part of life. Our generosity to the less privileged among us should be maintained in order to enhance our relationship and sustain our love for one another.”

He felicitated with all the Muslims across the country and prayed for the elected leaders to succeed in delivering their campaign promises to the citizens.

He also prayed for the sustenance of peace, unity and peaceful coexistence, while urging leaders to fear Allah in the discharge of their responsibilities.

CAN calls for mutual understanding, peace among Christians, Muslims

In its own goodwill message, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) urged Nigerian Muslims and Christians to continue to live in peace and mutual understanding.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said both faiths share a lot of good virtues in common and their adherents must use their understanding of the Holy books to promote inclusivity, and work towards building a more tolerant and egalitarian society for us all.

Praying for continued blessings of God for the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, Okoh said: “Ramadan is a time of self-reflection and a renewed commitment to living a life of piety and peace. It teaches us the importance of sacrifice, compassion and generosity towards others, especially the less privileged in our society.

“As we mark this important occasion, we must take the opportunity to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and the values that it teaches us, which is love for one another and mutual understanding for a peaceful society.

“As we celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri festival, we call on all Nigerians to use this occasion to pray for our beloved country, for peace, and for the prosperity of all our people.”

 Let’s keep to the lessons of Ramadan for a stronger, happier nation, APC tells Nigerians

In a similar message, the All Progressives Congress (APC) asked Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, to adhere to the lessons of the just concluded Holy Month of Ramadan with a view to building a stronger and happier nation.

The party in the message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, hoped that the lesson of the holy season “will strengthen our resolve to pursue and attain higher and transcendental ideals, and help us rededicate to more wholesome and patriotic living.”

He said: “As we celebrate, may we show more love, respect, compassion, empathy and tolerance towards our fellow citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity and social circumstance, and demonstrate greater faith and hope in our country’s future of assured greatness, especially with the Renewed Hope agenda of the incoming administration of our President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“May the blessings of Eid endure in our lives and nation. Eid Mubarak, dear compatriots!”

APC National Chairman advises Muslims to continue to be peaceful

National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, advised Muslims across the country to continue to imbibe the attribute of peace and live together in peace and harmony with other Nigerians.

 “My message is for us to continue to live in peace with ourselves because it is only peace that enhances anything we want in this life,” he said.

He warned that peace was very crucial in achieving any goal in life, because without it, no progress can be achieved, hence the call to the Muslim Ummah and other Nigerians to imbibe the attribute of peace for the attainment of set goals.

“See what is happening in Sudan. You need to be there to appreciate what it means not to have peace on a day like this.

“So we thank God Almighty for being merciful to Nigerians and that in spite of everything, we enjoy relative peace and we are able to observe this day of Eid-el-Fitr this year in a very peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

Justice is very important -PDP

In its own goodwill message, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged adherence to the principle of justice and effort at national regeneration.

“The Holy Ramadan offered our nation the divine opportunity for serious introspection, especially on issues of the fear of God, integrity, accountability, adherence to set rules and constitutional order as well as respect for the rights, personal freedom and will of the citizens in a democratic setting,” National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said.

He added: “Nigerians, especially leaders, must reflect on the essence of Ramadan and use the occasion to reawaken the virtues of selflessness, honesty, self-restraint, fair-mindedness, mutual respect, forgiveness, love and compassion for one another without regards to ethnic, sectional, religious or partisan considerations as this is the only way to achieve the much-desired politically stable and economically viable nation.”

The party said it was deeply saddened that Nigerians were still under siege by terrorists and being subjected to living in fear, misery, anguish, abject poverty and excruciating economic hardship.

Continuing, the PDP said: “It is more saddening that effort by Nigerians to instill a purposeful, honest and responsible leadership is being sabotaged by oppressive forces desperate to impose themselves against the will of the people. “

Ramadan, period of rejuvenation, says Lalong

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong said the period provided a fresh opportunity for Muslims to carry out spiritual rejuvenation and acts of charity that are in tandem with the message of Prophet Mohammed.

He said the celebration of Eid el Fitr is not only significant to Muslims alone but provides an opportunity for people of other faiths to share in the joy and essence of the moment.

According to Governor Lalong, the event should help Nigerians to reflect on love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness which are virtues that are enshrined in the teachings of the two major faiths in the country.

Sanwo-Olu urges faithful to uphold lessons of Ramadan

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged Muslims in Lagos State and across Nigeria to continue on the path of spirituality and peaceful co-existence.

He said:”The Holy Month of Ramadan is very significant to Muslims across the world as one of the major pillars of Islam, which teaches abstinence from worldly pleasures, steadfastness in prayers and total submission to the will of Allah according to the Quranic injunctions.

 “I want to admonish all of us that we shouldn’t allow all the prayers and fasting during the Holy month go to waste.

“Please, let us all continue to live in that state of grace. Let us continue to imbibe and show that something important has passed through us and let it reflect in our words, our lives and our relationship with fellow human beings.

“We should not limit the goodness of our deeds to Ramadan period alone; we must make the lessons and acts our ways of life.”

• ‘Why we didn’t review presidential election result’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the whereabouts of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, is not known to the commission since his now controversial action during the supplementary governorship election in the state. Ari announced a winner for the supplementary governorship election on Sunday while collation was yet to be concluded.

Speaking on the suspended Adamawa REC, INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye, who spoke on a Channels Television programme Sunrise Daily monitored in Abuja said “we don’t know where he is at the moment. After this particular incident, the commission wrote to him and also called him o phone.  He never answered ay of he calls and never returned any of them. We asked him to report to report to the Commission on Sunday, but did not see him. We asked him to report on Monday and did not see him either. Up to this moment, he has not reported n we don’t know where he is.”

On why the commission has not declared Ari wanted, Okoye argued that “declaring him wanted is the duty of the police. If they make determination that his presence is needed during investigations and he is nowhere to be found, it is within their prerogative to declare him wanted. I don’t know if he is under arrest at the moment or not. The responsibility given to the Commission under the law is to prosecute. The duty of investigations and arrest resides with the security agencies and in this case, the Nigeria Police Force which is the lead agency in terms of election security.

“We have written to the IGP detailing what the issues are and the infractions we believe that the REC has committed. We have asked him to investigate and if possible, make an arrest and if a prima facie case is established, he file should be made available to the commission to initiate the prosecution. So, we have followed the law, the processes and procedures.”

After suspending the REC, INEC reported his case to President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari, who on Thursday approved Ari’s suspension, pending the completion of an investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State. The INEC National Commissioner said that the Commission had received a report from the Inspector General of Police and has commenced the process of prosecuting the controversial Adamawa REC.

“We wrote to the Inspector General of Police and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. We have received a response from the Inspector General of Police and they have already commenced an investigation. My understanding is that the moment the Inspector General of Police concludes the investigation regarding the REC and every other individual who is involved and a prima facie case is established against the REC the file will be made available to the commission and the commission will begin prosecution of the REC,” he added.

The commission also explained that it did not carry out any review of the declarations and return made on the presidential election because none of the parties in the election made any formal request for it as contained in the Electoral Act 2022. He added that in the fullness of time, Nigerians will come to realise that the 2023 elections is one of the best elections to ever be conducted in the country. He said though the commission had challenges wit uploading the presidential election results to the INEC Election Viewing portal, it is not enough to discredit the election.

Okoye said while the Electoral Act empowers the commission to review election result declared, such powers can only be exercised after a declaration and return has been made, adding that the clamor for a review of the presidential election was done when no declaration had been made. He declined to comment on the conduct of the elections saying “I am reluctant to analyse the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the governorship and state Assembly elections because some of the issues are already before the tribunals.”

He disclosed that the Commission has a policy of reviewing every election with a view to imbibing the lessons learnt. He said “after every election, the Commission engages in both external and internal evaluation of the conduct of the elections to learn valuable lessons and where mistakes are made, know how to remedy these mistakes. At a very reflective and rationale moment, we will come to see that this election will turn out to be one of the best elections ever conducted in this country.

“The election is like a revolutionary situation. I say this because if you look at the whole gamut of the election, I do not think that it will be fair to reduce the conduct of the 2023 general elections to the issue of result upload alone. If you look at section 43 of the electoral act 2022, it makes it optional for any political party that wants to nominate polling or party agents to the 176,606 poling units where we deployed election materials to do so. Four political parties, APC, PDP, NNPP and LP nominated over 170,000 poling agents. What that mean is that at the level of the poling units where the election took place, they were there.

“The law is that the moment votes are segregated, counted and entered into form EC8a which is the polling unit result sheet, a copy will be retained by the Commission, a copy will be given to the police and copies will be given to the party agents. It means that any party that deployed agents will have copies of the polling unit results.Secondly, you have to analyse elections from a holistic perspective and not only from the point of result upload because that is what is trending.

“The question of whether section 64 is mandatory in terms of result upload, whether the issue of collation revolves around result upload and other issues emanating from it, has been submitted to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and at the fullness of time, you will see that the Commission has done very well. Yes, we had challenges regarding upload of presidential election results and we informed Nigerians about the challenge.

“You will agree with me that there was result upload during the governorship and state Assembly elections. But you will agree that the Commission did well, but we cannot reduce the entire 2023 election to the challenge we had with the presidential upload. INEC has not done any review of the presidential election declaration because nobody has asked for it in writing. As at the time they were clamouring for a review, the declaration and return had not been made.”

• Minority parties strategise to unseat APC; plot South-South Speaker
• Lawan dismisses opposition’s moves to decide new National Assembly leadership
• Induction for Members-elect to hold between May 7 and 20
• Senate postpones resumption to May 2

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is pulling all the strings to frustrate ongoing efforts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other minority parties in the 10th National Assembly to hijack the leadership of both chambers.

Stakeholders in the ruling party are understood to have launched pre-emptive moves to stop the opposition parties from imposing their choice as either Senate President or House of Representatives Speaker.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said yesterday that the PDP and its allies in the National Assembly do not have what it takes to stage a repeat of the 2015 saga when some APC lawmakers aided the opposition to scuttle the emergence of the leaderships anointed by the party for the two chambers.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ran away with the Deputy Senate Presidency in that arrangement.

Concerned members of the APC had expressed worries over what they perceived as complacency by the party hierarchy in the build-up to the election of the principal officers of the 10th NASS.

But The Nation gathered that prominent APC leaders have been meeting and consulting on the issue.

They are said to be putting pressure on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to promptly take a decision on the APC zoning arrangement for the National Assembly leadership positions.

This, according to them, will provide direction for the various aspirants now criss-crossing the country to seek support for their ambitions.

The PDP, Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have a combined strength of 181 members in the House of Representatives, which has emboldened them to try to stand up to the APC in the leadership tussle, at least in the Green Chamber.

The APC, on the other hand, has 179 Reps-elect.

The opposition parties have formed an alliance to actualise their plan to install one of them possibly from the South-South as Speaker.  

 “With 182 members elect, opposition parties can come together and become the majority caucus in the House,” an insider told The Nation yesterday.

He added: “We already have one more vote than what we need to elect the Speaker. With the decision to cooperate and work together in the 10th Assembly, we are sure that the APC will not produce the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Six opposition political parties are part of the move to stop the APC from occupying the Speaker’s seat, and we mean business.”

The opposition caucus, which calls itself Greater Majority, says it is set to contest the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Confirming the position of the caucus, a Rep-elect from Anambra State, Hon. Victor Ogene, said that the Constitution gives every elected member the statutory right to gun for any leadership position, subject to the standing orders of the House.

He said: “Besides the issue of ranking, every member is entitled to run for the office of Speaker, regardless of political party affiliation.

“The All Progressives Congress, APC, or indeed, any political party for that matter, reserves the right to regale itself with talks about micro-zoning leadership positions in the National Assembly. 

“But the overriding question remains: are such fanciful engagements binding on the generality of members-elect? The answer today, tomorrow and until our current constitution is altered to reflect that desire is a big No.

“Issues surrounding this all-important question is easily resolved, in the case of the House of Representatives, by Section 50(1)(b), to wit:” There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.

“While zoning is permitted, as an intra-party solution to the sharing of political offices, seeking to enforce such on the generality of members would be tantamount to affronting Section 50 of the Nigerian constitution.

“Besides, political parties must not always use the National Assembly as guinea pigs for their zoning fancies. Why didn’t these governors summon the same courage, which they currently seek to flaunt, during the presidential primaries, by micro-zoning the presidency to a particular zone?

“If it was okay to say that the presidential ticket should go to the South, then I think they ought to follow through with that same template, and propose, for instance, that the Speakership should go to the North?”

Although Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has vowed that PDP members from his state would not be part of any plot to deny the APC of its right to decide the leadership of the National Assembly, the APC itself is not taking the matter lightly.

Sources said the party has reached out to some incoming Reps from the opposition parties to ensure that the PDP plan does not materialise.

A House of Reps member elect on the platform of the SDP said: “As a matter of fact, we members of the SDP in the House of Representatives are not going to work against the APC. We have resolved that the majority party should lead the House.”

The Rivers State caucus of the PDP in the House said it is working with the APC to ensure that the next Speaker is from the ruling party.

This is in line with the pledge made by Governor Wike.

Hon. Kingsley Chinda, a close ally of Wike, is leading the Rivers PDP alliance with the APC in the 10th Assembly.

The Nation also gathered that the party is in the process of activating all its necessary organs to  ensure that the decision on zoning National Assembly positions is made  as early as possible and seen to be a decision of the party as a whole.

Besides, party leaders and stakeholders have submitted a proposal that whatever decision is taken by the party on zoning in the NASS is binding on all APC members-elect and none of them will go against the party on the day of inauguration.

Said a high ranking member of the APC NWC: “We are aware of the concerns and I can tell you that efforts have been doubled to ensure that all goes well at the end of it all.

“We know the challenges and we are now poised to address them more promptly that ever before. On the issue of zoning, party leaders and other stakeholders have impressed it on us as NWC members to move faster and make the party’s position public.

“We have been told to do all that is needed to let the world know that is the position of the ruling party. All party organs that should be involved are now being galvanized.

“It is also important to allay fears that APC members elect will defy the party and go against the zoning arrangement that will be announced for whatever reason.

“Our party constitution is very clear about anti-party activities and we are not going to allow mistakes of the past to be repeated.

“APC members-elect know what it means to be involved in anti-party activities, and I am sure they won’t want to be a party to such.

“In case some have forgotten, there is a proposal that an undertaking be used to remind them ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly. With that, nobody will feign ignorance of what the party’s constitution says.”

No fear of opposition elements hijacking leadership — Lawan

 Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday sought to play down the chances of the opposition parties hijacking the leadership of the 10 NASS.

Lawan, who spoke to journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after the Eid-al-Fitr homage to President Buhari, said the APC would carry the opposition parties along in putting the leadership in place to ensure stability in the legislature.

Lawan described the APC as a strong and united party, a situation which would compel  its senators-elect to respect the position of the leaders of the party.

His words: “I don’t think opposition parties are planning to usurp because it is presumptuous that the APC will not be a united party.

“APC is a united party and the opposition party will simply work with the APC majority for us to have stability, because there is no way an opposition will decide who should be the Senate President, who should be the speaker.

“It is our party and other leaders that will decide which zone or whoever, and the rest of us in the party will key in and of course the opposition would have no option but to support.

“I don’t see anything wrong in the opposition talking to us, or we talking to the opposition to ensure that we’re on the same page, because we need the opposition to ensure that we get most of our constitutional amendments when the time is right passed.

“So, you need 73 senators at least for you to have any constitutional amendment. So, you would need the opposition.

“That’s why it is very, very critical; it is very essential that you work with opposition right from the beginning.

“Don’t ever think the opposition should be pushed away. I don’t believe in that. I only believe in the very bipartisan chamber because it is more productive. It is more stable, it’s calm, and it gives you the kind of outcome that you will never get with a very rancorous chamber. And I’ve seen it, we have done it.”

Induction for members elect scheduled for next month

Ahead of the inauguration of the two chambers of the 10th National Assembly, the Management of the legislature plans to put the members elect through an induction programme.

The induction is scheduled for May 7 and 20, 2023, according to the Research and Information and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Media and Publicity.

The programme will run in two phases with Batch A having its own session between May 7 and 13 while Batch B will have its turn between May 14 and 20.

Said the Sub-committee: “Following the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and the formal release of the authentic list of Senators and Honourable Members-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Management of the National Assembly, in conjunction with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic studies (NILDS), is now fully prepared for the induction of the Members- Elect of the 10th Assembly ahead of the inauguration in June 2023.

“The induction programme, which will be held in two batches, is scheduled to commence from the 7th to 13th of May 2023 with Batch A, while Batch ‘’B’’ will hold from May 14th to May 20th, 2023. The objective of the induction/inauguration exercise is to expose Members-Elect to the functions of the National Assembly, its Practices and Procedures as well as the services available to them.

“As part of the efforts to ensure a very successful Induction/ Inauguration exercise, the Management led by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alh. Sani Magaji Tambawal, has constituted a Central Planning Committee (CPC) made up of all the Secretaries in the National Assembly Service. Membership was also drawn from the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS),”

“The CPC, which is at the helm of the planning and implementation of the induction programme as well as the formal inauguration of the 10th Assembly, has the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana as Chairman. The CPC is divided into eleven (11) specialized sub-committees to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, monitoring and coordination,” the statement reads.

Senate postpones resumption till May 2

However, the Senate has postponed resumption of plenary to May 2, 2023.

The Senate had on Wednesday April 5, 2023 adjourned plenary to 25th April, 2023 to allow lawmakers observe Easter and Eid-El-Fitr holidays.

The Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akabueze, gave no reason for the further shift in date of resumption.

He merely said in part: “This is to inform all Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the resumption of the Senate in plenary has been rescheduled from Tuesday 25th April, 2023 to Tuesday May 2nd, 2023.

“All Distinguished Senators are by this notice requested to resume sitting in plenary on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023 by 10.00am prompt, please.”

ABUJA, April 21, 2023 (NAN) A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja has nullified some sections of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 which were considered to infringe on the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian citizens.

Justice James Omotosho, who struck out the sections in a judgment, held that the plaintiff, Mr Emmanuel Ekpenyong, had a locus standi to institute the suit on the subject matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekpenyong, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, had in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1076/2020, sued the National Assembly, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Attorney-General for the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

In the originating summons dated and filed on Aug. 31, 2020, the lawyer prayed the court to determine whether he had the locus standi to institute the proceeding.

“Whether the provisions of Sections 839, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848 and 851 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act infringes on the plaintiff’s right to thought, conscience, and religion as enshrined in Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

Ekpenyong urged the court to further determine whether those sections infringed on his freedom of peaceful assembly and association as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also prayed the court to determine whether the provisions on the Administrative Proceeding Committee in Section 851 of CAMA, 2020 was inconsistent with the provisions of Section (6)(6)(b) and Sections 36(1) and 251(1) (e) of the 1999 Constitution.

He asked the court to determine whether the court had powers to grant mandatory injunctive reliefs against the defendants.

The lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to void the affected sections, having infringed on his fundamental human rights.

In a counter affidavit dated and filed January 20, 2021 by counsel to the CAC, Olasoji Olowolafe, the commission described the suit as “an abuse of judicial process.”

According to the commission, the action is academic, hypothetical and of no utilitarian value to the plaintiff.

CAC, which argued that the case was not backed by any credible evidence, prayed the court to dismiss it.

The National Assembly, in its preliminary objection, also contended that the suit was incompetent because pre-action notice was not served on them and that the plaintiff had no locus standi.

Besides, the AGF argued that the suit did not have a reasonable cause of action, while insisting that the plaintiff lacked locus to file the matter.

Ekpenyong, however, filed a reply on points of law, among others, to counter their arguments.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that under Article 3 (e) of the Preamble to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, anyone could bring fundamental human rights matters on his own interest, on behalf of another person or even in public interest.

The judgment, which was delivered on Tuesday, was sighted on Friday by NAN.

According to the judge, under the new human rights regime, a court shall not dismiss a human right action for mere want of locus standi.

He, therefore, held that the plaintiff in the case had locus to institute the suit.

Justice Omotosho held that the powers granted to CAC to regulate and administer Incorporated Trustees in Nigeria under Sections 839, 842, 843, 844, Section 845, Section 846, Section 847, Section 848 of the CAMA 2020 had infringed on Ekpenyong’s right to freedom of thoughts.

He also held that the sections infringed on the conscience and religion as enshrined under Section 38 of the constitution and freedom of peaceful assembly and association enshrined under Section 40 of the constitution and are therefore null and void.

He also held that the provisions of the Administrative Proceedings Committee in Section 851 of the new CAMA denied the plaintiff his constitutional rights of access to court in Sections 6 (6) (b) and Section 36 (1) of the constitution and also usurped the powers of the Federal High Court under Section 251 (1) (e) of the constitution.

The judge, consequently, struck down Sections 839, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848 and Section 851 of the CAMA 2020, declaring same to be null and void, having been inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution.

The judge, however, agreed that since Ekpenyong did not serve the National Assembly with pre-action notice in line with Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Power and Privileges Act, the suit was incompetent against the legislative organ.

NAN had, on March 21, reported that Justice Inyang Ekwo of a sister court had retrained the CAC from suspending or appointing trustees of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the churches.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in that judgment in a suit filed by the Registered Trustees of CAN, held that the provisions of Sections 17 (1), 839 (1) and (7) (a), 842 (1) and (2), 851 and 854 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 and Regulations 28, 29 and 30 of the Companies Regulations (CR), 2021 were not applicable to CAN, the churches and other religious body.

President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to those who may have been hurt by his administration.

Buhari tendered the open apology while hosting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja community, to his ninth and last Sallah celebration home as President, at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking at the celebration attended by key figures in the administration and from the Abuja community, led by the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, the President noted that God had been kind to him, having served the country in various capacities.

He, however, told the crowd of homage payers at the Villa that after his tenure, he planned to be as far away from Abuja as possible to allow the incoming administration run without any interference from him. 

“I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and half years now.

“I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.

Read Also: Why Buhari didn’t intervene in Adamawa poll crisis, by govt

“Having been a Governor, Minister and the President twice, I think God has given us an incredible opportunity to serve as your president and I thank God for that. So, please whoever feels I have done wrong to, we are all humans. 

“There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me and those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me,” he pleaded.

The President also thanked Nigerians for tolerating his eight-year rule, saying “thank you for tolerating me…I consider myself lucky to have been a governor, minister and head of state and now president for two terms”.

The President also said that he could not wait to go home after eight years of being in the saddle of governing the country.

The President, who described himself as being lucky to have led Nigeria in various capacities, said “I can’t wait to go home to Daura. If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for the Niger Republic. I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people. I have got what I have asked and will quietly retire to my home town in Daura.”

The President praised democracy as the best form of government, saying that without it, he could not have become President after already serving as military head of state, given the side of the country he hails from.

He reminded the audience that he is from the extreme corner of Nigeria, Daura in Katsina State, which he said is just eight kilometers from Niger Republic. 

President Buhari added: “I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My home town to Niger Republic is 8 kilometers.

“I honestly consider myself very lucky, I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God through technology and PVC, I became president. I tried 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at Supreme Court three times.”

President took a swipe at those who said they cannot get justice at the court, recalling that all Supreme Court justices in all the election cases he took to court were all from the north and Muslims and yet he lost. He said thanks to technology and the permanent voters card (PVC), he was able to make it in 2015 to Aso Rock.

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Senator Philip Aduda, and CAN Chairman in FCT, Rev. Timothy Amakum were also at the Sallah homage.

President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to those who may have been hurt by actions of his administration.

Buhari tendered the open apology while hosting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja community to his ninth and last Sallah celebration at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking at the celebration attended by key figures in the administration from the Abuja community, led by the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, the President also thanked Nigerians for tolerating his eight-year administration. 

Read Also: Buhari axes Adamawa REC, orders security chiefs’ probe

“Thank you for tolerating me…I consider myself lucky to have been a Governor, Minister and Head of State and now President for two terms,” Buhari told the guests. 

The President also said that he cannot wait to go home after eight years of ruling the nation..

According to him: “I can’t wait to go home…I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people. I have got what I have asked and will quietly retire to my home town in Daura.”

He reminded the audience he is from the extreme corner of Nigeria, Daura in Katsina State, which he said is just eight kilometers from Niger Republic. 

Details Shortly…

The management of the National Assembly has commenced plans for the induction and inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

A statement by the Secretary, Research and Information and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Media and Publicity, said the induction of new members will be conducted between May 7 and 20, 2023.

The statement said the induction of members will be carried out in two phases with Batch A holding between May 7 and 13 while batch B will hold between May 14 and 20.

The statement reads “Following the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and the formal release of the authentic list of Senators and Honourable Members-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Management of the National Assembly, in conjunction with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic studies (NILDS) is now fully prepared for the induction of the Members- Elect of the 10th Assembly ahead of the inauguration in June 2023.

“The Induction programme, which will be held in two batches, is scheduled to commence from the 7th to 13th of May 2023 with Batch A, while Batch ‘’B’’ will hold from May 14th to May 20th , 2023.

“The objectives of the Induction/Inauguration exercise is to expose Members-Elect to the functions of the National Assembly, its Practices and Procedures as well as the services available to them.

Read Also: APC stalwart canvasses NEC meeting for 10th NASS leadership

“As part of the efforts to ensure a very successful Induction/ Inauguration exercise, the Management led by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alh.Sani Magaji Tambawal has constituted a Central Planning Committee (CPC) made up of all the Secretaries in the National Assembly Service.

“Membership was also drawn from the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

“The CPC, which is at the helm of the planning and implementation of the induction programme as well as the formal inauguration of the 10th Assembly, has the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly (DCNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana as Chairman. 

“The CPC is divided into eleven (11) specialized sub-committees to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, monitoring and coordination.

“The Sub-committees include Programme Planning, Finance, Protocol and Ceremonials, Records and Documentation, Media and Publicity, Transport and Logistics, as well as Venue and Accommodation. Others are

Security and Accreditation, Health and Medical Services, Civil Society Organisations/Development Partners and the Rapporteurs Team.

“The Sub-committees, which report at weekly intervals to the CPC have since swung into action, holding strategy sessions and perfecting plans for a successful induction exercise. In fact, the Sub-committees are presently crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s and rearing to go.

“It would be recalled that during the Inauguration of the CPC, the CNA Alhaji Tambawal who promised to deliver seamless Induction and Inauguration programmes, charged the members to put in their best and work as a united team towards the achievement of the desired objectives.”

• IG, DSS DG, NSCDC boss get directive to act

The President went tough yesterday in his first direct reaction to the Adamawa governorship election debacle.

He ordered the immediate suspension, investigation and prosecution if necessary, of Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari.

President Muhammadu Buhari also directed the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, to commence an immediate investigation into the roles played by their officers and men in the supplementary election fiasco.

The controversial REC on Sunday breached the election results collation process by announcing the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner thereby generating a crisis.

Yunusa-Ari’s action taken in the company with senior security operatives contravened the Electoral Act 2022, which places the responsibility for announcing results on the Returning Office (RO).

Read Also: Buhari to appeal ruling voiding Araraume’s removal

A statement issued from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension from the office of Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), of Adamawa State pending the completion of investigation by the Inspector General of Police on the conduct/actions of the REC during the Supplementary election in Adamawa State.

“The President has directed the immediate investigation and prosecution, if found liable, of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, by the Inspector General of Police.”

The statement, which was issued by the Director of Information in the OSGF, Mr Willie Bassey, also said the President directed the IGP, the DG of DSS and the Commandant-General of the NSCDC to also commence the investigation of the roles played by their personnel in the election crisis.

“Also, the President has directed investigation by the Inspector General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, of the role of their officers in aiding and abetting the conduct/actions of Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari and if found culpable, appropriate disciplinary actions, to be meted out to them”, the statement said.