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Tag: Abubakar Bukola Saraki

  • Natasha: Group berates Saraki over comments against Akpabio

    Natasha: Group berates Saraki over comments against Akpabio

    A former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been berated over his recent comments which suggested Senate President, Godswill Akpabio was trivializing and politicising the sexual harassment allegation against him.

    A group, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Professionals, kicked against Saraki’s comments, saying it was wrong for him to make such inflammatory remarks on a matter with litigations in court.

    Saraki, a former Kwara Governor, had issued a press release through his media office on March 9, 2025, titled “Saraki to Akpabio: Don’t Politicise, Trivialise Call for Due Process in Senate.”

    Saraki called for an open and transparent investigation into the

    the sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

    The forum in a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Edidiong John and National Secretary, Kemfon Neke denied that Akpabio was ‘politicising’ and ‘trivialising’ the matter.

    It said that Saraki as a former presiding officer in the Senate ought to have weighed the implications of his statement in the light of established legal and procedural principles while allowing the Judiciary to do it’s work.

    The statement reads in parts: “While we respect Dr. Saraki’s right to express his views, it is imperative to clarify certain facts in the public domain and address the implications of his statement in light of established legal and procedural principles, which Dr. Saraki, as a former presiding officer of the Senate, ought to be fully aware of.

    “Firstly, information widely available in the public sphere indicates that Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, has initiated legal action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. 

    “This lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, includes claims of defamation and violation of fundamental rights, stemming directly from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    “Mrs. Akpabio’s legal action is on behalf of her family, asserting that the senator’s claims have caused reputational damage and emotional distress. The veracity of these allegations and the culpability of the parties involved are now squarely before a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.

    “This development, by virtue of the Senate’s own rule book, deprives the National Assembly of further jurisdiction to entertain the matter, as it is sub judice, a principle designed to prevent legislative entanglement in ongoing judicial proceedings.

    “Dr. Saraki, with his extensive experience as a former Senate President, is or ought to be conversant with the Senate’s Standing Orders, particularly those prohibiting the consideration of matters pending before the courts. 

    “The pendency of this case in the judicial system renders any parallel investigation by the Senate improper and beyond its authority at this stage. This is not a matter of politicization or trivialization, as Dr. Saraki suggests, but a straightforward application of legal and parliamentary norms”.

    The group further questioned the approach adopted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in reporting the purported sexual harassment against her, adding it was preposterous for her to have used the media instead of the proper channels. 

    “Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the allegations in question, which Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims date back to December 8, 2023, were not promptly reported to the police despite constituting a potential criminal offense nor submitted to the Senate’s Ethics and Public Petitions Committee for immediate redress, as provided under the Senate’s rules.

    “Instead, the senator chose to first air her grievances on a television program, bypassing established remedial options available under Nigerian law and Senate procedure. This sequence of events raises questions about the intent behind her approach, which Mrs. Akpabio has interpreted as defamatory, prompting her to seek judicial recourse. 

    “The court is now the appropriate forum to test the senator’s claims, and it is there that she must substantiate her assertions, as the law in Nigeria remains clear: he or she who alleges must prove.

    “Dr. Saraki’s call for an “open, transparent, and honest investigation” by the Senate, while well-intentioned, overlooks these critical realities. His status as a former presiding officer suggests he should recognize the Senate’s limited options in the face of an ongoing court case. 

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    “Senator Akpabio, as Senate President, is not a member of the judiciary and cannot usurp its role in adjudicating this dispute. Rather than taunting the Senate or creating confusion with suggestions of legislative overreach, Dr. Saraki would do well to place confidence in the judicial system and await its verdict.

    ‘It should also be noted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has indeed submitted a petition to the Senate regarding this matter. That petition has been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. 

    “It is this committee that will determine, in the first instance, whether the Senate retains jurisdiction to address the issue, given the subjudice nature of the allegations. This process is already underway, and any further agitation outside this framework risks undermining the Senate’s own procedures.

    “We urge Dr. Saraki, to respect the legal process currently in motion and refrain from statements that may inadvertently pressure or prejudice the Senate’s orderly handling of this sensitive issue. 

    “It is only the courts and the Ethics Committee, within their respective mandates, that are the proper avenues for resolution. Nigerians expect the Senate to remain committed to upholding its integrity and credibility and to do so within the bounds of the law and its own rules”.

  • Saraki: let’s use democracy to entrench peace, development

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s attainment of 20 years of uninterrupted democracy.

    He urged the people to use democracy to entrench peace and genuine development.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President described the commemoration of 20 years of democracy as a thing of joy in view of the many positive developments the country has witnessed since May 29, 1999.

    He advised Nigerians to fully take ownership of democracy and its institutions and use them to “entrench peace, welfare and improved standard of living for all our people.”

    Saraki said democracy is about the people, and the people should use democracy to achieve social justice, equity, inclusiveness and economic self-reliance.

    Read Also: Court rejects suit against Saraki, Ekweremadu’s removal

    While urging the followers to hold their leaders accountable and ensure they always act in the best interest of the people and country, the Senate President also advised the people to be good followers and be law-abiding at all times.

    “We should avoid conflicts and blood-letting as no country can develop in the midst of chaos. We should all steer clear of issues, comments and situations that emphasise our fault lines,” he said.

    Saraki urged newly-elected leaders, who were sworn in yesterday, to work for the development of the country and the continuous preservation of the nation’s democracy.

    The Senate President noted that the benefits of a constitutional democracy far outweigh the challenges that have confronted the country since the return of democracy.

    He said: “It is a thing of absolute joy and national pride that we are today celebrating two decades of sustained democratic governance in the country.

     

  • High points of the Eighth Senate

    As the Abubakar Bukola Saraki-led Eight Senate prepares the wind down ahead of May 29, 2019 handover date, Assistant Editor, Onyedi Ojiabor, assesses the highpoints of the upper legislative Chamber

    How time flies. At the inauguration of the Eighth Senate on June 9th, 2015, it appeared the four year tenure of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Senate Presidency was for perpetuity. The Eighth Senate is gradually drawing to a close. Four years is indeed not eternity.

    Controversy may be dubbed the second name of the Eighth Senate. Beginning with its inauguration and the controversial emergence of its presiding officers, it may be safe to conclude that the Eighth Senate began with disagreement and ended with disagreement.

    The Eighth Senate may have had its fair share of divergence views on national issues which adversely affected its relationship with the executive arm of government, some areas of unanimity of purpose abound. That may be the nature of politics; the politics of management of controversies. The no love lost relationship between the Senate and the Presidency arising from the emergence of the Senate leadership, did not help matters. Attempts to stitch the crack between the two arms only scratched the surface. If it is cracked, it can never be the same again, observers say. To say that the Presidency was perpetually suspicious of the Senate may be to say the least.

    The frosty relationship between the two arms of government created room for deep distrust. Distrust became the harbinger of intrigues, scheming, plots, machinations and conspiracies. Two arms of the same government scarcely agreed on any issue of national importance. Governance became a ding-dong affair.

    The Eighth Senate was not only about controversy though. Something good, Senate watchers say, came out of “Nazareth.”

    Read also: African CSOs task Senate on tobacco control

    The Saraki Senate Presidency tried to connect with Nigerians through bills, motions, interventions and engagements on nagging national issues.

    The engagements may be the high points of the Eight Senate.

    The #OpenNASS campaign championed by some civil society organisations paid off when Saraki threw open and removed the lid on the budget of the National Assembly.

    It was all about transparency in the management of the National Assembly budget and resources. Observers say for the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, the detailed budget of the National Assembly was laid on the floor of the Senate plenary, alongside the report of the annual Appropriations Bill.

    National Assembly budget was also published online for closer public scrutiny and monitoring.

    One of the effective interventions was on fixed and bulk metering of consumers through which electricity generating and distributing companies fleece Nigerian electricity consumers.

    “In August 2015, the Senate mandated the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately abolish fixed charges on electricity consumption and bulk metering of villages and communities, as the practice was deemed contrary to the interest of consumers.”

    Identified fraud in Treasury Single Account (TSA) Management, was another intervention the Senate made.

    “In November 2015, the Senate detected fraudulent activities in the implementation of TSA, raised a resolution to bring such practices to a halt.” The intervention was said to have saved the country N25 billion.

    The Senate also intervened to cushion the effect of the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast. “In March 2016, the Senate allocated N10billion in the annual budget to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast, to alleviate adverse humanitarian consequences unleashed by insurgents in the region.”

    On the fraud in humanitarian crisis management in the Northeast, on October 4, 2016, the upper legislative chamber launched investigation into alleged corruption in the management of the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast. A fact-finding technical team, headed by irrepressible Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, was dispatched to conduct on-the-ground assessment of the situation. This investigation by the team ultimately led to the dismissal of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, for alleged misappropriation of N200million meant for IDPs in the Northeast.

    Another intervention was on fraud in the import duty waivers scheme. In May 2016, a Senate probe uncovered abuse and fraud to the tune of N447 billion in the import duty waivers scheme on rice.

    It also fought to end fraud by revenue generating agencies which came through point of order and motions. On November 30, 2016, it resolved to probe revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government for leakages, non-remittance and misuse of generated revenue. The investigation, according to findings, revealed that “majority of MDAs had, over a long period, spent billions of generated funds without the necessary annual appropriation by the legislature.”

    Another intervention was on the controversial access to Foreign Exchange (Forex) for businesses. In 2017, “the Senate intervened in the lack of access to Forex for SMEs across the country, owing to Central Bank of Nigeria’s policies at the time. The intervention led to a review of the CBN policy to enable small business owners to access necessary Forex for the import, export and service delivery needs.”

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  • Saraki: Education crucial for peace, security, rule of Law

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has reiterated the importance of education in ensuring peace, security and rule of law in any society.

    Saraki, stated this while contributing to the General Debate on the theme: “Parliaments as Platforms to Enhance Education for Peace, Security and the Rule of Law” at the ongoing 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Doha, Qatar.

    He noted that “education is a fundamental human right – central to the development of citizens as well as what contributions they make to society,” according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu.

    Read Also: Lift visa ban on Nigerians, Saraki begs Qatar

    He added that the National Assembly holds strongly that with the right education, Nigerian youths would be less susceptible to the radicalising influence of terrorist groups and other societal ills, thereby “helping to birth a more peaceful, secure and just society.”

    He however regretted that the security challenges confronting the country today are traceable to – or exacerbated by – challenges in the nation’s education sector.

    He however stated that even though Nigeria has about 13.2 million Out-of-School-Children – the highest in the world – according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the 8th National Assembly has and would continue to work with the Federal Government to address the shortfall with combined strategies to enhance peace, security and the rule of law in the country.

    Saraki said: “De-radicalisation programmes for former militants or insurgents have a strong education component, and these have proven very effective for peace-building and security.

    “The Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-Niger Delta militants involved free local and international tertiary education for former combatants. This is in recognition of the fact that education reduces youth restiveness, which in turn promotes peace.

  • Saraki to Kwara senators, Reps elect: I wish you best of luck

    …People who emerged are not my enemies

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday broke his silence over his defeat in the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly election in Kwara State.

    Saraki stated that in spite of the reported inadequacies that attended the elections in Kwara State, he is wishing the candidates who emerged from the elections the best of luck.

    The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that while the election was generally peaceful there were inadequacies like the card readers not used in over 70 percent of the polling units.

    He added that there were also “multiple voting, over-voting and other discrepancies” that were reported by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the state.

    He noted that the state chapter of PDP will take a position on the right response to the inadequacies.

    Saraki said “However, whatever the final outcome of the election, I wish the candidates that have emerged all the best in their attempts to serve our people. It is my prayers that the good people of Kwara State will always have the best from any government both at state and federal levels.

    “As a product of a family and a political structure that is, from its foundation, devoted to the service and development of our state and its people, it is my wish that our people will always have a good deal at all times.

    Read Also: Saraki loses Senate seat – News

    “The new development will even provide the people the opportunity to compare and contrast. After all, the people who have emerged from last Saturday’s election are not my enemies. They are fellow Kwarans.

    “As we prepare for the March 9, 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections, let me reiterate my position that the candidates of the PDP in the election represent the best materials for our dear State, Kwara.

    “Therefore, I enjoin our people to come out en-mass on election day and vote for them. I am going to work with our party leaders to further sell the PDP candidates to the general public.

    “I thank all Nigerians for their goodwill and to enjoin all of us that as we patiently await the outcome of the Presidential election, we pray for peace, unity and genuine development in our country.

    “It is also our prayers that at all times, the wish of the people will always prevail in the choice of the leadership and the electorate will always enjoy the benefit of good governance.”

  • Onnoghen’s suspension, a coup against democracy, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday, described the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a coup against democracy and a deliberate attempt to endanger our hard-won democracy.

    Saraki, in a statement personally signed by him stated that the suspension was another act of desperation by President Buhari. He noted that by the suspension of the CJN, Buhari has acted outside the provision of the constitution, has exercised the powers which he does not have and that this action amounted to gross misconduct.

    “This is an action aimed at undermining the nation’s judiciary, subverting the constitution, intimidating judges of all the courts of record, and creating uncertainty in the electoral process, thereby laying the foundation for influencing the outcome of litigations that might arise from next month’s elections.

    “There is already the general belief that this hasty action was taken to pre-empt the already scheduled inauguration of election petition tribunals by Hon. Justice Onoghen and to destroy national institutions that are perceived to be uncooperative in his bid to manipulate the electoral process leading to next month’s general elections.

    Read also: Onoghen: Activist-lawyer seeks EU sanction for Buhari

    “By unilaterally suspending the CJN without following the provision of the constitution, President Buhari has taken an action which amounted to gross misconduct. He has simply sent a dangerous signal to the entire world that Nigeria is no longer a democratic nation and that we have returned to the old, jaded era of military dictatorship.

    “Our constitution makes no provision for suspension of the nation’s highest judicial officer. The constitution provides a clear process for removal of the CJN and specify the roles of the three arms of government, beginning from the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Assembly and lastly, the Presidency, have different roles to play in that process. There is no condition under which the President can usurp the powers of other arms of government. I do not know where the President and his advisers got this idea of suspending the CJN on the so-called order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal but this is novel, disingenuous and alien to our laws.

    “The President and his team must have seen this so-called suspension as a short-cut to getting Hon. Justice Onnoghen out of the way since the appellate court has eventually stopped the CCT from continuing with the trial of the CJN. It is strange that President Buhari is claiming to be taking orders from a Tribunal which has been ordered by a superior court to halt all actions on the trial.

    “With this action, President Buhari has initiated a process the consequence of which nobody can predict. They have precipitated a constitutional crisis.

    “At this point, all democratic institutions in the country, the international community and democrats across the world should rise against this blatant act of impunity. We should jointly condemn this retrogressive, uncivilized and despotic measure”, Saraki stated.

    He however called on President Buhari to immediately reverse this decision and allow the due process of law to take its natural course in determining the guilt or otherwise as well as the suitability of Hon. Justice Onnoghen to continue as the head of the nation’s judiciary.

  • Address alleged sale of unclaimed PVCs, Saraki tells INEC

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to quickly look into the claim that politicians are buying uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for use during the February elections.

    Saraki also urged the electoral umpire not to spare any sacrifice that would ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

    The Senate President stated this in his welcome address to senators after their four-week Christmas and New Year break.

    He underscored the need for restraint by those who wield power in taking actions that might be misconstrued as coloured by partisan considerations.

    Saraki who insisted that the issue of PVCs remained a concern, said that INEC should rise to the occasion giving urgent attention to the matter especially when fresh claims have been raised about people buying PVCs.

    He reiterated the need for INEC to bring relevant stakeholders together for a dialogue on a way forward to tackle the issues, ahead of the elections.

    Those vying for elective positions, he said, should eschew do or die politics particularly when there will still be one Nigeria after the polls.

    Saraki advised against the violation of the Judiciary warning that if the third arm of government was desecrated, it will erode the confidence of the people in the judiciary

    He noted that the Senate in the last three and a half years in an unprecedented manner, has passed 257 bills.

    He said that indications all over the country showed that Nigerians were in an anticipatory mood “because this year 2019, Nigeria has a date with destiny.”

    Saraki said: “The issue of PVCs remains a concern. I call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give urgent attention to the matter.  Issue has similarly been raised about people buying PVCs; this should also be looked into. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate the need for INEC to bring relevant stakeholders together for a dialogue on a way forward to tackle these issues, ahead of the elections.

    “Everything must be done and every sacrifice must be made to ensure free and fair 2019 Elections. INEC is encouraged to engage the parties and be transparent in its decision making.

    “It is important that the people are assured of the commission’s resolve and commitment to credible elections.

    “On that note, I wish to lay emphasis on the role of the Judiciary in promoting justice and bringing respect to the country.

    “If the Judiciary is violated or eroded or otherwise brought to ill repute, so do the values attached to its role in a democracy.

    “Everyone in the political value chain should therefore do nothing that could raise tensions in the country.

    “Nigerians are looking up to leaders who will douse flames that have the potential to threaten the peace and wellbeing of our country.

    “Leaders should help reduce the tension in the polity by contributing to an atmosphere of moderate and measured political conversations.

    “Expectations of the Executive are also palpable, particularly with regard to the need to uphold the Constitution and its tenets, especially as they guarantee the minimum basic requirement of Separation of Powers; the unity of the country and the welfare of the citizens.

    “In that respect, it bears reminding that the exercise of power must be anchored in the best democratic principles.

    “The former US President Obama’s Doctrine of Restraint as a key feature in the use of power, is commended to us in this polity at this crucial time.

    Read Also: Saraki: 2019 election not about me

    “Some of the reports and occurrences in recent times speak to this need for restraint. Those who exercise power should do their best to avoid any action that stands the risk of being misconstrued as coloured by partisan considerations.”

    On bills passed by the upper chamber, Saraki said: “This is an epoch making Senate that had, by the end of 2018, passed an unprecedented 257 bills, many of which are groundbreaking enough to change the game to meet the needs of Nigerians, with the potential to radically transform their lives for the better.

    “Nigerians expect us to continue in this vein, and we owe it to ourselves to meet their expectations.

    “The legacy of the 8th Senate will be written in the legislative footprints that we leave, and the foundation that we lay.

    “Therefore, we must ensure that we continue to address issues affecting Nigerians, and concerning which they seek our intervention.

    “Issues such as unemployment, lack of economic opportunities, insecurity and so on – these still require the attention of the National Assembly.

    “Every action that we can take to address these issues through the legislative function, we must take; everything that we can do, we must do. We must ensure that we conclude work on all outstanding bills and petitions; and bring successful conclusion to all issues and investigations brought to the attention of this Senate.

    He continued, “We must have a country after the elections. We all still have to live among ourselves when the polls have closed and the elections are over.

    “The rhetoric leading up to the elections must therefore be mindful of the need for moderation, decorum and respect.

    “To those of us who are contesting, let us remember that our biggest offer is to serve. Ultimately, the Nigerian people have a right to choose who will represent them at all levels. It is not a do or die affair.

    “I encourage all to participate in the coming polls and I wish Nigerians a safe 2019 Election.”

  • Saraki, Mark urges Christians to pray for successful elections

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Monday felicitated with Christian faithful and all Nigerians as they celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, congratulated Nigerians for their resilience in the face of the challenges facing the nation and urged them to pray for improvement in the social, political and economic condition of the country, in the New Year.

    Mark on his own once again harped on the need for peaceful coexistence between and among Nigerians irrespective of ethic or religious leanings.

    Saraki urged Nigerians to make it part of their New Year resolution that they will play their constitutional roles to ensure that the country has a peaceful, credible, free and transparent elections in February and March 2019.

    He said that Nigerians should also pray that the results of the elections will lead to rapid socio-political and economic development of Nigeria.

    Saraki said, “I wish all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I want to call on Christians, in particular, and Nigerians, in general, to emulate the virtues of Christ, who through self-sacrifice brought salvation to humanity.

    “This is a time for us to be our brother’s keeper, extend our generosity to one another and ensure that the less-privileged among us are not left out of the ensuing merriments.”

    He added that the upcoming election is another opportunity to lay a new foundation for the growth and prosperity of the nation and to banish poverty from the land.

    While praying for journey mercies for as many Nigerians that would travel during the period, he urged the police and other security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure that the lives and property of Nigerians are fully secured at all times.

    “The security agencies must of necessity redouble their efforts to ensure that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are observed peacefully across the country,” Saraki stated.

    In his goodwill message to Nigerians commemorating this year’s Christmas celebration, Senator David Mark urged citizens to be guided by the lessons of the Christmas season which is anchored on love, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence.

    Read Also: Akpabio chides Saraki, Dogara

    Senator Mark canvassed for religious tolerance amongst various adherents saying “We must as a people strive to imbibe the culture of mutual respect, trust and unity as the antidote to the myriads of problems facing the nation”.

    He implored citizens to shun those mundane issues such as ethnicity or religious discriminations that tends to threaten the peace and unity of the country.

    Senator Mark pointed that only those who have ulterior motives would exploit or resort to the emotional fault lines of ethnicity and religious differences in order to gain what they could not ordinarily achieved under normal circumstances.

    He also stressed the need for authorities to review the nation’s security arrangement for an improved performance saying that the unabating security situation in the country unarguably calls for self examination .

    Senator Mark was of the opinion that government and security operatives needs to do more to restore hope and confidence amongst the citizens that they can be protected in any part of the country.

    To this end, he urged that all hands should be on deck to preserve and protect the corporate existence of Nigeria, pointing out that no matter the situation “ We have no other country to call our home other than Nigeria”.

    Even as the 2019 election  campaigns gathers momentum , he implored Politicians  to play according to the rules of the game as the only way to sustain our democracy.

    Senator Mark cautioned against campaign of calumny saying that only issue based campaign would convince the electorate ahead of the polls.

    Also the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola,  urged Christians in particular and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the Christmas celebration to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and pray for a peaceful and rancor free 2019 General Elections in a few weeks time.

    In a Christmas message to felicitates with his constituents and Nigeria Christendom at the occasion of 2018 Christmas, Senator Adeola said Christmas symbolizes the celebration of the birth of a new dawn for the salvation of souls for all humanity especially for the Christians and should therefore not be used for only merry-making.

    Adeola noted that this year’s celebration coming weeks to a crucial election is another opportunity for fervent prayers for a new dawn and prosperous future for individuals and the Nigeria nation.

    While acknowledging that Nigerians in general are going through a difficult gestation period for sustained economic growth that is mercifully not compounded by the usual fuel scarcity as witnessed in time past during Yuletide, the senator urged all Nigerians to be patient and look forward to a better future.

    The Lagos West senator added that “with abiding faith in Jesus Christ all our challenges will be a thing of the past as we move to next level of our development.”

     

  • Confirmation of EFCC scribe suffers setback in Senate

    The Senate Tuesday differed the confirmation of Olanipekun Olukoyede, as the secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Olukoyede, who hails from Ekiti State, is the Chief of Staff to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, dated September 10, 2018 nominated him as secretary to the Commission.

    Saraki who read the letter in plenary on October 3, 2018, referred it to the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, to screen the nominee and report back to the chamber.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) presented the report his committee to the chamber yesterday.

    Utazi told the upper chamber that Olukoyede satisfied the committee expectations and answered all questions posed to him by committee members.

    The Enugu North Senator told his colleagues that the nominee demonstrated competence and sufficient experience to occupy the office for which he was nominated.

    He noted that the committee, having found the nominee qualified and worthy of the office, recommended that he be confirmed as requested by President Buhari

    Utazi said: “The nominee appeared before the Committee on Wednesday October 24, 2018. The members subjected to scrutiny the curriculum vitae of the nominee and other relevant documents relating to his background and educational qualifications and the work experience of the nominee.

    “The Committee found that Olanipekun Olukoyede is a trained lawyer. He gave in-depth responses to the questions asked by the members which we believe will add value to policy formulation and implementation in the EFCC.

    “The Committee is satisfied that the nominee has the requisite experience, integrity, professional competence and industry to discharge the functions of the position in which he is nominated.

    “The Committee also noted that there was no adverse security report against the nominee and the scrutiny carried out on the nominee shows that the nominee possesses the necessary academic and administrative experience for the position.

    “The Committee therefore, recommended that the Senate should confirm the appointment of Olukoyede to the office of the Secretary of EFCC”.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) in his contribution observed that only few members of the Committee signed the report of the screening.

    Manager said that since the nominee satisfied the requisite experience and professional requirement, he should be confirmed.

    “I observe that only few signatures appeared on the signature column. However, going through what the Chairman of the Committee has presented, and knowing full well that this is not very normal time for the Senate, it will not be easy for a chairman of a Committee to have all the members to attend but however, from the number that appeared am sure that they formed quorum.

    “From the report of the Committee, since the nominee has the requisite experience and professional competence, that is what we are looking for in a nominee for the kind of office that we screen him for, I therefore, suggest that any other thing can be ignored so that we confirm the nominee,” Manager said.

    On the issue of low turn-out by members of the Committee during the screening, Utazi explained that some of the senators were out of Abuja on oversight functions while others were engaged on electioneering activities.

    He confirmed that the committee formed quorum during the sitting where the nominee was screened.

    A member of the Committee, Senator Isa Misau (Bauchi Central), opposed the confirmation of the nominee vehemently.

    Misau said that most members of the Committee were not carried along in the screening exercise.

    The Central Senator said that observed during the screening that some of the nominees were not competent to hold the offices for which they were nominated.

    He wondered why only three senators signed the signature page of the Committee report.

    Misau asked the Senate to suspend the confirmation of the nominee so as to allow members of the Committee to meet and further deliberate on the report before the Senate could adopt it.

    He said, “I observed that only three members out of eight members signed the signature page. What I want is that this report should be stepped down so that we the members of the Committee can go through it because I participated actively in the screening of the nominees.

    “There are some of them that are not competent to hold the offices for which they were nominated. I did not sign the report because I am just seeing this report now. It has not been sent to my office. Nobody invited me to come and deliberate on this report and I was part of the screening.

    “And during the screening, I made objection on certain people who are not supposed to hold the office. So, the members of the Committee should study it and not just the Clerk of the Committee to write report and come and submit to the Senate in plenary.”

    Saraki in his ruling asked the Committee Chairman to meet with other members to discuss the report to avoid divergent positions on the confirmation of the nominee.

    Utazi explained that he invited all members to the screening of the nominee but only a few of them attended.

    Saraki ruled that members of the committee should meet and present their report today.

  • Offa robbery: Saraki seeks inquiry into death of key suspect

    …Says he has been vindicated

     

    Following eventual disclosure by the Police that Michael Adikwu, the principal suspect in the deadly bank robbery attacks in Offa, Kwara State, on April 5, 2018, is dead, the President of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday asked the Presidency to institute a judicial inquiry into the reported death of the principal suspect in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery attacks, Michael Adikwu.

    Saraki said that the inquiry should be constituted to determine “how and when’ the suspect died.”

    Read Also:Saraki has personalised Senate, says Ndume

    The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that the new disclosure by the Police has vindicated his earlier claim that the suspect had been murdered in police custody and that the investigation was politically motivated to implicate him (Saraki), Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed and a few others.

    He stated that the inquiry would help to thoroughly examine and interrogate how the investigation into the robbery incident was conducted by the Police and whether the investigation followed the normal process and comply with global best practices.

    He added that the Police needed to confirm why it took them so long to make the disclosure about the death of the principal suspect after they categorically denied it at the time he (Saraki) disclosed the information and it was reported in the media.

    Saraki said, “It should be recalled that when we mentioned it that the principal suspect had been murdered and that investigation into the Offa robbery attack was politically motivated and targeted at implicating me and other individuals, the Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh  said: ‘Michael Adikwu is in Police custody. You know that he is the one that led the killing of 22 people. The fire arms that were carted away, he is helping the police in the investigation to recover them. There is a state in the South-west where they kept him. I can’t mention the state. It is in one of the South-west states’.

    “The fresh facts have now thrown more light into why there had been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police. The Police initially told the Attorney-General of Kwara State that the principal suspect was alive and they only later reluctantly disclosed that he died in the course of arrest. How can a suspect confirmed to be in custody now be said to have died in the course of arrest? This contradiction shows a deliberate attempt to cover up something.

    “It is obvious that the Police have orchestrated the information they give to the public on the Offa robbery only to tarnish the image of the Kwara State Governor and myself. We are calling for a public inquiry to probe the issues of extra-judicial killing, the cover-up of this killing with the aim of framing up some individuals for political purpose and politicizing of criminal investigations. The facts need to be laid bare.

    “The inquiry may help to further document and define the terms of handling of suspects in police custody and how to prevent extra-judicial killing of suspects, for whatever purpose. There is need for transparency in investigations into all cases and our methods should comply with global standards. We should discourage situations where police politicize investigations and deliberately set out to frame some individuals.

    “With the facts on ground, the issues that should be unearthed by the inquiry include: When exactly did the suspect die? How did he die? Why was the police denying the facts of his death when they knew he had died? At what point did the Police leadership knew of the death? Why are the police covering up the facts? We believe the answer to these questions will help the country to address the issue of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, manipulation of criminal investigation to achieve political end, deliberate attempt to cover up some facts and how skewed investigation of crime can impact on successful prosecution of suspects,” he added.

    Saraki noted that now that the Police have commenced prosecution of the remaining suspects in court, there should be diligent and prompt prosecution so that justice can be transparently done to both the victims of the Offa robbery and the accused persons.