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Tag: Abubakar Bukola Saraki

  • We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    A caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators on Wednesday told the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that they obeyed the directives from the Party to replace Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate leader.
    This was disclosed at the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Oyegun while Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led APC Senators to the closed door meeting.
     
    A source who attended the meeting told The Nation that “the meeting was not as smooth as Chief Oyegun painted it.”
     
    Oyegun had sued for a ceasefire in what he referred to as “the kind of abuse being used on one institution of government or the other.”
     
    He also told reporters that the meeting was “robust and addressed salient issues” affecting the smooth working relationship between the Senate and the executive arm of government.
     
    Findings showed that the Senate caucus blamed the party leadership for the frosty relationship between it and the Presidency.
     
    It was learnt that the caucus pointedly accused the party leadership of “double-standard” in its dealing with the relationship between the two arms of government.
     
    It was also gathered that the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader and his subsequent suspension featured prominently at the meeting.
     
    The APC caucus, it was learnt, told Oyegun that he was in a position to defend the removal of Ndume since the caucus merely obeyed party directive to effect leadership change.
     
    The source noted that it was the position of the caucus that “instead of defending the removal of Ndume and replacing him with Senator Ahmed Lawan as directed by the party, what the Caucus has been receiving are unwarranted attacks and attempts to run down the institution of the Senate.”
     
    APC Senators loyal to Saraki, it was learnt, used the opportunity of the meeting to poor out their indignation and frustration against Oyegun.
     
    On the suspension of Ndume, the source said that there may be “no going back” on Ndume’s suspension going by the body language of the majority of the caucus members.
  • 2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday gave marching order to Senate standing committees to submit their reports on the 2017 budget proposal to the appropriations committee.

    Saraki who gave the order during Senate plenary, noted that compliance by committees yet to turn in their reports would hasten legislative work on the budget proposal.

    The announcement was said to be part of the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives that met in Saraki’s house on Wednesday.

    A source said that part of the resolution of the joint leadership meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives was to ensure that the 2017 budget was passed earlier than that of 2016.

    He said that committees were to submit their reports to the appropriation committee latest yesterday failing which the appropriation committee would be free to adopt what the executive submitted.

    The 2016 budget was passed end of March, 2016. It was however rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari and returned to the National Assembly.

    The second passage of the same budget proposal was passed April ending 2016 and assented to by President Buhari on May 6th 2016.

    He insisted that should any committee fail to comply to submit its report before the end of work Thursday, the appropriations committee would go ahead to consider and adopted the original proposal made by the executive.

    Saraki said: “All committees yet to complete work on the 2017 budget proposal are hereby requested to submit their reports unfailingly today to the appropriations committee.

    “The committees numbering over twenty or thereabout should endeavour to submit their reports, or the appropriations committee will be left with no option but to consider original estimates sent in by the executive.”

    Most of the defaulting committees had claimed that their inability to submit their reports was due the refusal of the MDAs under them to appear to defend their budgets.

     

     

  • Senate suspends confirmation of 27 RECs

    Senate suspends confirmation of 27 RECs

    …vow to defend selves against attacks

    A showdown between the Presidency and the Senate appears to be in the offing.

    The Senate Tuesday declared its readiness to defend its integrity against attacks by unnamed persons.

    The declaration is coming as the upper chamber unanimously resolved to suspend the consideration and confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who announced the resolve of the Senate to defend its integrity after about two hours behind the door meeting said that the upper would not succumb to blackmail and intimidation in carrying out its constitutional duty.

    Saraki did not give details nor revealed the identity of the external forces he said were attacking the institution of the Senate.

    He said: “The Senate in a closed session discussed the various attacks on the National Assembly, especially on the Senate, for performing its constitutional duties.

    “The Senate resolved to defend the integrity of the Senate against such attacks and will not be intimidated from carrying out our constitutional duties at all times.”

    Sources said that Saraki’s position may not be unconnected to its recent face-off with some members of the executive, including the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (retd) and the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. David Babachir Lawal and the rejection of the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu for appointment as Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    One of the sources noted that “the Senate is not happy that despite its rejection of Magu, the President still left him on acting capacity.

    The resolution to suspend the consideration of the nomination of the Resident Electoral Commissioners followed a motion by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

    The names of the RECs should have been read the second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but for the motion.

    Nwaoboshi prayed the Senate to suspend action of the nominees for two weeks to allow Saraki to convey the feelings of the Senate to President Buhari over alleged disregard of Senate resolutions.

    Nwaoboshi said, “Mr. President, taking a leave from America which started this presidential election. Recently the National Security Adviser was sent to the Senate of America and because of his believe in Russia he was disqualified. What am I saying, issues like this have to transcend the issue of political parties or where you have lived for the interest of Nigerians and also to protect our constitution and protect our democracy.

    “Recently in this Senate, we have dealt with the issue of confirmation and where we are today, the chairman of the Presidential Committee on anti-corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay went to the press and said that the Senate merely confirms. This is not expected of somebody who had lectured constitutional law in the university, a professor of law, a senior advocate of Nigeria and of course a chairman of such a big body to say that the legislature merely confirms, that is the legislature has no power.

    “Here are we again today, now been given a list to confirm and we merely confirms. Look at the list here, we have eight of them here out of 27, eight of them are for reappointment which means they are acting already, they are already working and they are still in position.

    “Prof. Sagay will start again section 171 subsection (d) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even if we don’t confirm them he will say continue to work.

    “You can imagine this kind of advice that these kinds of persons are giving to Mr. President. They are telling Mr. President to disregard and disrespect the institution the legislature.

    “Mr. President, lets us not take such a precedence, we cannot destroy our democracy because certain persons, certain individuals feel that it is only their believe or what they want is what will happen in this country. This country does not belong to them; this country belongs to the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people have elected us; they have given us the power to look into those names sent to us for confirmation to look into their credentials.

    “But when you denigrate such an institution that have the power to confirm and used the word merely, we could not ignore it coming from somebody of that status. My position on this matter is that since our confirmation is merely; let us suspend it until we know whether we have the power as given to us by the constitution to look into confirmation matters or any other status.”

    Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) in his contribution said, “In addition to what Nwaoboshi said which is the constitutional requirement that this Senate has to confirm nominations sent by the executive arm of government, the act establishing this agencies of government have specified clearly that this officers of these agencies whose appointments will be made by Mr. President have to be confirmed by the Senate.

    “We are only performing our statutory role and if by chance, Mr. President sends a name to the Senate for confirmation and they are not confirmed. What happens is that the President is at liberty to send another name but it must be that the senate too must be properly informed of what has happened to the confirmation either the one that has been upheld or the one that has been turned down by the senate. We deserve the right to know.

    “We cannot keep confirming names or turning down names of nominees of Mr. President only for them to be put in basket particularly the one that happened recently we don’t know what has happened. These persons cannot keep acting even when we have turned them down because as it is now they are acting and their names have been sent in for confirmation and we don’t know what has happened in the case of the EFCC.

    “Specifically speaking, is he acting today? If the President knew that he was not going to honour our refusal or rejection of his nominee they shouldn’t have sent him in the first place which would have meant an outright violation of the law establishing EFCC and of course the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”

    Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) opposed.

    Aliero said, ‘I rise to oppose what my two colleagues have just said for the reason that there is already an impression that is created particularly by the media that the INEC is not ready for the conduct of 2019 election. The 2019 election is very crucial to us and the preparation and the conduct of the 2019 election is the submission of resident electoral commissioners to the senate for screening and approval. Without that INEC will never be ready for the 2019 elections even though what they said is true. I want to ask that we consider the screening of this list and if there is any observation on any nominee it should be done at the screening stage. I will want to respectfully say that some of the nominees that are set to be on reappointment they have already left the office and they have served their term for four years.”

    The Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Francis Alimekhana (Edo North) was more vocal in his support that the confirmation of the RECs should be kept in view.

    He said, “I beg to differ from the suggestion of my colleague, Senator Aliero. It is better to do something and do it well. All these nominees reappointed, new appointment what if we refuse one of them what will happen? That is the question that the distinguished senators are asking the executive. There is no need to disapprove one and he (President) goes back to say you can continue to act. The EFCC chairman that we disqualified in this hall is he acting? Among the report that are agog in the papers he is behind it. Magu is terrorising us because we disqualified him and we cannot hide it. We disqualified Magu and he is terrorising our people because we disqualified him and he is still acting and they are still bringing in nominees for us to confirm. If they know they can do it alone let them do it.”

    Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah asked for caution.

    He said, “This is a defining moment in our journey to nationhood. Having had the privilege of being a leader in this senate I have always prided myself with the fact that this senate is imbued with men of intelligence, courage and character with determination to play a fundamental role in our journey towards nationhood. I have always said that it consists of former governors, former ministers, former captains of industries what that means is that at each point that we are being called upon to decide on an issue that affects this nation. We must show that we have superiority of thinking and we have more commitment than those anti-democratic forces that survive outside the chambers of the national assembly. I think this is one situation where that call is relevant and important.

    “I share the sentiments of my colleagues on this issue. I am in great difficulty to disagree with more convincing reasons as to why I think the senate will thread cautiously on the request by my colleagues for us to stand down this. I think this matter is going to be referred to the committee, we still have enough time.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu noted that some of the positions of the RECs have been vacant for more than one year.

    He said any delayed should not be laid on the Senate but on the Executive that failed to submit the nominees on time.

    Ekweremadu said that Saraki should be allowed to convey the sentiment and feelings of senators to President Buhari on his appointments.

    He noted that it was necessary to allow Saraki to convey the feelings of the Senate to President Buhari.

    He proposed that the consideration of the nominees should be stood down for one week.

    Before a vote could be taken on Ekweremadu’s motion, Nwaoboshi moved that the matter should be suspended for two weeks.

    Senator Clifford Odia (Edo Central) seconded.

    When Saraki put the question, it was unanimously carried.

     

  • Senate opens probe of N298m SUV car purchase

    Senate opens probe of N298m SUV car purchase

    • ABU VC clears Melaye of certificate forgery

    The Senate Monday commenced an investigation into the allegation of purchase of N298 million Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with fake customs papers levelled against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The high-profile probe is coming as Saraki said that the upper chamber was being tackled by unnamed persons for resolving to order the reversal of the controversial policy of retrospective duty payment on vehicles introduced by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

    The Senate President spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, probing the alleged importation of N298 million bulletproof Ranger Rover SUV.

    The Senator Samuel Anyanwu led committee also questions Senator Dino Melaye over the allegation that he did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria.

    Saraki’s appearance before the Ethics Committee marked the first time since the return to democracy in 1999, that a sitting Senate President will appear before Ethics committee to clear his name.

    The Senate had on March 21st referred the two issues to its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee for investigation.

    This followed a point of order motion raised by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, (Borno South) that the issue is investigated to protect the integrity of the Senate.

    Ndume relied on some publications to draw the attention of the Senate to the damning allegations against Saraki and Melaye.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, promptly referred the issues to the Ethics committee to investigate and report back within four weeks.

    Apart from Anyanwu, other members of the committee at the investigative hearing included Senators Mao Ohuabunwa, (Abia North), Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) who excused himself from Saraki’s probe but participated in Melaye’s investigation, Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central), Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Mathew Urhghide (Edo South) and Albert Akpan who said he is a friend to Melaye.

    Before Saraki began his testimony, Chairman of the committee explained to him why he was invited by the committee.

    Anyanwu specifically asked Saraki whether he (Saraki) is an importer, whether he imported any vehicle in the name of Abubakar Bukola Saraki if it is true that he imported SUV Range Rover that was clear with fake customs papers.

    Saraki was also asked whether the SUV was cleared in his name or on his behalf and whether he asked anybody to clear the SUV on his behalf.

    The Senate President began his testimony with a warning those fighting the National Assembly should desist from the act in the interest of democracy.

    He insisted that democracy cannot thrive if institutions of government are deliberately weakened and ridiculed.

    Saraki said, “I use this opportunity to commend the good work that you are doing and your effort and contribution to building the institution of the Senate that we all have sworn to defend and we are all here to do that.

    “Part of my being here in person is all part of my belief that what you are doing here is to strengthen our institution.

    “I said I want to come here personally, subject myself to this process because I think we must continue to build this institution and this is part of the process of building this institution.

    “Most of the questions come to a basic issue.

    “I am not an importer and at no point did I import an SUV Range Rover. As you know this is a vehicle that is not a “personal vehicle. It is a vehicle which was processed through the National Assembly.

    “I don’t know anything about the importation; I did not appoint any clearing agent or anything like that.

    “Most of the vehicles that are here you only know when it is delivered to you. None of this did I import or getting any agent or going to the port.

    “This is not true, those that said it know it is not true, Customs knows it is not true because we all know that all treated vehicles have end user certificate and it states clearly who the importer is and these documents are available and there is no document anywhere that shows my name.

    “So I want to state categorically that this is not true and it is important that I come here and clear my name and put this matter to rest.

    “We all raised the issue of the policy that is anti-people in the interest of Nigerians. This policy that really had no value at all and that was why this motion came up and we debated it in the interest of Nigerians, but unfortunately those who want to fight back went and thought there was something to blackmail us with.

    “But I believe that the issue at hand regarding this issue as I said categorically I am not an importer and I know the documents you have will show clearly that it has nothing to do with me.

    “I believe that this process is good for us. It will further strengthen our institution. It is a great day for our democracy for me to come before you as the president of the Senate.

    “We must protect this institution. As members, we will come and go but we must protect this institution.

    “To ridicule an institution of this magnitude is not something we should take lightly and that is why I have taken the time to be here.

    “Today it is me but tomorrow it will be another person. I think it is part of the sacrifice we are making in the work that we are doing that we have these kinds of cases that did not hold water.

    “We must protect this institution because this is the only thing we can leave. The difference between military rule and democracy is the parliament. For as long as the parliament is weak, our democracy can never be strong.

    “That is why I told myself that I must come here no matter how ridiculous I felt it was because the documents are clear. There is nowhere it said I imported it, it is not my private vehicle.”

    On the importer of the car, Tokunbo Akindle, Chairman of the Committee Anyanwu told him that the allegation was that he imported an SUV and did not pay the import duties and that was the reason the Senate is having an issue with the Nigerian Customs.

    Tokunbo Akindele responded: In 2015 on behalf of the firm that I work for, Oando PLC, we imported a Range Rover Bullet Proof SUV vehicle.

    “We imported it as the company that needed to use it for the various operations that we have around the country.

    “The car took longer than was expected and by the time it reached Nigeria in 2015, September, we decided that we will no longer be using the car, so we effectively packed it.

    “Initially because we are not going to use it for any operations whatsoever because we already met the requirements needed.

    “The process of acquiring the car we mandated a company offshore, to buy the car, armour the car, ship the car, clear the car with Customs and just deliver the car to us as a full-fledged service.

    “We received the car in September 2015 assuming that all of these things are done, all payments were made for the acquisition, the armouring, the shipping as well as the clearing of which we have necessary evidence.

    “The car was not imported for the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki.

    “In the process of clearing the car, we did not receive any documentation from the National Assembly.

    “We were not a part of clearing the car, we were the customer, we were expected to receive the car for our own use.

    “The vehicle was not to be used by Sen. Bukola Saraki, it was not imported or acquired for his use at the time the vehicle came into the country.

    “The National Assembly took receipt of the car through a consignment from us, through Lanre Shittu Motors in December 2015.

    “The car had been in the country for two months and had been sitting with no use and it was at that point that we released it to Lanre Shittu on consignment who sold it to the National Assembly.

    “At no point did we submit any fake document for the clearing of the car. We followed all due process in terms of payment to the company which handled the entire process for us.”

    Also speaking, the car dealer, Olarenwaju Shittu, told the committee that they facilitated the sale of the car to the National Assembly.

    He said that there was never a time they sold the car to Saraki.

    “It was when the car was intercepted sometime in 2017 that it was brought to my knowledge and we contacted Oando who gave us the papers that they said was fake,” Shittu said.

     

  • Senate probes Saraki, Melaye over importation of bullet proof car, others

    Senate probes Saraki, Melaye over importation of bullet proof car, others

    …I will submit myself to investigation – Melaye

     

    The Senate Tuesday asked it committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki over alleged importation of bullet proof car with fake customs duty certificate.

    The upper chamber also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery leveled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).

    Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.

    On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national daily that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmdu Bello University, Zaria.

    Ndume told the Senate that an online platform published in a publication claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.

    The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.

    He said that a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated for him to clear his name.

    Ndume also said that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was also accused of corruption and investigated.

    He noted Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.

    The current Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate and given opportunity to clear his name through investigation.

    He said that another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.

    Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs seized Senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover over fake documents.

    “My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.

    “During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.

    “In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.

    “Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence have been set.

    “Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today.‎ Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this senate will stand as it supposed to.”

    After the plenary, Senator Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.

    The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation where no senator is above investigation.

    He said that those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.

    He said that Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say that he is not a Nigerian.

    Melaye however assured that he would submit himself to investigation as a law abiding citizen of the country.

    He also said that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee on the matter unless invited.

    Melaye who said that he would not be deterred by negative reports about him noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.

    He said that ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees if he did not have a degree certificate.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.

    Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.

    Ekweremadu referred the two matters to Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigation.

    He gave the committee four week to report back.

     

  • Saraki congratulates New CAF President, Ahmad

    Saraki congratulates New CAF President, Ahmad

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday congratulated the newly-elected President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad on his victory at the polls.

    Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described Ahmad as a consummate technocrat, who can help to usher in a new era of innovation and positive change into the affairs of CAF.

    He commended the outgoing President of CAF, Issa Hayatou, for his services and immense contribution to the development of football in Africa in his 29-year headship of the body.

    “Ahmad’s victory is a testament to his message and determination to positively alter the 29-year status quo in CAF,” Saraki said, “Hayatou has served the organization well, now, we look forward to the new leadership to usher in a new era of change and effectiveness to raise the standard of African football across all levels.”

    Saraki also urged all Football Associations (FA) across the continent to rally round the new CAF President to enable him deliver on his electioneering promises, for the good of African football.

    “This is a new beginning and we cannot afford to make the mistakes of the past. African football has been yearning for a new direction and now that this opportunity to inject fresh blood into the management of the continental body has been realized, it is time for all stakeholders to roll up their sleeves and support the new executive to extend the frontiers and fortunes of African Football at the global level,” Saraki said.

     

  • We need to amend laws to solve energy crisis, says Saraki

    We need to amend laws to solve energy crisis, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said the National Assembly will amend necessary laws on power generation, transmission and distribution in other to replicate the feat recorded by the German Village, Feldheim, where residents combined local resources to produce clean and renewable energy.

    A statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that Saraki spoke after inspecting the project in the energy self-sufficient village located 70 kilometres outside Berlin.

    It said that Saraki noted that the achievement of the Germans was possible in Nigeria if only the leadership and the operators could be serious and demonstrate the will power.

    It added that Saraki said that the issue of power supply remained top in the agenda of the Senate as it is a key instrument for eradicating poverty and unleashing the potentials of the people.

    Saraki said; “That is why we had a workshop on the sector last month. It is also why we are here to see the experiment and success of the people of Feldheim and see what our people can learn from it.

    “We have to amend the laws to allow communities to generate energy that is more than 10 megawatts and even the laws about power transmission and distribution have to be amended to allow more creativity and involvement from the private sector.”

    The Project Leader, Mr. Werner Frohwitter, was quoted to have told the Senator  that the project was one in which “citizens take their energy supply into their own hands” as they contributed money to build bio-gas plants which use slurry and manure from their pigs and cows and wind farms.

    It said that the project leader added that though the village has a population of 140 people, it hosts about 4,000 visitors yearly comprising students, politicians, researchers, scholars and journalists who want to learn about how the people’s efforts led to the generation of 10mw of electricity, from which they sell the excess to the national power grid.

    It said that Frohwitter said Feldheim is now a community which produces “safe, local, economic and ecological supply of heat and electricity organised by and under the responsibility of the citizens independent from the grids of conventional power utility companies”.

    It said that the Senate delegation, on return to Berlin on Wednesday night, also had a discussion with Mr. Thomas Silberhorn, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development on how to foster economic exchange between the European giant and Nigeria.

  • Saraki congratulates Adeboye at 75

    Saraki congratulates Adeboye at 75

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday congratulated the General Overseer (GO) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on his 75th birthday anniversary.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described Papa Adeboye as one of the leaders who make so much impact on the people and whose fame continues to grow both in Nigeria and in Diaspora.

    According to the Senate President, leaders across board have a lot to learn from Adeboye – a mathematician and scientist – who has remained faithful to the call of God, unflinchingly walking his talk and being a positive example to his teeming followers and non-followers alike.

    Saraki said: “Papa Adeboye’s exemplary humility, passion for soul winning, ministering the word of God and prayers continue to be of immense benefit to Nigerians in particular and the world in general. He has continued to demonstrate through the force of personal example that it pays to serve God in truth and contentment.

    “It is my prayer that Almighty God will continue to preserve his life, grant him strength, many more years and excellent health to continue in his invaluable works and contribution to nation building and growth of the kingdom of God”, the Senate President stated.

    Saraki, however, urged the GO of RCCG and other religious leaders in the country not to relent in praying for the country, to overcome her present security, economic and social challenges.

  • ‘Saraki wrong to earn double salaries as public officer’

    ‘Saraki wrong to earn double salaries as public officer’

    An official of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Samuel Madojemu on Thursday insisted that Senate President, Bukola Saraki was wrong to have earned monthly payments from the Kwara State governor at the same time when he was already elected to the Senate. 

    Madojemu, who is the Head, Intelligence Unit of the CCB was emphatic when he said:  “A public officer is not permitted to earn two salaries from public treasuries, using two government positions at the same time.” 

    The CCB official spoke while testifying as the third prosecution witness at the resumption of proceedings in Saraki’s trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on charges of false assets declaration.

    Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Madojemu also said Saraki failed to declare, among others, his mortgage and the property he acquired through mortgage in London. He added that Saraki failed to declare his liability of about $3.4m in an America Express Card.

    “Your lordship, a public officer who has a mortgage abroad is expected to declare the mortgage. Having fully paid the mortgage, the public officer is expected to declare the property in his asset declaration form. But the defendant did not declare any mortgage in London.

    “He (Saraki) gave instruction to his banker, the GTB, to transfer £1,516,000 in two days to a bank in Fortis Bank for a mortgage in London. There was no declaration for the property in London.”

    Madojemu also said the Senate President made a single deposit of N77m cash on September 5, 2007, when his monthly salary, as governor of Kwara State, was N254,412.25.

    The witness, who read from a statement of Saraki’s account with the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, said the N77m was deposited in the defendant’s account in one day.

    “Your lordship, the cash lodgment deposited is not consonant with the income of the defendant as a governor. It cannot be attributable to his legitimate income. Your lordship, the defendant was earning 254,412.25 for a month. 

    “Within that same period, in one single day, as shown in the statement of account made available by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), there was lodgment of N77m in his account in one day.

    “From Exhibit 15, the salary of governors as of August 12, 2007, was N254,412.25.”

    On his role in the investigation of Saraki’s case, the witness said: “My role with reference to the exhibits mentioned already, was to compare the exhibits with the asset declaration forms of the defendants to see if there was any infraction with regards to his declarations.Those exhibits were sourced by EFCC officials in my team.”

    Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Madojemu was shown the contradiction in the number of Saraki’s asset declaration forms that the prosecution had tendered in court and the number of the forms which the CCB official had linked to Saraki in an affidavit.

    While seven of Saraki’s declaration forms had been tendered before the CCT, Madojemu had stated in the affidavit that Saraki had only declared four.

    When asked by the defence lawyer if four and seven were the same, the witness said no.

    Responding to further questions, the witness confirmed that he had earlier stated that it was unlawful for a public officer to trade in rice and sugar commodities.

    The witness said a public officer was permitted to own shares in companies, and when asked further, he said nothing stopped such public officers from owning shares in companies trading in rice and sugar.

    He confirmed that he never met Saraki in person and never asked him if he had shares in any company trading in rice and sugar.

    Madojemu said: “Public officer is allowed to own shares in a company. Nothing to my knowledge stops a public officer from owning controlling shares in a limited liability company. A public officer can be allowed to own controlling shares in a company that trades in rice and sugar. 

    “I did not ask the defendant whether he had shares in the company that traded rice and sugar. I did not find out if any of the companies in which the defendant owns share trades in rice and sugar. I have never seen the audited account of the defendant’s companies,” the witness said.

    Earlier, Saraki was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge filed by the prosecution, t which he pleaded not guilty.

    Saraki is, in the amended charge, accused of failing to make a written declaration of his “properties and assets”, that is, N77m paid into his account with Guaranty Trust Bank, GRA, Ilorin branch on September 5, 2007.

    It was also alleged that the sum of N77m was “not fairly attributable” to Saraki’s “income, gifts or loan approved by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers”.

    Further hearing in the case is adjourned to March 2.

  • Saraki reads Buhari’s medical vacation extension letter, others

    Saraki reads Buhari’s medical vacation extension letter, others

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday read President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation extension letter.

    Saraki also read the letter seeking the confirmation of Acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as substantive CJN which was endorsed by Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

    President Buhari in the letter notifying the Senate of the extension of his medical leave referred further to his letter dated 18th January 2017, in which he notified the Senate of taking part of his annual leave.

    He noted that “During my leave, I took the opportunity to have routine check-ups and consult my long standing doctors in London.

    “In the course of the routine examination, certain test result indicated the need for a course of medication and further appointments have been scheduled for next week.

    “I am therefore, notifying the Distinguished Senate that I am extending my leave until the doctors are satisfied that certain factors are ruled out.

    “In the circumstance, the Vice President will continue to act on my behalf.”

    On the appointment of the Onnoghen as CJN, entitled “Re: Appointment of Chief Justice of Nigeria” the Acting President said, “Following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, I hereby notify you (Senate) of the appointment of the Honourable Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen CFR as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “The Senate President is requested to kindly present the said appointment of the Honourable Justice Onnoghen for confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria.”

    Saraki also told the Senate that he led a delegation of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan to visit President Buhari in London.

    The Senate President reiterated that they met President Buhari in good spirit, in good health and chatty as usual.

    Saraki said that he led the delegation to convey the good wishes of the National Assembly to President Buhari.

    President Buhari, Saraki said, “hopes to be back very soon.”