The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu

  • Ekweremadu wins 5th terms

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner of Enugu West Senatorial District for the fifth time in Saturday Presidential/National Assembly elections.

    Ekweremadu polled 86,088 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 15,187 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Prof Douglas Nwagbo of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) announced the results in Awgu on Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the victory, Ekweremadu holds the senatorial mandate for the 5th time.

    Reacting to the development, the deputy senate president said he was humbled by the result because it was the first time a senator would be voted the fifth time in Nigeria.

    He applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections. (NAN)

  • Ekweremadu donates classroom to Hausa community

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has donated and opened a classroom block to the Hausa community at Ugwuoba, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    He also donated 21 motorcycles to the commercial motorcycle riders union at 9th Mile Corner, Udi council.

    A statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said Ekweremadu described education as the key to a good life, and urged the community to take advantage of the school to give their children education.

    The statement reads: “Your children are helping to tend cattle today, but let me tell you that in 20 to 30 years, they will not be interested in it. The best gift you can give to these children is education so they can contest and become councillors, governors, and even senators like me.

    “We will build another classroom block once this one is put to good use, and will ensure there is a functional borehole here, latest March 28, to take care of your water needs.

    “I urge to continue to support us by voting for all PDP candidates in the elections to enable us continue to do more for you.”

    At 9th Mile corner, Ekweremadu assured the people that the electricity transformer he donated will be installed for them immediately.

    He also pledged to rehabilitate the faulty borehole.

    “The 9th Mile is a very important city to us, being the commercial headquarters of our senatorial zone. We are already working with a Chinese consortium to turn the area into an economic hub and the foundation stone for that would be laid soon,” he promised.

     

     

  • Southeast governors reject police report

    Southeast Governors Forum has rejected yesterday’s police report that the security incident at the residence of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was a burglary and not an assassination attempt.

    The governors expressed their view through the forum’s Director General, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, who addressed a news conference in Enugu yesterday.

    The forum called on the police and other security agencies to undertake thorough investigation and bring the culprits to book.

    “We reject the hasty conclusion that the attack was a case of burglary, otherwise, the so-called “burglars’’ would not have insisted on the Deputy President’s son taking them to his father’s bedroom. The careful and methodical execution of the plot points to something more sinister than burglary.”

    The forum, while condemning “the attempted assassination on Ekweremadu”, said the matter, “no doubt, casts a dark shadow on the state of security of lives and property in Nigeria”.

    Read also: Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip of ‘assassination attempt’

    “Apart from being a worthy son of Igboland, the Deputy Senate President has distinguished himself as a true Nigerian and a global citizen, having held the position of Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament for more than four years,” the forum stressed.

    The governors also touched on the neglect of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the abandoned Second Niger Bridge, urging the Federal Government to fix them.

  • Reps probe assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, family

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to constitute an ad hoc Committee to investigate the alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Senator, Ike Ekweremadu and members of his family.

    The committee is also mandated to find out the circumstances surrounding the late response of the Nigeria Police to the emergency.

    The committee is to report back to the House in two weeks for further legislative action.

    The Green Chamber also urged the relevant security agencies to ensure increased security surveillance around the Deputy President of the Senate as well as other members of the National Assembly.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion brought before lawmakers at plenary by Hon. Toby Okechukwu (PDP Enugu).

    Okechukwu, while moving the motion noted with concern the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu and his family by ” some men armed with dangerous weapons and house breaking devices.”

    According to him, they had descreetly evaded security to gain access into the house.

    Read Also: Senate wades into NHIS, NPHCDA crisis

    He said the armed men forced the Senator’s son to take them to the bedroom of their father, where a struggle ensured leading to the arrest of one of the suspects.

    The lawmaker decried the poor response of the Nigeria Police Force “in spite of several calls to various officers at the stages of the attack ”

    Okachukwu took cognizance of the need to ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians “in respective of their class, tribe or religion.”

    When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed without dissent.

  • Ekweremadu’s home incident ‘is burglary’

    THE Police declared yesterday’s security incident at the home of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as burglary and not an assassination attempt.

    Giving an initial report of its investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, police spokesman Jimoh Moshood said four policemen, who were on duty at the time of the invasion of his home by the gunman, had been arrested.

    A member of the Civil Defence Corp on duty there is also under arrest, he added.

    The police said investigation revealed that the suspects burgled another house before getting to Ekweremadu’s home.

    Also arrested is one Mohammed Yusuf from Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State. Another person simply identified as Ali had been declared wanted by the police in connection with the incident.

    Moshood listed the items recovered from the suspect as including motor jack, big screw driver, big rod, a small kitchen knife and other house-breaking implements.

    The police statement said: “The residence of Deputy Senate President on No 2, Jim Nwobodo Street, APO Legislative Quarters, was broken into by Mohammed Yusuf of Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, who was arrested at the scene and now in police custody along with one Ali (other name unknown), who escaped from the scene at about 0430hrs, November 6, 2018.

    Read also: Ekweremadu: Nowhere, nobody is safe – Dogara

    “The police have commenced investigation into the crime and the principal suspect Mohammed Yusuf of Kaura Namoda has volunteered confessional statement after interrogation, admitting to the crime and mentioned one Ali (other name unknown) now at large, who escaped from the scene, to have carried out the crime along with him.”

    It added: “There was no delay in police intervention in the incident that occurred in the residence of the Deputy Senate President.

    “Four police personnel and one  personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on duty at the residence of the Deputy Senate President at the time of the incident have been arrested and currently in detention for investigation for negligent acts and dereliction of duty.”

    The police spokesman added that preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President and his family, “but a case of burglary”.

    “However, investigation is still ongoing to determine, if there is any other motive behind the offence. The same suspects had earlier at about 0300Hrs broken into the residence of one Mr. Haliru Adamu of No. 38 Denis Osadebey Crescent, APO Legislative quarters, where they stole phones, jewelries and other valuables before proceeding to the residence of the Deputy Senate President,” the statement added.

    The police said the Deputy Senate President and Adamu had made statements to the police about the two incidents, adding that investigation into the two cases were ongoing and the outcome would be made public.

     

  • Melaye’s recall: INEC is wasting its time – Senate

    Melaye’s recall: INEC is wasting its time – Senate

    The Senate yesterday dared the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to go ahead with the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), as demanded by his constituents.

    The electoral agency is embarking on an exercise in futility, the lawmakers said.

    The Senate said the various stages passed so far in the process were not in line with laid down constitutional procedures and guidelines, adding that it amounted to a waste of time by all the parties involved.

    This resolution followed a point of order raised against the move by Melaye.

    Melaye drew the attention of the Senate to what he described as “supersonic move” by INEC to conclude work on the recall petitions written against him by some of his constituents, who he alleged were sponsored by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Melaye said: “The score of both valid and invalid votes in the election that brought me into the Senate in 2015 was 118,000 but my governor and his appointees in four days claimed they got signatures of over 188,000.

    They got INEC data base of registered voters and copied in one writing into a recall register and forged all the signatures. As I speak to you, over 120 dead certificates issued by the National Population Commission and these people’s relations and families have sworn to affidavits and these certificates have been deposited.

    “The names of all these dead people appeared on the recall register submitted to INEC.

    “116 of my constituents have sworn to affidavits that their names and signatures appeared in the recall registers and that they did not sign.

    “86 of my constituents have sworn to an affidavit that they were approached and that the government wants to carry out a fertiliser empowerment programme and requested for their PVCs and thereby deceived them into putting their names in the recall register.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu cited Sections 68, 69 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to fault the move. He wondered why INEC is not following the laid down procedure in carrying out the exercise.

    Ekweremadu said: “I am wondering why we are dissipating energy on this matter and wasting precious legislative time on a matter we should not.

    “What is happening in Kogi in respect of Senator Dino Melaye, as far as this constitution is concerned, is an exercise in futility. They are just wasting precious time because the constitution is clear on what should happen.

    Saraki, Ekweremadu

    “It is possible that the Attorney- General of Kogi State has not advised them properly. If he had done that, I am sure they would have applied their time to more meaningful ventures in Kogi State.”

    Ekweremadu added that the National Assembly, in 2010, amended the constitution in respect of Section 69, which deals wit the recall of a lawmaker.

    According to him, the Section clearly states that those who are seeking to recall Melaye are supposed to line up somewhere in Kogi State with him and his lawyers, with each person verifying his signature.

    When they are done with that, they go back to Section 68, which states that the President of the Senate receives from the chairman of INEC the recall of the member. They would also present evidence satisfactory to the House or the Senate.

    “So they need to come back here and convince each and every one of us that they have done the correct thing. Unless they do that, they cannot even give effect to it. So why are we wasting our time? Let us move on and allow them to waste their time,” Ekweremadu said.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said: “As they say, 10 years is no joke in leadership, the Deputy Senate President has explained the processes. So, let the process speak for itself.

    ”I really don’t know why a lot of efforts are being wasted that should have gone into more important things. Eventually, it must come back here for us to decide whether it is satisfactory or not.”

     

  • Ekweremadu seeks public hearings for national budgets

    Ekweremadu seeks public hearings for national budgets

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu Wednesday said national budget proposals should be subjected to public hearings.

    He said public scrutiny would reduce the corruption associated with the budgeting process and will improve transparency.

    It will also enable the citizens make direct input on areas in need of attention, he said.

    Ekweremadu spoke in Abuja on the second day of the national conference on “Role of the Legislature in the fight against Corruption”, organised by Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) and the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, in collaboration with the European Union, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Africa Development Studies Center.

    Ekweremadu, who chaired a session, said Nigeria is perceived as a corrupt nation partly because its budgeting processes are not transparent enough.

    He said: “We are one of the few countries that don’t subject our budgets to public hearings. I don’t see why Appropriation Bills should not be sent in early by the executive so that the public can contribute.

    “The problem has always been that the executive brings budget proposals at the last minute, usually at the end of a financial year, leaving no room for public input,” he said.

    PACAC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, urged the National Assembly to make its budgets public for the sake of transparency and accountability.

    He said the lawmakers should justify to Nigerians the fact that there has been over 2,220 per cent increase in National Assembly’s budget between 1999 and 2014.

    Owasanoye said the number of lawmakers has not increased, nor has the salaries of other workers increased, yet their budget rose from N6.9billion in 1999 to N150billion in 2014.

    According to him, National Assembly’s budget was N6.9billion in 1999, N9.9billion in 2000, N19.8billion in 2001, N21.6billion in 2002, N24.3billion in 2003, N34.7billion in 2004, N55.4billion in 2005, N60billion in 2007, N106billion in 2009 and N154.3billion in 2010.

    Owasanoye accused the lawmakers of competing with the executive rather than focusing on their core mandates of lawmaking and oversight duties.

    “The National Assembly, just like the judiciary, does not account to anybody for how it spends money. It’s a big problem. The arm of government to help us deal with that is the legislature.

    “But for several years they’ve been collecting over N100billion, they’ve not accounted to anybody. They have to justify it to us. That is the only way to remove the negative perception that that the National Assembly is corrupt.

    “On constituency projects, which I have no aversion for, in the majority of cases, unless we want to live in denial, a legislator wants to nominate or succeeds in totally hijacking the contract.

    “So, the National Assembly should stop competing with the executive for budget increases,” Owasanoye said.

  • Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    The frosty relationship existing between the Presidency and the Senate further deepen Thursday.

    Three ministers and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, summoned by the Senate to appear before its separate committees failed to honour the invitation.

    The development emerged as Senate Thursday adjourned plenary for three weeks to observe its end of session.

    The Senate, Thursday, got messier, as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and four Ministers, shunned summons extended to them by the Upper Legislative Chamber.

    Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Ababakar Malami, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; and Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, were invited to face various Senate committees to clear certain grey areas.

    Specially, the Senate summoned the AGF on Tuesday to appear before its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to explain why the suit against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules of 2015 became necessary.

    This resolution to invite the AGF followed the adoption of a motion of national urgent importance raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).

    On the other hand, the SGF, Mr. Lawal and Foreign Affairs Minister, Onyeama did not also turn up to clarify in honour of their invitation.

    Lawal and Onyeama were invited to explain the criteria adopted in the selection of ambassadorial nominees recently forwarded to the Senate for consideration and confirmation by President Buhari.

    While Minister of Communications, Mr. Shittu who was invited by the Senate committee on Communications to explain the reduction of the fine imposed on MTN for alleged operational misconduct by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

    Shittu did not also show up.

    The MTN sanction was originally N1.04 trillion, later reduced to N780 billion and again reduced to N330 billion by the Federal Government.

    The non-appearance of the Minister of Communications may have prompted a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Senator Gilbert Nnaji which got Senate nod to summon the Minister and some other stakeholders once again.

    The two prayers of the motion asked Senate to “Direct the Committee on Communication to invite all the relevant stakeholders including the Minister of Justice, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister of Communication, executive vice chairman of NCC, Governor of Central Bank, managing director MTN Nigeria Limited and all other parties involved in all negotiations of the MTN deal to shed light on the matter especially whether the reduction was in accordance with the regulation of the NCC governing fines and penalties.

    To “Urge the Federal Government to move the initial amount of N50 billion from the CBN recovery account to the CBN/NCC treasury single account.”

    The prayers were unanimously adopted.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki directed the committee chairman report back in two weeks by the time the Senate resumes from its break.

    Nnaji noted in his lead debate that Senate is aware that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) enabled by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 is the statutory regulator for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

    He said that as the regulator, the commission has been imposing fines on erring telecom operators over the years and proceeds from the redemption of such fines have been lodged in the commission’s designated account.

    The Enugu East lawmaker recalled that in October 2015, in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulation, 2011, the Nigerian Communications Commission imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Communications Nigeria Limited for failing to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered subscribers on its network.

    He prayed the Senate to note that Section 19 and 20 of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) registration of telephone subscribers’ regulation 2011 does not empower the commission or another entity or government officials to reduce any fine so imposed.

    Nnaji regretted that the MTN fine was unilaterally reduced from N780 billion without the input of the Ministry of Communications and the NCC which “constitutes a flagrant breach of this regulation and an attempt to whittle down the authority of the commission.”

    He added that through some negotiation process excluding the ministry and the commission but championed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; MTN was requested to pay the sum of N50 billion as a gesture of good faith towards the settlement of the fine.

    “Mr President, the Senate recalls that the attendant confusion created by the claim and counter claim over the veracity of the payment of the said N50 billion by MTN and the domiciliation of the money in a CBN recovery account, as if the money in question was a stolen fund, prompted the committee on communications to embark on a fact finding meeting of all stakeholders involved on March 10, 2016.

    “These included the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister for Communications, Governor of Central bank of Nigeria, executive vice chairman of NCC, and the managing director MTN Nigeria Limited.

    “The senate regrets to discover by the admission of the accountant general of the federation at the meeting that the said N50 billion was actually lost in a CBN recovery account on the instruction of the accountant general of the federation.

     

    “Further regret to discover through a document available to the committee that MTN had already made a proposal of final payment of N300 billion as at the time of the meeting of the meeting in March which led the committee to conclude that there was a secret agreement between MTN, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation to admit the N50 billion as the commencement of the execution of a final agreement of N300 billion.

     

    “The senate alarmed to observe that the reduced fine of N780 billion was further slashed to N330 billion through a settlement payment plan that smacks of unpatrotism and insensitivity of the parties that agreed to the new amount in spite of the economic plight currently facing the country.

     

    “The senate laments that Nigeria has been shortchanged in this whole process of account of the ridiculous settlement payment plan coupled with the disparity in the exchange rate regime when the fine was imposed abinitio compared with the current prevailing exchange rate where the value of naira is taking a downward slide.

    “The senate notes therefore as the representatives of the Nigerian people we are saddened about this development coming at a time when the Nigerian economy needs all the available capital infusion to bolster it,” Nnaji said.

    A

  • Saraki urges court to quash forgery charge

    Saraki urges court to quash forgery charge

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to quash the forgery charge filed against them by the Federal Government.

    He is also praying the court to dispense with his physical appearance so that the business of lawmaking will not suffer and because he is already undergoing another trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Saraki, the third defendant, was charged along with Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the Senate Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and Deputy Clerk Benedict Efeturi.

    Justice Yusuf Haliru had ordered substituted service of the charge and adjourned until June 27 for arraignment.

    The Senate President, in an application filed by his lawyer Ahmed Raji (SAN), a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, is praying the court to quash the charge.

    Raji said the application, filed Wednesday, had been served on the prosecution. “The motion has already been filed this (Wednesday) afternoon and served,” he told our correspondent.

    In a motion on notice brought pursuant to Sections 6(6) (A) & (B) and Section 36(6)(6)(B) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Sections 1 (1) & (2), 266,  271(B), 382(4)& 492(3) of the Administration Of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Saraki is praying for an order dispensing with his physical appearance and during and pending the determination of this Motion on Notice.

    He sought an order setting aside the purported service of the Charge/Information Sheet which was effected by substituted means on him.

    The Senate President also prayed for an order striking out or quashing the charge for non-disclosure of a prima facie case against him.

    He is also praying for an order suspending or adjourning sine die all the proceedings against him pending hearing and determination of the charge at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja, for alleged false asset declaration.

    Raji said the need to dispense with Saraki’s presence pending the determination of the Motion on Notice is desirable and of utmost national importance.

    Stating the grounds of the application, he said: “The notice of trial and information ought to be served on the third defendant. No unsuccessful attempt was made by the complainant to effect personal service of the Information/Charge on the third defendant. Hence, pasting of the processes on the Notice Board of the National Assembly is not good service.

    “No prima facie case has been disclosed against the third defendant in this charge. There is no link between the proof of evidence and the allegations made against the third defendant in the charge.

    “The third defendant is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged offences under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/15 between FRN v. DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI.

    “Accelerated hearing has been ordered for the prosecution of the said trial, in consequence of which the proceedings therein are being conducted on virtually day to day basis.

    “The third defendant requires adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. The prosecution of this charge concurrently with the other one being tried at the CCT will not only work great hardship against the third defendant, but will also deny him an opportunity to a fair trial.”

    In a supporting affidavit, Dolapo Kehinde, a lawyer in the firm of Ahmed Raji & Co, one of the firms engaged by Saraki to defend him, said Saraki’s trial at the CCT has been “protracted notwithstanding the fact that accelerated hearing was ordered for the prosecution of the trial

    “I am aware, having been attending all the proceedings thereto that there has been occasional overlap in the conduct of the proceedings and legislative activities in the Senate. It is common knowledge that the legislative roles, administrative duties and national obligations of a Senate President can neither be underplayed nor undermined.

    “It is also common knowledge that the country is currently wading through tough economic situations, while the national stability is at a precipice; thus, requiring constant need of immediate legislative interventions.

    “I am aware that the Nigerian people have enough economic hardship at this time requiring the full attention and cooperation of the three arms of government, instead of these attempts to distract and politicise governance; especially because the country is in a state of economic emergency such that what the National Assembly needs at this time are executive bills and proposals aimed at resolving the crises of unemployment, currency depreciation, inflation, crime, insecurity etc.

    “I know that the charge in Exhibit ‘B1’ has consistently constituted a distraction, although the third defendant has dexterously managed the situation to the amazement of all and sundry.

    “The preferment of the instant charge is a precipitated decision made in bad faith, not only with an odious intention to scuttle legislative businesses at the Senate, but also a move to further throw the country into greater instability, such that distract Senators from their oversight functions and accountable governance.

    “I know that the concurrent prosecution of this charge with the other one at the CCT will not only work great hardship against the third defendant, but will also deny him an opportunity of a fair trial.

    “The third defendant requires adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence in the instant charge. He will be adversely prejudiced and denied a fair trial/fair hearing if he is made to simultaneously stand trial for the two charges.

    “On account of national exigencies and necessities, the need to dispense with the presence of the third defendant/applicant during hearing and determination of this Motion on Notice is also desirable.

    “In the interest of justice and fair play/trial, it is imperative that proceedings in this Suit are suspended or adjourned sine die, pending determination of the proceedings/trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

    The deponent said the petition by a group, Unity Forum, to the Inspector-General of Police that the National Assembly Standing Rules was forged does not mention Saraki’s name or that of anyone else suspected to have participated in the alleged forgery. He said the petition only implores the police to investigate the matter.

    “This application not only bothers on the sensitivity of imminent national occurrences, but also touch on the constitutional right of the third defendant to a fair trial,” the deponent added.

    Raji also filed a bail application on Saraki’s behalf; to be argued should he be arraigned. He is seeking, among others, that Saraki be granted bail on self-recognisance and because the charge is a bailable offence, pending hearing and determination of the charges preferred against him.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.