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Tag: Ike Ekweremadu

PDP faults Odigie-Oyegun’s position on Ekweremadu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s position on the ongoing trial of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu is being tried alongside the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and two others over alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate standing rules.

Odigie-Oyegun was quoted to have said that the emergence of Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President rankled the APC, adding that the party found it very difficult to accept Ekweremadu’s emergence.

In a statement on Tuesday, the spokesman of the caretaker committee of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, described the trial as harassment of the accused persons.

He also labelled the criminal charges against the principal officers as “phantom and shenanigan.”

“We however, want to make it clear that the APC has no constitutional or moral grounds to be displeased with Ekweremadu’s emergence or to go this ridiculous length to harass, intimidate, embarrass, and malign him and the institution of the Senate on account of a position to which his colleagues, cutting across party lines, elected him in a transparent and televised election in line with Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” Adeyeye stated.

He recalled that the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari had commended the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, when he defected from the PDP to APC in 2014 and still retained his position as Speaker.

Adeyeye also recalled that the then National Publicity Secretary of the APC and the present Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had similarly hailed Tambuwal’s defection to the APC.

Mohammed had gone ahead to described Tambuwal’s defection as “a balanced setting in government and democracy,” adding that the defection had the backing of history and the constitution.

July 12, 2016
Forgery: Court’s annual vacation stalls Saraki, other’s trial

The scheduled commencement of trial in the forgery case against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others on Monday has been postponed.

The postponement was informed by the sudden commencement of the annual long vacation of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the Senate, Salihu Abubakar Maikasuwa and Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Benedict Efeturi were arraigned on June 27 before Justice Yusuf Haliru, of the High Court of the FCT in Jabi, on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery.

They were accused among others, of forging the Senate Standing Orders 2015, with which the elections for the offices of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate were conducted

The four defendants, who each, face a maximum of 14 years imprisonment on conviction, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

The court had, on the last date (June 27), adjourned to July 11 for the commencement of trial.

When parties got to court on Monday, they were informed that the court’s annual long vacation has commenced earlier than anticipated.

Court officials told lawyers representing parties that a circular for the annual vacation became public last Friday, but became effective on Monday.

Parties have agreed to return on September 28.

The defendants were all in court. While Abubakar entered the courtroom around 8:20am, Saraki, Ekweremadu and Efeturi arrived the court around8:50am.

Saraki, Ekweremadu and Efeturi rode into the court premises in a long convoy of cars, accompanied by some members of the Senate and their supporters.

July 11, 2016
I have not spoken on Saraki forgery trial- Atiku

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar said yesterday that he has not made any comment on the ongoing battle between the leadership of the Senate and the Attorney General of the Federation over the forgery trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

In a statement made available to the media in Abuja on Monday by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said the last time made any comment on National Assembly matters was in July 2015 during the leadership crisis in the legislature.

The statement said that the former Vice President was taken by surprise that a section of the media choose to take his 2015 comment, rework it and credited same to him in the current battle of supremacy between the Senate and the Attorney General of the Federation.

He said that the last time Atiku Abubakar issued a statement on National Assembly matters was on July 2, 2015, when he called for an amicable resolution of crisis of confidence that arose from the election of principal officers, which bitterly divided the party leaders and their supporters. That statement was titled “It is time to shift ground and move to the centre.”

The statement said further that “it was not within Atiku Abubakar’s power to intervene in support of either side when his intervention was not sought”

It said further that though the former Vice President is not in support of “any row between the executive branch and the legislature, which causes needless distractions at the expense of governance issues demanding attention, his July 2, 2015 statement over internal party tension should not be twisted, reworked and attributed to him in order to make it look like he made a recent comment on the NASS vs AG crisis of confidence”

He admonished the media to treat people fairly by not attributing to them statements they didn’t make; dredging up old statements on different issues and make them appear like their reactions to current issues that have no bearing on each other.

July 4, 2016
Saraki, Ekweremadu’s forgery case, not a National Assembly matter -SGF

……SGF to Saraki, Ekweremadu: Allow judiciary do its job,
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal on Wednesday said the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for forgery was not a trial for the Senate or the National Assembly as a body.

In a statement he personally signed, Lawal said that a case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals, pointing out that such case of certificate forgery led to the resignation of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari.

Noting that bringing the National Assembly as a body into the new court case is unwarranted; he said that such action can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

He said: “Since the arraignment of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and, his Deputy Senator Ike Ekweremadu before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, the two leaders of the Senate, have issued two separate press statements conveying messages that are far from being complementary to the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Senator Saraki in his statement clearly insinuated that Mr. President is not in control of his administration and that a cabal now runs the federal administration. On the part of Senator Ekweremadu, he insists that President Buhari is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail our democracy.

“From their statements, the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate and indeed, the Legislative Arm of Government that is on trial.

“They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the Executive Arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise.

Since the case is in court, he said that the Judiciary should be allowed to do its job.

He stressed that the case only involves the four accused persons.

He added: “And should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the Police by some aggrieved Senators who specifically accused certain persons.

“It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives. To bring the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.

“A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals. This is not different. As was the case with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honorably. The matter did not even go to court.

“In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire Legislature into the matter.” He said

He pointed out that the separate statements by the Senate President and his Deputy were contradictory.

He said: “While Senator Saraki believes Mr. President has abdicated his powers and that a cabal is in charge of Federal Administration, Senator Ekweremadu says President Buhari has become a dictator.

“Our democracy is still evolving and being deepened. The provisions of the separation of powers are entrenched in our Constitution and should guide everyone in our conduct. The rule of law is indeed supreme.

“This particular case is before the judiciary and is not being decided by the Executive Arm of Government. All that has transpired is still within the confines of our laws. These are the rights to accuse, to be investigated and be arraigned before the court.

“To impute other considerations to the process is unfortunate. We should allow the process to take its course, in consonance with the dictates of the law and total obeisance to the cardinal democratic principle of the separation of powers,” he stated.

June 29, 2016
Forgery: Saraki, deputy docked, granted bail

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were docked before an Abuja High Court on Monday over alleged complicity in forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, 2015.

They were arraigned alongside former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

Saraki, Ekweremadu and the two other accused persons pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against them by the federal government.

Following their not guilty plea, they were all granted bail and the case was adjourned till July 11.

June 27, 2016
Forgery: Senate summons AGF

The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules by senators.

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and some other senators will be arraigned on June 27 over their alleged involvement in the forgery of the Senate rules.

Details later…

June 21, 2016
Saraki, Ekweremadu mourn Keshi

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday mourned the sudden death of the former skipper and Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.

While Saraki described as a “rude shock” the news of the death of Keshi, Eweremadu expressed shock and sadness over the death of the former Super Eagles coach.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the sad occurrence was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the late international star to stabilize its soccer architecture.

He lauded the monumental contributions of Keshi to the development of football in the country and extolled his doggedness and exemplary contributions that saw the nation clinch international trophies both as a player and a coach.

Saraki said: “Keshi was an excellent star. His soccer artistry and leadership skills remain unparalleled. His days, while donning the national colours and his stint as a National Coach of the Super Eagles could rightly be regarded as “Nigeria’s golden moments” in both national, continental and world soccer.

“Keshi lost his wife late last year and today we heard the sad news of his demise. This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. His death at 54 is both a rude shock and highly unfortunate.

“Nonetheless, we must take solace in the fact that he did his utmost for the development of sports in Nigeria, Africa and the world, during his sojourn on earth.

“As a player and coach, he was instrumental to superlative victories for the national team. It could be recalled that the “Big Boss” as he was fondly called, made history by winning the African Nation’s Cup as a player in Tunisia 1994 and in South Africa 2013, he won again as a coach. He was perhaps the only Nigerian to have achieved that feat.

“He was a great source of inspiration to his contemporaries, team mates and the younger generation who took to football and are still active in sports across the world today. He shall be sorely missed,” he said.

The Senate President commiserated with the children and immediate family of the deceased, the Government and people of Delta State, the Minister of Youths and Sports, the nation’s football governing body and the Super Eagles over the painful loss.

While praying God to grant the Soul of the departed eternal rest, he urged his children, loved ones and admirers to emulate the enviable lifestyle of industry and patriotism of the late soccer hero.

He called on both the Federal and Delta State Governments to immortalize him.

Ekweremadu on his own said Keshi represented the best generation of the Super Eagles so far and described the ex-international’s death as a big blow to Nigerian football.

This is contained in statement by his aide, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja

Ekweremadu noted that late gaffer made Nigeria proud, not only as a successful captain and coach of the Super Eagles, but as one of the first crop of Nigerian players to export Nigeria’s football prowess to the world as a professional player.

He said: “Keshi captained a generation of Super Eagles that was truly superlative in performance and bestowed on the national team the international fame, respect, and grandeur it enjoys till date.

“He captained the Super Eagles to the 5th place in FIFA ranking, possibly the best by any African country so far, and capped it up by leading a younger generation of the national team to a successful campaign to the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa.

“His death is, therefore, a big blow to us as a nation. Keshi deserves our prayers for the peaceful repose of his patriotic soul; and he indeed deserves immortalisation by a country he served so fervently, patriotically, and unreservedly”.

The Deputy Senate President called on stakeholders in the Nigerian football industry to use this period of mourning to embark on sober and deep reflections on the tumble in nation’s football fortunes.

He prayed God to grant Keshi’s immediate family and the entire nation the equanimity to bear the irreparable loss.

June 8, 2016
Our fault lines widening, Ekweremadu warns

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday expressed worries over the widening of the nation’s fault lines.

The development, he said, was not healthy for the nation’s democracy.

Ekweremadu, who stated this in his Democracy Day message, maintained that whereas ethnicity and other diversities within the country were healthy realities that should actually make the nation thick, the poor management of such diversities and their exploitation for political and other selfish advantages had continued to polarise the nation.

He said this constituted a major stumbling block to the nation’s progress.

The Deputy Senate President also tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the conduct of the remaining rerun elections.

In a statement by his Media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu rated the 2015 general elections as the most divisive in the nation’s history.

He expressed concerns over the lack of clear and deliberate steps to soothe frayed nerves and wield the country together, one year after.

He said: “It is good to talk about the infrastructure or other achievements we have recorded in the last one year, if any, but it needs to be emphasised that more than anything else, we need to reinforce peace, unity, and patriotism. With these, we can take Nigeria to unimaginable heights.”

The Deputy Senate President urged those in authority to see the entire country as their constituency and ensure fairness, equity in the distribution of projects and opportunities to give every constituent part a sense of belonging irrespective of their political choices.

This, he said, was in line with the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office, which every political leader swore to on assumption of office.

Ekweremadu also enjoined INEC to immediately conclude rerun elections in Rivers State and conduct outstanding rerun elections in Imo North and Kogi East Senatorial Districts, among others.

Describing the affected areas as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongholds, Ekweremadu noted that the continued vacancy of the seats was a huge subtraction not only for the affected constituencies but also for the PDP.

May 29, 2016
Photos: Ekweremadu launches book on Nigeria

Former Head of State and Chairman of the Occasion Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.) Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, Former Senate President, David Mark and Deputy Speaker of the House of representatives, Hon. Suleiman Lasun at the public presentation of the Book title ‘who will love my country written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu—Photo by Femi Ojo

Extreme Right: Former Head of State and Chairman of the Occasion, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, (Extreme Left) among others at the public presentation of the Book title ‘Who Will Love My Country” written by Deputy Senate president —photo by Femi Ojo

Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed Representing the President and Mrs. Ekweremadu, Dr. Nwanneka at the public presentation of the Book

L-R: Former Senate President, Hon. Joseph Waya and Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume at the book launch in Abuja

April 27, 2016
Decoration: EFCC denial baffling – Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday said he was baffled over the denial of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that it did not decorate him as anti-corruption ambassador.

Senator Ekweremadu in a statement issued by his media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, noted that it is on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari and his team applied for and subsequently visited him in his office on Tuesday.

In the statement titled: “Anti-Corruption Ambassador: EFCC’s baffling denial” taking cognizance of the command structure of the agency, the deputy Senate president said it is doubtful if Mr. Bakari could have acted on his own or read from a prepared text without recourse to the commission which he represents, especially as the visit and decoration was never solicited for in the first place.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, denying that the agency decorated the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as its Anti-Corruption Ambassador.

“We want to put it on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, and his team, applied for and subsequently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy President of the Senate in his office on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.

‘Mr. Bakari, amongst other issues he raised, solicited the support of the Senate and National Assembly towards the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration and even presented a frame with a bold picture of President Muhammadu Buhari bearing the inscription: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

“Mr. Bakari also, on behalf of the Acting Chairman, management, and staff of the EFCC decorated Senator Ekweremadu as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador of the EFCC.

“Mr. Bakari’s words: ‘It is, therefore my honour, Your Excellency, to on behalf of my Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly.”

April 20, 2016