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Tag: Kogi Assembly

  • Kogi Assembly seeks urgent intervention to restore electricity in Ankpa LGA

    Kogi Assembly seeks urgent intervention to restore electricity in Ankpa LGA

    The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for urgent intervention by the state government to restore public electricity supply to Ankpa Local Government Area.

    Hon. Lawal Akus, who represents Ankpa 1 State Constituency, moved the motion during plenary in Lokoja, the state capital, on Friday.

    Akus said Ankpa, one of the most populous and economically significant LGAs in Kogi East, has been in total blackout for over a year.

    He said the prolonged power outage has crippled businesses, endangered healthcare delivery, and worsened insecurity in the area.

    His words: “Ankpa has been in total blackout for over one year, a persistent crisis that represents a serious developmental setback with grave implications for education, healthcare, commerce and public safety.

    “We cannot remain silent while thousands of our constituents continue to suffer. The lack of electricity has caused immense hardship to residents and resulted in crippling losses for small businesses, public institutions, health facilities and security operations.”

    Akus said the area was previously connected to a 33kV line from Otukpo in Benue, but the supply collapsed due to heavy overload on the line which also served Omala and Olamaboro LGAs.

    He said a more viable route from Ajaokuta via Anyigba had been recommended, with temporary improvements made in 2022 and 2023 in collaboration with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

    However, he said the power supply became unstable and eventually deteriorated into another prolonged blackout.

    “It is most disheartening that Ankpa, the commercial hub of Kogi East, and its surrounding communities remain without public electricity, exposing residents to worsening economic hardship and daily suffering,” he said.

    Akus urged the Kogi Ministry of Rural Development to liaise with AEDC to restore power to the affected areas, replace damaged poles and cross arms, and provide transformers and armoured cables in specific locations.

    He also called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to intervene with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for the completion of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in Ankpa, which includes two 7.5MVA injection substations now near completion.

    The motion was seconded by Hon. Alewo Ujah Anthony, who represents Olamaboro Constituency. He appealed for Olamaboro to be included in the intervention plan.

    Other lawmakers who supported the motion include Hon. Sunday Dakku of Bassa, Hon. Bode Ogunmola of Ogori Magongo, Hon. Idris Aliyu of Kogi/Koton-Karfe, Hon. Umar Yahaya of Omala, Hon. Shehu Tijani of Lokoja 1, Hon. Jibrin Abu of Ajaokuta, and Hon. Seyi Bello.

    Abu described the situation as “untold hardship” and wondered how hospitals storing essential drugs and vaccines could continue operations without electricity.

    The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Umar Aliyu expressed concern and urged the state government to act swiftly.

    The House unanimously adopted all the prayers and directed the clerk to communicate the resolutions to the executive and relevant agencies for immediate action.

  • Kogi Assembly resumes plenary today, says Speaker

    Kogi Assembly resumes plenary today, says Speaker

    Members of the Kogi House of Assembly will, today resume plenary at the renovated Assembly Complex in Lokoja, following the completion of renovation work there, the Speaker, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, said yesterday.

    Yusuf spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Yabagi Mohammed, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN).

    He said the complex had been fully renovated and handed over to the assembly.

    NAN reports that the complex was, on October 10, 2022, razed down by a mysterious fire, prompting the state government to award a contract for its renovation.

    Read Also: Kogi Assembly passes University Bill

    “The renovation of the complex has been completed and we hope to resume plenary in the complex by tomorrow, December 11, by God’s grace,” the Speaker declared.

    Meanwhile, Mr Oladipo Bayode, the convener of the Annual Kogi Built Environment and Building Materials Exhibition (BEBM), has commended the technical competence and workmanship put into the renovation of the assembly complex.

    He described the job as “a world class construction with high value for money”.

    Bayode, who gave the commendation during a visit to the project site, commended the contractor and all service providers who handled the building renovation project.

  • Kogi Assembly recommends CJ’s removal for alleged gross misconduct

    The Kogi State House of Assembly has recommended the removal of the Chief Judge (CJ) of state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, for alleged gross misconduct.

    This followed Tuesday’s adoption of the report and recommendations of the House committee on public account, which indicted the Kogi State High Court and Kogi Hajj Commission of financial breaches.

    The House said that the Chief Judge could step aside to defend himself over the indictment by the auditor general of the state.

    The House also recommended punitive measures on those indicated, to “avoid a reoccurrence.”

    It however directed the state government to urgently resume payment of salaries of judicial workers.

    Read Also: Gov. Bello plotting to sack CJ, Kogi judiciary alleges

    Committee Report 30 of the House Committee on Public Accounts on the State’s Auditor General’s on the 2016 Financial Statements (Budget Performance Analysis on Personnel Cost, Overheads, Capital Expenditure and Revenue Performance of Kogi State for the Year Ended 31st December, 2016), was presented by Hon. Ahmed Mohammed, Committee Chairman.

    It would be recalled that Kogi judicial staff members have been on strike for close to six months over unresolved differences between the judicial arm and executive, arising from their alleged non submission to the staff payroll verification exercise embarked on by government late last year.

    The judicial arm had earlier alleged of plans by Governor Yahaya Bello to remove Ajanah from office.

    Kogi Speaker Prince Mathew Kolawole had however denied knowledge of such plan.

  • Speaker debunks N200m scandal rocking Kogi Assembly

    Barely two months after the inauguration of a new leadership at the Kogi State House of Assembly, allegations of embezzlement of the unexplained N200 million is threatening to tear it apart.

    The Speaker, Matthew Kolawole, who just returned from the U.S., as part of the delegation to the just-concluded United Nations General Assembly meeting, is being asked by some aggrieved members to explain the whereabouts of the N200 million, believed to be a largesse to lawmaker.

    The Speaker, at the resumed hearing yesterday, however debunked the allegations, saying they were the handiwork of those ‘intent in putting spanners’ in the Assembly’s work.

    The money was allegedly released by Governor, Yahaya Bello last month to facilitate approval of a loan request.

    The lawmakers were said to have turned down the request, which the Speaker reportedly turned round to approve without their knowledge.

    A source at the Assembly further alleged that the governor gave Kolawole N200 million for the members, but he went away with N120 million.

    The source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the speaker only released N80 million to them.

    “One of the lawmakers approached the governor to find out how much was given to the speaker and the governor confirmed giving him N200 million,” he said.

    At yesterday’s sitting, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts Musa Omiata (Yagba East) said: “There was no time, under the leadership of Kolawole, that a request to approve a N10 billion loan came, and on no account was the speaker asked to share N200 million with the lawmaker.”

  • Kogi Assembly constitutes committee to investigate attack

    Kogi Assembly constitutes committee to investigate attack

    The Kogi House of Assembly on Wednesday constituted a five-man committee to “critically investigate” the remote and immediate causes of the attack on the lawmakers on August 1.

    The action followed the adoption of a motion on the incident brought by the Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Victor Omofaiye, under matters of urgent public importance.

    Some hoodlums had invaded the House and attacked members and staff of the Assembly.

    The hoodlums, who left many members critically injured, also destroyed furniture and other properties in the Assembly.

    Omofaiye, while moving the motion, described the incident as  ”ugly and unpalatable,” saying the attack desecrated the chamber that was supposed to be a sacred place for the legislators to carry out their constitutional roles.

    “It is unfortunate that the thugs turned the hallow chamber into a theatre of war; they physically assaulted some members, forcing many of us to scale the walls to escape to safety.

    “This evil deed on the members of the House of Assembly is uncivilised, barbaric and should be checked, investigated and condemned by a resolution of the House,” he said.

    Seconding the motion, Edoko Moses (APC-Dekina-Biraidu), said whenever there was crisis in any Assembly, it was usually among members.

    “But on August 1, the House was disrupted by evil guests; hoodlums invaded the Assembly that day. One keeps wondering what brought them and why the lawmakers became their target,” he said.

    Contributing, Pedro Obaro (APC-Mopa-muro), decried the inaction of security operatives on the day the attack took place.

    “There were security agents all over the place, but they did not protect the lawmakers; they left us vulnerable and the hoodlums had a field day,” he said.

    Speaker of the House, Prince Matthew Kolawole, in his ruling, condemned the attack and constituted a five-man committee to critically investigate its remote causes.

    Omafaiye, who moved the motion, heads the committee.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hassan Abdullahi, Lawi Ahmed, Haruna Idoko Musa and Oluwatoyin Lawal are members of the panel.

    NAN

  • Outcry over attack on Kogi Assembly

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the umbrella body for all socio-cultural groups in Kogi East, the Uk’omu Igala yesterday condemned last week’s attack on Kogi House of Assembly.

    They asked the federal government to take immediate steps to curb the descent to anarchy, intolerance, insensitivity and impunity in the state.

    In a statement in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said: “The Kogi State mess represents the height of intolerance, insensitivity and impunity and a precursor to dictatorship and anarchy and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians and apprehended by the Federal Government before the situation spins out of control.

    He added: “We need not remind the Federal Government that these represent strong threats to our democracy and should not be condoned.

    “Government should not be under the illusion that the developments in the state will simply peter out with time. It will be a criminally negligent assumption and therefore dangerous.”

    National leader of the Igala socio cultural organisation, Major General Patrick Akpa (rtd), in a statement, said the attack was an “affront on democracy” and an “intimidation of a constitutional arm of government”.

    He said: “The House of Assembly is the political body that represents the over two million people of Kogi State.

    “This intimidation and assault on members of this constitutional body is a direct attack on all the people of Kogi State, a criminal act that should not go unchallenged.”

    The Uk’omu Igala Organisation urged the Presidency and National Assembly to wade into the situation because an insult on democracy in any constituent part of the country is a direct insult on the country’s democracy in totality.

  • Kogi gets new Speaker

    Kogi gets new Speaker

    Hon. Mathew Kolawole (Kabba-Bunu) on Thursday emerged as the new Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

    Umar Imam quit as speaker of the House earlier on Thursday morning and his letter of resignation was read on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Hassan Abdullahi.

    The House had adjourned sitting indefinitely following the fracas that ensued at the assemby complex on Tuesday.

     

  • Thugs invade Kogi Assembly, assault lawmakers

    Thugs invade Kogi Assembly, assault lawmakers

    The Kogi State House of Assembly was on Tuesday invaded by hoodlums, who disrupted its plenary and beat up members.

    The Speaker of the House, Umar Imam, narrowly escaped when the hoodlums attacked the lawmakers.

    A member representing Igalamela-Odolu state constituency, Friday Sani, was however unlucky as the hoodlums beat him and inflicted serious injuries on him.

    Oluwatoyin Lawal (APC-Yagba West) narrowly escaped being hit by one of the big chairs hauled from the gallery into the chamber while some journalists covering the sitting were also attacked and beaten as they scampered for safety.

    Vehicles belonging to the lawmakers were also vandalised.

    The gate of the complex was locked against the speaker and this enabled the hoodlums to pelt his vehicles with stones and other objects.

    Imam expressed shock at the incident, saying the House did not see the attack coming.

    However, the speaker said he relaxed when policemen deployed to the House assured him that they were in the assembly complex to maintain peace and order.

    Imam, who told journalists that the House had adjourned indefinitely, expressed reservation at the conduct of the policemen during the attack on the assembly.

    He said: “We have been witnessing crises in assemblies but it had always been in-house. But this one coming from outsiders makes it news. The hoodlums came in and took over in the presence of the policemen.

    “The business of the day was carried out with the assurances from the commissioner of police but the hoodlums had a free day in the presence of the policemen.”

    NAN

  • `Suspected thugs invade Kogi assembly

    `Suspected thugs invade Kogi assembly

    •Faleke condemns attack on Kogi lawmaker 

    Suspected thugs yesterday invaded the Kogi State House of Assembly, while security men watched helplessly as lawmakers were molested.

    No sooner had the house converged for plenary that thugs, about 100, arrived in three Hilux vans, rushed into the chamber and manhandled everyone in sight.

    Elder Friday Sani Makama (Igalamala/Odolu), billed to formally resume after his six-month suspension, was stripped naked. The thugs recorded the commotion as security personnel watched helplessly.

    The Speaker, Imam Umar, and his security aides ran helter-skelter to find a way out while reporters watching proceedings from the gallery scampered to safety. Some scaled the assembly’s fence.

    Governor Yahaya Bello has condemned the invasion, saying his administration will not condone any act of thuggery.

    He added that anyone caught would face law.

    Bello, who spoke through his media aide Kingsley Fanwo, ordered his security adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) to liaise with security operatives to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.

    A member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke, has described the attack as bestial and barbaric. According to him, the attack, by hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the powers that be, is another low in the rapidly degenerating security of the state.

    Faleke said: “Who will save our state from being in the news for the wrong reasons every day? What happened yesterday was a show of shame and mad desperation. This is a big threat to democracy; it further drives in the fact that indeed, nobody is safe in Kogi any longer as the government of the day seems to be giving tacit support to thuggery and lawlessness.”

    The lawmaker called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the “barbaric act” and arrest culprits.

  • Kogi Speaker resigns

    The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Momoh Jimoh Lawal, has resigned from the post.

    Lawal, who was the arrowhead of the G-15 group of lawmakers, dropped his letter of resignation to the clerk of the House on Tuesday.

    The letter reads: “We are all aware of the needless pain, the leadership crisis that had engulfed this noble assembly in the past few months caused our constituents and retarded the development of our beloved Kigi State.

    “I would have preferred to continue with the struggle for the entrenchment of democratic values, but the interest of Kogi State must always come before my personal considerations.

    “Today, my resignation as speaker of this House was a difficult decision, but I do believe it is the right thing to do. This I am sure will bring joy to some and anger to others.”