The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmaker

  • ICPC Vs lawmaker:  Court adjourned to June 10

    ICPC Vs lawmaker:  Court adjourned to June 10

    The Benin High Court presided over by Justice Esohe Ikpomnwen Monday berated counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences over actions the court described as delaying justice in the case between the ICPC and a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Philip Shaibu.

    The ICPC is prosecuting the APC lawmaker for alleged forgery of tax certificate from the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue. But at the proceedings Monday, the prosecutor failed to produce one of their star witnesses whom they claimed is on official duties in Borno state.

    And the court had in their last meeting warned that the case will not be adjourned again if the police officer said to be the IPO in the case failed to show up in court. Justice Ikpomnwen became angrier when the prosecutor, G.O.Igbadume failed to serve the Acting Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue in the state, Mr Emmanuel Usoh, the correct subpoena which would have enabled him produce some documents requested by the court.

    Her response came after Usoh told the court that “ I was served with a subpoena and not a notice my Lord”. Justice Ikpomnwen who addressed the prosecutor, asserted that “ he (Usoh) made a technical point because I am sure you allowed somebody else prepare the papers for you and what they gave to you was different from what you asked for.

    “And that is why he (Usoh) did not come with any documents as we requested from the Board of Internal Revenue. I am not the one to do your job for you. Please you must ensure that you liaise with the Registrar so you can produce another subpoena that has the listed documents we requested for. We all must show seriousness in order not to delay justice,” she asserted.

    The court therefore adjourned till June 10, 2016, enable the prosecutor process a fresh subpoena and ensure that the correct paper is issued and served on the witness.

    However, the second prosecution witness, Mr Okharedia Ihimikpen was cross examined by both the defendants’ lawyer, Ken Mozia (SAN) and ICPC Counsel, G.O. Igbadume.

     

  • Lawmaker calls for quick passage of PIB

    Lawmaker calls for quick passage of PIB

    A House of Representatives member, Mr Daniel Reyeneju, has urged his colleagues at the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the current session.

    Reyeneju, who represents Warri South/Warri South-West constituency, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He expressed concern over the long delay in the passage of the bill, said that bill, if passed, would address current fuel crisis in the country.

    “This is almost one year gone in this administration and by next year we will be politically jostling again.

    “And, the moment you go into political jostling in Nigeria, you lose some good time of parliamentary works, even that of the executive.

    “What I expected the 8th Assembly to have done is to bring the PIB again and go under order 12 on bills from preceding assembly and then pass it to the committee of the whole for hearing,” he said.

    Reyenieju decried that the delay of the PIB could be as a result of some forces who would not want it to be passed.

    “I got some information from the government, I mean, the executive that they are trying as much as possible to unbundle the PIB itself.

    “We have come a long way with the PIB; this is the 12th year of the PIB in the parliament and almost about 16 years of the PIB in Nigerian domain and public discourse.

    “I am yet to find out which of the renowned consultants in the nation’s petroleum industry that has not made one or two contributions to the PIB in the past.

    “In as much as we are waiting to see a striking difference from the consultants from the ministry, I want them to be quick about it so that we can see what they have put together.

    “What I am saying in essence is that we need the PIB in whatever form, whether it is going to be unbundled, we are waiting for it,” he said.

     

  • Lagos deserves 100 local councils, says lawmaker

    Lagos deserves 100 local councils, says lawmaker

    With its huge population and strategic economic importance, Lagos State deserves at least 100 local government councils.

    Chairman, Committee on Information, Strategy and Security of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Buraimoh, said this during a parley with members of the Lagos Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA).

    The present Nigerian constitution, Buraimoh says, shortchanged the state by allotting her only 20 local governments, adding that the state has not been sub-divided since 1967 while many states have been divided with corresponding local governments.

    He noted, “The federal government should stop allocating funds on the basis of number of local governments. The truth is that Lagos deserves far more than 20 local governments; we need about 100 council areas because of our population.”

    The former Chairman of Kosofe local government further urged the FG to share funds to states based on the number of primary schools, hospital beds, geographical spread and population.

    According to him, each state can then create the number of Local Council Development Areas to bring development to the grassroots, saying taking such a step would facilitate development in areas most neglected due to huge population.

    Speaking on the constitutional recognition of 37 LCDAs created by the state, the lawmaker said this would be difficult to achieve as a result of the cumbersome process, which requires that two-third majority of the National Assembly and 36 State Houses of Assembly must vote to approve it.

  • Lawmaker empowers widows

    Lawmaker empowers widows

    In fulfillment of his electoral pledge, as member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Akande, yesterday gave the sum of N250, 000 to 50 widows in his constituency.

    The event was held at the lawmaker’s constituency office in Okokomaiko area of Ojo Local Government.

    Akande, who represents Ojo constituency 1 in the state Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) admonished the widows not to lose hope in God.

    He said:”What we are giving you today my look like a token but it is a testimony to the fact that we have not forgotten you in the scheme of things.

    “I shall continue to add value to your lives through initiatives that would ameliorate the attendant trauma over the loss of your husbands.”

    Hon. Akande disclosed that plans are underway to sink 12 boreholes in the constituency “to alleviate the sufferings of residents over epileptic supply of public water.”

  • Lawmaker rehabilitates roads

    It was the turn of residents of Aba North and South Federal Constituency in Abia State to benefit from the outreach of the lawmaker representing them, Hon. Ossy Prestige.

    The House of Representatives member has helped so many in the state, providing for people behind bars, paying the medical bills of indigent patients and even giving scholarship to students, among others.

    This time he and his team moved into some parts of the constituency with a brand new earth-moving machine to grade some of the streets and roads linking the area to the heart of Aba, the state’s commercial town.

    Some of the roads in Aba North and South Federal Constituency, including Imo Avenue off Faulks Road, Chief Ubani Street off 7up Ogbor Hill are among others, have been graded while many more, according to information gathered, would soon be graded.

    Some residents of the areas that have been completed who spoke to reporters, described the gesture of the lawmaker as first of its kind since 1999 where a federal lawmaker of Aba North and South constituency would show genuine concern about the people that voted them to power.

    “This is the first time that a federal lawaker that we elected into power will come back despite his busy schedule to fulfil his campaign promises to us, unlike what was the case in the past,” said a resident who simply identified himself as Uchenna.

    “He may not have brought a lasting solution to our problems in terms of passable roads, but with what he has done, Prestige has to a great extent alleviated our sufferings through this road that he has graded for us. I am sure like every other residents of Imo Avenue that we will have a little sigh of relief before the rain sets in. But let me quickly say that these roads are some of the roads local government chairmen are supposed to be grading frequently and let me use this medium to appeal to the our state Governor, Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu to organise local government election so that chairmen and councilors of various local governments and wards can source for funds to rehabilitate and in worst cases grade some of the internal roads in our councils.”

    Another resident of Chief Ubani, Mrs. Caroline who corroborated Uchenna’s position thanked Prestige for fulfilling the campaign  promises he made to the electorate, calling on other federal lawmakers in the state to emulate his gesture.

    Prestige said that he was touched by the plight of his constituents who find it difficult to drive or move freely from their homes to other parts of the commercial city because of the bad state of roads in their areas which are in bad condition.

    Prestige stated that the project he tagged “Road Emergency Rehabilitation Scheme” was a pet project that was conceive during his campaign tour of the local government areas of Aba North and South federal constituency and in fulfillment of his campaign promises that he was going to assist the people to reduce the stress they pass through in accessing the city center from their homes.

    The lawmaker thanked the people of Aba North and South Federal Constituency for voting him into power, promising that he would continue to attract democracy dividends to them.

    He also promised that more roads will be graded, urging residents of such places to be patient.

     

  • Lawmaker calls for arrest of ‘political killers’

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oluyinka Ogundimu, has reiterated the need for political killers to be arrested and prosecuted.

    Ogundimu, who is the Chairman Committee on Finance, gave this advice at a programme organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA).

    Ogundimu, reacting to incessant political carnage, stated that “he is working with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on how to forestall future occurrence and punish perpetrators of previous killings”.

    He said there were plans for the youth in his constituency to channel their energies to sports.

    The lawmaker explained that the House of Assembly has been known for effective oversight, saying that that was done through monitoring and corrective measures.

    In his comment on the new law on Employment Trust Fund which is meant to create jobs, Ogundimu said the N25billion, which would be pumped into the state’s economy, would be adequately monitored.

  • Lawmaker urges parents to monitor holidaying children

    Lawmaker urges parents to monitor holidaying children

    The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Committee on Education, Mr. Lanre Ogunyemi, on Friday urged parents and guardians to keep close watch on their children during the Easter season and second term holidays.

    Ogunyemi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    The lawmaker, who represents Ojo Constituency II in the House, said that monitoring the children had become necessary because of the security challenges in the country.

    “The Easter period and second term vacation are here. Parents must monitor the movement and activities of their children.

    “There is always the temptation of wanting to exhibit some forms of indiscipline. They must be closely monitored.

    ‘’Parents should know where their children go and the group they keep.

    “Some of them would want to go on fun trips like visiting the beaches, attending parties and others; all these must be monitored for their safety,” he said.

    Speaking on discipline in schools, Ogunyemi said that the state government would not encourage or condone any act of indiscipline on the pars of students and teachers.

    “The Lagos State Government has read the riot act to schools that it would not condone indiscipline. Discipline in our schools is sacrosanct.

    “The essence of education is to build a disciplined, uprightly and morally sound human beings, both in character and in disposition.

    “The essence of school is not only to acquire knowledge. Knowledge without discipline is not complete.

    ‘’Most of our schools are being closely monitored to ensure there is discipline,” he added.

  • Lawmaker rehabilitates roads

    Lawmaker rehabilitates roads

    It was the turn of residents of Aba North and South Federal Constituency in Abia State to benefit from the outreach of the lawmaker representing them, Hon. Ossy Prestige.

    The House of Representatives member has helped so many in the state, providing for people behind bars, paying the medical bills of indigent patients and even giving scholarship to students, among others.

    This time he and his team moved into some parts of the constituency with a brand new earth-moving machine to grade some of the streets and roads linking the area to the heart of Aba, the state’s commercial town.

    Some of the roads in Aba North and South Federal Constituency, including Imo Avenue off Faulks Road, Chief Ubani Street off 7up Ogbor Hill are among others, have been graded while many more, according to information gathered, would soon be graded.

    Some residents of the areas that have been completed who spoke to reporters, described the gesture of the lawmaker as first of its kind since 1999 where a federal lawmaker of Aba North and South constituency would show genuine concern about the people that voted them to power.

    “This is the first time that a federal lawaker that we elected into power will come back despite his busy schedule to fulfil his campaign promises to us, unlike what was the case in the past,” said a resident who simply identified himself as Uchenna.

    “He may not have brought a lasting solution to our problems in terms of passable roads, but with what he has done, Prestige has to a great extent alleviated our sufferings through this road that he has graded for us. I am sure like every other residents of Imo Avenue that we will have a little sigh of relief before the rain sets in. But let me quickly say that these roads are some of the roads local government chairmen are supposed to be grading frequently and let me use this medium to appeal to the our state Governor, Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu to organise local government election so that chairmen and councilors of various local governments and wards can source for funds to rehabilitate and in worst cases grade some of the internal roads in our councils.”

    Another resident of Chief Ubani, Mrs. Caroline who corroborated Uchenna’s position thanked Prestige for fulfilling the campaign  promises he made to the electorate, calling on other federal lawmakers in the state to emulate his gesture.

    Prestige said that he was touched by the plight of his constituents who find it difficult to drive or move freely from their homes to other parts of the commercial city because of the bad state of roads in their areas which are in bad condition.

    Prestige stated that the project he tagged “Road Emergency Rehabilitation Scheme” was a pet project that was conceive during his campaign tour of the local government areas of Aba North and South federal constituency and in fulfillment of his campaign promises that he was going to assist the people to reduce the stress they pass through in accessing the city center from their homes.

    The lawmaker thanked the people of Aba North and South Federal Constituency for voting him into power, promising that he would continue to attract democracy dividends to them.

    He also promised that more roads will be graded, urging residents of such places to be patient.

     

  • Arrest, prosecute all political killers – Lawmaker

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Oluyinka Ogundimu has reiterated the need for all political killers to be arrested and prosecuted to forestall future occurrence.

    Ogundimu, who is the Chairman House Committee on Finance, gave this advice while speaking on a programme organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA) designed for lawmakers to give account of their stewardship.

    It would be recalled that a serving youth corps member, Dumebi Samuel was killed during Rivers re-run that took place on Saturday 19the March.

    Samuel was attached to Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as an Ad-Hoc staff but was killed during the election.

    A similar incident also happened at the lawmaker’s constituency, Agege constituency in the last general elections where a youth, Eyitayo was gruesomely murdered by political thugs.

    Ogundimu who was reacting to incessant political carnages, stated that “he is already working with the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on how to forestall future occurrence and also bring perpetrators of previous killings to book.”

    He disclosed that there were plans in the pipeline for the youths in his constituency, adding that the young ones in the society would have to channel their energies to sports.

    The lawmaker however pointed out that in trying to encourage the youths to take part in sports, it must be an effort for them to earn income rather than just exercising themselves.

    While commenting on the relationship between the executive and legislature in the state, Ogundimu said “the relationship between the two arms of government should not be the kind that we have between pepper and eyes.”

    He explained that the state House of Assembly has been known for effective oversight, saying that that was done through monitoring and corrective measures.

    “We are doing our monitoring, we don’t have to be confrontational; we still get them corrected where it is necessary. When we blow the whistle, it serves as corrective measure. There is no arm of government that can work in isolation,” he said.

    In his comment on the new law on Employment Trust Fund in the state which is meat to create enabling environment for job creation, the lawmaker stated that the N25bn which would be pumped into the economy of the state for a space of four years would be adequately monitored.

    He stressed that before the House passed the Bill, there was an improvement in comparison with the Security Trust Fund, saying “we made sure that the executive sent the administrative guidelines before passing the Bill.”

    He added that there is also a standing committee of the House that would carry out the required monitoring of the Employment Trust Fund to ensure that the money is judiciously expended.

  • LCDA: Angry youths attack lawmaker

    LCDA: Angry youths attack lawmaker

    •’Don’t make Iree our headquarters’

    Angry youths at the weekend attacked the lawmaker representing Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin in the House of Representatives, Yinka Ajayi.

    The youth were protesting against making Iree the headquarters of the new Boripe North Local Council Development Area as announced by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Aregbesola created new 31 LCDAs, three area offices and two administrative offices in addition to existing 30 local government areas in the state.

    It was gathered that Ajayi, who hails from the town, was at the palace of Olona of Ada to attend a meeting called over the location of the headquarters of the new LCDA.

    He was attacked by the youth, who accused him of selling them out. Ajayi was said to have been saved by security agents.

    Three communities – Aagba, Ada and Ororuwo- have -demanded a reversal of the decision.

    The communities, in a letter by the Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole, Olona of Ada, Oba Abimbola Abioye and regent of Ororuwo, High Chief James Dada, said the reversal was necessary because it was at variance with content of the White Paper released on the memorandum written by the three communities in 2012.

    The letter explained that Iree was not part of the struggle for the creation of the new LCDA in the area, just as it claimed that in the proposal the three communities presented before the Prof. Mojeed Alabi- committee, Ifesowapo Local Council Development Area, with Modaa, Ada proposed as its headquarters.

    The letter reads: “Creation of Boripe North Council Development Area and its headquarters at Modaa, Ada was corroborated and confirmed via the White Paper released on the exercise by your good government upon discreet and meritorious consideration of our Memorandum.

    “The White Paper in 2nd schedule specifically column 4 stated Ada; Aagba, Iree and Ororuwo communities with their villages as the newly created Boripe North LCDA and Modaa, Ada as the headquarters.

    “We have no objection to the addition of Iree as one of the owners of Boripe North LCDA, though without reference to us, but we totally oppose, object and reject making Iree our headquarters.

    “We, therefore, implore your Excellency to quickly and urgently set all machinery in motion to reverse this political insult and daylight robbery to prevent us from taking our destiny into our hands.”