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Tag: Lawmakers

  • Kanu: MASSOB leader chides governors, lawmakers

    Kanu: MASSOB leader chides governors, lawmakers

    Factional leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Uchenna Madu has chided Southeast governors and lawmakers for not visiting the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    Madu, in an interview in Aba, Abia State, at the weekend, said it was regrettable that since Kanu’s detention and trial, no lawmaker, governor or traditional ruler has visited him in Kuje Prison.

    According to the MASSOB leader, the stakeholders’ inability to visit  Kanu was because they were afraid of being “sidelined”.

    “They have not visited him because some of them are cowards and afraid of being sidelined.

    “If truly Igbo blood is flowing in them, they are  to  visit Kanu.

    “The Southeast traditional rulers’ council should go and see Nnamdi Kanu. Their visit will show the world that our people are in solidarity with him.”

    Commending “Nzuko Umunna” members, led by Prof.  Chukwuma Soludo, for visiting Kanu, Madu urged the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Nnia Nwodo, to visit the Kuje Prisons immediately.

    He said: “I’ m expecting the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President  to lead a delegation to visit Kanu because Kanu is bigger than Ohanaeze.

    “He is the most visible symbol of  the Biafra struggle

    “He is suffering for our people and our people should not abandon him at this moment.”

    Speaking on the relocation of MASSOB’s administrative headquarters, Madu said the decision was a unanimous agreement by stakeholders.

    He added that the choice of Enugu was also for administrative convenience and the centrality of the new location, which he said is the capital of Biafra.

    “The administration of MASSOB or Biafra shouldn’t be in somebody’s house or village, so we decided to leave that place and allow Ralph Uwazuruike to return to his father’s compound.

    “Yes, we have lifted the ban and have forgiven him in the spirit of Biafra. We can’t continue to keep grudges. We have handed his matter over to the ancestors to handle him. We can’t continue to play god.”

  • Ondo lawmakers to resume this week

    The Ondo State House of Assembly shut down by the police almost two months ago, following the crisis that greeted the impeachment of former Speaker Ms Jumoke Akindele may be reopened this week.

    Sources said Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) at the weekend met with the two warring factions.

    It was learnt eight lawmakers, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Malachi Coker group, might join the All Progressives Congress (APC) this week.

    This is to pave the way for the election of new principal officers.

    Some of the 13 PDP members on the side of the “impeached” Speaker are also being wooed so APC can have a simple majority in the Assembly.

    The Assembly is made up of 21 PDP members and five APC members.

  • Reps seek 20-year minimum jail term for convicted public servants

    Reps seek 20-year minimum jail term for convicted public servants

    …As EFCC bill scales second reading

     

    The House of Representatives is seeking a 20-year minimum jail term for public servants who corruptly enriched themselves while in office.

    The lawmakers are also advocating for the creation of special courts designed to try corrupt officials to avoid undue delays.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the second reading of a consolidated bill seeking to further empower the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday.

    Bassey Ewa (PDP, Cross River), one of the sponsors of the bill said the bill aimed at relieving the agency of its dependence on the Executive and the legislature.

    “This amendment seeks to strengthen the commission by establishing more stringent ways of removing members and chairman of the board, establish an asset confiscation and recovery unit as well as a Financial Investigation and Intelligence Unit (FIIU).

    “Amend Section 18 of the Act that deals with penalties to increase the term of sentence to be not less than 20 years imprisonment (from the present provision of not less than 2 years and not exceeding 3 years and establish a plea bargain system whereby if the accused decides to plea-bargain by refunding the looted funds by him his sentence shall not be less 2 years”.

    In his comparative analysis of other countries that have passed through similar circumstances, Ewa said Ghana has 15 years with hard labour, Republic of Cameroun had 20 years imprisonment, India has 20 years’ imprisonment while Egypt has 20 years’ imprisonment.

    On funding of the agency, Ewa said the bill seeks to delete Section 35 of the Act to be replaced with 0.1percent of the total value of contracts awarded by the Federal Government shall be credited to the commission’s account; 0.1percent of the internally generated revenue of the Federal Government shall be credited to the commission’s account; and 0.1percent of the sums of money recovered from the looted funds shall be retained by the commission.

    “The EFCC Act is further amended to establish an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Court to handle all cases emanating from investigations carried out by the EFCC bothering on financial crimes.

    “The court so established shall have divisions in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    “The EFCC court shall consist of judge, a retired permanent secretary, with cognate experience of not less 15years on financial and procurement matters, a forensic financial expert with cognate experience not less than 17 years and the court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court or tribunal on economic and financial crimes matters.

    “The court shall within 180 days dispense with any matter that is properly brought before it as appeals emanating from it shall only lie to the Court of Appeal and the court of Appeal shall within 90 days dispense with any matter brought before it from the judgment of EFCC Court,” he added.

    In his contribution, Chairman, House committee on Financial Crimes, Kayode Oladele (APC, Ogun), who also co-sponsored the bill reminded his colleagues of an existing bill on special crime courts considering the proposal for an EFCC court to try cases of financial crimes.

    He said: “There is need for us to bring all the special crimes such as cybercrime, terrorism, financial crimes together into one so that the special court can be fully operational”.

    While he supported operational autonomy for the agency, Oladele however called for caution over funding of the agency saying if passed into law as proposed, the funding sources might turn out to be over-pampering of the agency.

    Igariwey  Enwo (PDP, Ebonyi) said, “Mine is only a voice of caution because it is easy to give out powers but very difficult to take it back as this special court may have to serve as subordinate court to the state high courts”.

    Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi) said, financial autonomy for the agency wpuld free it from the dictates of the any arm.of government,  “The amendment is designed to democratise and is intended to help us combat financial crimes but 0.1percent of Federal Government Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is really huge,” he added.

    A number of lawmakers opposed the bill on the creation of special court saying that it would amount to usurpation of powers of the High Court and the alteration of the constitution.

    The bill was nonetheless unanimously passed after it was put to a voice vote.

     

  • Reps to probe schools collecting fees in foreign currency

    Reps to probe schools collecting fees in foreign currency

    The House of Representatives, on Tuesday resolved to probe foreign schools in Nigeria collecting fees in foreign currency.

    The lower chamber held that the practice was in disregard to Federal Government policy and exploitation of parents.

    The position of the lawmakers was sequel to a motion by Rep. Emmanuel Agboola (Ekiti-PDP) and 14 others.

    Moving the motion, Agboola recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on April 17, 2015, issued a circular on “Currency Substitution and Dollarization of the Nigerian Economy” to reform the currency regulations.

    He said that this was in pursuant to Sections 15, 20(1) and (5) of the CBN Act, which made it illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service in any foreign currency in Nigeria other than the Naira.

    The lawmaker expressed concern that the American International School, Abuja was charging school fees in United States dollar.

    He added that some other international schools in Nigeria were also collecting fees in foreign currencies, contrary to the government policy.

    He explained that AISA disregarded the extant financial regulations even when it was inclined to collect the fees in Naira and could accept the currency only at parallel market rate.

    According to the lawmaker, the use of the parallel market rate to determine the amount of fees to be collected in Naira entails that parents pay school fees at different rates.

    “This depends on the rate in the black market and as such, parents of children in the same class end up paying different fees for their wards, depending on the day the payment was made,” he said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

    In his remarks, Mr Yussuff Lasun said that the matter should be investigated by the relevant committee of the house.

    He, therefore, referred the motion to the Committee on Basic Education.

  • INEC withdraws Certificate of Return from Edo lawmaker

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has withdrawn the Certificate of  Return issued to Hon Sunday Aghedo representing Ovia South West Constituency in the House of Assembly.

    It issued the Certificate of Return to Mr. Godwin Adenomo in compliance with the Court of Appeal judgement which sacked Hon Aghedo.

    The appellate court had last week sacked Aghedo and declared Adenomo as the duly elected member representing  Ovia South West Constituency. 

    It ordered the immediate swearing in of Mr Godwin Adenomo as the rightful elected member.

    After collecting the certificate, Adenomo stormed the House of Assembly with his supporters to submit it to Speaker Justin Okonoboh.

    He vowed to use all legal means to ensure that the sacked lawmaker refunded all the money he has collected since 2015.

    He said, “Today I presented  myself before the State House  of Assembly and presented my Certificate of Return. I have done everything within time limit and I expect speeding action towards a speedy swearing in”

    “By law the former House of Assembly member does not have the locus to seat as the member representing the constituency any longer. What entitles him to seat, the certificate of return has been withdrawn. What is important is that as we speak the former member cannot legally seat at the State House of Assembly. 

     “I am very happy, though Justice was delay but it was never denied . The judgment says the former member should return every paraphernalia and penny he had collected so far to me. So when we finish this process I will approach court for enforcement but as for swearing in I will depend on my party for that. It is a family matter I don’t have problem with anybody.”

  • NLNG chief to lawmakers: Don’t tamper with NLNG Act

    NLNG chief to lawmakers: Don’t tamper with NLNG Act

    The Managing Director, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah, has urged the National Assembly to stop the proposed amendment to the LNG Act.

    The amendment seeks to impose a three per cent Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) tax on the company. But Attah said the proposal was at variance with the NDDC Act.

    He argued that the amendment will stifling investment and dampen investors’ confidence.

    Attah told reporters that the company planned expansion project- Trains 7 and 8 might be hampered by the proposed amendment.

    He said: “Since 2007 we have been making efforts to build Train 7 and 8. It is very imminent now that it is time for gas and it is time for Nigeria to have Train 7 and 8 but things have to be right. A fiscal element around the LNG Act amendment proposed, we think that is not helpful. We think that will not help Nigeria, it will not help us and Train 7 and 8. We think that has to be stopped.”

    Attah warned that if the amendment was left to go on, it  will erode the guarantees and assurances which had inspired the confidence of foreign investors that their investment has been protected.

    “ In addition, any amendment could result in loss of income of between $53million- $124 million being amount attributable to the Nigerian Government in form of dividends, and related withholding tax,“ hr warned.

    Attah said: “Speak as a Nigerian; this amendment, if done will stiffen investment and dampen investors ‘ confidence without any doubt.”

    He also added that the imposition of the three per cent tax will amount to double taxation since those they buy gas from have already paid the tax to NDDC.

    “The NDDC Act says we don’t qualify. We buy gas just like the power producers, like the fertiliser companies etc. The people from whom we buy gas have already paid the three per cent tax upstream. So for us it is double taxation and it is not real,” he said.

    He queried the rationale behind singling out the company out of all other buyers of gas in the country. “Other organisations such as power companies, fertiliser companies, and petrochemical industries which buy gas as feedstock, same as NLNG are not liable to the NDDC Act and are not being asked to pay this additional three per cent tax.”

    NLNG chief did not exenorate the NDDC in the proposed amendment which he claimed the government agency had earlier came up with the idea which the company outrightly objected and also won the case at the law court when NDDC board took the matter to court.

    He saw the amendment as another attempt by the government agency to reintroduce the tax through back door.

    He warned that should the law makers go ahead, the company will have no choice but to abide, however, he said the consequences might be too grievous for the nation.

    He said the company will continue to engage the lawmakers and other stakeholders to see reason why the amendment should not be allowed to go on as it will not be helpful to the country.

    “But I must emphasis that we are a responsible company. If it gets so hot and it becomes a law, we will comply. But it must be on record that we actually warned the nation about the potential damage and negativity this move can make and that is where we stand,” he said.

  • 2017 budget:  Presidency, lawmakers resolve grey areas

    2017 budget:  Presidency, lawmakers resolve grey areas

    The Presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday resolved grey areas in the 2017 budget, it was learnt yesterday.

    The different positions of the two arms of government on some areas was said to have threatened the early passage of the Appropriation Bill.

    The Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, and the leadership of the National Assembly held a meeting on Wednesday night to resolve their differences.

    A source said it was agreed that “the budget should be structured in a manner that will give priority attention to all existing capital projects to avoid abandoned projects”.

    The source said that it was also agreed that deliberately leaving out key projects in the budget only to take care of them through extra-budgetary expenditure should not be allowed.

    Specifically, the meeting was said to have resolved that that projects, such as the N6.9 billon Abuja Airport rehabilitation which was provided for in the 2017 budget, should be captured in the capital aspect of the budget.

    The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa at the instance of Osinbajo was attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki,  House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the National Assembly.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Budget and National Planning Minister Udoma Udo Udoma and a few others were also at the meeting.

    It was said that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) yet to defend their budget proposals were directed to do so immediately.

    It was also learnt that key road projects, such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway are to be given more funds to facilitate their early completion.

    Before the Villa meeting, the leadership of the Senate had met with committee chairmen to get information on the budget.

  • Fire guts Senate chief whip’s office

    Fire guts Senate chief whip’s office

    The office of Senate chief whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena was on Monday gutted by fire.

    The fire incident was said to have destroyed some electrical appliances in the lawmakers’ office.

    Alimikhena is the Senator representing Edo North senatorial district in the senate.

    Details later…

  • Defection: Lagos lawmakers disagree

    Two lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have disagreed on why six lawmakers left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) last Thursday.

    The defectors are Minority Leader Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin); Minority Whip Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II); Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo I); Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo II); Dayo Famakinwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun II) and Oluwa Fatai (Ajeromi/Ifelodun I).

    Idimogu insisted they left the PDP due to disagreement and factionalisation but Victor Akande (Ojo 1) differed, saying a crisis was not peculiar to the party.

    The two lawmakers, who spoke in separate interviews, admitted the PDP needed to put its house in order.

    Idimogu said the crisis in the PDP was getting out of hand.

    “The vision of achieving things in the PDP is difficult.  Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has impressed me,” he said.

    Akande berated the defectors for abandoning the party that brought them into office, saying it was obvious they would abandon the APC during a crisis.

  • Lawmakers to Akeredolu: steer clear of crisis

    Lawmakers to Akeredolu: steer clear of crisis

    The Malachi Coker-led faction in the Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday called on Governor- elect Rotimi Akeredolu to steer clear of the House’s crisis.
    Twelve of the 26 members of the House refuted reports that they were not open to peace and reconciliation.
    The lawmakers addressing reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said they are peace lovers but insisted that they would not welcome any carrot-and-stick approach.
    Present at the briefing were Coker, Felemu Olusegun Gudu, Sunday Araoyinbo Olugbenga, Olamide George, Arowele Samuel, Musa Ayinde, Jamiu Sulaiman Maito, Oleyelogu B, Segun Ajimotokin, Oluyede Olushola, Kazeem Mula and Iroju Ogundeji.
    The group’s spokesperson, Ogundeji, said certain conditions must be met for peace to reign.
    He said: “It is not possible for an accused to continue to sit on his or her matter in court. The principal officers impeached have been accused of alleged corrupt enrichment.
    “Yet, Governor Olusegun Mimiko is insisting that they should continue to preside over House business.
    “They must first be asked to step down and prove their innocence before any peace meeting can be called.”
    Akeredolu, they claimed, has since been pressuring them to meet Mimiko for reconciliation.
    They accused the governor-elect of undue interference in legislative activities and cautioned against anarchy in the state.
    The lawmakers berated the impeached Speaker, Ms Jumoke Akindele and other principal officers for refusing to prove their innocence.
    They wondered why the governor-elect insisted they meet Mimiko, when the issue was a parliamentary matter.
    “We know that Akeredolu and Mimiko are friends. We, therefore, use this medium to call on the governor-elect to steer clear of this matter.
    “The issue is a parliamentary matter. It is a legislative matter devoid of executive interference and this is what we are saying.
    “What this means is that when Akeredolu takes over as governor, he will meddle in the affairs of the House.
    “We are, therefore, calling on him to steer clear of the activities of the legislature and he should steer clear from the crisis because it is not political.
    “The crisis is about fraud. It’s all about corruption. And we abhor corruption. Ondo people abhor corruption. None of the leaders have come up to say the allegations are false.
    “We are ready for peace and we are again calling on Mimiko to come out straight on this matter.”