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Tag: Ndume

  • My six-month travail, by Ndume

    My six-month travail, by Ndume

    •Senator likely to sue Federal Government 

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) is contemplating suing the Federal Government for unfair treatment during his trial for alleged links with Boko Haram.

    Ndume, who addressed reporters at his residence in Maiduguri, at the weekend, lamented that the trial made his daughter lose her four months’ pregnancy.

    “While the Federal Government struggled to find evidences to indict me, the media passed judgment on my ‘person and integrity’, he lamented.

    His words: “For six years, the Federal Government put me on trial without any evidence to prove their allegations against me.

    “After six years, the court said they had no case against me so I was acquitted.

    But the media wasn’t fair to me.  The spirit with which they reported my arraignment has not been matched or corroborated with the reports published on my acquittal.”

    Ndume said he was still contemplating the way forward, especially on how to redeem his image through the court against the government, saying “I am yet to decide on whether to sue the Federal Government for damages, or speak to the media so that my own story would be heard.

    “For six years, I was restricted, I could not travel, I could not move an inch, I was subjected to emotional torture when all the while the government knew that there was nothing against me, and they knew who the sponsors of Boko Haram are.

    “And the saddest aspect of it all is that till the case was dismissed, nobody, including the media, could query the lame facts brought to court.

    “Could you imagine, the Boko Haram spokesman mentioned some other persons but I was the only one taken to court? That shows I was the only person the government wanted to fight. “But I will ensure that my voice is heard and my side of the story is told as well, because there are so many things the world needs to know,” he added.

  • Alleged Boko Haram link: Court frees Ndume

    An Abuja Federal High Court has convicted Senator Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) of the terrorism-related charges brought against him by the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole upheld Ndume’s no-case submission and proceeded to discharge and acquit him.

    According to him, the prosecution failed, through evidence led, to link the defendant to the offences, to warrant his being called to enter defence.

    Justice Kolawole noted that although Ndume admitted volunteering information to the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies, no representative of any of the agencies were called as witness by the prosecution.

    “When I read the evidence led by the prosecution witnesses, I didn’t see any evidence by which the defendant was linked to Boko Haram members or to aid their logistics,” he said.

    According to him, the prosecution failed to debunk Ndume’s cliam, in the three extra-judicial statements made to the DSS, that he contacted some members of the sect while acting on behalf of the Federal Government as a member of the presidential committee raised to investigate the security challenges in the Northeast.

    Justice Kolawole also noted that the prosecution failed to call Konduga, still serving jail, even to give evidence as to the period he communicated with Ndume.

    He said: “Counts 1 and 2 are based on Section 7(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011, while count 3 is based on section 3(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act and Count 4 on section 4(1)(a) of the same Act.

    “Section 7(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act says that ‘it shall be a defence for a person charged under sub-section 1 if he has a reasonable excuse for not making the disclosure…

    “Thus, if it was linked with the period, will enable the court to come to the decision that the contents of Exhibit P1, P2 and P3 (Ndume’s statements), by which the defendant said it was the presidential appointment that brought him into contact with members of the Boko Haram sect, will appear to be proved by prima facie evidence and may have warranted the defendant, regardless of Section 7(2) of the Act, to be called upon to enter his defence if only to prove that he had a reasonable fear that giving the information  may endanger his life and his family.”

    Ndume was charged with among others, withholding information about operations of Boko Haram, and communicating with some of its leaders.

    The defendant, in his no-case submission, claimed to have been involved in negotiation with Boko Haram leaders at the instance of the Federal Government.

    He said former Vice President and the Director General of the DSS, during Jonathan’s administration, knew about his interactions with a Boko Haram member, Ali Konduga.

    He said his link with Konduga, who has since been convicted for terrorism, was at the behest of the presidential committee.

    The Senator was arraigned on December 12, 2011, on a four-count charge relating to terrorism.

    He was accused of, among other things, sponsoring the sect, maintaining a link with its members and failing to disclose Konduga’s mobile number.

    The prosecution began trial on July 3, 2012, and closed on June 22, 2016, after calling nine witnesses.

    Ndume’s lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), while adopting his no-case submission on June 6, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on the ground that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against him.

    Tarfa said the prosecution was unable to lead sufficient evidence link his client with the offences alleged.

    Reacting to the court’s decision yesterday, Ndume said: “I thank God for sparing my life. Many Senators, who had cases against them, have died, but here I am and well. I am grateful to God.”

     

  • Sambo, ex-DSS chief aware of my contact with Boko Haram, says Ndume

    Sambo, ex-DSS chief aware of my contact with Boko Haram, says Ndume

    •Court to rule on no-case submission July 4

    FORMER Vice President Namadi Sambo and the erstwhile State Security Service (SSS) Director-General under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, were aware of Senator Ali Ndume’s interactions with a Boko Haram member, Ali Konduga, the senator’s counsel claimed yesterday.

    The counsel to suspended senator (APC, Borno State), Ricky Tarfa (SAN), said his client’s link with Konduga, who has since been convicted on terrorism related charges, was at the behest of the presidential committee set up under the Jonathan government to help address security challenges in the Northeast.

    Ndume, who was former Senate Leader, made the claim in a no-case submission in his trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The senator was arraigned on December 12, 2011, on a four-count terrorism charges.

    He was accused of, among other counts, sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, maintaining a link with the sect member and failing to disclose the phone number of Konduga, which was alleged to be in his (Ndume’s) possession.

    The prosecution commenced trial on July 3, 2012 and closed its case on June 22, 2016, after calling nine witnesses, following which Ndume opted for a no-case submission.

    Adopting Ndume’s no-case submission yesterday, his lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on the ground that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

    Tarfa said the prosecution failed to give sufficient evidence linking his client with the alleged offences.

    He said Ndume’s contact with Boko Haram came about when the senator was a member of the Presidential Committee on Security Matters in the Northeast.

    Tarfa said: “We have taken the counts from one to four and have analysed them. Clearly, there is nothing in the evidence led by the prosecution that will necessitate the defendant to be called upon to enter his defence in the charge.

    “Clearly from the totality of the evidence placed before the court, the defendant coming into contact with the Boko Haram sect came about when he was acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the presidential committee set up to look at the security challenges in the Northeast part of the country.

    “The evidence is clear and has been confirmed through cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses. We have shown how the alleged analysis of the mobile phone did not disclose any fact which will necessitate the defendant to defend the charge.

    “Clearly, having regards to the four counts before the court, we have analysed the ingredients of the counts and shown how the prosecution has failed to proffer any evidence in support of the ingredients in the four counts.”

    Arguing on point of law, Tarfa said the allegation that Ndume failed to disclose material facts about his communication with Konduga, was baseless on the grounds that all necessary information was disclosed to then vice president and the then director-general of the SSS.

    Tarfa said: “We have made the point on the issue of non-disclosure of information and we have demonstrated clearly that the defendant has done everything possible to bring peace and security to the country, the Federal Republic Nigeria.”

    Responding, prosecuting lawyer, Mrs. G.N Okafor, argued that the prosecution has sufficiently linked the defendant to the alleged crimes and that there was the need for him to offer some explanations through his defence.

    Mrs. Okafor said: “The prosecution submits that at the stage of no-case submission, the court as the umpire is called upon to determine whether a prima facie case has been established against the defendant to warrant him to enter his defence or whether the defence discredited the evidence offered by the prosecution.

    “The prosecution submits that the charge before this honourable court against the defendant has to do with the failure of the defendant to disclose material information to law enforcement agency as well as rendering support to a terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    “My lord, the prosecution has tendered in evidence, exhibits P1, P2, P3, which are the statements made by the defendant. This statement by the defendant connect him the charges levelled by the prosecution.

    “We submit that the defendant has even corroborated the evidence of the prosecution to the effect that there was a communication between the defendant and members of the terrorist group.”

  • Ndume’s supporters storm National Assembly

    Ndume’s supporters storm National Assembly

    Thousands of people from Borno South yesterday stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, protesting the suspension of their representative in the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume.
    Similarly, hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the senator’s district also converged on the Unity Fountain, Abuja in protest over Ndume’s suspension.
    The IDPs vowed to remain at the spot until their senator is recalled by the upper legislative chamber.
    The Senate, last Wednesday, suspended Ndume for calling for investigation of alleged irregular importation of a N298 million bulletproof Range Rover with fake Customs documents. The vehicle had since been seized by the Customs.
    Ndume also drew the attention of the Senate to the allegation of first degree certificate forgery against Senator Dino Malaye (Kogi West), as reported by an online publication, Saharareporters.
    He was subsequently suspended for six months, ostensibly based on a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
    His colleagues accused the Borno senator of unnecessarily distracting the attention of the Senate on allegations based on “rumours” and for failing to investigate the allegations before raising them on the floor of the Senate.
    But the protesters, who carried placards with varied inscriptions, condemned the senator’s suspension, insisting that Ndume did not commit any offence against Saraki and Melaye.
    Describing the suspension as illegal, undemocratic and self-serving, the protesters said Saraki “is a curse” to democracy.
    Addressing reporters at the main entrance to the National Assembly, the leader of the protesters, Mr. Musa Ali, declared that the people of the senatorial district could not afford to have their senator stay suspended for six months.
    According to Ali, the constituents have been benefitting hugely from the senator’s representation, adding that leaving him out in the cold for six months would be unbearable.
    “We cannot allow our senator to be out for six months as annoyingly decided by the Senate last week. Where do the senators want IDPs, who have been surviving through Ndume’s magnanimity to run to? What about these hundreds of constituents benefitting from the senator? Where do they want them to run to?”

    “Boko Haram insurgents pursued most of these people you are seeing away from their various homes in Southern Borno, but have been getting needed assistance and support from their senator, Ali Ndume, only for the Senate to now pursue their helper from his place of help. This to us is unacceptable and must be revisited by the Senate,” Ali declared.
    The protesters later forwarded a protest letter to Saraki on behalf of the people of Southern Borno.
    In the letter, the group called for urgent reconsideration of the senator’s suspension, describing the action as too injurious for the people of the zone to bear.
    Also, the constituents from the IDP camp, who joined the protest from an IDPs camp in Wassa, Abuja, vowed not to return to the camp until Ndume’s suspension is lifted.
    Their spokesperson, Mr. Kyellu Suleiman, said the IDPs would remain at the Unity Fountain Square until justice is done in the Ndume case.
    The leadership of the Senate did not grant the protesters audience while the protest lasted.

  • Ndume as sacrificial lamb

    Ndume as sacrificial lamb

    The relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly (NASS), has for some time now, been a sort of cat-and-mouse game. The sour relationship dates back to June 2015 when members of the lower and upper houses of NASS went against the laid-down guidelines of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the filling of leadership positions in the two houses of the apex legislative body.
    Almost two years on, things have never been what they ought to be. While the House of Representatives may have devised a careful method to coast along with the executive, the Senate has always had a running battle with the executive, even though the APC has a slim majority in the upper house. The frosty relationship between the executive and the Senate was more demonstrated by the subsisting court case instituted against Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which has continued since he came into office.
    Another case that would have involved the Senate President and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, was dramatically stepped down at the last minute. The case had to do with an alleged forgery of the Senate standing rules which paved the way for the emergence of Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. In the first instance, Saraki was not the person who was originally pencilled down by the APC as Senate President, while in the case of Ekweremadu, he belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which at that time paraded no fewer than 48 members in the 108-member strong Senate. The election that threw up the duo of Saraki and Ekweremadu is one nightmare that the APC is still trying hard to contend with.
    The party hierarchy was dazed. The Nigeria Police Force had to wade in to investigate the veracity of the allegation levelled against both Saraki and Ekweremadu. At a point, it appeared that the police had been able to establish a prima facie case, but at the end of the day, nothing happened. This raised suspicion that official manipulation of the investigation might have occurred. Whatever the case is, it is on record that after all the noise- making, the issue, perhaps, has been consigned to the dustbin of history, never to raise its head again. That is the way we are in Nigeria.
    While some of these cases have not been given enough attention probably due to political exigencies, one particular case which has to do with the confirmation of a substantive head for the anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued to dominate national discourse. At the last count, the Senate had twice turned down Ibrahim Magu, the President’s nominee for the position and current acting head of the EFCC. What is obvious is that while the President believes Magu is the most suitable candidate for the job, some influential members of the Senate, including the Senate President, do not buy this line of argument because of certain vested interests in who becomes the anti-graft czar.
    Today, one of the Senators and former majority leader of the upper house, Ali Ndume, has become a scapegoat of the rivalry between the executive and the legislative arm of government. Ndume’s problem started when he spoke his mind to news hunters who besieged him when he visited Aso Rock Villa shortly after Magu was first rejected by the Senate last December. He had publicly declared that the issue of Magu was not yet foreclosed contrary to what the Senate had told the public through its spokesperson. That created some sort of misunderstanding among some of the Senators who publicly condemned Ndume for going against the thinking of the entire Senate.
    Soon after, a palace coup was hatched in the Senate. That coup saw Ndume removed as majority leader, paving the way for Senator Ahmad Lawan, who had originally been pencilled down as Senate President before Saraki and his band of coup plotters overturned the apple cart and changed the political configuration of the Senate to the consternation of the APC party hierarchy. In other words, that “original sin” by Saraki and his acolytes is still smouldering and haunting the leadership of the Senate.
    The opportunity to hang Ndume finally came a few weeks ago when he (Ndume) brought the attention of the Senate to certain newspaper reports alleging some wrongdoing against Saraki and his Rottweiler, Dino Melaye. It would appear that Ndume was genuinely concerned about the image of the upper chamber in the eyes of the public and so he needed to bring the matter to the Senate’s attention so as to tackle the issue once and for all as well as restore the integrity of the Senate which had suffered some bashing in recent times.
    Soon after he laid his report at plenary, the house referred the matter to the ethics and privileges committee with a mandate to investigate the allegations. By the time the committee submitted its report last week, it did not only exonerate both Saraki and Melaye, it went ahead to recommend suspension for Ndume. It was the mitigation by Mathew Uroghide, a Senator representing Edo State on the platform of the PDP that saved Ndume by half of the prescribed 181 sitting-days suspension. It is an irony that it was an opposition Senator that deemed it fit to plead for leniency on behalf of Ndume while his co-travellers in the APC wanted him to serve the maximum punishment for trying to “protect the integrity of the Senate”.
    It is obvious that what is playing out in the Senate is the politics of 2019 and Ndume as sacrificial lamb on the chessboard. Now, he has been bruised, battered and his ego deflated. Kashim Shettima, the Governor of Borno State, Ndume’s home state, has since led a high-powered delegation to the leadership of the Senate to appeal to them to temper justice with mercy and reinstate him because, according to Shettima, Ndume’s absence from the Senate will seriously hamper the post-Boko Haram reconstruction work going on in the state.
    As it is, Ndume has no option than to tag along. In any case, going to court to challenge the legality or lack of it, of his suspension does not arise. Nobody is sure if the case could be disposed off within the six months the suspension is supposed to last. Even it is disposed off within that time, the Senate might decide to appeal the judgment and that will mean that he cannot get back to the chamber until the final determination of the case. And that could take a long time. So, since he has been humbled, the only option left for him is to lick his wounds and move on. As they say, in politics, nothing is permanent.

  • Undercurrents of Ndume’s suspension

    Undercurrents of Ndume’s suspension

    The suspension of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume by the Senate did not come to many as a surprise.

    When the Borno South senator was dethroned as Senate Leader on January 10th, close observers of the unending intrigues and power show in the upper legislative chamber warned that Ndume should watch his steps.

    The conclusions drawn from Ndume’s ouster was that it was a clear signal that other unsavory things could follow as 2019 election year approaches.

    It was also concluded that things could only get worse in the senate due to overarching personal and group interests.

    On Tuesday, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, did not veil the threat and resolve of the senate to do battle with unnamed attackers of the senate.

    Saraki declared after a lengthy behind-the-door meeting that the senate would not fall prey to intimidation and blackmail in the conduct of its constitutional duties. It was seen as a declaration of readiness of the senate for tit-for-tat or fire-for-fire in the language of the police.

    The first casualty of the threat did not take long to come. The senate appeared to be in a hurry to bear its fang.

    Ndume played into the hands of some power wielders in the senate. He was handed a six months suspension on Wednesday for what the Senate tagged a calculated attempt to ridicule and bring the institution of the Senate, Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye, to disrepute.

    The flamboyant lawmaker was specifically said to have failed to cross-check facts before presentation at plenary, and therefore could not be said to be a patriotic representative of the Senate.

    Spirited efforts mounted by some senators to save Ndume from suspension failed.

    The suspension could have been for 181 days as recommended by the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee. Common sense prevailed. Apparently to avoid accusation of overkill, the near capital punishment recommended for Ndume, was reduced from 181 days to six months.

    The last suspension in the senate was in 2001, when Imo State politician, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, was handed indefinite suspension by the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim-led senate. Nzeribe did not come back to the fourth senate until it elapsed in 2003.

    Senator Joseph Kenneth Waku escaped suspension when he was reprimanded for allegedly calling for return of the military instead of the high handedness President Olusegun Obasanjo was ruling the country.

    Waku was saved from the hammer of suspension by the swift intervention of former Senate President, Senator Chuba Okadigbo.

    Ndume’s travail in the senate may be traced to his rigorous defence of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, when the senate first rejected his nomination for confirmation on December 15th, 2016. Ndume had spiritedly faulted senate’s position on Magu. He said so to anybody who cared to listen. Some powerful forces in the senate felt betrayed and moved for his head.

    Those who thought Ndume would be silenced by his removal as Senate Leader, had to think again. He grew even bolder in the champion of a course he believed in. The leadership of the senate became uncomfortable.

    When on Tuesday, March 21st, Ndume drew the attention of the senate to some issues trending in the social media, bordering on allegations of importation of a treated SUV Range Rover with fake National Assembly documents and certificate forgery leveled against Saraki and Melaye respectively, insiders concluded that Ndume might not escape unscathed.

    The issues raised by Ndume were referred to the Ethics committee. The committee in a speed of light sat, interrogated some of those linked with the issues under investigation and reached conclusions.

    Ndume’s explanation that he has no pecuniary interest whatsoever in the senate resolution to investigate the importation of the vehicle linked to Saraki or the certificate saga against Melaye did not move the committee.

    The Borno lawmaker’s insistence that he was only out to protect the integrity of the senate as a member did not also sway the conclusions of the committee to punish him.

    Ndume further told the committee that the resolution to investigate the matter was not his.

    He was of the opinion that he merely drew attention to an issue that had the capacity to reduce the image and integrity of the senate in the estimation of right thinking Nigerians if left hanging.

    Was it a fait acompli, a sort of working from the answer to the question? Should the authors of the “offensive” publications Ndume drew attention to not have been invited to throw light on what they wrote.

    Those who observed the committee’s proceeding on Monday, March 27th may have deduced the direction that report would go. It was obvious that Ndume stood no chance. From the question and answer, the continuous allusion of failure to do due diligence and the body language of the committee, it was evident that the senate would descend heavily on Ndume.

    Perhaps the recommendation that Ndume should be penalized to serve as a deterrent to others may be begging the question.

    The question the senate may have to answer is what to do with Order 14 and 15 of the senate standing Orders 2015 (as amended)?

    Ndume relied on the strength of the two orders to raise the issue that led to his suspension. His argument was that in line with the privilege provision, it was his right to draw the attention of the senate to just any issue no matter who is involved. The committee felt otherwise.

    In its observations and findings the committee said: “After carefully examining the documents made available to the committee and hearing from those invited on the matter, the committee observed as follows:

    “That the name of the Senate President, Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki, was not mentioned anywhere in the Bill of lading or any document whatsoever connected with the importation or purchase of the SUV Range Rover vehicle;

    “That he did not import any SUV Range Rover as corroborated by all respondents;

    “That this story was cooked up with intent to embarrass the Senate President, the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly;

    “That the complainant did not conduct due diligence before bringing the matter to the floor of the Senate;

    “That as a former Senate Leader and a ranking Senator, he was expected to have weighed the consequences, of the allegation, carefully investigated it before presenting it;

    “That Senator Dino Melaye obtained a first degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and “That having failed to cross-check facts before presentation at plenary, he could not be said to be a patriotic representative of the Senate, and should be penalized to serve as deterrent to others.”

    It recommended: “After due consideration of the matter as revealed by different parties to the case, the Committee recommends as follows:

    “That the Senate do suspend Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume for bringing Senator Dino Melaye, his colleague, and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute at this time of our national life when caution, patriotism, careful consideration and due diligence should be our watchwords.”

    The committee did not forget to clear Saraki and Melaye of any wrong doing.

    The suspension of Ndume may not be the end of the unfolding high wired politics in the senate. As the 2019 general election races on, some senators considered recalcitrant may fall victims.

  • Fireworks in senate: Ndume’s many battles

    Fireworks in senate: Ndume’s many battles

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume means so many things to so many people within and outside the National Assembly.

    He was elected to the senate for Borno South in April 2011 and later cross-carpeted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the formation of the party. He was re-elected to the senate in style in the 2015 election.

    When Ndume was announced Senate Leader in 2015, the announcement was greeted with fanfare.

    ‘Like Minds Senators’ saw the triumph of Ndume as another victory for their group following the controversial election of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President on June 9, 2015.

    The election of Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President and Ndume against the position of the APC threw up a chain of events in the senate.

    Before January 10, 2017, the cookies began to crumble for Ndume. Things changed so fast in the upper chamber. It appeared the relationship between Ndume and his once enablers had gone awry. Something was to give way.

    On January 10, 2017, Ndume was unceremoniously removed as Senate Leader when he went to pray.

    Although he appeared to have accepted his fate in good faith, Ndume cried blue murder and described his ouster as a legislative coup.

    His scathing remarks at the Presidential Villa over senate rejection of the nomination of Ibrahim Magu for confirmation as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did not go down well with most of his colleagues in the upper chamber.

    He was accused of betraying the collective decision of the senate by speaking “scornfully” about a resolution of the senate to turn down the nomination of Magu.

    A closed session of the upper chamber was quickly convoked. Ndume was said to have been thoroughly scolded for taking a contrary view of the senate. Those close to the Borno senator said he took everything stoically, apparently bidding for appropriate time to strike.

    Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, was said to have been the arrowhead of Ndume must go campaign.

    Melaye and Ndume were said to have clashed even before the closed session over Ndume’s position on Magu.

    Ndume’s explanation was that the senate could not have claimed to have rejected the nomination of Magu when the nomination was not considered in the first place.

    The cloud thickened. Ndume was removed with Melaye’s name appearing as number one on the list of APC senators who endorsed the ouster.

    Hours after his removal, Ndume fired the first cannon. He asked senate leadership to take steps to open up the budget of the upper chamber. Good talk some said. Some others wondered why Ndume did not initiate the process of opening up the budget of the National Assembly when he occupied the exalted position of Senate Leader.

    Not deterred, Ndume also faulted senate’s rejection of Magu’s nomination the second time. For him, those who come to equity should come with clean hands. He wondered why senate should refuse to confirm Magu based on a mere allegation that was yet to be certified by the court. Most of the senators who opposed Magu’s nomination, he said, have no business being in the senate because they also have cases to answer in courts of competent jurisdiction.

    The Borno-South lawmaker was not done yet. On Tuesday, Ndume released another bomb shell. He decided to walk where angels fear to step a toe.

    By asking the senate to mandate its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee to investigate Saraki for alleged importation of bullet proof car with dubious customs duty import papers Ndume reincarnated the legendary banana peel that was the undoing of many senate presidents.

    He also asked the chamber to set machinery in motion to probe allegation of certificate forgery leveled against Senator Melaye.

    Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), to appear in uniform to explain the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.

    After the plenary, Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development and pledged to make himself available for the investigation.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, asked Ndume to lay the documents he has. Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.

    Ekweremadu referred the two matters to Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigation. He gave the committee four weeks to report back.

    The office of the Senate President also reacted. It said Saraki has nothing to do with importation of vehicle.

    Special Adviser to Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the allegation raised by Ndume, linking Saraki to the importation of vehicle lacked basis as it was outright falsehood.

    Olaniyonu said from facts and documents about the seized vehicle, “it is obvious that the Senate President has nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle.”

    “A supplier was engaged by the Senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the Customs. We believe that it is an issue between the supplier and the Customs because the Senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag the name of Saraki into the issue?

    “The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now, that the matter has been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, all the facts will be out”, Olaniyonu said.

    The trending question is whether the dreaded banana peel is back in the senate? A former Senate President, David Mark, applied managerial ability and military strategy to keep at bay the banana peel from the senate for the eight years he was on the saddle. Mark was able to avoid and to fence off major crisis by dealing with each senator according to their idiosyncrasies.

    Saraki’s senate has been on a state of tumult since the event of June 9th, 2015 that saw his election as Senate President.

    The heat is on. Is the center caving in? Time will tell.

  • Ndume not removed because of Magu, says Marafa

    Ndume not removed because of Magu, says Marafa

    Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum(Downstream), Kabiru Marafa, said yesterday that removal of Senate Leader Ali Ndume was not based on his stand on Acting Chairman of  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    Marafa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was the prerogative of the political party to appoint or reject any principal officer as contained in Senate’s Standing Rules.

    He declined to give further reasons for Ndume’s removal but said that 40 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers appended their signature in favour of the action “based on different reasons’’.

     “The assertion that Ndume was removed because of Magu’s case is not true because he didn’t do for Magu as much as I did for Magu.”

  • SGF not indicted, Magu not rejected by Senate, says Ndume

    SGF not indicted, Magu not rejected by Senate, says Ndume

    A new twist was introduced yesterday to the row over Senate’s confirmation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu.
    Senate Leader Ali Ndume said the Senate had not rejected Magu’s nomination.
    He also denied that Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal was indicted for corruption by the upper chamber.
    Contrary to what the senators made Nigerians to believe after Thursday’s session, Ndume told reporters at the Presidential Villa after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that the Senate merely made recommendations.
    He said: “It’s not an order we are giving. The Senate resolution is a recommendation; it’s not a law. What the Senate considered is work in progress because it was an interim report.
    “It is the same public that are interested and worried to know what we have done as a Senate about those allegations. The committee issued an interim report and the interim report seemed to indict the SGF, the consequences of that indictment is what they recommended but we are not there yet because the report itself is interim. Ok, we take the interim report, we give the public until the whole investigation is concluded.
    “I hear coming from the SGF that he has not been given a fair hearing, so the hearing has not finished. We can give him an ample of time to go before the committee and clear himself.”
    On Magu, Ndume said the Senate only demanded some clarification from President Buhari following a report received from the Department of State Services (DSS).
    He said: “No, no no. Let me say categorically that the Senate did not reject Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chairman. What happened was that when we slated his confirmation for Thursday, then we had an issue or a letter from the DSS that could not allow us to continue with the confirmation without further clarifications.
    “So, we now concluded that since we have a letter that we cannot ignore, we cannot do the confirmation. So, it was not that we sat down to take a decision that we have rejected Ibrahim Magu. So, I want to say that clearly.
    “We specifically asked chairman, Media Committee to issue a statement. What we said was that on that Thursday the Senate could not go ahead with the confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu and that we are in possession of a letter from the Department of State Services which requires clarification from Mr. President, who is the head of the government. That was what happened.
    “Even if the rejection is going to come, it is not going to come from the Senate because we have not done anything anyway,” he added
    Reminded that Senate spokesman Aliyu Abdullai Sabi said the Senate rejected Magu, Ndume said: “I hope we are not arguing. I listened and I still listen because of this controversy that could come out. I’m part of those that wrote the short press statement which states that the Senate cannot continue with the confirmation. It is different from saying that the Senate has rejected. In fact, we have referred the other four (nominees) to the committee.”
    On why he visited the President, Ndume said: “Let me say that my meeting with Mr. President is not a new thing in that you have been seeing me here in and out for two reasons: one I’m the Senate Leader by the grace of God and two, Gen. Buhari, the President is one, of my mentors and we have been relating since 2002.
    “So, we normally come intermittently to compare notes on issues so that’s my reason for coming here.”

  • Nigeria risks bigger war over North East malnutrition crisis, Ndume warns

    Nigeria risks bigger war over North East malnutrition crisis, Ndume warns

    Senate Leader Senator Ali Ndume has warned that improper handling of the malnutrition crisis in the North East is capable of causing a larger war than the one being fought against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Boko Haram onslaught has displaced millions of Nigerians including women and children, leading to creation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps mainly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

    Scarcity of consumables and drugs in the region have also led to the death and malnutrition of some of the children.

    A recent United Nations (UN) agencies analysis, including that of the World Food Program showed that more than 4.5 million people are starving and in dire need of food in the area while the number could double within a short period.

    Speaking in Abuja at a cocktail party marking end of official Launch of the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s, Get-Involved Initiative aimed at stemming growth of malnutrition in the area, Ndume noted that the crisis in getting worse.

    ” The situation in Borno State particularly in the North East and in the country as liberated generally is very very serious. If we don’t do something concrete now on these children that are growing up malnourished, sick with hunger, poverty and malnutrition in Borno state, then we are going to have another war that is worse than the Boko Haram.

    “So I want you to give the Wife of the President all the support. As estimated, if we don’t do something, for sure more than 50,000 children are going to die of malnutrition.

    “That is beside the people that are dieing right now because of hunger in Borno State,” he added.

    Thanking the Wife of the President for showing concern to the children, he called on mothers everywhere to emulate and try to do what Aisha Buhari is doing.

    “And I want to call on you the Wife of Mr. President to do more because what you have seen coming out of Bawa is a tip of the iceberg of what is happening in Borno state.”

    The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima said that the Wife of the President took the challenge of the crisis in the area head on by mobilizing resources to solve the problem.

    He said: “We cannot thank you enough. You deserve special commendation for your giant strides towards assisting the less endowed in our society.

    “She has so far given thirty trucks of assorted commodities to our people. We want to call on other well-to-do Nigerians to come out to give their widows might to her cause.”

    Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Aisha Buhari said that she felt saddened by the magnitude of malnutrition facing the country.
    Noting that the magnitude of the problem can’t be solved by one stakeholder or group, she said that experts on nutrition have already articulated the current situation, the efforts being made and the future direction.

    “This is the time for all of us to once again renew our intentions and commitments towards ending the problem of malnutrition facing our country,” she said.

    Mrs. Buhari also called on traditional/religious leaders, private sector, civil society and the media to be part of the Get-Involved Initiative.

    The cocktail party was attended by many wives of state governors and cabinet members.