President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to strike out the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar challenging his re-election for being fundamentally defective.(NAN)
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Senator Ahmed Lawan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday emerged as President of the 9th Senate.
Lawan beat Senator Ali Ndume with total votes of 79 to 28.
Clerk of the Senate thereafter administered oath of office on Lawan
Details shortly…
Voting for the office of Senate President ended at 11:56 am.
The clerk now invites the tellers for the two contenders to come forward to oversee the counting of votes which is ongoing
Ahead of today’s 9th National Assembly’s election of its principal officers, the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has arrived the assembly complex.
Oshiomhole, who arrived at about 9:27am, was led into the Senate chamber where majority of the senators-elect were already seated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, also led APC governors into the red chamber at about 9:33am.
Some of the APC governors in company of Fayemi, included that of Nasarawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Ekiti, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Osun, Kogi, Lagos, among others.
The immediate past Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also walked into the Senate chamber at about 9:45am as well as the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
Other dignitaries at the complex are former President of the Senate, Sen. Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, among others.
NAN reports that unaccredited National Assembly staff and visitors were not allowed into the complex. (NAN)
There is tension in Senate as voting for the office of the Senate President is ongoing.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sanni- Omolori is directing the process while Senate Clerk, Nelson Ayewoh, is busy calling Senators-elect one after the other to vote.
Yobe North Senator-elect and Ali Ndume of Borno-South are officially the only two senators vying for the Senate President.
The two lawmakers were the only two nominated by their colleagues on the floor of the chamber.
A Federal High Court in Lagos, has fixed June 28, for re-arraignment of an embattled former Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, facing charges of N6.9billion fraud.
Fayose was arraigned on Oct. 22. 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He is being posecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The prosecution had opened trial on Nov. 19, 2018, and had so far called 13 witnesses out of the15 listed.
However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon.Justice Adamu Abdu-kafarati had transferred the case from Olatoregun, to a new judge. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, following a petition by the EFCC seeking a transfer of the case.
A new date of June 28 has now been foxed for re-arraignment of Fayose before Aneke.
The CJ’s letter of transfer had read as follows:
“I refer to the petition of EFCC on this case and your Lordship’s comments thereto.
“It is apparent that the prosecution has lost confidence in the judge trying this case and justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done, I hereby transfer this case to Hon. Justice C. J. Aneke for hearing,”
Recall that on March 20, a drama had ensued in court midway into trial, between the trial judge, (Olatotegun) and EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
The judge had raised concerns on the manner of prosecution by counsel, and had noted that the prosecutor, was not doing a good job, adding that he was not competent to evaluate the court’s ruling.
On his part, the prosecutor (Jacobs) had expressed displeasure at the rebuke from the court, on the grounds that hr had always dispensed his duties diligently, and had never been so derogated by any court.
Meanwhile, during the last proceedings of May 10, a 13th prosecution witness, Mr Adewale Aladegbola, a former driver of a billion van, had given evidences which the prosecutor described as being contrary to his extra judicial statement to the commission.
Flowing from that premise, the prosecutor had then informed the court that his witness appeared “hostile” and had then urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him make necessary application on the situation.
But, before trial could resume before Olatotegun, the transfer of the case had already been communicated to the court.
During trial before Olatoregun. the prosecution had called witnesses, from Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, as well as a former Minister of State for Defence , Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which sum he ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain in their bank accounts, the aggregate sums of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Besides, the accused was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
The accused was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also forms crime proceeds.
The offence, the EFCC said contravened the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
After addresses from the two senators-elect, Ahmed Lawan and Alli Ndume, the Clerk asked if there are any other nominations. In the absence of no nomination, “We are now going into voting session. By your rules it is open secret ballot,” says Clerk as he ended nominations.
An empty ballot box is thereafter shown to the senators-elect as voting is about to commence
Ahead of the election of principal officers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, anxiety has enveloped Yobe, home state of Sen. Ahmad Lawan, a leading candidate for the senate presidency.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu reports that people were seen in groups projecting the chances of the Yobe Senator.
Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), predicted that Lawan will win the senate president election against Ndume because of his personal competence and support from the ruling party.
“The party has taken every step for the APC senators to take a united position to elect Sen. Lawan, the party’s candidate.
“The endorsement of Lawan by the party, Progressives governors and other stakeholders gives Lawan more chances over Ndume” Mohammed said.
Mukhtar Hassan, a civil servant, said “APC has learnt its lesson from the Saraki political back stabbing and is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success of its preferred candidate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan.”
“We are optimistic that Yobe will this time make history to produce the Senate President of the ninth assembly” he said.
Hajiya Habiba Ahmadu, a housewife said “Sen. Ahmad Lawan was most qualified and competent for the office of the senate president over Ndume.
“Sen. Lawan is more resourceful and reliable compared to Ndume, this is evident in their contributions on the floors of the National Assembly.
“The senate at this moment needs a competent and reliable leadership that will support the executive to execute its policies and programs to improve the lives of Nigerians” she said.
Bukar Modu, a resident of Damaturu, said both the party and presidency have no time to waste to actualize the campaign promises made to Nigerians.
“The country had lost enormous time in the last four years to unnecessary and avoidable conflicts between the executive and the Saraki led legislature and this must be avoided for us to move forward,” Modu said.
There was an uproar in Senate over the voting procedure.
APC senators kick over adoption of secret ballot, demand the use of open ballot.
The inauguration of the ninth Assembly has just commenced.
A good number of incoming lawmakers are already present in the two chambers.
Clerk of the national assembly, Mohammed Sani-Olori, read the proclamation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
After citing orders 2, 5, 7 of the Senate chamber, the event proceeded with roll call.