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Tag: Onyedi Ojiabor

  • Optimism as INEC gives out certificates of return

    Senate leadership, individual senator-elect’s plans and others dominated discourse yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued lawmakers-elect certificates of return, report Onyedi Ojiabor and Abdulgafar Alabelewe.

    I’ll perform far better than

    araki, says Oloriegbe

     

    Senator-elect for Kwara Central Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe yesterday declared that he would perform better than Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Saraki, the Senator representing Kwara Central, has represented the Senatorial District since 2011.

    He spoke in Abuja alongside two other Senators-elect from Kwara State after collecting his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said Saraki did not set any standard of performance for any successor to study.

    Oloriegbe said: “It is God that gives and takes power from whosoever He wishes. I thank the Almighty Allah for granting me the grace of being overwhelmingly elected as Senator for Kwara Central in the coming 9th Senate.

    “I have the pedigree of service to people and humanity as a trained medical doctor who has spent decades working with World Health Organization (WHO) and years on the political field also in rendering selfless service to people and humanity.

    “I was the majority leader of Kwara State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2003 under the late Governor Muhammed Alabi Lawal.

    “My focus in the Senate will squarely be on how to through legislative engineering, quality and responsive representation,  improve the lots of my people in Kwara Central and  collaborate very effectively along with other federal lawmakers from the state with the State Governor-elect, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq in giving the state a new direction with regards to wealth creation and genuine development.

    “The responsive representation I will put up for Kwara Central people within the next four years coupled with the required legislative engagements to be made on both the floor and at committee level for good governance in the country , will surpass whatever performance Saraki had rendered in the past.”

    The Kwara South Senator-elect, Lola Ashiru, assured that the new set of elected political office holders in Kwara State would collaborate to give the greatest good to the greatest number of Kwarans.

    Ashiru said: “We are aware of the expectations on the ground and enormous challenges at hand but as people who are out to serve and not lord it over the electorate, Kwara will surely be better off with the change that had taken place in the state.”

    The Senator-elect for Kwara North, Umar Sadiq, said he had the strong conviction that marginalisation that had been the lot of his area in the past would be a thing of the past.

     

    Gaya eyes Ekweremadu’s seat

     

    The Senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaye, is interested in becoming Deputy Senate President.

    Gaya, a sitting Senator and Chairman Senate Committee on Works, told reporters about his intention to go for the Senate top job yesterday after collecting his certificate of return as Senator-elect for Kano South.

    The post is occupied by Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu, PDP).

    He told reporters at the International Conference Center, Abuja venue of the issuance of the certificate of return to Senators-elect that his aspiration was driven by mass appeal for him to go for the job by his colleagues.

    He has been returned to the upper chamber for the fourth time unbroken.

    Gaya said: “I thank the Almighty Allah who granted me the grace of being elected into the Senate for the fourth time.

    “As regards the leadership composition of the 9th Senate, majority of my colleagues are mounting pressure on me to run for the position of Deputy Senate President. I want to use this opportunity to announce that I’m running for the position being one of the most ranking Senators in the 9th Senate.”

    He however gave a caveat that his ambition for the exalted position will be subject to the determination and approval of the All Progressives Congress and the presidency.

    The aspiration of Gaya, who hails from the North West geo-political zone, may alter the permutations being made for the Senate leadership positions.

    If Gaya emerges Deputy Senate President, it may be difficult to also retain the Senate Presidency in the North.

    Front runners for the position of Senate Presidency of the ninth Senate include Senators Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North), Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) and Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West).

    Of the four front liners, Lawan looks good to get the Senate top most position going by his track records and standing in the APC.

    The Senate leadership race is, however, very much open as other Senators are said to be warming up to take a shot at the position.

    Senator-elect Adedayo Adeyeye (APC Ekiti South) noted that to avoid the leadership crisis that overwhelmed the 8th Senate, the APC national leadership should provide the required direction for the majority party in the Senate to follow.

    Another Senator-elect Bamidele Opeyemi (APC Ekiti Central) was sure that the APC leadership would effectively manage the process for effective leadership of the ninth Senate.

    He said: “The calibre and character of personalities elected for the 9th Senate are very solid and promising for the country but leadership is key. This very reason why the leadership of the ruling party must manage well, whatever process, it is going to use for the emergence of leadership at both chambers this time around.

    “Once this is done, the party and in particular, the National Assembly and the presidency will be on the same page on development-driven bills sponsorship, policy formulations and approvals.”

    Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger North) said the necessary lessons had been learnt from the leadership tussle in the 8th Senate.

    Abdullahi was optimistic that the loose ends in the leadership selection process of the ninth Senate would be tightened by the APC leadership.

    He said: “I was a key player in the leadership configuration of the 8th Senate and the attendant crises that followed. As one of the 43 returnees, the lessons learnt will be used to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening.”

     

    We will not fail Kaduna people,

    says senator-elect

     

    The Senator-elect for Kaduna Central senatorial District, Uba Sani, has said the elected representatives of Kaduna State are “bound by their love for the people of the state” to succeed in their responsibilities.

    He assured that the lawmakers will not fail the people of Kaduna in their legislative assignment.

    In a statement after he was issued with certificate of returns by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, Uba said with the crop of representatives the state has produced, the people of the state are poised to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    He said: “Today, the great quest to place the good people of Kaduna Central Senatorial zone in pole position to reap bountifully from the next level of massive infrastructural, economic, social and agricultural development of the re-elected and re-energized APC government at the federal level and in Kaduna State, commenced effectively with my issuance of certificate of return by INEC.

    “I truly appreciate the youths, women, elders and other residents of Kaduna Central Senatorial zone who believe so much in me and showed it most audaciously with their huge votes at the polls. I shall remain eternally grateful. Like I have said repeatedly, I shall not fail you.

    “My biggest thanks however goes to my boss, close confidante and governor of our  State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.  We are bound by our common love for Kaduna State and our love for our long suffering people.

    “As a Senator in the 9th Senate of our great nation, I shall do all that is within my competences and powers to ensure that our collective dream and aspiration of a peaceful, investment friendly and economically buoyant Kaduna State is speedily achieved.

    “My loyalty to our party and our great leader, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, shall be unalloyed and unflinching. With like-minds and fellow party men, we shall build a bulwark of support for the President and his administration in the Senate,  Insha Allah.

    “I am truly honoured and I shall not take the huge responsibilities reposed in me by the people for granted. I am very conscious of the fact that I cannot afford to fail. God helping me, I will not fail.”

  • Presidency indicts Mark, Tambuwal, others over poor oversight

    Presidency indicts Mark, Tambuwal, others over poor oversight

    The Presidency on Tuesday indicted the leadership of the seventh National Assembly over alleged failure to conduct effective oversight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The Presidency claimed that the failure of the seventh National Assembly to carry out proper oversight on MDAs was responsible for massive corruption and stealing of public funds which it said was the hallmark of the‎ administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Recall that Senator David Mark was the President of the Seventh Senate, while Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, current governor of Sokoto State, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 7th National Assembly.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, told reporters that the failure of the lawmakers to properly oversee was responsible for the alleged syphoning of the security votes in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other agencies of government under President Jonathan.

    The Presidential aide also said that the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke, allegedly ran the petroleum sector single-handedly because the National Assembly does not do its oversight functions.

    Enang who was also a member of the Seventh Senate served as chairman of Rules and Business committee.

    He “If the committees in the 7th National Assembly were doing their work, by checking what was happening in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Petroleum Ministry, we will not have had Diezanigate and all the other gates.

    “We will not have had all the probes and investigation. The legislature concentrated less that is why we are having the spill that the 8th Assembly is having. I feel guilty and I want to apologise. If the legislature did its duty like it is doing now, I think we will not have this situation.

    “This year you will have are going to have a robust executive, legislature relationship, you will not have uncommon compromises. You will have an engaging relationship.

    “The Senate has in two years doubled what the 7th Senate passed. The President has said that he will do his work as the president, the legislature will do its work and the judiciary will do its work. There will be no interference.

    “What is prevailing is the best executive, legislature relationship in the last 18 years.”

    On alleged budget padding, Enany dismissed it insisting that it does not exist.

    He explained that the National Assembly has the right to add or remove anything in the budget during budget consideration just like the executive can make amends before the budget is passed.

    Enang said: “In all my legislative years, padding is a new word in the legislative lexicon. So we have to define it as a new matter. In my opinion, padding is an illegal or unlawful insertion by a person who is not expected to do it in a legal, legislative document.

    “Therefore, unless a bill has been passed and forwarded to Mr President for assent, there can be no padding. If the bill had been forwarded to the president and something is inserted into that before it is assented to by any person and something is added different from what is in the votes and proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives, that is what constitutes padding.”

    Enang also dismissed the insinuation that the 2017 budget was poorly implemented.

    For him, the level of implementation of the 2017 budget is “very high”, especially when about N1.3 trillion has been released in two quarters.

  • Abuse of office: Senate threatens to issue arrest warrant on IGP

    Abuse of office: Senate threatens to issue arrest warrant on IGP

    The Senate on Wednesday threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris if he fails to appear before its ad-hoc committee investigating allegations of abuse of office against him.

    Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, gave the threat after waiting endlessly for the IGP for a scheduled investigative hearing in the Senate.

    The Edo North Senator told reporters that the IGP was summoned on October 16th, 2017 to appear before the panel to respond to allegations made against him by Senator Isah Hamman Misau.

    The panellists expressed dissatisfaction that the IGP failed to appear before the panel.

    Alimikhena noted that instead of appearing before the panel the IGP, through his lawyer, Alex Iziyon, wrote to the committee informing it that the matter was already in court.

    He said that the letter expressly stated that IGP will not appear before the panel because the matter for which he was invited was before the court.

    Alimikhena who appeared to have been angered by the letter, thundered nobody, including court, can stop the Senate from carrying out its constitutional duties.

    The lawmaker who is also Senate Deputy Chief Whip noted that the separation of powers guaranteed by law made it explicit that the Senate cannot be prevented in carrying out its constitutional duties by any other arm of government.

    He threatened that if the IGP fails to appear on November 7th, 2017, the committee would invoke Section 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to compel him to appear.

    Alimikhena who quoted copiously Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, insisted that the IGP “will be summoned again and must appear next Tuesday, 7th of November.

    Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which the committee is relying on to issue a warrant of arrest on the IGP, reads: “For the purposes of any investigation under section 88 of this Constitutional and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution shall have power to procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter

    “Require such evidence to be given on oath; summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, and examine him as a witness and require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession or under his control, subject to all just exceptions.

    “Issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the committee in question, and order him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons, and also to impose such fine as may be prescribed for any such failure, refused or neglect; and any fine so imposed shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

    “A summons or warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigeria Police Force or by any person authorised in that behalf by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may require.”

    Alimikhena said: “We invited the IGP to appear before our committee. This morning (yesterday), we got a letter from his lawyer, Alex Iziyon, that he will not appear before this committee. He said the IGP has already gone to court and appearing will be sub-judiced.

    “It is our duty as a parliament to investigate the allegations raised. This committee was set up before they went to court. We cannot be stopped. No court can stop us from carrying out our duties. There is a separation of powers. No court can stop us.

    “We will invite him again next Tuesday. There are issues about virement in the 2017 budget which Misau also raised. We need him to respond to these allegations. We will invite him again and he will appear before us. If he fails to appear, we will invoke Section 89 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.”

    Misau,(Bauchi central) had while testifying before the probe panel, claimed that the IGP purchased two jeeps for the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

    He also alleged that the IGP misused over N120 billion generated by the Force in one year.

    Misau further alleged that the police boss impregnated a serving police officer and hurriedly arranged a marriage ceremony in Kaduna.

    The Police boss, through the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the claims as unfounded and smear campaign against the IGP.

    The police spokesman asked Nigerians to disregard the allegations against the IGP

    In like manner, Mrs. Buhari also denied the purchase of cars for her by the IGP.

  • Senate decries non completion of N48b national library 11 years after

    Senate decries non completion of N48b national library 11 years after

    The Senate on Tuesday described as unacceptable the failure of the federal government to complete the National Library after 11 years.

    The upper chamber resolved to urge the government to prioritize the funding and completion of the permanent site of the National Library of Nigeria in order to mitigate losses accruable to the project;

    It also mandated its Committee on Education to meet with the Ministers of Education and the Federal Capital Territory and the National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria to adopt an appropriation strategy that would ensure the completion of the project starting from the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

    It further advised the Government to be more strategic in the award of contracts with a view to embarking on only projects that can be adequately financed to the tune of its budgetary appropriation.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion entitled “The preventable economic loss and national embarrassment arising from the failure of the federal government to complete the National Library after 11 years, “sponsored by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).

    Ashafa in his lead debate noted that the National Library building project was conceptualized by the Federal Government in 2002 but awarded in 2006 to Messrs Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) at the sum of N8.590 Billion with a project timeline of 22 Months.

    He said that while the company commenced work on the project in April 2006, it could not proceed due to the failure of Government to release sufficient funds for the completion of the project, leading to its being revised three times over the period.

    Ashafa observed that a comprehensive report recently detailed the pitfalls of the project as follows:

    “That after a series of false starts leading to the initial suspension of work on the project, sometime in 2009, the project scope was reduced from the initial 8-floor plan to 5 floors and the contract sum of the reduced scope was reviewed upward to N17 billion from the original sum of N8.590 billion;

    “The Bureau of Public Procurement issued a compliance certificate of ’no objection’ on the review and the Federal Executive Council approved the revised sum. The completion period for the revised project was made 21 months effective from July 2010. The project could not be completed again due to paucity of funds; and

    “That in 2012, the presidency requested for the return of the project back to the full scope. A presidential anticipatory letter with reference number NLO/C.62/Vl/66 was sent to NLN (National Library of Nigeria) dated October 11, 2012, with a directive to CIA to instruct the contractor to revert to full scope.

    “By then, the contractor was about concluding arrangement for roofing at the fifth floor. The initially reviewed sum of N23.153 billion for the full scope was submitted by the consultants to the Ministry of Education but it was never processed.

    “In February 2013, the contractor requested for the extension of time and reviewed the contract sum upward to N48 billion.

    “Observed that despite the importance of this National Library, the project has been poorly funded since its inception.”

    The Lagos East lawmaker listed the allocation to the project between 2008 and 2015 as reported as follows: i. 2008N2, 269,197,198. 00 appropriated N1, 217,401,308.05 was released;

    2009N2. 4 billion budgeted and N2, 367,968,402 14 released; 2010 N18 billion budgeted N708, 301,501.34 was released; 2011 N758, 549,771.00 was earmarked but N491, 230,136.70 was released; v. 2012 N2 billion budgeted and N1, 081,448,443.00 was released; 2013 N4 billion was budgeted and N3, 164,726,518.19 was released; 2014 N22 billion was budgeted and N555, 697,923.52 was released; and 2015 N1.4 billion was budgeted, but N7 million was released.

    Ashafa said that the Senate should be worried that the continuous failure to properly fund the project within the specified period would cause the government losses modestly estimated to be in the range of 40 to 50billion naira and that if this failure to fund the project expeditiously continues, it might cost the Government even more in the long run.

    He also the Senate should be disturbed that 57 years after the birth of Nigeria and with trillions of naira sunk in the development of Abuja, the National Library of Nigeria still operates from a rented building because it does not have a permanent site;

    He said that the National Library is of critical importance to the country because it would serve as an important intellectual monument, representing the value placed on information, learning, knowledge, culture and history amongst others.

    He added: “Further disturbed that the failure of prioritization of this project by successive governments, is a direct reflection and metaphor for the almost inexistent premium we place on knowledge and intellectual capital as a country. This trend must stop and we must rise once again to the occasion;

    “Concerned that in View of the population explosion taking place in Nigeria, we no longer have the luxury of relegating knowledge and information amongst the populace.

    “1n the world that we are living in now, knowledge is the new black gold and we must not only diversify our economy into agriculture and solid-minerals but most importantly migrate wholly into a knowledge-based economy. In achieving this, Government must be focused on providing public access to quality knowledge and information;

    “Worried that the future of generations yet unborn is in jeopardy, as a failure to properly fund the National Library Project would greatly affect the capacity of the country in the area of proper documentation of historical documents, artefacts and archiving in general. Our heritage as a people is now at risk of extinction if we don’t move now.

    He said that the Senate should be disturbed that “this failure of strategic planning is not peculiar to the National Library Project alone but has become the bane of various capital projects across the country, amounting to a significant number of abandoned projects and preventable economic loss.”

    Other senators who contributed to the debate expressed disappointment that the projected remained non-completed years after it was initiated.

  • Senate raises alarm over rising spate of suicides

    Senate raises alarm over rising spate of suicides

    …Tinubu seeks urgent remedy

     

    The Senate Tuesday raised the alarm over the rising spate of suicides and suicide attempts in parts of the country.

    The upper chamber asked the ministries of health at federal and state levels to immediately embark on mental health sensitization and awareness campaign to tackle the problem.

    It also asked the health ministries at federal and state levels to set up free and accessible mental health stations in all government owned hospitals and clinics across the country.

    It urged Nigerians to look out for possible symptoms of unhappiness, depression and to seek professional help where necessary.

    The resolutions which were unanimously adopted followed a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the “Need to ensure affordable and accessible mental health care for Nigerians.”

    Senator Shehu Sani who seconded the motion said lamented that it is obvious that many Nigerian families can no longer cater for themselves.

    Senator Tinubu in her lead debate noted that the country was ranked 78th happiest nation in the world and 4th in Africa in the 2015 world happiness report.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker further said that the report published in March 2017 rated Nigeria as 95th happiest nation out of 155 countries.

    She expressed concern that suicide and its attendant causes namely-depression, social and economic problems, low self-esteem, traumatic experiences, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse, bullying are not alien to Nigerians.

    She noted that societal ills, economic difficulty, crime rate which are prevalent in Nigeria are sufficient to send anyone over the edge.

    Senator Tinubu expressed sadness that in spite of the dominant presence of suicide catalysts, Nigerian’s mental health support system is barely existent.

    She said that access to mental health specialists is expensive and almost nearly out of reach of the poor and middle class.

    The effect, she said, is that ‘where pressure becomes overbearing for these persons, they attack people around them or attempt to take their own lives.”

    She said that Senate should be concerned that “the incidences of these suicides are made worse by lack of attention, and the belief that depression and other personality and mental disorders are the white man’s sickness and thus does not affect Nigerians.”

    Senator Tinubu said that it is sad to remember the case of Ariyo Taiwo who posted on Facebook, indicating that he had a few hours left to live.

    “Instead of his post being seen as a plea for help, comments in response mocked and encouraged him. He was said to have taken his life a few hour later,” she said.

    The lawmaker reminded his colleagues that the wellbeing of citizens is the primary duty of government.

    She reiterated the fact that accessibility of mental health care will also ensure that the teeming number of psychological and psychiatry graduates across the country can put their knowledge to use and be gainfully employed.

    Senator Sani (Kaduna Central” said that there is connection between the turbulent polity and the mental state of Nigerians and connection between economic inequality and health of Nigerians.

    Sani said that the thinking of the people is that if their situation cannot be addressed that alternative will be to take the law into their hands.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) said that the economic hardship the country found itself is biting harder.

    Barau said that government must perform its functions of providing the welfare of the people.

    Senator Emmanuel Paulker on his part said that the bitterness in the country is very high.

    Paulker said that government at all levels, private sector and individuals should address the problems of the people.

    Attempt for the issue to be addressed at a public hearing was defeated.

     

  • Ekweremadu seeks removal of age limit for political offices

    Ekweremadu seeks removal of age limit for political offices

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Thursday canvassed the total removal of age as a criterion for holding political offices in the country.

    He instead called for a situation where the electorate are allowed to make their choices based on their assessment of the competence of those who present themselves for elections.

    A statement by the Special Adviser, (Media) to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, said that Ekweremadu made the call when he received in audience the “Not Too Young to Run (#NotTooYoungToRun) Campaign championed by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.

    Ekweremadu said, “We have just acknowledged the young man, Emmanuel Macron, who is now the President of France. We believe it can also happen here in our country; and we believe that with education and exposure, people can achieve a lot at a very young age.

    “Therefore, while many Nigerians are calling for a reduction in the age barrier, it is actually my strong and personal opinion that there should be no age barrier in terms of running for political offices or holding executive positions. I know, and I believe too, that sovereignty belongs to the people, and they exercise this sovereignty through the ballot box. If they desire to vote in a very young person, so be it. That is their choice, and that is what sovereignty is all about.

    “For many years now, we have said that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow. If we continue to sideline them with age barrier, then that tomorrow may never come. But as far as I am concerned, that tomorrow has come and people should be judged by their competence, integrity, and capacity, not their biological age. That is the global trend and we cannot be an exception.”

    Ekweremadu, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review said that the nation’s greatest resource remained the youth.

    He commended YIAGA, noting that the nation’s democracy was nevertheless making progress as more youth are now participating actively in the political process.

    He said that although the Senate Committee on Constitution Review had submitted its final report to the Senate, constitution amendment was a continuous process and issues not covered could always be accommodated in subsequent amendments even in the same Assembly.

    Leader of the delegation and Programme Director of YIAGA, Miss Cynthia Mbamalu, solicited the Senate’s support for the constitution amendment bill sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul Aziz Nyako, seeking to align the voting age of 18 years with eligibility to contest for political offices in Nigeria.

    Citing the recent election of 39-year old Emmanuel Macron as the President of France, she called for more political space for the Nigerian youth.

     

  • ‘Police returns 2017 budget carted away from Senator’s home’

    ‘Police returns 2017 budget carted away from Senator’s home’

    Less than 24 hours after the Senate demanded the immediate return of budget documents allegedly carted away from the home of Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, the police high command has complied.

    The Office of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, disclosed on Thursday that the police have returned all the documents, cash and laptop they took away from the house of Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Goje.

    Senator Goje had, on Wednesday, told the Senate that police operatives who raided his house on April 20th, 2017 took away sensitive documents connected to the process of the 2017 budget.

    The Gombe Central lawmaker informed his colleagues in plenary that apart from carting away 18 files, his personal laptop where information on the 2017 budget was stored, was also taken away by the police.
    He said that N18 million, $19,000 and 4,000 Saudi Riyadh were also taken away from his house by the police raiders.

    The Senate resolved to ask the police return the documents to enable the consideration and passage of the 2017 budget.

    Senate President also demanded an explanation of what informed the raid and an unreserved apology by the police high command.

    He constituted a seven-man committee to unravel the circumstances that led to the raid.

    The Special Assistant to the Senate President on New Media, Bankole Omisore, informed that the police have returned everything they took from Goje’s Abuja home.

    He said that the police claimed that they acted based on wrong information by a whistleblower.

    Omisore twitted: “Nigerian police this morning returned everything they took from Senator Goje’s house including cash and documents relating to the 2017 Budget.house including cash and documents relating to the 2017 Budget.

    They claim the raid was based on wrong information from a whistleblower

    Also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang, in a statement entitled “Resolution of issues: Re Nigerian Police Force and Senator Danjuma Goje “ confirmed the items taken away from Goje’s home by the police have been returned.

    Enang in a four-paragraph statement said: “Further to the visit of the Nigeria Police Force to the residence of His Excellency. Senator Danjuma Goje. CON in the course of routine duties wherefrom certain items was taken by the Police, and issues subsequently arising.

    “I am to inform all that all the items taken in the course of routine Police duties have been returned to the Distinguished Senator at his house by the Nigeria Police.

    “Further, to state that all other issues relating to the subject matter are being addressed with a view to a positive resolution.

    “Meanwhile, we sincerely appreciate the Senate and the House of Representatives for the enormous work that they have put in to ensure timely passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill.”

    A competent source close to Senator Goje told our reporter that “a deputy police commissioner in the company some plain clothes police officers returned the items in the early hours of yesterday.

    The source said that Goje and some members of his committee would peruse the items to ensure that they were not tampered with by those who took them away.

  • Don’t extradite Kashamu to US, Senate tells NDLEA, AGF

    Don’t extradite Kashamu to US, Senate tells NDLEA, AGF

    Senate on Tuesday asked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Attorney General of the Federation and other security agencies not to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States of America to answer questions on alleged drug trafficking.
     
    The upper chamber said that the NDLEA and others should allow all court processes concerning the matter of allegation of involvement in drug-related offence levelled against Kashamu to be concluded in line with the rule of law.
     
    The resolution followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions which considered the matter of alleged attempts to extradite the Senator to the US over allegation of drug offence.
     
    The report of the committee was in respect of a petition from TRLP Law on behalf of Senator Buruji Kashamu against the NDLEA, former Chairman of the NDLEA, Mr. Ahmed Giade and the Attorney General of the Federation for alleged intention to abduct Senator Buruji Kashamu and forcibly transport him to the United States without recourse to due process.
     
    The respondents in the petition were NDLEA, Attorney General of the Federation and Mr. Giade.
     
    Chairman of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu who presented the report said that Kashamu’s travail was being masterminded by some people.
     
    The Committee said that Kashamu should be allowed a free man until the cases in court over the allegations against him have been concluded. 
     
    Anyanwu said that NDLEA and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation have been orchestrating plans to arrest and take Senator   Kashamu to the US over alleged drug trafficking offences. 
     
    He noted that Kashamu should be left alone until cases in court are resolved.
     
    The Senate said that those behind the plot to extradite Kashamu to the US should stay action pending the outcome of the court processes.
     
    The Ethics Committee said that its investigations showed that “Kashamu’s travails were being masterminded by some people.” 
     
    The committee said that it discovered that Kashamu had been acquitted of all charges against him by courts in the country.
     
    In its findings and observations, the committee said: After listening fully to the petitioner and respondents, and having painstakingly considered their submissions, the committee observed:
     
    “That the respondents did not fully understand the kernel of the matter, and had to explain again to them that the aspect of Senator Kashamu’s matter referred to the committee for consideration and intervention was the constant threat or effort to get Senator Kashamu abducted by NDLEA, AGF, local and foreign collaborators in order that he might be shipped abroad, not the narcotic cases in various courts.”
     
    The committee therefore “noted that the respondents need to stay action on the arrest/kidnapping/abduction of Senator Buruji Kashamu to allow the legislator concentrate on his duties to the nation.”
     
    It asked the NDLEA not to “overlook the question of internal conspiracy within it since the intention, it appears, was how to extort money from Senator Kashamu.”
     
    The committee recommended: “Having exhausted deliberations on the matter, taking into consideration the views of the petitioner and respondents, the committee hereby recommend as follows:
     
    “That concerned agencies and authorities be advised to stop threatening or carrying out any activities to extradite Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States of America for prosecution.
     
    “That the courts be allowed to handle the various aspects of the case before them without any interference.”
     
    The recommendations were adopted.
  • Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    • Threatens to drag Saraki to court for contempt

    Human Right Lawyers and civil society groups on Monday asked Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to respect court order directing him to swear-in senator-elect, Bassey Etim, in the interest of rule of law.

    The group threatened to drag Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to court for allegedly refusing to inaugurate Etim despite a court order for him to do so.

    The Human right lawyers who spoke in Abuja at a press briefing described as an unacceptable alleged refusal of Saraki to swear-in Etim even with a duly issued certificate of return for Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.

    Coordinator of Human Right Lawyers, Frank Tietie told reporters that Saraki was trampling on rule of law for allegedly refusing to swear-in Etim.

    He recalled that on 27th, February 2017, the Federal High Court, Uyo Division in a well-considered judgement ordered among others that a certificate of return be issued to Senator-elect Bassey Etim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said that the same court nullified the certificate of return issued to Senator Bassey Albert.

    Tietie noted that INEC in obedience to the court order issued Basset Etim a fresh certificate of return on March 6th, 2017.

    He said that the Senate President has however delayed the swearing-in of Senator-elect Bassey Etim without any justifiable reason or excuse under the law.

    He said that on 31st March 2017, the Federal High Court in Uyo dismissed the application for stay of execution filed by Bassey Akpan to stop swearing-in Senator-elect Bassey Etim as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East.

    He said: “It has come to our knowledge that series of letters have been written and advice given to the Senate President to swear-in senator-elect Bassey Etim but the Senate President has refused to do the needful.

    “It is worthy to mention that all relevant documents have been put before the Senate President. These include enrolled court order from Federal High Court, Uyo order for striking out of the application for stay of execution, order for the refusal of the injunction by the Federal High Court Judge in Abuja, Certificate of return from INEC.”

    Tietie noted that it is obvious that precedent has been set in the swearing-in of senators who have won pre-election matters and issued with a certificate of return.

    He said, “Just to mention but a few is the case of Kogi East in a case between Senator Isaac Alfa vs Senator Atai Aidoko. In this situation, stay of execution was pending in court and appeals were also pending in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. We believe that their swearing-in was right because appeal does not in law operate as the order for stay of execution.”

    Tietie insisted that in view of the precedent already set by the Senate similar to the instant case of Etim, Senate ought to be consistent and swear-in Senator-elect Etim immediately.

    He said that they have been duly informed that the delay to swear-in Etim is predicated upon giving Senator Akpan opportunity to procure an order of injunction to restrain the swearing-in Etim.

    According to him, “since Albert Akpan has failed to produce injunctive order to restrain the swearing-in of Senator-elect Etim, we hereby call on the Senate President to swear-in Senator-elect Etim forthwith in accordance with the rule of law for the sustenance of our nascent democracy.”

  • We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    A caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators on Wednesday told the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that they obeyed the directives from the Party to replace Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate leader.
    This was disclosed at the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Oyegun while Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led APC Senators to the closed door meeting.
     
    A source who attended the meeting told The Nation that “the meeting was not as smooth as Chief Oyegun painted it.”
     
    Oyegun had sued for a ceasefire in what he referred to as “the kind of abuse being used on one institution of government or the other.”
     
    He also told reporters that the meeting was “robust and addressed salient issues” affecting the smooth working relationship between the Senate and the executive arm of government.
     
    Findings showed that the Senate caucus blamed the party leadership for the frosty relationship between it and the Presidency.
     
    It was learnt that the caucus pointedly accused the party leadership of “double-standard” in its dealing with the relationship between the two arms of government.
     
    It was also gathered that the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader and his subsequent suspension featured prominently at the meeting.
     
    The APC caucus, it was learnt, told Oyegun that he was in a position to defend the removal of Ndume since the caucus merely obeyed party directive to effect leadership change.
     
    The source noted that it was the position of the caucus that “instead of defending the removal of Ndume and replacing him with Senator Ahmed Lawan as directed by the party, what the Caucus has been receiving are unwarranted attacks and attempts to run down the institution of the Senate.”
     
    APC Senators loyal to Saraki, it was learnt, used the opportunity of the meeting to poor out their indignation and frustration against Oyegun.
     
    On the suspension of Ndume, the source said that there may be “no going back” on Ndume’s suspension going by the body language of the majority of the caucus members.