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Tag: Saraki

  • Police deny compelling Ogundipe to implicate Saraki

    The Nigeria Police Force has denied compelling Samuel Ogundipe of Premium Times online publication to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, before he could be released from custody.

    Ogundipe was arrested on Aug.14 by the police for the alleged publication of the Inspector-General of police report on the siege of  the National Assembly by the Department of State Service.

    The Police had said that Ogundipe was also being investigated and prosecuted under other offences which violated Official Secret Act, Cyber Crime Act, and the Penal Code Law for which he had volunteered statements.

    In a statement, the Spokesman for the Police, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, on Friday in Abuja said that no investigator asked Ogundipe to implicate Saraki before he could be released.

    “There are video and audio records of the whole interrogation, which include the confessions of Ogundipe and his criminal roles in the commission of the crime for which he is being prosecuted,” he said.

    The spokesman said that the video and audio concerning his interrogation would be tendered in evidence in court at the appropriate time.

    He implored members of the public to disregard and discountenance the claim that the police asked Ogundipe to implicate Saraki before he could be released.

    “It is also untrue, and a blatant misrepresentation of facts that Ogundipe was subjected to any form of brutality, psychological or real torture, while he was in the custody of the police.

    “The force will not be deterred from carrying out its statutory duties in ensuring that the rule of law and its supremacy prevails in all matters,” Moshood said.(NAN)

  • Saraki visits Gov. Emmanuel

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and commended him for his selfless leadership in  the state, a move seen as spiting former minority leader of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, now opposed to Saraki.

    Emmanuel’s godfather  and former governor Akpabio defected on 8 August to the All Progressives Congress, dumping the Peoples Democratic Party. The defection ceremony at Ikot Ekpene  Township Stadium attracted huge crowd and APC big guns.  Akpabio also resigned his role as PDP Minority Leader in the Senate.

    Saraki, who is now the national leader of the PDP and who recently also switched from APC to PDP,  said he was in the state to show solidarity to Emmanuel.

    He assured the governor that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representatives in the National Assembly would continue to support him to provide dividends of democracy to the people.

    “We have come here on a solidarity visit to show that we are strongly with you. We are with you because we know you are serving your people well.

    “We are with you, because since you have been the governor, you have shown your worth and capacity and more importantly, you have shown your leadership skills.

    “It is not easy to lead and rise above board and behave like a leader in spite of provocations; that is how leadership should be.

    “You have done a lot of good works here and I do not want you to be distracted.’’

    He charged the governor not to relent in his quest to provide good governance to Akwa Ibom people, stressing that the people would continue to support him.

    Saraki said Emmanuel had nothing to fear since the all the members of the House of Representatives, State Assembly, local government chairmen, councillors and stakeholders are supporting him.

    “The people of Akwa Ibom have spoken and they are saying they are behind you. I want that to encourage you to forge ahead and work hard and serve the people. Since your people are with you, fear nobody.

    “We, in Abuja, will continue to work and support you. I will come here to congratulate you when your people will give you  a second term to serve them. And when I come back, we will come and discuss politics.”

    Responding, Emmanuel urged the senate president to continue to work and protect Nigeria.

    He urged the senate president to continue to maintain his exemplary character and serve the Nigerian people as the number three citizen.

    He urged leaders not only to prepare the young ones for the future but prepare the future for them through good governance.

    “This is unprecedented that in time like this, you have come to show solidarity to Akwa Ibom people. We appreciate you and love you the way you protect the project Nigeria.”

    The governor used the opportunity to welcome Saraki back to PDP, adding that Akwa Ibom people are solidly behind the party.

    On the Saraki’s entourage were Senators Dino Malaye, Clifford Odia, representing Edo and Sen. Bassey Akpan, the only PDP senator representing Akwa Ibom  among others.

  • Offa robbery probe: Saraki not exonerated, say AGF, IG

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has not been cleared of his alleged complicity in the Offa robbery, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said there was nowhere Saraki was cleared in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) rendered on the interim report of investigation submitted for the DPP’s advice by the police, as being claimed.

    They stated that instead, the DPP, having analysed the interim report of investigation by the police, suggested areas of further investigation as regard claims by some of those being held over the crime, particularly as it relates to the source of the weapons used and where the operation was plotted.

    The AGF, the IGP and the NPF noted that pursuant to the advice by the DPP, further investigation has been conducted, following which a more detailed investigation report has since been submitted to the DPP for his further opinion.

    They said it was premature for anyone to claim that Saraki had been exonerated as “investigation is still ongoing on the case”. They denied the claim that the decision to question Saraki over the case was political and intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation.

    They said the information linking Saraki to the case was provided by some individuals arrested in relation to the case, who claim to be political thugs to the Senate President.

    The AGF, the NPF and the IGP spoke in their separate counter affidavits filed in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by some 10 individuals, who claimed to be acting for the Senate President. The suit is pending before Justice M. A. Nasir of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, Abuja.

    The applicants – Anthony Onukaogu, Lawrence Umudu, Bamidele Ojo, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Ogechi Duruaku, Veronica Onoja, Chidiebere Achebe, Chika Onyiorah, Chigozie Eburuo and Patrick Uzim – claimed in the suit, that the decision by the police to question Saraki in relation to the robbery was instigated by his political enemies; intended to blackmail him and dent the Senate President’s reputation.

    Besides filing separate counter-affidavits, the respondents – AGF, NPF and the IGP – also filed motions and notices of objection, challenging the applicants’ locus standi, the court’s jurisdiction and the propriety of court’s interim order of injunction, made on August 8 by Justice Nasir, restraining the respondents from further inviting Saraki in relation to investigation on the robbery case.

    On Thursday, Tijani Ganzali (for the AGF), O. M. Atoyebi (for the NPF) and S. Jibrin (for the IGP) informed the court about the various processes they filed on behalf of their clients, which they were yet to serve on the applicants.

    The applicants’ lawyer, E. C. Nweke, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the respondents’ processes, which he said were to be served on him in court on Thursday. Justice Nasir, upon agreement by parties, adjourned the matter till September 3 for hearing.

    The AGF said in his counter affidavit that contrary to the applicants’ claim in paragraph 23 of their affidavit, the police interim investigation report on the Offa, Kwara State robbery and other alleged crimes, “as it affects Senator Bukola Saraki, revealed that further thorough investigation be made so as to ascertain whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th April 2018 at Offa, Kwara State was carried out at his instance, knowledge or approval.

    “Or whether the weapons used for the robbery attack were supplied by him (Saraki); and other possible areas which will aid the establishment of prima facie case against whoever is involved. The interim investigation report is not a conclusive investigation and does not put an end to the investigation of Senator Bukola Saraki, hence the investigation to ascertain direct or any possible link of Senator Bukola Saraki and the robbery incident is still on going.

    “That the Interim Investigation Report does not in any way exonerate Senator Bukola Saraki from any further investigation. As a matter of fact, Senator Bukola Saraki has no immunity whatsoever from investigation, arrest, detention or prosecution where reasonable suspicion is established.

    “Contrary to paragraphs 8, 14, 17 and 21 of the applicants’ affidavit, neither the position of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Nigerian Senate President nor his political portfolio is a barrier to any investigation by the 2nd and 3rd respondents (NPF and IGP) if he is suspected of having committed any crime.

    “There was never a time Senator Bukola Saraki, in the cause of his investigation in relation to the Offa, Kwara State robbery incident, that he was detained in breach of the provisions of the law. All invitations made by the 2nd and 3rd respondents to Senator Bukola Saraki, in respect of the Offa robbery are in an effort to ascertain the veracity of the allegation made against him in accordance with the spirit of right to fair hearing.

    “The 2nd and 3rd respondents have the statutory duty to investigate Senator Bukola Saraki or any other person linked to the alleged commission of any offence. The investigation and/or invitation of the Senator Bukola Saraki is not in any way malicious or aimed at tarnishing his image,” the AGF said.

    The IGP, in his counter affidavit, gave an insight into what informed police’s decision to question Saraki over the robbery incident and why it was wrong for the Senate President to rush to conclusion based on the interim report submitted to the DPP by the police.

    The IGP stated that following the April 5, 2018 case of multiple bank robberies involving six banks, attack on police station and murder of thirty-one (31) individuals, including nine (9) police officers in Offa, the police arrested some suspects, including Ayoade Akinnibosun, lbikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Ibrahim, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, and recorded their statements in which they allegedly admitted involvement in the crime.

    The IGP added: “One of the suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, confessed to being a political thug to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed. The said Ayoade Akinibosun equally stated that some of the arms and ammunition used in the armed robbery operation were procured by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    “Based on the statement of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the Senate President was invited to make statement to respond to the allegations and he eventually made a statement to the Police. After initial investigation, the police forwarded the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the DPP rendered a legal advice in which it was concluded that some of the suspects have cases of armed robbery and unlawful possession of Firearms to answer.

    “As regards the Senate President, the DPP’s legal advice states in paragraph f as follows ‘for the Senate President—this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects, Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out.’

    “The DPP’s advice, in same paragraph f, states that the areas to be covered include, but not limited to the following: (i) establish whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th of April 2018 at Offa were carried out at their instance, knowledge and approval, (ii) whether the weapons used for the robbery attack aforementioned were supplied by either the Senate President, Bukola Saraki or the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed Maigida (iii) any other area or areas that may assist in establishing a prima facie case of aiding and abetting crime or accessory after the fact.

    “Based on the advice of the DPP and after more investigations, the Senate President was invited again to make statement and he made another statement and the case file was duplicated and forwarded back to the Attorney-General of the Federation for advice. As soon as the advice of the DPP is out, anybody indicted will be charged to court as required by law,” the IGP said.

  • Judge restrains Saraki from declaring Akpabio’s seat vacant

    A few days after Justice Othman Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Bwari, Abuja restrained Senate President Bukola Saraki from declaring vacant; the seat occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio, a group – Dynamic Patriotic Citizens Foundation (DPCF) – has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to act otherwise.

    Justice Musa had, in a ruling on August 7, granted, among others, an interim injunction contained in an ex-parte application by Akpabio, restraining Saraki and his agents from declaring his (applicant’s) seat vacant or impeding his access to the Senate, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The suit marked: FCT/BW/CV/113/2018, with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the President of the Senate (as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants), is querying the propriety of alleged plot by Saraki to declare Akpabio’s seat vacant upon his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (PDP).

    A copy of the enrolled order, sighted yesterday in Abuja by The Nation, reads: “Upon hearing the motion ex-parte dated and filed on August 7. And upon listening to Chikaosolu Ojukwu Esq, with Ebere Ahanonu (Mrs.) counsel to the applicant, praying this honourable court for the following:

    “*an order of this honourable court granting leave to the applicant to serve the 3rd respondent herein the originating processes and all other processes in this suit by serving same on either the Clerk of the National Assembly or the Clerk of the Senate or any other Clerk/reasonable staff in the National Assembly at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “*an interim order of this honourable court restraining the 3rd respondent either by himself, his surrogates, or any other person acting on his behalf, under him or exercising the powers of his office, from attempting to or declaring the seat of the applicant vacant, impeding his access to the Senate or in any way overreaching his privileges and rights as a senator pending the hearing and final determination of the originating summons of the applicant.

    “Case adjourned till August 29 for hearing. Given under the hand of the honourable presiding judge, and the seal of the honourable court dated 7th day of August 2018.”

    However, in its suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/887/2018, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, through its Registered Trustees, the DPCF wants the court to among others, declare Akpabio’s seat vacant and order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election within 90 days.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

     

     

     

  • Saraki: I’m considering running for president

    Senate President Bukola Saraki is interested in running for President, a report said yesterday.

    He also revealed the deal he struck with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prior to his defection from the All Progressives Congess (APC), according to Bloomberg.

    He told the news agency: “I am consulting and actively considering it. I believe I can make the change,” he said.

    The Senate president said:  ”If a government can go and lock up an arm of government — and it’s never happened in our history — we should all be very concerned, we should not be surprised that they would use security agencies for elections.”

    To win the PDP ticket at the party’s primary on Oct. 5 and 6, Saraki would need to beat other presidential aspirants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, former Minister Tanimu Turaki, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Tambuwal, like Saraki and Atiku defected from the APC to the PDP.

    Saraki said Nigeria needed to be governed by a genuinely pro-business administration that will be able to tackle recurrent security issues.

    He said: “Most of the inflows that have come in are merely hot money, and that is because the oil price has gone up. Investment in the real sector is not seen.

    “The private sector, in my view, has probably taken a position that the confidence is not there in the government.

    “The country requires a government that is truly pro-business and a president that sees himself as a chief marketing officer.

    ”There has been a persistent disregard for due process and a lack of neutrality for some of these issues. For you to have credible elections, you must have safe elections. Security agencies are actively getting involved in the politics.”

    “The fundamentals of whatever we are going to develop is going to be based on sound democracy, credible elections, freedom of choice of Nigerians. If we don’t have that as a foundation, then everything else cannot happen.”

    “If we are going to have a subsidy, we should have a budget for it. Because once we have a budget for it, the private sector can also play a role in the importation of petroleum products. And if the private sector plays a role, definitely the cost of the subsidy will go down and there will be more efficiency in the delivery of products. But in the environment we are in today, where it’s only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. that’s doing that, it’s going to be inefficient, it’s not going to be transparent.”

    Speaking on the deal with the PDP, he said: “The PDP has learnt its lesson from the loss in 2015, and I think unfortunately the APC did not learn from their victory.” While negotiating with the PDP “we listed a number of issues. We talked about how to sustain and improve the fight against corruption; the issue of providing more powers to the states; inclusion and having a more nationalistic approach on things we do; to continue to improve the environment that will ensure investments. We listed a number of items during the discussions with the PDP, and there is a written agreement to that. We trust that we can hold them to that.”

    “We would ensure that the party is strong on security. The APC too has not done well on the issue of security. We have the opportunity with the right kind of presidential candidate and president to provide the leadership for the party. The party has a good opportunity to lead the country in the right direction.”

  • PDP senators ‘keeping vigil at National Assembly over Saraki’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are taking turns to sleep over at the National Assembly Complex to prevent a noctunal removal of Senate President Bukola Saraki by their All Progressives Congress (APC) colleagues, a senator said yesterday.

    Senator Philip Gyunka (PDP Nasarawa North) spoke in Lafia, the state capital, yesterday when he presented his letter of intent to contest for Nasarawa State governor, to the leadership of the PDP in the state..

    He said: “I woke up this morning from my night shift and I will still be going back to my night shift. That is to say we are keeping vigil.

    “We are rotating the shift among ourselves. As regards what they are saying about impeachment (removal), it is not possible because the international community is aware of their plot.

    “Don’t be discouraged. They will intimidate you as they do to us. Like myself, I don’t know how many times they have been calling me. We didn’t know they have come to truncate democracy. But the Senate president, being a product of PDP, has come to the rescue of the the situation.

    “We are keeping watch on their plans.

    “If they want the Senate President removed, which is impossible they must have two third majorities.

    “They have been attempting and failing. I know they will still make attempts but they will not succeed because I know Nigerians will not allow them to make mockery of the nation’s democracy.

    “If you hear a lawmaker speaking, he is speaking the minds of thousands of people.

    “How then should someone, who was appointed and has neither gone to the rural areas to feel the pulse of the people, nor held town hall meeting be insisting that a man that was duly chosen by his colleagues be removed at all course.

    “Oshiomhole (Adams) should be educated that this is not unionism. This is an issue that has to do with the Constitution and we will not allow him to violate it,” he said.

    The senator told PDP supporters that he would bring to the office of the governor the heart of a servant who had known hard times, tasted poverty and acquired requisite discipline to govern.

    “I shall bring the benefit of my vast experience as an economist, banker, and a legislator at both the state and federal levels to reform and transform the state.

    “ I will bring a new vision and new direction to governance that will be truly democratic, representative and professional to deliver and redeem the state from its downward descent,” Gyunka said.

    State PDP Chairman Francis Orogu said the state chapter of the party was proud of its representatives at the National Assembly and would encourage them to maintain the tempo of their loyalty to the PDP.

  • APC wants to drag me to gutter, says Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki said that he cannot yield to the plan of the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to drag him to the gutter.

    Saraki stated this in reaction to the claim of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC which described alleged Senate President’s action during the blockade of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) as treasonable.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu said:

    “These people (Members of National Working Committee of APC) are in the gutter. All they want to do is to drag people to their own level. We can’t join them in that gutter. It is also unfortunate that such an allegation would come from a ruling party.

    “Nigeria is unfortunate to have characters (NWC members) like that presiding over a ruling party. It is very clear why Nigeria is where it is right now. With such people in office, a country like Nigeria cannot move forward.”

  • Condition for Saraki to remain Senate president, by Oshiomhole

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole is insisting on Senate President Bukola Saraki’s removal. His time is up, he said.

    To retain the Senate presidency, he said, the only condition is for Saraki to return to the APC.

    Besides, the Senate President will be removed legally, Oshiomhole said yesterday.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a meeting with APC National Assembly members, said however that the party was not ready to welcome the Senate President back to its fold, insisting that Saraki will be removed legally as minority cannot preside over majority.

    The former Edo State governor asked those who have become judges to be prepared to challenge the impeachment of the Senate president in any court of their choice. He was apparently referring to the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal which says that the Assembly has a right to its independence.

    Some governors were not at the meeting. Oshiomhole also said they could not attend as a result of “communication breakdown”.

    He said: “Democracy teaches us that minority has the right to have their say but majority must have their way. So, if we have 56 senators and they have 49 senators, I insist that 49 senators cannot preside over the affairs of a house in which APC has 56 senators. And I ask them to tell us anywhere in the world where minority rules over majority.

    “Often times, we take flights to Washington and other places to understudy the American presidential system of government. Once you lose majority, without further ado, you step down.

    “So, I want to repeat, Sen. Saraki as president of the Senate will be lawfully and democratically impeached. It will not be illegally done. It will be done according to law and tradition.

    “Those lawyers who have chosen to sit as judges need to be reminded that lawyers are, at best, officers of the court and do not constitute the court. So, when Sen. Saraki is lawfully and democratically impeached, they will be free to go to anywhere they want to go and canvass the legality or the illegality of the action. It is not in their place to pronounce with finality as if they constitute the judicial arm of government.

    To Oshiomhole, Saraki should not keep the Senate president’s seat. He said:

    “I want to reassure the Nigerian people that we are committed to leading by example and that means absolute submission and obedience to the letters and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and everything we will do, we will ensure that it is done according to law, including the impeachment of Sen. Bukola Saraki. There is no hiding place for him. I insist, his time is up.

    “The only way that, probably, he could have retained that seat is to decide to return but we will not be ready to welcome him. He must remain where he is and we will continue to ensure that he surrenders the presidency of the Senate to the majority party in the Senate – in line with the provisions of our constitution.

    “We have very many important issues, which require the National Assembly to deliberate on. Those issues that were pending when the two presiding officers hurriedly adjourned the deliberations of the House without exhausting the calendar.

    “The result is that we have serious pending issues that require deliebertaions by the National Assembly, including the issue of the apprval of foreign loans without which this year’s budget cannot perform; the issue of the INEC budget and virement of the budget.

    “Ours is to appeal to all of you that your commitment to the sustenance of democracy is enough to get you to do all that you can to get the National Assembly to reconvene so that these and other weighty national issues will be deliberated upon, appropriate decisions reached so that the Nigerian government is not shut down.

    “If we do not take those steps and government cannot spend money that should be appropriated, we run the risk of government shutdown. As members of the governing party, I believe you will do whatever is needed to be done to prevent a government shutdown.

    “I want to reassure you that we value you; all the stories about people being denied or that you would be frustrated out, I want to assure you that our party values experience; our party values knowledge; our party values loyalty and our party will do everything possible to reward loyalty and demonstrate that loyalty pays and we will not be ashamed to do so.

    “We are already doing so many things on our part, but, like they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. With time, all these shall come to pass and we would have kept our word as you have kept yours.”

  • How Saraki can retain Senate presidency – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said on Tuesday the only way the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would retain the Senate presidency is to return to the All Progressives Congress, insisting that he would be impeached if he fails to retrace his steps.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a meeting with APC members in the National Assembly, said the party was not ready to welcome the Senate president back to its fold.

    He insisted that Saraki would be impeached because the “minority cannot preside over the majority.”

    The former Edo State governor asked those who had become judges on the matter to be prepared to challenge Saraki’s impeachment in any court of their choice.

    “He said: “Democracy teaches us that minority has the right to have their say but majority must have their way. So, if we have 56 senators and they have 49 senators, I insist that 49 senators cannot preside over the affairs of a House in which APC has 56 senators. And I ask them to tell us anywhere in the world where minority rules over majority.

    “Often times, we take flights to Washington and other places to understudy the American presidential system of government. Once you lose majority, without further ado, you step down.

    “Over and above all of these stories about illegal impeachment, let me restate that we cannot be subjected to minority rule in the Nigerian Senate and therefore, whether it is convenient for Distinguished Senator Saraki or not, the truth is whether by morality or by law or by convention, Saraki can only avoid impeachment by toeing the path of honour, step down so that APC can take over the leadership of the Senate.

    “So, I want to repeat, Saraki as President of the Senate will be lawfully and democratically impeached. It will not be illegally done. It will be done according to law and tradition.

    “Those lawyers who have chosen to sit as judges, need to be reminded that lawyers are at best, officers of the court and do not constitute the court. So, when Saraki is lawfully and democratically impeached, they will be free to go to anywhere they want to go and canvass the legality or the illegality of the action. It is not in their place to pronounce with finality as if they constitute the judicial arm of government.”

     

  • Photos: Saraki visits Obasanjo’s presidential Library

    The Senate President Bukola Saraki on Monday visited the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta Ogun State.

    During his visit, former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Deputy Chief Co-ordinator (OOPL), Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale took him round and showed him old materials documented in the library.