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Tag: Saraki

  • Senate probes alleged plot to unseat Saraki

    Senate probes alleged plot to unseat Saraki

    THE Senate yesterday opened up on the alleged plot to unseat Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and other principal officers.

    The upper chamber agreed that indeed there were subterranean moves to effect leadership change in the Senate.

    Senator representing Nasarawa West Abdullahi Adamu was named as the arrowhead of the alleged plot.

    But Adamu, who is chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, in a reaction to the allegation, said: “I have never had any interest or ambition to remove the Senate President or anybody for that matter. I think they are trying to call a dog a bad name in order to hand it. Whatever I do in the Senate, I bear my cross and I think everybody will bear his cross.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, who told his colleagues about the existence of underground plot to sack the Senate leadership, claimed to have intercepted electronic version of the plan.

    Ogba, who represents Ebonyi Central, came under Order 43 (personal explanation) to table the allegation.

    Ogba, who claimed to have verifiable evidence to substantiate his allegation, urged the Senate not to sweep the issue under the carpet for the sake of stability in the Senate and the country.

    Although he named Adamu as the ring leader of those behind the plot, Ogba did not name others in the alleged group.

    The aim of the plotters, he said, was to destabilise the Senate to enable them effect leadership change.

    Adamu led the group of nine senators, who vehemently opposed the adoption of the conference committee report, which altered the election sequence in the country.

    Another member of the group of nine, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, was referred to the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions committee for investigation over his claim that the change of election sequence was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Senator Isah Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central) was the first to alert the Senate that some people were working to remove the Senate leadership.

    A former Rivers State governor was named as part of the plot.

    After Ogba addressed his colleagues, the Senate resolved that he should lay the hard copy of his evidence.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, warned against any plot that would undermine the institution of the National Assembly.

    Ekweremadu said: “The difference between military, autocratic or any oppressive regime and democracy is the parliament.

    “Once you remove the parliament, you are going to have problems. In whatever you do, we must continue to preserve the sanctity of the parliament.

    “I want to appeal that anybody who is interested in destabilising this country is not doing anybody any good. We have received this information.

    “For whatever it is worth, we will refer it to our appropriate committee on Public Petitions to look at it and report back within two weeks.”

  • Saraki hails women

    Saraki hails women

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday joined world leaders and people around the world to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2018.

    In a series of tweets on his @BukolaSaraki handle, the Senate President emphasised the role and significance of women in Nigeria and globally.

    “Today, on International Women’s Day, I join the world to celebrate our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our colleagues and our friends who wake up each day and work to make the world a better place.

    “In particular, today, I celebrate those women, who have played, and continue to play their part in the development of our country — in every sector, in every way, and at every point in our young, but significant history.

    “As a father to three young women; a husband to a charismatic wife, who is making great contributions in her own right; a colleague to a few but effective legislators; and a son — every day, I witness firsthand the strength and resilience of women.

    “I see their impact in all areas of human endeavour, and testify to their resilience, their bravery, and their ability to get things done.”

  • CCT adjourns Saraki’s false assets declaration trial indefinitely

    CCT adjourns Saraki’s false assets declaration trial indefinitely

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Thursday adjourned indefinitely the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for false assets declaration.

    The Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, said the decision was taken because of pending appeals on the matter at the Supreme Court.

    The appeals were filed by Saraki and the Federal Government.

    “The tribunal has decided to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) pending the outcome of the appeals at the Supreme Court,” Umar said.

    The defence team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) had earlier informed the tribunal that the Supreme Court had fixed March 15 for hearing of the pending appeals.

    Saraki is standing trial on three-count charge of false assets declaration after the Court of Appeal had struck out 15 of the charges in December last year.

  • National Assembly passes NFIU Bill to save Nigeria, says Saraki

    National Assembly passes NFIU Bill to save Nigeria, says Saraki

    •’13 Executive nominees rejected in two years’

    The prompt passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill by the National Assembly will facilitate the country’s readmission into the EGMONT Group rather than being expelled, Senate President Bukola Saraki has said

    He said the Bill, when assented to, will make the NFIU an independent entity and also help the country in the fight against corruption.

    Saraki spoke following the adoption of the Conference Committee Report on the NFIU by the Senate.

    According to the amended Act, the NFIU will now be domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) instead of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a situation that led to Nigeria’s suspension from the EGMONT Group.

    After suspending Nigeria, the Egmont Group had demanded that the NFIU should be pulled out of the EFCC, among other requirements.

    The Bill was earlier passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

    Saraki, in his remarks, thanked Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption Senator Chukwuka Utazi and senators for their work on the Bill and said their action will ensure that Nigeria remains a member of the EGMONT Group.

    Saraki said: “I hope that with this (NFIU) Bill that we have passed today, that they will have a second view and re-admit us (Nigeria) into the process (EGMONT Group).

    “I hope on the part of the Executive, they will quickly assent to this Bill and also ensure that the independence of the financial unit goes beyond just signing this Bill into law.

    “It is important that we see it being practised — this is very important. I hope on their part, this will be done so that our country stays as part of the EGMONT Group that has a lot of benefits for our fight against corruption. I thank you all, my colleagues, for how quickly you responded to this. You came quickly to save the country.”

    Meanwhile, the Senate President said since the 8th Senate was inaugurated in June 2015, it has confirmed 227 out of 240 nominees that it received from the Executive.

    Speaking after the confirmation of Ibrahim Rufai Imam, as the new Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Saraki said: “So far, we have treated about 240 confirmations here in the Senate, of which 227 have been affirmative and only 13 have been negative.

    “Sometimes, we get the impression that this Senate tends to say more ‘No’ than ‘Yes.’ But these numbers today show the level of cooperation that we will continue to give the Executive.”

     

  • Buhari, Saraki, others mourn ex-governor Akwe-Doma

    Buhari, Saraki, others mourn ex-governor Akwe-Doma

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the government and people of Nasarawa State over the death of its former governor, Aliyu Akwe-Doma.

    Doma, a one-time deputy governor of the old Plateau State and governor of Nasarawa State (2007 – 2011), died on Tuesday at an unidentified hospital in Israel.

    He was 75.

    Buhari, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the deceased served the country as a civil servant for many years, and rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary.

    He affirmed that the deceased worked assiduously for the country as a member of the Presidential Joint National Consultative and Advisory Committee of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought (1995-1998).

    He was also a member of the National Committee on the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria (1996-1998), among others.

    President Buhari prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort his family.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has also mourned Akwe-Doma.

    A statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the deceased as a committed public servant.

    The statement reads: “It is sad to hear of the demise of ex-governor Akwe-Doma. He was a contemporary during my tenure as Governor of Kwara State. My interactions with him showed a man with deep intellect, experience and passion for service.

    “Little wonder he rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary in the old Plateau State, before serving as deputy to former Governor Solomon Lar, and later Governor of Nasarawa State.

    “My condolences go to his family, people and government of Nasarawa State on this irreparable loss.”

    Saraki prayed God to count the soul of the deceased among the righteous in Aljanah Firdaus and grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly described Akwe-Doma’s death as a loss to the people, considering his contributions to the peace and development of the state.

    The Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said Doma’s contribution will be missed.

    He said: “We commiserate with the family, Alago nation, the Doma traditional council and the people over the death of ex-governor Aliyu Akwe- Doma.

    “He was a very humble elder statesman who contributed a lot to the development of not only Nasarawa State, but the entire country, especially in the maintenance of peace and unity. His demise is heartbreaking but God gives life and takes at will.”

    Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, expressed shock over Doma’s death. He described it as “a great loss to the country”.

    Maku, in a statement yesterday, described the deceased as “a very peaceful man whose tenure as governor will always be remembered for its tranquillity”.

     

     

     

  • Saraki to Houses of Assembly: emulate Kwara on pension to ex-officeholders

    Saraki to Houses of Assembly: emulate Kwara on pension to ex-officeholders

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki has urged Houses of Assembly in other states to emulate the Kwara State House of Assembly by passing bills to stop the bleeding of public treasuries in the guise of pension payments to former political office holders.

    The bill stopping the payment of pension to former governors and their deputies in Kwara State was passed by the House of Assembly last Tuesday, ending controversies that the Senate President was earning salaries from two sources.

    In a statement, Saraki hailed the Speaker of the Assembly, Ali Ahmad, for working to ensure the expeditious passage of the bill.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is expected to sign the Bill into law.

    When signed into law, former governors and former deputies would no longer earn salaries from the state government whenever they are holding political and public offices.

    The statement by Saraki reads: “I am pleased that following my conversation with Kwara Speaker, Ali Ahmad, two months ago, the bill to suspend the payment of pension to former governors and their deputies when they hold a political or public office was passed by the Kwara House of Assembly.”

    Saraki, who was governor between 2003 and 2011, has since been serving as a senator representing Kwara Central.

    The payment of salaries for life to some former governors after leaving office drew flaks from a cross-section of Nigerians.

    It is expected that other former governors now holding public offices, especially those in the National Assembly, would take steps to have their salaries put on the hold by their various states.

    Some serving senators once served as former governors and deputy governors of their states.

    The onetime governors are: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

    Others are: Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto); Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi) and George Akume (Benue).

    The former deputy governors are: senators Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti), Enyinaya Abaribe (Abia) and Danladi Abubakar Sani, who once served as the acting governor of Taraba.

    Others who serve as ministers are: Labour & Productivity Minister Chris Ngige (Anambra); Minister of Mines & Steel Development Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

    The pension law in Akwa Ibom State provides monthly pensions for former governor governors and former deputies salaries that are equivalent to their successors.

    In many of the states, former governors are entitled to official accommodation in the state capitals, official cars, free overseas’ medical treatments for them and members of their families as well as security details and personal staff.

     

  • Saraki to Houses of Assembly: emulate Kwara on pension to ex-officeholders

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki has urged Houses of Assembly in other states to emulate the Kwara State House of Assembly by passing bills to stop the bleeding of public treasuries in the guise of pension payments to former political office holders.

    The bill stopping the payment of pension to former governors and their deputies in Kwara State was passed by the House of Assembly last Tuesday, ending controversies that the Senate President was earning salaries from two sources.

    In a statement, Saraki hailed the Speaker of the Assembly, Ali Ahmad, for working to ensure the expeditious passage of the bill.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is expected to sign the Bill into law.

    When signed into law, former governors and former deputies would no longer earn salaries from the state government whenever they are holding political and public offices.

    The statement by Saraki reads: “I am pleased that following my conversation with Kwara Speaker, Ali Ahmad, two months ago, the bill to suspend the payment of pension to former governors and their deputies when they hold a political or public office was passed by the Kwara House of Assembly.”

    Saraki, who was governor between 2003 and 2011, has since been serving as a senator representing Kwara Central.

    The payment of salaries for life to some former governors after leaving office drew flaks from a cross-section of Nigerians.

    It is expected that other former governors now holding public offices, especially those in the National Assembly, would take steps to have their salaries put on the hold by their various states.

    Some serving senators once served as former governors and deputy governors of their states.

    The onetime governors are: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

    Others are: Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto); Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi) and George Akume (Benue).

    The former deputy governors are: senators Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti), Enyinaya Abaribe (Abia) and Danladi Abubakar Sani, who once served as the acting governor of Taraba.

    Others who serve as ministers are: Labour & Productivity Minister Chris Ngige (Anambra); Minister of Mines & Steel Development Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

    The pension law in Akwa Ibom State provides monthly pensions for former governor governors and former deputies salaries that are equivalent to their successors.

    In many of the states, former governors are entitled to official accommodation in the state capitals, official cars, free overseas’ medical treatments for them and members of their families as well as security details and personal staff.

     

  • Osinbajo, CJN, Saraki for NBA Criminal Justice conference

    Osinbajo, CJN, Saraki for NBA Criminal Justice conference

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Senate President Bukola Saraki and  Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen are among dignitaries expected at the fifth NBA Criminal Justice Reform Conference.

    The three-day event, which will hold in Asaba, Delta State from March 21 to 24, is organised by the NBA Criminal Justice Reform Committee chaired by Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN).

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Chief of Army Staff Gen.  Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Delta State Governor  Ifeanyi Okowa, among others, are expected to speak at the event.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Executive Secretary Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, and a professor of law Yemi Akinseye-George are among those expected.

    Osinbajo will present the keynote address at the showcase session on the theme: Criminal Justice in Nigeria: the journey so far.

    Former NBA President Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) will chair the first session on “unlocking the innovations of criminal Justice legislation in the country”.  Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, will be the keynote speaker.

    The second session will focus on “arrest, remand and awaiting trial syndrome in criminal justice: fixing the jigsaw to end prison congestion”. It will be chaired by the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice M. Umukoro. Former Delta State Deputy Governor Prof Amos Utuama will be the lead speaker.

    Day two of the conference will commence with break out sessions, which will examine different perspectives of criminal justice administration. Panel A, to be facilitated by Prof. Akinseye-George, will examine the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    Panel B, to be facilitated by Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), will examine the ACJA and interlocutory proceedings. Panel C, to be facilitated by Mr. Akingbola Hanadeniran, will look at disclosure protocols under the ACJA.

    Former NBA president Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) will chair the fourth session, which will examine the topic: “Corruption: EFCC, Special courts to the rescue”. Lead speakers include Magu and Prof Owasanoye, who was nominated as ICPC chairman, but is yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

    Former United Nations (UN) Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, will chair the fifth session on “human trafficking and transnational  crimes: institutional and legal remedies”.

    Discussants will include National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Director-General Julie Okah-Donli and Gen.  Buratai.

    Panelists will include Immigrations Comptroller-General, Mr. Mohammed Babandede, State Security Services (SSS) Director-General, Lawal Musa Daura, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Amb. Mohammed Dauda and Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN).

    Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter N.C. Umeadi, will chair the sixth session on “prosecution and punishment of electoral offences in Nigeria”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Why Buhari will sign constitution alterations, by Saraki, Dogara

    Why Buhari will sign constitution alterations, by Saraki, Dogara

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday said the “extensive” consultation with Nigerians before the alteration of some sections of the 1999 Constitution made it mandatory for President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse the amendments.

    Saraki and Dogara spoke while receiving the report of the voting pattern by State Houses of Assembly on the Constitution amendment.

    Dogara specifically said that President Buhari may have no choice but to assent to the constitution amendments because they were what Nigerians wanted.

    Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly Chairman Abdulmumini Kamba, who presented volumes of the report to Saraki and Dogara, noted that most State Assemblies were not happy that the Bill on devolution of power failed to sail through at the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    Kamba, who is also Kebbi State House of Assembly speaker, pleaded with the National Assembly to reconsider its stand on devolution of power in the interest of the country.

    Dogara said: “I have always said that governments all over the world lay claim to being democratic. There is no government out there that can truly be democratic if it does not have a fiercely independent legislature. That has been the major challenge in Nigeria. With the courage I have seen demonstrated in State Assemblies, it is an indication of the promise that awaits us.

    “I was hoping that with the calibre of people seated here, we would have delivered on autonomy of local governments. This is an exercise that is ongoing. Maybe in the next exercise, our State Assemblies, which will be independent, will extend the same freedom to local governments. We stand with them, if autonomy of local government is delivered, we will only be deepening democracy.

    “I do not think that it will be right at this level, after passing through these processes, for these bills to be returned without passing them into law.

    “The President is a popular person and the masses who are with him who have been massively consulted have said this is what we want. What we have done reflects the wishes of the people. The President must do the wishes of the people who put him in that office.”

    Saraki added that when the National Assembly promised to conclude work on the amendment of the Constitution, they were not sure.

    He said: “When we made this promise at the beginning of the 8th Senate, we were not sure. We have achieved a lot. There are other areas like the devolution of powers. We have set up a joint committee from the Senate and the House of Representatives to work on areas of differences. In the next few days, we will get back to work.

    “The non participation of Lagos and Rivers states in the Constitution amendment is very disappointing. I hope that in the next phase they will participate. This idea of bullying is not good for us and for our democracy.”

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasu, the deputy chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, said that 15 clauses were transmitted, out of 29 forwarded to the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

    Lasu noted that since the amendment wwas broken into bills, President Buhari was likely to sign some if not all, into law.

  • ‘Why Saraki didn’t attend APC meetings’

    ‘Why Saraki didn’t attend APC meetings’

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has explained why he did not attend Monday’s National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tuesday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja.

    Saraki said he was away in Benin, Edo State, attending an intervention programme, ”Roundtable on migration and human trafficking”, organised by the Senate.

    “Dr. Saraki and his delegation, including senators, returned to his Abuja home at 7.45pm, while the APC National Caucus meeting was scheduled to begin by 8.00 pm on the same night.

    “Clearly, there was no way he could have arrived at the venue on time, especially as it would be a breach of protocol to do so at a meeting presided over by the President”, a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu said. It stated that Saraki could not attend the NEC meeting because he was at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in continuation of his trial for alleged corruption .

    Olaniyonu said by law, Saraki must be physically present at the tribunal as the defendant, adding: “It stands to reason that he cannot be in two places at once, and so he was unavoidably absent at the NEC meeting.