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Tag: Saraki

  • I’ll win again at Appeal Court – Saraki

    I’ll win again at Appeal Court – Saraki

    The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, expressed optimism on Friday that the Appeal Court would uphold the verdict of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which discharged and acquitted him on charges of false assets declaration.

    The CCT had on June 14 acquitted the Senate president on charges of false assets declaration.

    Saraki, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he was confident that the appeal court verdict would not be different from that of the CCT as the facts of the case remained the same and the grounds on which the tribunal’s decision was based remain unassailable.

    He also alleged there were forces in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and collaborators outside the government who were bent on “pulling him down.”

    The statement reads: “Anybody who has been following the proceedings and the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses during examination in chief and cross-examination should know that if presented before any court of justice and law, the same outcome as in the CCT would be arrived at.

    “Those who are running commentary on the ruling by the tribunal and criticising it are those who are not even familiar with the case and the details coming out of the trial. That is why Dr. Saraki continues to wonder how desperate some people in government and their collaborators outside have become to pull him down at all cost and by all means up to the point that they do not care if they destroy the institution of the judiciary in the process.

    “That is why they sponsored stories of allegation of bribery in an online publication against the tribunal judges. The Senate president seizes this opportunity to call on security agencies to immediately commence investigation on this bribery allegation. It is his views that those who made the allegation should be invited to substantiate their claims.

    “This same desperation made a man like Prof. Itse Sagay, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption to appear on tape, admitting in a foreign country that he interfered with the process in the tribunal when in an unethical manner he was instructing the judge on how to conduct the trial.

    “Corruption is not just about giving or diverting money; when an official interferes with the judicial process with a view to achieving personal objectives, it is corruption.

    “The Senate president notes that another sign of desperation by those who want to get him convicted at all cost was the failed antics of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) who, in collusion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sought to manipulate evidence at the tribunal.

    “On realising the fundamental flaw in its case as it did not invite the defendant to make any statement at any point in the investigation, the prosecution brought in an agent of the EFCC to tender old statements Saraki made in a totally different and unrelated matter that had nothing to do with false assets declaration.”

    The statement stressed that the prosecution forgot that the letter inviting Saraki to make the tendered statements explicitly mentioned the matter being investigated and there were documents to prove this.

    It added: “The prosecution tried to circumvent the judicial process by ensuring that the witness did not enter into the witness box so as not to be on oath. However, the tribunal, as it is obvious in its ruling, saw through the dirty trick. It, therefore, disregarded that piece of evidence and described it as irrelevant and of no value to the case.

    “If not desperation by the prosecution, why is the EFCC so involved in a case of false assets declaration which is an exclusive preserve of the Code of Conduct Bureau? All the evidence presented during the trial were from the EFCC.

    “The commission rendered the CCB a second fiddle player. That is why the only CCB witness presented by the prosecution gave what the tribunal referred to as ‘hearsay evidence’. The CCB chief prosecutor testified that he got his instruction to investigate the case orally. He  made his report from the investigation orally. Even the directive to ‘collaborate with EFCC’ on the investigation was given orally, a development the tribunal found strange and unknown to law.

    “All these antics aimed at perverting the course of justice were obvious throughout the period of the tribunal’s sitting. Though, one is conscious of the fact that the anti-graft agency and its allied bodies are frantically looking for a poster-case to sell its anti-corruption campaign and there is the hunger for conviction in a celebrated case to advertise in the international arena government’s determination to pursue the anti-graft campaign. We implore them to achieve this aim by allowing justice to take its normal course.”

     

     

     

     

  • FG appeals Saraki’s acquittal by CCT

    FG appeals Saraki’s acquittal by CCT

    … Why we appealed tribunal’s verdict – AGF

    The Federal Government on Wednesday appealed the acquittal of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The 11-ground notice of appeal was filed through Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and Pius Akutah, an assistant Chief State Counsel, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

    The tribunal had on June 14 discharged and acquitted the Senate President on the 18-count charge of false assets declaration.

    The government, in the appeal, urged the court to set aside the CCT judgment that upheld the no case submission filed by Saraki and ask him to enter his defence.

    Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said on Wednesday that his total commitment to the anti-graft war informed his decision to approve the appeal filed against the CCT ruling.

    Malami, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah and the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution (AGF Office), Okoi Obono-Obla, highlighted several measures he had put in place to fight corruption as demonstration of his commitment to the anti-graft crusade of the present administration.

    He insisted that despite some recent setbacks suffered in the anti-corruption war, the fight would continue to be fought “resolutely, painstakingly, doggedly, purposefully and determinedly with all the constitutional and legal tools at the disposal of the Federal Government.”

    The statement reads: “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation wishes to assure Nigerians that despite some recent setbacks recorded in some of the cases involving politically exposed people; that the war against corruption is fully on course.

    “It shall be fought resolutely, painstakingly, doggedly, purposefully and determinedly with all the constitutional and legal arsenals at the disposal of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “The Federal Government is more than ever before committed towards the complete eradication of the scourge of corruption and graft in the country.

    “In this regard, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has directed that a Notice of Appeal be lodged against the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal acquitting and discharging false assets declaration case preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.”

     

     

     

  • Saraki: Nigeria needs technocrats to achieve potential

    Saraki: Nigeria needs technocrats to achieve potential

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said Nigeria cannot achieve its full potential if government does not engage technocrats in driving the development process.

    According to him, there is a “mismatch” between what politicians can offer and what skilled experts can bring to governance.

    Both, he said, must work together.

    The Senate President spoke in Lagos when he declared open the 11th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), with the theme: “Law and the changing face of legal practice.”

    Saraki said it behooves the private sector to push the government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

    “I believe there is a misconception by the private sector. We all believe that the responsibility is for those of us in government. That is true. But I believe that you can drive your government. You can make your government do what is necessary to create the right business environment.

    “This is a great country with great potential. But the reason why we’ll never achieve our potential is that there is a mismatch. This mismatch is that the caliber and capacity of those in government cannot match those in the private sector,” he said.

    Apart from the private sector’s input in governance, Saraki said government alone cannot fund infrastructure deficit even if it has to borrow.

    The Senate president listed several laws that have been passed to boost the economy, adding that the Senate would soon amend the Constitution.

    “We hope to finalise the Constitution review. This is an area the budget has been holding us back. Now that the budget has been passed, our main priority when we resume is constitutional review. The report is ready,” he said.

    Lagos State governor Akinwumi Ambode, represented by the Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem, urged lawyers to help develop laws that will enhance the ease of doing business.

    “Legal practice must support legislation that will support law and order and improve ease of doing business,” he said.

     

  • Vindication of Saraki

    Vindication of Saraki

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki will naturally dismiss any suggestion that the not-guilty verdict returned in his favour by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), before which he was tried for false asset declaration and other related offences, was concocted. His lawyers and supporters believe the decision of the two-man panel led by Justice Danladi Umar was fair, even though tortuous. Senator Saraki faced 18 charges. Through a no-case submission filed by his lawyers after the prosecution closed its case with 48 exhibits, the plucky but embattled senator escaped the state’s legal dragnet unhurt. The state has indicated it will appeal what it described as an absurd judgement, and from all indications, the matter may yet get to the Supreme Court.

    Aside his lawyers, aides and supporters, it is unlikely anyone else in Nigeria thinks Senator Saraki innocent. The public followed the case avidly, watched the prosecutors’ and defender’s nuances closely, and, though unschooled in law, believed that enough evidence had been adduced to scupper the Kwara senator’s political career finally. But from a position of weakness and anxiety, not only in the law courts but also in the senate itself at inauguration, Senator Saraki has grown into a self-confident, pugnacious and exerting leader. He was famous for possessing an implacable hold on Kwara State; now he in addition enjoys a relentless, if not absolute, hold on the senate. Once in danger of falling from his Olympian senate heights, his career is now set to blossom so brightly that the rays are capable of blinding the best eyes.

    The ingredients of exculpation were evident from the very beginning. First was his legal team’s obfuscatory and fancy footwork; then followed a cornucopia of give and take between the senate, which goosesteped behind Dr Saraki, and the presidency riven by internal dissension and abject lack of focus and judgement; and then, finally, surrender by the ailing president who after many months of duelling with young legislative phantoms suddenly discovered that he lacked both the will and the tactics to fight the senate president and win. Worse, with the senate remaining impenetrable, not to talk of anyone getting the chance to strew the chamber with banana peels, and the public wearied by the incessant adjournments of the case, of course in addition to the EFCC snapping at the heels of the trial judges themselves, the case against Dr Saraki simply became at once quixotic and toxic. Those who swore at the beginning, including this column, that the case would be a barometer for President Buhari’s anti-graft war, became harried by doubts. Doubts soon gave way to fear, and fear to suspicion of conspiracy.

    Whatever the case, Dr Saraki is now really a free man. Using his well-known talisman, which libel laws will not allow this column to identify, he will tighten his hold on the senate, snicker behind closed doors at his disbelieving country, eye the vacillating Buhari presidency with a mischievous glint in his eyes, and speak condescendingly to party men whom he has long described as rivals or enemies. With this acquittal, it will require a legal legerdemain of unearthly proportions to get the appellate courts to reverse the CCT judgement. For about two years, it was impossible to summon the will in the senate to fight Dr Saraki. There will now be no one left in that inflexible and single-minded chamber eager to fight him. He had taken on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and won. Then he took on the presidency, and there is no dispute what the outcome of the battle is. Dr Saraki’s raison d’etre, as a confirmed feudalist, is fighting and scheming. He will look for a fight anywhere, for that is the ingredient upon which his political growth depends, and he will not shirk a fight.

    He is rumoured to harbour interest in the presidency, especially because it will take a miracle to restore President Buhari to vibrancy. There is indeed every indication he will weigh his chances and throw his hat into the ring if the situation permits. Having worsted a few gladiators along the line, his adamant and less eloquent father not excluded, he will entertain no fear about the toughness of his future opponents. This is because he knows, like many other politicians in these parts, that Nigeria has a knack for producing presidents generally against the run of play, presidents so often unqualified as to appear to affront common sense. Dr Saraki doubtless feels invincible, and that supposed invincibility will egg him on to take on stiffer and more compelling challenges.

    But while his fighting spirit sustains him, and his scheming talent nurtures his political advancement, including getting him judicial victories, there is really nothing else to the young gladiator. If President Buhari could campaign for high office and win on the strength of his truculence and obstinacy, why would Dr Saraki find it compelling to place premium on the virtue of ideas, philosophies, character, judgement and intuition? In his entire time at the senate, not to say his two terms as governor, not one original and innovative idea ever issued from him. As senate president, he is obsessed with holding on to office, whatever the cost. Perhaps he thinks ideas are laborious; or perhaps he feels ideas alarm the public. Indeed, going by those who form his immediate support base, such as the hysterical and inimitably comical Dino Melaye, there will be no ideas of any kind coming from Dr Saraki throughout his tenure as senate president. And should he attempt to vie for the presidency, it will, like others have shown, not be anchored on ideas or philosophies.

    Dr Saraki’s victory at the CCT does not imply an end to President Buhari’s anti-graft war. The problem right from the beginning was that the campaign was poorly conceived and made to rest ungainly  on military style and inspiration. Without prejudice to what the appellate courts will decide on the Saraki case, President Buhari and his team must plan the war afresh and establish a sound legal and constitutional foundation for it. But to do this, the president must reconstitute his team, both kitchen and general cabinets, make it national and knowledgeable, and re-engineer his own world view. At 74, the president can, however, neither acquire new ideas nor utilise them well. His first and natural instinct is to suspect new ideas. And at that age, and having failed over the years out of office to expand his horizon, it is hard to see him adopting the liberal and multicultural ideas necessary to govern a complex and impatient country.

    The prosecution fought well, despite former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s infantile reservations about government prosecutors. And the case against Dr Saraki was fairly straightforward and admit of no stultifying detours and ambush. If the Buhari presidency does not rethink the anti-graft war and imbue the government with fresh, uplifting and nationalistic ideas; if it does not close ranks and prevent presidential aides from confecting outside alliances; if it does not think in terms of the country rather than in terms of one section or religion, it may yet lose many more cases, regardless of the brilliance of its prosecutors.

    Dr Saraki may have won this round, and in the eyes of the law is thus viewed as innocent; but even if this victory lasts and clothes him with the aura of invincibility, it will, however, not transform him into the leader he imagines for himself, his hold on the senate notwithstanding. But unlike the ageing and ailing President Buhari, Dr Saraki has youth on his side, youth to revitalise himself and correct his politics. However, going by his antecedents and the facile manner politics in Nigeria rewards its exponents, the chances of using that youth to acquire the essentials of great leadership through rigorous thinking and hard work are indeed slim. In fact, as Senator Melaye and the majority of senators sworn to silence in the legislature have proved, the incentive to project disciplined politics and rest it on great and noble ideas simply does not exist.

  • Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Thursday the Senate would never surrender its constitutional powers to the executive arm of government under any guise.

    Saraki noted that even when the upper chamber bends backward to accommodate issues such gesture should not be misconstrued to mean weakness or misinterpreted to mean that the constitutional powers assigned to the Senate do not exist.

    The Senate President was ruling on an Order raised by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on whether or not the National Assembly has powers to alter the Appropriation Bill as presented by the Executive.

    The Senate, Saraki insisted, would continue to defend the Constitution and ensure that its actions are covered by the Constitution at all times.

    Na’Allah drew the attention of his colleagues to a statement credited to thy Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who said the National Assembly erred to have altered the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

    Osinbajo was quoted as saying the National Assembly has no right to introduce new projects or modify those contained in the Appropriation Bill.

    The acting President also expressed disappointment in the legislature for delaying the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill which he signed on Monday.

    Osinbajo said: “I am sure that we understand not just how to do it right, but to get it done in good time.

    “This last budget, the President presented it last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed in by February, it was not passed until May.

    “As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right.

    “Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report is about who can do what. When you present budget to the National Assembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.

    “And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.”

    Na’ Allah, who brought up the issue said, “I want to make a personal explanation on the media reports credited to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the effect that the National Assembly does not possess any power to alter the budget submitted to it by the Executive. I offer explanation that we have operated this Constitution from 1999 to date.

    “I am sure that everybody who knows me knows that I have some limited understanding of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have also had the privilege to work with the Acting President while I was practicing in Lagos as a lawyer.

    “We did a lot of things together. So, he is somebody that I know so much, that I will rather believe that what was alleged to have been said could not have been said by him and even if he spoke on the matter, he was misquoted.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, this same Constitution we operated from 1999 to date has section 80, and the title of section 80 is “Power and Control over Public Funds.”

    “I read: All revenues or other monies raised or received by the Federation not being revenues of other monies payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other Public Fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose shall be payable to and for one consolidated fund of the Federation.

    “Two says: No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated revenue Fund of the Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by the Constitution or where the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or Act passed in pursuance of Section 81 of the Constitution.

    “Three: No money shall be withdrawn from any public funds of the Federation other than the Consolidated revenue fund of the Federation unless the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.”

     

  • Saraki’s acquittal shocking – Sagay

    Saraki’s acquittal shocking – Sagay

    The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said on Wednesday he was shocked by the acquittal of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Sagay said he followed the case closely and was convinced that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

    The PACAC chairman said he was concerned about Saraki’s acquittal based on a no-case submission, especially coming soon after Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, who was accused of corrupt enrichment, was also similarly discharged.

    A no-case is a term in criminal law whereby a defendant seeks acquittal without having to present a defence.

    It refers to a submission made by a defendant or an accused in a court, which states that the claim or prosecution is not sufficient for conviction or judgment. The defendant supports his/her submission by pleading that the case is based on insufficient legal grounds.

    Sagay said he was “thoroughly shocked” that the CCT did not consider the prosecution’s evidence weighty enough as to reach a guilty verdict.

    Asked if he was bothered that Saraki’s acquittal on a no-case submission came soon after that of Ademola, Sagay said: “Of course I’m concerned.”

    The PACAC chairman added: “To start with, I’m shocked, because a lot of materials were put before the court. And for a court to uphold a no-case submission means that there was no prima facie case made.

    “That’s why I’m a bit shocked because I followed the proceedings very closely.

    “But there’s going to be an appeal. We’ll just wait and see happen then, but I’m thoroughly shocked, yes.”

    A former chairman of the Lagos Branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN), said the Federal Government seemed to be losing high profile cases involving politically exposed persons.

    He attributed it to a “multiplicity of factors,” including shortcoming on the part of the prosecution and the ability of high profile suspects to hire the best defence lawyers.

    Okoli, however, said the federal government had secured some convictions as published by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently.

    He said: “We don’t have exact statistics to deal with (on loss of high profile cases). I’m aware that recently, EFCC chairman reeled out some impressive number of convictions they have secured.

    “However, from an anecdotal evidence based on what we read in the papers, it does appear that the politically exposed persons seems to be getting away scot free.

    “One may ask: ‘If the vast majority of politically exposed persons are getting acquitted, then is it the man on the street or you and I who are the perpetrators of this much vaunted bribery corruption?’

    “So, it’s something that does not lend itself to a straight forward answer. A number of it (losses) may well be due to the system. I don’t want to believe that the prosecution is inept as some people say.”

     

  • We must condemn hate speeches – Osinbajo

    We must condemn hate speeches – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged leaders across the country to speak out against hate speeches and divisive comments.

    He made the call during opening session of a meeting with leaders of thoughts from the South East, at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    Noting that the meeting was very urgent and crucial because of the current hate speeches and divisive comments across the country, the acting President said the situation requires urgent attention from all concerned.

    He stressed that it is not the time to hide under any ethnic or religious platform to support comments that divide rather than unite the nation.

    Osinbajo urged leaders to raise their voices against the present strident divisive speeches in the country, saying “violence pays no one.”

    “Violence and war are not going to do anyone any good. Wars today hardly end. No one who has seen the face of wars even on television will wish it for anyone. We should not tolerate hate speeches or divisive comments,” he said.

    He reiterated Federal Government’s resolve to deal with any trouble maker who threatens the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

    The acting President added: “There is no doubt on the resolve of government not to allow anyone get away with hate speeches and divisive words. Our emotion should not be allowed to run wide so as to threaten the existence of anyone anywhere in Nigeria.

    “We will do everything within our power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.”

    While thanking the leaders for their prompt response to the consultative meeting, Osinbajo said he expects fruitful and frank deliberations at the meeting.

    Those at the meeting were – Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, some state governors –  Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

    Others are – the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and other top government officials.

    Former Senate President, Ken Namani; Senator Eyinaya Abaribe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Senator Joy Emodi, Prof. Viola Nwuleri.

     

     

  • I am vindicated by CCT acquittal – Saraki

    I am vindicated by CCT acquittal – Saraki

    … It’s a victory for democracy – Ekweremadu

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday said his discharge and acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has vindicated him.

    Saraki, whose trial for false assets declaration started in 2015, said in a statement he personally signed, that the outcome of the trial has renewed the citizens’ faith in the courts.

    The decision, he added, has also restored the hope that the judiciary in the country could indeed provide sanctuary for all those who seek justice.

    The statement said, “You would recall that at the beginning of the trial, I maintained that I will clear my name. The conclusion of this trial has vindicated my position.

    “With the outcome of this case, our faith is renewed in our courts and our hope is restored that the judiciary in our country could indeed provide sanctuary for all those who seek justice.

    “I thank the Almighty Allah, the ultimate Judge and the repository of all powers. He alone has brought about this victory. I am immensely grateful to all my colleagues in the National Assembly for their abiding support.

    “All through my trial, they demonstrated their strong conviction about the choice we all decided to make two years ago. I thank members of my family for their unflinching support.

    “I thank all friends and supporters back home in Kwara State and across the length and breadth of our country for their prayers and their sacrifices. My gratitude also goes to all members of my legal team for their tireless efforts to ensure the cause of justice is served.”

    The Senate president said his acquittal by the CCT calls for celebration of the hopes that despite the challenges facing the country, “we are well on our way to building a country where the innocent needs not be afraid.”

    He urged his supporters to refrain from any unbridled triumphalism, saying the challenges the country faces today are enormous and do not allow for wanton celebration.

    He added: “Instead, we should all reflect on the significance of this moment and what it meant for our democracy.

    “On a personal note, I harbour no grudge against anyone, regardless of the role they might have played in the persecution that I had endured in the last two years.

    “I believe that if my trial had in anyway given hope to the common man that no matter the forces arraigned against him, he can still get justice in our courts, then my tribulation had not been in vain.

    “Once again, I thank my colleagues in the 8th Senate for standing firm. Regardless of the distraction of my trial, we have achieved more as legislators than the previous Senates.

    “Now that this distraction is over, we can even achieve so much more. We must now proceed from here with greater vigour to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians and show that this 8th Senate can indeed play a central role in improving the quality of lives of our people.

    “Lastly, I thank all the gentlemen of the press for your abiding interest in this case, which I believe had contributed in no small measure in ensuring that truth and reason ultimately prevailed.”

    Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu, has described as “victory for democracy” Saraki’s discharge and acquittal by the CCT.

    Reacting to the tribunal’s verdict through a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate president said it did not come to him as a surprise given that, “like the trumped up forgery and conspiracy charges slammed against him and Saraki which was later withdrawn by the Federal Government, the CCT trial was hatched in the coven of evil politics and was, therefore, bound to fall like a pack of cards.”

    “This is another sweet victory for the 8th Senate in particular, separation of powers, rule of law, and the nation’s democracy. The trial, just like the arraignment of the presiding officers of the Senate on trumped up charges of forgery of Senate Standing Rules, was political vendetta and manipulations taken too far.

    “It was never built on any iota of truth, but on the quicksand of falsehood and was, therefore, condemned to sink under the weight of law and justice.”

     

     

  • Senate to partner ILO to combat child labour – Saraki

    Senate to partner ILO to combat child labour – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Monday the Senate would work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to eliminate all forms of child labour in the country.

    Saraki stated this in Abuja when the country Director of the ILO, Dennis Zulu, visited him as part of activities marking the World Day Against Child Labour.

    He reassured the ILO director that the “Senate assigns particular importance to the fight against child labor.”

    In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, Saraki commended the United Nations for its fight against child labour saying “we must all do more to eliminate the use of children for forced labour.”

    He noted that the lack of advocacy limited greater understanding on the issue.

    The Senate president said he hosted a Children’s Day roundtable discussion with States Houses of Assembly on the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 to “raise awareness about our obligation to defend the rights of children.”

     

  • Saraki, Fashola, others bid Obanikoro’s mum farewell

    It was the eighth day Fidau prayer for the mother of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Alhaja Wosilat Ejide Obanikoro, at D Venue event centre on Victoria Island in Lagos, yesterday.. She died June 3. She was 95. Islamic clerics took turns to offer prayers for about two hours. Several dignitaries graced the occasion.

    Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam  Abdul-Rahman Ahmed, who led the prayers, said “today is a day for us to talk to ourselves and to go back home to think.”

    In attendance were the Senate President, Bukola Saraki: Minister of Power,  Works and Housing,  Babatunde Fashola; former  governor of Oyo state,  Adebayo Alao Akala; former governor of Ogun state,  Otunba Gbenga Daniel;  former deputy governor of Lagos State,  Femi Pedro and  Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly,Wasiu Eshilokun, among others.

    Senator Obanikoro, in his tribute to the deceased, thanked God for the life of his mother, saying she lived a good life. He said, “My mother’s place in my life was next to Almighty Allah’s. She never gave up on me.  Her resilience and firmness ensured her vision for me in life was protected. Nothing can replace her in my life. I thank Allah for her life and for the honour and privilege of me being her son.”