The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate president

  • Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    …Suspends all confirmation requests

     

    What appeared to be the resumption of the face-off between the Executive and the Legislature took place in the Senate Tuesday.

    The upper chamber resolved to ask the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to immediately take steps to implement its resolutions including the immediate removal of Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibahim Magu.

    It also resolved to suspend any form of confirmation of nominees referred to it by the executive until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm executive nominees as contained in the constitution are resolved.

    The lawmakers further resolved that the Acting President must respect the constitution as it relates to the issue of confirmation.

    The Senate insisted that its resolutions especially the rejection of nominees must be adhered to by the Acting President.

    Those, whose nominations were rejected, the lawmakers said, must be relieved of their duties.

    The lawmakers wondered why the Acting Chairman EFCC whose nomination was turned down was still being haboured by the Executive.

    The Senate also resolved to ask Osinbajo to withdraw a statement credited to him that the Senate lacked the powers to confirm nominees.

    The resolutions came after over one hour closed session where the lawmakers were said to have discussed the issues that formed the thrust of the decisions.

    The lawmaker tacitly warned of dare consequences should the resolutions be ignored by the Executive.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki had read a letter of request for the confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, as Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission sent to the Senate by Osinbajo.

    Hardly had Saraki concluded reading the four paragraph letter dated 12 June, 2017 when Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima moved a point of Order that Acting President’s position on confirmation of nominees should be discussed before the nomination Gbajabiamila should be treated.

    Senator Yerima’s Point of Order opened a flood gate of attack on the Executive as senators took turns to bear their minds on the relationship between the two arms of government.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed up the contributions of apparently angry senators, alluded to this when he insisted the resolutions must be complied with.

    Saraki said “Distinguished colleagues, let me thank Senator Yerima for coming under Privileges. I think this matter is a very important matter but I think we need to address it once and for all and put it behind us.

    “Because as a society, we can’t pass laws and say these laws should not be obeyed. It is very clear these resolutions as passed must be acted upon by the Acting President.

    “And ensure that we continue to respect our democracy, our laws and constitution. It is not for us to choose which laws we obey and which laws we don’t obey.

    “That is not the way any civilised, modern society work. And we hope that the Acting President will take appropriate action in line with these resolutions.”

    Yerima (Zamfara West) who raised Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules (Previleges) noted that since the Acting President concluded that the Senate lacked the power to confirm nominees, there was no need to acknowledge any letter from the executive on issues related to confirmation of appointments.

    He said, “I want to draw the attention of the Senate to a statement credited to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo that the Senate does not have the power to confirm.

    “I was surprised to see the Senate President read a letter from the same Acting President who said the Senate does not have the power to confirm a nominee from the executive.

    “I am raising this point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to this issue and urge that we suspend any further action on confirmation of any nominee until the issue is resolved.”

    Senator George Sekibo (River East) on his own asked the Senate to take a firm position and reject any attempts to weaken the National Assembly.

    Sekibo said: “A careful look at what is happening will tell Nigerians that they are trying to indirectly take over our responsibilities. The main function of the National Assembly is to make laws. The clearing of nominees from the President is one of the major functions of the Senate.

    “All the various laws made to establish agencies of the Federal Government state that we will confirm nominations into such bodies. When an Acting President says that the Senate has no powers to confirm, I wonder if he is familiar with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “In a civilian democracy, there is nothing like an executive order. You cannot wake up and issue executive orders. You cannot also wake up and tell nominees to take over office. This goes contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    “The moment you are playing down on the constitution,then you are playing down on the integrity of the Nigerian people. If the Acting President said we do not have the powers to confirm and he is sending a name that we should confirm, then what do we do? Senate should place a suspension on nomination until we determine whether we have the powers to confirm or not.”

    Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi North) lamented what he described as “the hypocrisy of the executive.”

    Misau wondered why “the National Assembly should always blackmailed by the executive to do their bidding.”

    He said, “This is a double standard or an act of hypocrisy. It is like they do not want this National Assembly to function properly. Sometimes, we associate corruption with only financial misappropriation. But there is also corruption in the area of appointments. When you appoint your friend into an office, it is corruption. We are here to serve the people.

    “The National Assembly is being blackmailed. They stormed the house of the Deputy President of the Senate and the house of the Appropriation committee chairman. They lied that it was the police that carried out the raid. But we know that it was the EFCC. It is time that we challenge the executive whenever they attack us.”

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) said “We must situate this issue. I am surprised that we still accept nominations in this chamber. We agreed that we will not take nominations again from the executive until certain things are resolved. We must take a stand. The leadership does not do anything about this issue within 48 hours, we will move against the leadership.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on his on his own said that the Executive is always playing  “blues and ragea.”

    Melaye who is fighting a battle of his life to fence off attempts by some of his constituents to recall, said that the Senate should stand up to the Executive and its antics.

    He said, “There is a call on senators to serve Nigerians. It is time for us to tell the executive to stop playing blues and dance reggae. The executive must stop approbating and reprobating powers to itself.  In this same chamber, we invited the Acting EFCC chairman. We invited him for a job interview and he failed. We rejected him.

    “As I speak, Magu is still parading himself as EFCC chairman. Now, the same executive is sending a name for us to confirm. We confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners before we went on break. They have sworn-in some people and have refused to do same for others. This Senate leadership must act and take a position.

    “It is time for the Senate to apply force. I am moving a motion that it becomes abominable for the Senate President to read another confirmation letter until the integrity of this Senate is respected by the executive.”

    Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central) in his contribution insisted that it is incumbent on the executive to obey the provisions of the constitution.

    Adeyeye warned against attempts by the executive to destroy the institution of the Senate and insisted that anybody who is uncomfortable with any law should go to court to challenge it.

    He said: “These are frightening times. This is because many Nigerians, including many of us here put our lives on the line to ensure that we have democratic governance in Nigeria.

    “We need to remind the republic that the difference between the military and a democratic regime, is the existence of the legislature.

    “Every public servant is bound to obey every law of the republic. Nobody, not the President, vice or the Senate President has the right to disobey our laws. Whoever has problems with our laws should go to court and declare them null and void. Until that is done, every law of the law must be respected.

    “I voted yes for Magu. But the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voted no. I stand with the Nigerian Senate. I choose a strong institution. We should not allow our institutions to be weakened. I want to lend the whole of my being to the first realm of the estate which is the legislature. I pray that we assert the independence of the legislature and not as a sign of power mongering, but to show that this is not the government of strong individuals.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who also added his voice to the debate said that the executive must obey the contents of the constitution.

    Ekweremadu who cited different sections of the constitution said that Section 171 of the Constitution relied upon by the Executive to retain Magu talked about personal staff of Mr. President.

    He noted that the issue under discussion has nothing to do with Magu or the DG National Lottery Commission but has a lot to d with what the Constitution said.

    Ekweremadu said, “Let me make it clear that this has nothing to do with the Director-General of Lottery Commission or Ibrahim Magu, but about our constitution. One of the features of the Senate is the power of confirmation. The framers of the constitution gave the power to the Senate.

    “If the law says that an appointee requires confirmation, we must obey what the law says. The executive must follow the provisions of the constitution.”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) caused a stir in the Senate when he said that there is a vaccum in the Presidency.

    Abaribe  drew the attention of the Senate to what he tagged a vacuum created in the country, following the two-day absence of the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo from the country.

    Osinbajo travelled to Ethiopia on Sunday to attend an African Union (AU) meeting and returned to the country yesterday.

    Abaribe said, “The Acting President is the head of government now. We have a serious problem. As of today, there is nobody who is the head of government. The law and the procedure state that you cannot have a vacuum. The Acting President is out of the country and there is a vacuum.”

    Abaribe’s comment threw the chamber into confusion as some Senators agreed with him while others attempted to shout him down.

    He persisted until Senator Kabiru Marafa moved a Point of Order to stop him.

    For over 10 minutes, the Chamber was rowdy.  Senator lined up on political affiliation.

    Senator Marafa who relied on Order 53(4) of the Senate Standing Rules said the issue Abaribe raised was not part of the issue before the Senate. Marafa said that the constitution made it clear that in the absence of the President, the Vice President takes over and in the absence of the Vice President, the Senate President is the next in command and the President.

    There was a loud roar in the chamber as some Senators shouted “you are correct.”

    Saraki agreed and ruled Abaribe out of Order.

    The issue we are discussing has nothing to do with what Abaribe raised. We may have to discuss that at another day if need be. I have to rule you out of order Abaribe.”

    Saraki called Melaye who reeled out the resolutions adopted by the upper chamber.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who spoke at a news conference said that the import of the resolutions of the Senate was that rule of law should be supreme at all times no matter who is involved.

    He noted that the resolutions were clear that the Senate Should suspend all confirmations referred to it until issues relating to confirmation as contained in the constitution were resolved.

    Abdullahi said that the Executive must do what “needs to be done at all times.”

    “We are asking the Acting President to respect the resolutions of the Senate. The Senate rejected Magu and Magu is still acting as EFCC chairman,” he said

     

  • Senate dares INEC on Melaye’s recall

    Senate dares INEC on Melaye’s recall

    …Says exercise a waste of time

    The Senate on Tuesday dared the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the commission’s decision to go ahead with the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) as demanded by his constituents.

    Describing the recall move as effort in futility, the Senate said the various stages passed so far in the exercise as facilitated by INEC were not in line with laid down constitutional procedures and guidelines.

    The lawmakers declared that it amounts to a waste of time by all the parties involved.

    This resolution followed a point of order raised against the move by Senator Melaye himself.

    Melaye drew the attention of the Senate to what he described as “supersonic move” by INEC to conclude work on the recall petitions written against him by some of his constituents, who he alleged were sponsored by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    Melaye said, “The score of both valid and invalid votes in the election that brought me into the Senate in 2015 was 118,000 but my governor and his appointees in four days claimed they got signatures of over 188,000.

    “They got INEC data base of registered voters and copied in one writing into a recall register and forged all the signatures. As I speak to you, over 120 dead certificates issued by the National Population Commission and these people’s relations and families have sworn to affidavits and these certificates have been deposited.

    “The names of all these dead people appeared on the recall register submitted to INEC. 116 of my constituents have sworn to affidavits that their names and signatures appeared in the recall registers and that they were not the ones that signed it.

    “86 of my constituents have sworn to an affidavit that they were approached and that the government wants to carry out a fertilizer empowerment programme and requested for their PVCs and thereby deceived them into putting their names in the recall register”.

    Consequently the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu cited Sections 68, 69 and other relevant provisions  of the 1999 Constitution to fault the move. He wondered why INEC is not following the laid down procedure in carrying out the exercise.

    Ekweremadu said, “I am wondering why we are dissipating energy on this matter and wasting precious legislative time on a matter we should not.

    “What is happening in Kogi in respect of Senator Dino Melaye, as far as this constitution is concerned, is an exercise in futility. They are just wasting precious time because the constitution is clear on what should happen.

    “It is possible that the Attorney- General of Kogi State has not advised them properly. If he had done that, I am sure they would have applied their time to more meaningful ventures in Kogi State.

    Ekweremadu added that National Assembly, in 2010, amended the constitution in respect of Section 69, which deals with recall process of a federal lawmaker.

    According to him, the Section clearly stated that the numbers of those who are seeking to recall Senator Melaye from the Senate are supposed to line up somewhere in Kogi State with him and his lawyers, with each person verifying their signature.

    “When they are done with that they go back to Section 68, which states that the President of the Senate receives from the chairman of INEC the recall of the member. They would also present evidence satisfactory to the House or the Senate.

    “So they need to come back here and convince each and every one of us that they have done the correct thing. Unless they do that, they cannot even give effect to it. So why are we wasting our time. Let us move on and allow them to waste their time”, Ekweremadu said.

    In his contribution, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said, “As they say, 10 years is no joke in leadership, the Deputy Senate President has explained the processes. So let the process speak for itself.

    “I really don’t know why a lot of efforts are being wasted that should have gone into more important things. Eventually, it must come back here for us to decide whether it is satisfactory or not”.

     

  • ‘Corruption not just about giving or diverting money’

    ‘Corruption not just about giving or diverting money’

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has boasted that the appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging his acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will go the way of his original trial for false declaration of assets.

    Saraki, in his first reaction to the filing of the appeal by the Federal Government, said he was “confident that the verdict at the appellate court would not be different from that of the tribunal as the facts of the case remain the same and the grounds on which the decision of the CCT was based remain unassailable.”

    He spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

    “Anybody who has been following the proceedings and the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses during the examination in chief and cross-examination on would 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 criticizing 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 an investigation on this bribery allegation,” Olaniyonu said.

    Saraki wants those who made the allegation to be invited to substantiate their claims.

    He cited the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor  Itse Sagay, as one of such people.

    Continuing, Olaniyonu said: “Corruption is not just about giving or diverting money. When an official interferes with the judicial process with a view to achieving personal objectives, that is corruption.

    “We hear the same desperate people say there was so much evidence they are surprised at the verdict of the tribunal. But they forget to mention that this was a case that the prosecution counsel amended charges thrice.

  • Saraki, Dogara faults Osinbajo’s budget remark

    Saraki, Dogara faults Osinbajo’s budget remark

    Govt to head for Supreme Court

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday drew the ire of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara over his comments on the National Assembly’s increase of the budget from N7.28 trillion to N7.44 trillion.

    At plenary in both chambers, Saraki and Dogara said the lawmakers did not overreach themselves by jacking up the budget.

    The Senate would not surrender its constitutional powers to the executive, Saraki said, in reaction to an issue raised by Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah.

    The House of Representatives, Dogara noted, would not be a rubber stamp. He was reacting to an order on the breach of privilege brought by Abubakar Lawal (Adamawa).

    The Presidency will seek the Supreme Court’s interpretation on the issue, it was learnt last night.

    A source told our correspondent that the Acting President would not take up issues with the lawmakers, but “will soon head for the apex court to seek the interpretation of that section of the Constitution to clear any ambiguity therein.”

    The source said: “We cannot be going forward and backwards on the same issue every year.”

    Signing the budget on Monday, Osinbajo said there were two broad issues about who could do what.

    “The first report is about who can do what. When you present a 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,” he said.

    Saraki said even when the upper chamber bends backward to accommodate issues such gesture should not be misconstrued to mean weakness or that the constitutional powers assigned to it did not exist.

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

    Raising the issue, Na’ Allah said: “I want to make a personal explanation on the media reports credited to the Acting President to the effect that the National Assembly does not possess any power to alter the budget submitted to it by the Executive. I offer an 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 practising 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.

    “Four, No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

    “That is the provision.

    “The reason for this provision is that the Constitution recognises that Nigeria operates a federal structure, and it further goes on to recognise that it is multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi-religious.

    “Therefore, in the constitution-making process, a lot of issues for domination and fear for domination were raised.

    “That is why the framers of the constitution provided for representation on the basis of population and land mass and on the basis of equality of states.

    “This is what gave birth to a bicameral legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House provides representation based on population and land mass while the Senate is based on equality of states.

    “So, I know that the Acting President who is a Professor of Law is sufficiently trained in law to know that the National Assembly has powers to tinker with the budget.

    “I am not making a case for him and I do not want to believe that he said what has been alleged that he said.

    “I also want to assuage the fears of my colleagues that what was alleged to have been said does not represent the spirit of the framers of our Constitution. This explanation is necessary so that we put this matter to rest.”

    Saraki, who did not allow a debate on the matter, said: “I too have a lot of our colleagues coming up to us regarding the 2017 budget. I cannot agree with you less. I am sure that the Acting President must have been misquoted because there is clearly no ambiguity in the Constitution of the responsibility of the National Assembly.

    “This matter has been cleared and settled. So, I don’t think there are any issues here that are vague. I will like to believe too that the Acting President must have been wrongly quoted.

    “But at the same time, I want to say that there are times we have a number of consultations and I want to make it clear that these consultations we do with the Executive will not at any time mean that we will give up the powers we have in line with the Constitution.

    “I want to reassure our members on this because it is very important based on what we have heard, you may be concerned that one way or another leadership had given up some of these powers.

    “That is not the case. But I believe that as responsible statesmen, there are times we consult and do our best to work with the Executive and assist them.

    “But as we bend backwards, I don’t think that should be misrepresented that powers given to us in the Constitution do not exist.

    “That is not the case, and this Senate will continue to defend the Constitution and ensure that anything we do is in line with the laws of the land.”

    At the House, Dogara said it was difficult to believe that the Acting President could say such thing.

  • Ten reasons Saraki was acquitted by CCT

    Ten reasons Saraki was acquitted by CCT

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was on Wednesday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) cleared of the false assets declaration charge preferred against him.

    Below are the major reasons the Code of Conduct Tribunal acquitted the Senate President.

    Upholding Saraki’s “no-case submission”, the tribunal made up of two men, the Chairman and a member said:

    1. The prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on it under the law.
    2. The CCT Chairman Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar said the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Saraki to warrant his being called to defend himself.
    3. Umar faulted the evidence of the third prosecution witness, Samuel Madojemu (Head of Investigation at the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB) that he received oral instructions to join a team from other agencies to investigate Saraki.
    4. He said Madojemu was unhelpful to the prosecution when he (Madojemu) claimed that all information in the affidavit in support of the 18-count charge was based on information supplied to him by an undisclosed team of investigators.
    5. Umar said what the EFCC tendered before the tribunal was more of a product of  intelligence gathering than of conventional investigation.
    6. It is wrong of the investigators not to have invited the defendant to make a statement so that the truth can be unearthed.
    7. Agwadza noted that while the prosecution alleged that Saraki was earning salary from the Kwara State government even as a Senator, it (prosecution) failed to call the state’s Accountant-General to prove that allegation.
    8. The prosecution failed to produce material evidence including the defendant’s statement and the original copies of his assets declaration forms.
    9. In criminal prosecution, he said, the onus was on the prosecution to prove its case, adding that where it fails in that duty, the defence could not be called to prove its innocence.
    10. The prosecution, he said, failed to call vital witnesses to “effectively link the defendant to the offences charged”.

    The CCT noted that the evidence was so discredited, unreliable that no reasonable court will attach probate value to them.

    He said the team referred to by Madojemu comprising operatives of the EFCC, DSS and CCB is unknown to law, adding that the team has no constitutional or statutory backing to have done what it did.

    The tribunal’s sole member, Williams Atedze Agwadza.

    “My humble conclusion is that the defendant in this case has no case to answer and he is accordingly discharged and acquitted,” Agwadza said.

  • Saraki’s acquittal: Ekweremadu, Fayose, senators happy

    Saraki’s acquittal: Ekweremadu, Fayose, senators happy

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and senators yesterday described as “victory for democracy” the discharge and acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Ekweremadu 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.”

    Some senators yesterday hailed the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for clearing their president, Bukola Saraki, of false assets declaration charge.

    Senator Ibn Na Allah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it was obvious that the case against Saraki was a distraction to governance.

    “The case was diversionary and unhelpful to the government of the day and now, he has been vindicated.

    “Those who erroneously believed that they can mislead the government into doing a wrong thing should know that they have not been helpful to the government,” he said.

    Senate Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye said the judgement indicated that the judiciary is independent.

    “It shows that the judiciary does not act based on what the executive wants or based on what the legislature wants.”

    Senator Bukar Ibrahim (APC-Yobe) said : “It’s my pleasure as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an admirer of the President of the Senate to congratulate him over his success in the CCT case.”

    Fayose said Saraki’s victory at CCT was another fulfilment of one of the predictions he released earlier in the year saying: “There is nothing that people like us say with our mouth that would not come to pass.”

    Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Fayose said the CCT verdict was “another lesson for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government that criminal cases are not won on the pages of newspapers.”

  • Saraki’s CCT acquittal: PDP calls for proper investigation

    Saraki’s CCT acquittal: PDP calls for proper investigation

    The National Vice-Chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, has advised federal agencies to carry out a diligent investigation of corruption allegations before prosecution.

    Ogidi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while reacting to Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) judgment in a case against Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday.

    The tribunal discharged and acquitted Saraki of the 18-count charge bordering on false declaration of assets.
    Ogidi said that the tribunal did the right thing since there was no concrete evidence against Saraki before it.

    He, however, said that cases of corruption were being lost in court due to lack of proper investigation by government agencies involved in the matters.

    He said that it was unfortunate that Saraki had even been condemned in the social media before his trail when there was no substantive evidence against him.

    If you don’t prepare your case well, you will lose. The way we are fighting corruption in Nigeria is not right. Saraki was presented guilty before he was even charged to court. That is not how to fight corruption. Fighting corruption needs proper investigation.

    “If you know you are going to court, investigate properly and prepare your case adequately against the accused.

    “Most times they say you are guilty before you get to the court. That is what has happened now. Everybody had condemned Saraki and that is not right.

    “Let the court do its work to condemned whoever is found culpable of whatever he is accused of,’’ Ogidi said.

    The PDP chieftain advised the executive to allow the judiciary to carry out its functions without any form of interference or intimidation, saying that the executive could not fight corruption alone.

    “In Nigeria, we still behave like the military regime. We have three arms of government; let them do their works independently.

    “Court has given its judgment and that is the correct thing. People should not intimidate judges; they should do their work in accordance to the Constitution and their conscience.

    “Fighting corruption is not by intimidation; it is by proper investigation and ensuring that your evidence is beyond a reasonable doubt.

    “That is what the law says, but today, it is not the same. We condemn people before prosecuting them.’’

    He also expressed hope that the Supreme Court would be allowed to give its judgment in the PDP leadership tussle without interference.

  • Breaking: CCT frees Saraki on charges of false assets declaration

    Breaking: CCT frees Saraki on charges of false assets declaration

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Wednesday discharged and acquitted Senate President, Bukola Saraki on charges of false assets declaration brought against him.

    The tribunal in a unanimous ruling by its two members upheld the no-case submission made by Saraki.

    The tribunal held that the prosecution was unable to discharge the burden of proof placed on it under the law.

    It held that the evidence led by the prosecution have been sufficiently discredited by the defence during cross-examination.

     

  • Nigeria will only attain greatness in unity – Saraki

    Nigeria will only attain greatness in unity – Saraki

    The President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has said Nigeria would only attain greatness in unity.

    Saraki told newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday that Nigerians, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious affiliations, must shun calls for disintegration.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki, in company with Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North), was in Ibadan for the wedding ceremony of the daughter of  APC chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande.

    The Senate President was reacting to the ultimatum issued by some northern youths to Igbos to quit the north by Oct. 1 and the counter threats by some other ethnic groups.

    But Saraki said that the unity of the country was not negotiable, adding that  Nigerians must come together to achieve peace and progress.

    “Leaders from the various regions of the country should preach unity to their youths.

    “We are leaders to guide the youths through the path of progress which the nation deserves now.

    “We won’t relent until this country achieves greatness through unity and peace,’’ he said.

    Saraki stated that there was no perfect system, adding the nation only needed improvement from its present state.

    The Senate president said that there was no problem in the quest for improvement in a system, arguing that it must not be through threats, division or violence.

    He warned those agitating for a breakup to desist, pledging that the National Assembly would ensure that Nigeria remained united.

    “We all must stand clearly to defend one Nigeria. There is no room for a division and we must live by example. We are not afraid of anybody.

    “We must rise up to make a statement on what is happening. We will be failing if we do not do something that will reassure the people on the need for one Nigeria.

    “We are greater being together than going our separate ways,’’ he said.

  • South-south senators may oppose $1.5b loan for states

    South-south senators may oppose $1.5b loan for states

    Federal Government request for Senate approval of $1.492 billion for development projects in ten states may spark another round of protest in the Senate.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki read Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s letter entitled “Re- Federal Executive Council approval of the 2016-2018 external borrowing (rolling) plan” which gave details of the $1.492 billion loan request.

    Only two weeks ago, the South East Senate caucus protested against the exclusion of the zone in the $5.9 billion Chinese Exim bank loan for the development of rail lines in some parts of the country.

    Some south-south senators are already gearing up to oppose the approval of the fresh loan as a result of non-inclusion of any state from the south-south geo-political zone in the loan request.

    A prominent member of the south south Senate caucus said that they were taken aback when Saraki read the letter to discover that no state from the zone was included in the loan request.

    He noted that some of them have resolved to send words home to their governors to find out if they requested for the loan and were left out.

    “If turns out that any south south state was among the states that sought the loan and was left out we will definite oppose the approval of the loan. How can a loan of over one billion dollars for development projects be approved and there is nothing for the south south,” he said.

    In the letter, Professor Osinbajo said, “ I write in reference to my earlier letter requesting for the consideration and approval of the Senate for the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan and to request the Senate to separate the states’ projects from the items listed in the Borrowing Plan with a view to giving them accelerated consideration.”

    He listed the affected states and their projects as:

    Kaduna State Development Policy Operation (DPO) $350 million to be funded with a loam from the World Bank Assisted project.

    Ogun State Development Policy Project (DPO) $350 million also to be funded with a loan from the World Bank Assisted Project.

    Ebonyi Ring Road Project $70million to be funded by African Development Bank and co-financed with Islamic Development Bank.

    Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) $100 million to be funded by the ADB

    Katsina Health System Project $110 million to be financed by Islamic Development Bank

    Jigawa State Integrated Rural Development Project $32.4million also to be financed by the Islamic Development Bank.

    Another Ebonyi State Ring Road Project $80million to be co-financed with AFDB

    Kano State Integrated Agricultural and Water Resources Development $200 million.

    Enugu, Kano, Plateau and Ondo States Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (NUWSRP-111 $200 million to be financed by French Development Agency, giving a total loan of $1,492,400,000.00