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Tag: Senate

  • Senate summons Fashola over $1b power project funds

    Senate summons Fashola over $1b power project funds

    THE Senate yesterday mandated its joint Committee on Power and Public Accounts to invite the Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola to give a detailed account of the public funds spent on the Fast Power Projects, particularly Afam Fast Power Project.

    The upper chamber said Fashola should also give evidence of feasibility study indicating the viability of the projects and requisite appropriation by the National Assembly as required by the Constitution.

    It said the minister should also furnish the Senate with presidential approval for the projects

    It asked the committee to investigate the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority( NSIA), Nigerian Electricity Bulk Trading Company ( NBET) and others to establish the status of the balance of $350million from the $1 Eurobond issued by the Federal Government in 2013.

    The joint committee was given two week to report back to the Senate

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Monumental fraud in the power sector”, sponsored Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    Melaye, in his lead debate, noted that sometime in July 2013, the Federal Government raised a total sum of $1 Billion through Eurobond issue.

    He said $350 million was taken by the Federal Government out of the proceeds of the July 2013 Eurobond issue and released to Nigeria Electricity Bulk Trading Company( NBET) Plc as shareholder contribution to shore up its capitalisation.

    The senator added that he is further aware that NBET is a Federal Government owned public liability company that deals in electricity trading and management of associated liabilities.

    Melaye noted that $350 million released to NBET was to demonstrate NBET’s preparedness to assume its role as a government-backed electricity bulk trader to provide market confidence in the privatised electricity market.

    He observed that the move by the Federal Government was intended to backstop NBET’S with new investors in the electricity market especially new generation companies and to provide assurance to them that NBET is a credit worthy off-taker of power with the requisite capitalization to meet its payment obligations to both greenfield and brownfields power generating companies.

    He observed that as confidence-building measure, $350 million was domiciled with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) for reinvestment in low risk investment and structured in a manner that NBET can call for funds at short notice when required.

    He expressed alarm that “there is now a desperate attempt by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to retrieve this fund ($350 million) and divert same to fund the so-called Fast Power Projects which the ministry has already spent $35 million of public funds not appropriated by the National Assembly.”

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa, in his contribution, said for the Senate to do a thorough job, those mentioned in the motion should be given opportunity to say their own side of the story.

    He noted that some of the allegations raised in the motion were grave and should not be taken without hearing from those involved.

  • Senate to appeal high court judgment in favour of Sen. Ndume

    Senate to appeal high court judgment in favour of Sen. Ndume

    The Senate says it will file an appeal on Nov. 13 against judgment of the Federal High Court ordering it to pay all salaries and allowances of Sen. Ali Ndume, who has been on suspension.

    The senate made this known in a statement by its Counsel, Mr Mike Ozekhome, on Sunday.

    The Upper Chamber said  it disagreed with the said judgment.

    “For the records, the Senate had challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the matter on several grounds, portions of which are outlined here under for the purpose of emphasis, as follows:

    “That the Plaintiff wrongly joined several causes of action in his Originating Summons.

    “That an action for the enforcement of fundamental rights to fair hearing can only be brought against a court or a tribunal, established by law as held by the Supreme Court in several current cases, and not against Committee of a legislative body.

    “That by the provisions of sections 3 and 30 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the trial court lacked requisite jurisdiction to hear the suit of the Plaintiff.

    “The Senate’s argument is supported by various and current decisions of the apex court, it noted.

    The Senate expressed optimism that the decision of the trial court on Ndume would be overturned by the Court of Appeal.

    It said it had instructed the law firm of Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers to file an appeal against the judgment.

    “The notice of appeal is ready and would be filed unfailingly by Monday morning.

    “An application for a stay of execution of the orders of the court will also be filed same time.”

    NAN

  • Senate to publish names of firms in alleged N30tr scam

    Senate to publish names of firms in alleged N30tr scam

    The Senate says it is set to publish names of companies found culpable in investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain.

    Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport Senator Hope Uzodinma made this known in an interview with reporters yesterday.

    He said the committee had completed its first batch of investigation involving over 60 companies and would publish names of companies involved in various infractions leading to loss of government revenue.

    He said the committee was releasing the names because it had established culpability against the companies.

    Uzodinma added that the names to be published would contain details of how much of recoverable government revenue was with each of the companies.

    The lawmaker stressed that companies found to be involved in infractions bothering on money laundering and foreign exchange abuses would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution and recovery of the monies.

    He added that those bothering on smuggling and import infractions would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for recovery of such revenues and possibly blacklisting.

    Uzodinma said: “We got up to the point that even the companies themselves have seen that they are culpable and that is why we want to publish the names and hand them over to EFCC and Customs.

    “The reason for the delay in publishing the names all the while is to establish culpability against the companies.

    “Now through various reconciliations, it has been established and we are no longer in doubt, including the companies that are involved, that these things are in existence and that they are culpable.

    “We have presented the interim report which detailed how much we have recovered so far and the Senate approved it in plenary, while an extension was given to us to do the final reconciliation.”

  • Ndume floors Senate, Saraki

    Ndume floors Senate, Saraki

    A judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Babatunde Quadri yesterday voided Senate’s suspension of a former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, for 90 legislative days.

    The court also said Ndume committed no infractions by raising issues on the certificate of Senator Dino Melaye and alleged purchase of bullet-proof SUV by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    It ordered the Senate President to pay all the salaries and outstanding allowances of Ndume since March 30 when he was suspended.

    But the judge refused to award N500 million cost against the Senate, Saraki and Senator Anyanwu in the “spirit of engendering peace and harmony” in the chamber.

    Following his suspension, Ndume had filed the suit against the Senate, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

    He sought the following reliefs:

    • Whether the suspension of the plaintiff as a Senator of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 90 legislative days (6 months) with effect from 29th March, 2017 via a letter dated 30th March, 2017 is not a gross violation of his fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and the plaintiff’s privileges as a senator.
    • Whether the suspension of the plaintiff as a senator of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 90 legislative days (6 months) via a letter of 30th March, 2017 is not in violation of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
    • Whether the suspension of the plaintiff as a senator of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 90 legislative days (6 months) with effect from 29th March, 2017 via a letter dated 30th March, 2017 is not in violation of sections 64(1) and 68 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A 9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
    • Whether the plaintiff is not entitled to be reinstated as a Senator of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and paid his outstanding salaries, allowances (however called) since March, 2017.
    • Whether if questions 1, 2 and 3 hereinabove are in the affirmative, the plaintiff is not entitled to general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

    The plaintiff hereby seeks the following reliefs from this Honourable Court to wit:

    • A DECLARATION that the suspension of the plaintiff for 90 legislative days (6 months) as a Senator in the service of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria via a letter dated 30th March, 2017 for expressing as a matter of privilege the insinuations/allegations made online and in national newspapers that the invitation of the Comptroller-General of Customs was informed by seizure of the bullet proof SUV vehicle belonging to the Senate President purportedly cleared with fake National Assembly documents and the alleged first degree saga of Senator Dino Melaye is a violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing and freedom of expression as guaranteed by sections 36 and 39 of the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 7 (1) and 9 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
    • A declaration that the suspension of the plaintiff for 90 legislative days (3 months) from the service of the Senate as a Senator in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from 29th March, 2017 as contained in the letter of 30th March, 2017 is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional as it was done in violation of sections 68 and 69 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)and Article 13 (1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
    • An order setting aside the purported suspension of the plaintiff from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as contained in the aforesaid letter of 30th March, 2017.
    • An order directing the 1st and 2nd defendants to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances (however called) forthwith.
    • The sum of N500 million (five hundred million naira) being general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the aforesaid suspension of the plaintiff from the service of the Senate as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    • Any such order or other orders as the justice of the case may demand.

    The counsel to the Senator, Mr. Marcel Oru, claimed that “there is no law that says a Senator can be suspended for 90 legislative days. If a Senator commits any simple infractions, he can be suspended for one day. Serious infractions attract 14-day suspension.

    “Anything outside the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the law of the land, and the Senate Standing Orders is ultra vires, illegal, null and void. To suspend a senator, the infractions must be known to law. In this case, Senator Ndume has not violated any law because his submissions at the Senate Plenary were under Qualified Privilege.”

    Ndume argued that his suspension was intended by the Senate leadership to get back at him for merely raising questions about issues relating to the conduct of privileged individuals in the Senate.

    He noted that fellow legislators, who made similar observations in the past were neither suspended not penalised as was done to him under the Saraki-led Senate.

    Ndume said: “Senators of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or members of the House of Representatives and, indeed, all legislators have the privilege to express themselves on the floor of the Senate or House of Reps and all previous matters as the present one have not attracted suspension or punitive action.

    “In the scandal on variation in the name of Evan Enwerem, the Senator, who raised the matter was not suspended. In the certificate scandal involving Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, the member, who raised the issue was not punished after clearance of Masari.

    “In the certificate scandal involving Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the member who raised the issue was not punished after the clearance of Bankole. In the certificate scandal involving Hon. Patricia Etteh, the member, who raised the issue was not punished after the investigation and clearance of Etteh,” Ndume had argued.

    In the judgment yesterday, Justice Qaudri, while declaring Ndume’s suspension unlawful, urged members of the Senate, and particularly its leadership to “hold sacrosanct, their Standing Orders, Rule of Law and by extension, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Justice Quadri said Ndume’s suspension was done in violation of sections 68 and 69 of the Constitution and Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act.

    The judge set aside the purported suspension as contained in the Senate’s letter of March 30, 2017.

    Justice Quadri resolved questions 2, 3 and 4 in Ndume’s favour. The questions are in relation to whether the suspension was not unlawful and a violation of the plaintiff’s rights and whether Ndume was not entitled to be reinstated.

    Having answered the three questions in the palintiff’s favour, the judge proceeded to grant his reliefs 2, 3, and 4.

    He said: “Consequently, reliefs 2, 3 and 4 are hereby granted. The suspension of the plaintiff is hereby declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

    “The purported suspension, contained in the letter of March 30th 2017 is hereby set aside. The 1st and 2nd defendants (Saraki and the Senate) are hereby directed to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith.”

    The judge declined to determine the 1st question, which related to whether the suspension was not a violation of his right to freedom of expression as expression as guaranteed in section 39 of the Constitution.

    Justice Quadri said he found the determination of the question unnecessary in the cirscumstance.

    The judge declined to grant Ndume’s request for N500 million damages against the defendants.

    The judge, in rejecting the prayer, said: “It is intended to facilitate reconciliation in the Senate between the plaintiff and all other members of the Senate and bring peace, and nurture our nascent democracy.”

    The Senate had claimed that it suspended Ndume on disciplinary ground.

    He had jolted the Senate when it drew the attention of members to media report that the invitation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, was due to seizure of a vehicle illegally imported by Saraki.

    The Senate also suspended him for drawing attention to media report on alleged fake first degree certificate of Senator Dino Melaye.

  • Senate to investigate death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean

    Senate to investigate death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean

    The Senate is to investigate  the death of 26 young Nigerian girls on the Mediterranean while travelling to Italy.

    The measure followed a resolution on a motion “On death of 26 Young Nigerian Girls en route Italy”, sponsored by Sen. Rose Oko (PDP-Cross-River) during Thursday’s plenary.

    The assembly also commended the Italian authorities for immediately stepping into the matter with the hope of resolving the murders.

    It called on the Federal Government to set up an inter-agency committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons  to immediately work out a strategy to check such development.

    The Senate also called on government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment and come out with more pro-active measures to engage the youth.

    “On Nov. 6 it was reported by national and international media the gruesome story of the dead bodies of 26 young Nigerian girls of ages 14 to 18 discovered in a Spanish warship.

    “The suspicion was that they were sexually abused and murdered,” Oko said.

    She noted that there was mass exodus of young Nigerian boys and girls illegally attempting to migrate to Europe, especially to Italy and Spain.

    “These journeys are through the perilous long and hazardous Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean sea.

    “They run into the hands of bandits, are abused and raped and the dangerous sea waves often in rickety rubber boats.

    “This has led to the death of several of them almost every week,”  the senator said.

    She said that as of May, it was reported that about 10,000 Nigerians had perished along the Sahara Desert-Libya- Mediterranean Sea route.

    She noted that Italian prosecutors who had begun investigation into the death of the girls had arrested an Egyptian and a Libyan as suspects.

    “This mass exodus of our children from the relative safety and security of home to the often cold hands of death have arisen and are increasing as a result of the economic hardships at home, including the unemployment situation in Nigeria.”

    She said it was time to go beyond the mere feeling of horror to taking pro-active, urgent and emergency measures to address the root causes of the exodus, including massive enlightenment on the dangers therein.

    Oko added that an inter-agency cooperation and collaboration was urgently needed by government to address this problem.

    Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) described the incident  as a national tragedy.

    “It is unfortunate that year in year out thousands of Africans, including Nigerians, perish on their way to Europe in search of greener pastures,”  Sani said.

    He said that factors that led to the exodus included poverty, economic instability, unrealisable dreams and illusions as well as other components related to drug trafficking and terrorism.

    “It is unfortunate that we continue to ignore this tragedy that is before us; 26 lives lost is one tragedy too many,” Sani said.

    He called for actions that would stop young men and women moving into the hands of drug and human traffickers.

    “It is high time that the relevant agencies of government did everything possible to stem the tide.”

    Sen. Suleiman Adokwe (PDP-Nasarawa State) said: “since the Italian Government was investigating, it is expected of the Nigerian government to by now, make definite statements as to how they will expect the Italian government to investigate this thing thoroughly.

    “We must be proactive,” Adokwe said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said government owed citizens of Nigeria the responsibility to provide the basic needs of life.

    “We must not fail on this responsibility. It is important for us to think of how to provide social security for our people.

    “We should ensure that every Nigerian has food to eat.

    “There is no money on the streets outside the country.

    “The young men and women should know that it is better for us to stay back in Nigeria and be able to build a better country.”

    NAN

  • Senate endorse science varsity for Benue

    Senate endorse science varsity for Benue

    A bill, which sought the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State, has been endorsed by the Senate and stakeholders.

    The Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and League of Idoma Professors (LIP, were unanimous in their submissions at the Senate Public hearing, that the university is desirable.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who described the bill as timely, noted that the university would mitigate crisis in the health sector.

    Saraki, who was represented the Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, lamented that Nigeria loses about N3 billion annually on people seeking medical treatment abroad.

    Sponsor of the bill and former Senate President, David Mark, listed the educational, economic and social importance of establishing the university to include medical education, access to health care facilities and employment opportunities.

    Mark urged his colleagues to support and pass the bill for the benefit of humanity.

    Education Minister Adamu Adamu noted that the university would address the imbalance in health education and solve the medical needs of citizens.

    He promised the executive will do the needful as soon as legislative processes are completed.

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary, Prof Adamu Rasheed, who spoke through Prof Ibrahim Yakassai, said the university would be an added value to the pursuit of medical education in Nigeria.

    All the speakers, including Prof Innocent Ujah of Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR); Prof Francis Uba of College of Medical Sciences; Prof. Owoicho Akpa (League of IDOMA Professors); former Interior Minister Comrade Abah Moro, and Dr. Umar Adamu of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), agreed that the university be established forthwith to address medical challenges in Nigeria.

  • IGP gives condition to honour Senate’s invitation

    IGP gives condition to honour Senate’s invitation

    The Inspector General of Police ( IGP ),  Ibrahim Idris, on Friday said that he will only appear before the Senate over the allegation of corruption against him by Senator Isah Misau (Bauchi Central) only after discussing with his legal team.
    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on security challenges in the country and measures to tackle them.
    He said: “These are legal issues,we are discussing with our legal team, obviously if there is need we are going to appear for the sake of having respect for the Senate, I will appear before them.”
    He said that 21,000 Police officers will be deployed to Anambra State to provide security for the November 18, 2017.
    According to him, water boats and helicopter will also be deployed to take care of water ways and aerial surveillance respectively.
    He said 3,000 suspected kidnappers that were arrested were cooling off in various Police Stations across the country and would soon be charged to court.
    On the purpose of his visit to the State House, he said, “Obviously I am here as usual to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief on the security challenges we are having and how we will face these security challenges adequately.
    “The security challenges are obvious. You know we are having elections in Anambra state and we are having challenges in various parts of the country especially some of these issues of kidnapping and these are things I discussed with the President and the measures taken to address it squarely.”
    On how to go ensure adequate security in Anambra election, the IGP said,  “Obviously we are deploring a lot of police officers, almost about 21,000 police officers to be able to provide adequate security in the Anambra election.
    “We are deploying our water boats to take care of the water ways, we are deploying our helicopters to take care of the aerial surveillance and we are deploying our conventional police men and special police units to take care of situations on ground.
    “And by the grace of God, we are going to have a successful and peaceful elections in Anambra state.”
    Also commenting on security situation in Kaduna Abuja highway, the Inspector General of Police said that special units have been deployed to the road, adding that huge success had been recorded.
    He said, “Kaduna Abuja road as you observed we have deployed our special units there and we have arrested several of these kidnappers.
     “I want to appreciate the effort of the National Assembly for providing sort of a death penalty for suspects arrested that are involved in some of these cases of kidnapping and I am sure that in some few weeks time we are going to have drastic fall in the report of some of these incidences of kidnapping on those areas because of these punishment that has been made now by the National Assembly.
    “We are taking them to court on everyday basis. Presently, we have almost over 3000 suspects in the various police stations all over the country and we are taking them to court. Recently, I set up a task force to sort of streamline or scrutinize these cases so that we have speedy trial of some of these suspects.” he stated

  • Senate, PDP condole with APC leader

    THE Senate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership yesterday expressed sadness over the death of Mr. Jide Tinubu, son of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after a brief illness on Wednesday.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who earlier paid a condolence visit to commiserate with Tinubu in Abuja, in a statement he personally signed on behalf of his colleagues, described the death as an “unfortunate incident”.

    “It is highly unfortunate that we lost him so early and we are still pained by his demise,” Saraki stated.

    Praying God to guard, guide and grant Tinubu, his wife, Senator Oluremi and the entire Tinubu family the grace and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, he also asked God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

    The PDP, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, described the death as sad, shocking and very painful.

    “We believe that the Almighty God knows the best and understands the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure from us and we pray Him (God), to give his family and the government of Lagos State the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”