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Tag: Senate

  • Buhari seeks Senate’s approval for $5.5bn foreign loans

    Buhari seeks Senate’s approval for $5.5bn foreign loans

    President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate approval for $5.5bn external borrowings.

    The President’s request was contained in a letter to both chambers of the National Assembly and read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at Tuesday’s plenary.

    The letter reads: “Accordingly, the Senate is requested to kindly approve the following external borrowings: Issuance of $2.5billion in International Capital Market through Eurobonds or a combination of Eurobonds and Diaspora bonds for the financing of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s 2017 Appropriation Act and capital expenditure projects in the Act.

    “Issuance of Eurobond in the ICM and/or loans syndication by the banks in the sum of $3billion for refinancing of maturing domestic debts obligations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, while looking forward to the timely approval of the National Assembly to enable Nigerians to take advantage of these opportunities for funding.”

  • Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    Senate panel invites seven banks’ MDs over freezing of Patience Jonathan’s accounts

    THE Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the managing directors of some banks over the freezing of the accounts of former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

    The committee also invited  Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu over the issue.

    The committee’s chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, gave the order at a sitting of his committee yesterday at the hearing of a petition by the former first lady.

    The petition brought on behalf of Mrs. Jonathan by Granville Abibo (SAN) claimed that the EFCC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had at various times “unleashed terror, dehumanising, degrading and despicable treatment on her and her blood relations without justification”.

    The committee was told that the accounts in which the former first lady’s funds are trapped include that of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development Investment Company and Transocean Property and Investment Ltd.

    Also, the account of her non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Women for Change Development Initiative, A. Aruera Foundation as well as Finchley Top Homes Ltd and the former first lady’s salary account were frozen, according to the petitioner.

    “The accounts of her siblings, Innocent Nyegerefaka, Mohammed Oba and Esther Oba have all been frozen by EFCC without any court order – all because they are blood relations of Dame Patience Jonathan,” the petition reads.

    The EFCC chairman was absent at the hearing.

    In a letter sent to the committee, the anti-graft agency said Magu was out of the country and would be back today.

    The committee set tomorrow for the EFCC boss to appear before the committee.

    Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer also informed the committee that his client had resolved her differences with the NDLEA, hence they would like to strike out the agency’s name off the petition before the Senate.

    He also old the committee that the former First Lady’s accounts and that of her relations were frozen without any court order by the EFCC.

    He lamented that the action culminated in the death of Lazarus Eware, who is Mrs. Jonathan’s brother.

    He said: “The immediate elder brother to Patience Jonathan, Mr. Lazarus Eware, died as a result of unfortunate maltreatment of him by EFCC as he could no longer cope in the face of this repeated humiliation, terror attacks and financial handicap.

    “He could no longer meet up with his responsibilities of his family, including children’s school fees and medical bills.

    “As we speak, his lifeless body is still lying in a mortuary yet to be buried. The only offence said to have been committed by him is that he was the elder brother to Dame Patience Jonathan.”

     

  • IG kicks as Senate closes National Assembly police station

    IG kicks as Senate closes National Assembly police station

    Inspector General (IG) Ibrahim Idris has protested alleged illegal closure of the Police Division at the National Assembly.

    Idris, in a letter dated September 19, 2017, said the sealing and closure of the police division was effected on September 12, 2017.

    The police boss, in the letter, entitled: “Re: Sealing and closure of Nigeria Police National Assembly Division”, said the action was tantamount to a criminal act, especially when it was not ordered by any competent court.

    The letter, which was personally endorsed by the IG himself, was addressed to some high-ranking persons at the National Assembly.

    The protest letter reads in part: “I am constrained to bring to the attention of the Chairman, National Assembly and President of the Senate, the sealing and closure of the Nigeria Police National Assembly Division since September 12, 2017 till date (seven days now).

    “Preliminary inquiries initiated upon getting this report revealed that one Ibrahim Ndako – Sargent-At-Arms of the National Assembly and personnel on the said date evicted the duly posted Divisional Police Officer and staff from the police station in full glare reportedly on the instruction(s) of one M.A. Omolori – Clerk of the National Assembly and sealed the office(s).

    “Pursuant to this, on September 17, 2017, I directed the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command in whose jurisdiction the National Assembly is domiciled to meet with the said M.A. Omolori – Clerk of the National Assembly and ascertain the circumstances that led to what is manifestly and unlawful action. Regrettably, this entreaty was bluntly rebuffed.

    “No reason(s) prior to and after the closure has been formally conveyed to any formation of the Nigeria Police or to the Office of the Inspector General of Police in this regard even as at the time of this correspondence…

    “Furthermore, it is also necessary to indicate that this action of evicting public servant in the course of performing their lawful duties and sealing an office domiciled in a public building complex devoid of an express order from competent court is tantamount to a criminal act punishable under the Criminal Code and Panel Code of Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The implications of this action in the light of current agitations now emanating from different parts of the country negatively impact directly on the security of the National Assembly Complex, the numerous members and staff of parliament domiciled therein as well as members of the general public; an outcome, which may no doubt escalate to a serious challenge to National Security.

    ‘Consequently, I have initiated a formal investigation to determine the background and circumstances leading to this unfortunate and unprecedented development; the outcome of which will be conveyed to your distinguished office for information accordingly.

    “While appreciating your tremendous support towards the successes of the Nigeria Police Force, accept as always the assurances of my highest regards, please.”

    A reliable source, however, said the development the IG complained about may not be unconnected with the “unceremonial removal of the police DPO attached to the National Assembly.”

    According to the source, “the DPO was unceremoniously redeployed for no just cause and without recourse to the management of the National Assembly”.

    It was also learnt that the redeployed DPO was a course mate of Senator Isa Hamma Misau with whom the IGP has issue with.

    The source said it was discovered that the police boss planned to redeploy all course mates of Misau from the Police Headquarters and other sensitive places.

    The senator’s course mates, the source said, may have been believed to be feeding the lawmaker with information to attack the IGP.

  • Senate’ll reposition CMD, says committee

    The Centre for Management Development (CMD) is to be repositioned to enable it play its role of training Nigerian workers for efficiency, it was learnt at the weekend.

    Hope rose on Friday for the centre when members of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs inspected facilities at the sprawling office of the training institute on CMD Road in Lagos.

    The committee, led by its chairman and former Kano State Governor Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, said it would ensure that CMD lives up to its statutory role through adequate funding.

    Other members of the committee on the oversight function to the centre were: Yele Omugunwa (vice chairman), Mustapha Bukar and Gershom Bassey.

    After the tour of facilities and a parley with the CMD management, led by the Director-General, Dr. Kabir Kabo Usman, Kwankwaso urged the centre to think out of the box on the maintenance and improvement of existing facilities.

    The senator said the tour was to enable the Red Chamber, through his committee, have first-hand information of the state of the centre.

    He added that CMD could achieve better results if better repositioned.

    Kwankwaso said: “The management should concentrate on maintenance to keep the centre running. The facilities should be improved upon for the training and retraining of workers at Federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    “We have seen things for ourselves and we are going back to ensure that the centre gets the right attention and support from the Federal Government in terms of budgetary allocations and the release of votes.”

    Dr. Usman hailed the Senate for ensuring better funding for the centre.

    The CMD chief noted that what the centre got in this year’s appropriation was equal to what was given to it in seven years.

    The director-general urged the committee to ensure prompt release of the centre’s vote and assist it in raising the allocation in the 2018 budget.

    He assured the committee of the centre’s readiness to implement their suggestions to drive traffic from the public and private sectors into the centre for patronage.

    The facilities inspected at the centre are: the computer unit, library, training rooms and the gymnasium.

  • Senate seeks enhanced housing scheme, others for police

    Senate seeks enhanced housing scheme, others for police

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, says the Senate is committed to improving the welfare package for officers and men of the Nigeria Police.

    Senator Ibrahim identified provision of decent and affordable shelter for policemen as one of the ways to boost their morale during active service as well as when they retire.

    The Katsina South lawmaker spoke on the heels of reports that the Post -Service Housing Scheme of the Nigeria Police Force was under threat of being abandoned as a result of poor funding.

    One of the schemes situated in Lagos and executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement is reported to have been technically grounded following the inability of the Police to meet its N6.6 billion counterpart funding obligation.

    Already the first phase of the project comprising 500 units of three-bedroom flats have been completed and commissioned,

    The second phase which is expected to deliver over a thousand bungalows also in Lagos is been stalled due to poor funding.

    Ibrahim said the lack of adequate accommodation for police personnel across the country was a major hindrance to effective policing.

    But this could be ameliorated, he said, by not only renovating barracks but by adequate funding of the Post Service Housing Schemes.

    According to him, one of the factors responsible for corruption in the public service, particularly the Police is the absence of a mortgage system and the desperate quest by public servants to acquire wealth to build their own homes.

    “The welfare of police personnel should always be taken seriously. Part of the welfare is housing and accommodation. We can only get the police to do their work effectively when it is well funded and policemen have better welfare schemes that guarantee them decent homes after they leave the service.

    The incontrovertible conclusion therefore is that if we desire a Police Force that is efficient and capable of maintaining law and order as in other advanced countries, a sustainable fund arrangement must be put in place for the Nigeria police force,” he said.

    Ibrahim noted that it was the need for proper funding of the police that informed decision to initiate a Bill for An Act to establish the Nigeria Police Development Fund.

    The lawmaker lauded the unveiling and commissioning of the bungalows for the benefit of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force in “Muhammadu Buhari Estate Mawo, Lagos.

    ,Managing Director Remax Realtors who handled the project, Mrs. Funke Adesoji was reported to have expressed her commitment to deliver the remaining housing units and craved the continued support of the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the housing units were delivered during his tenure as IGP.

    Adesoji was also reported to have listed some of the challenges the construction of Muhammadu Buhari estate suffered including being caught up at construction stage with massive foreign exchange devaluation which shot the project cost up.

  • Senate seeks enhanced housing scheme, others for Police

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim, has stated the Upper Chamber is committed to improved welfare package for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

    He identified provision of decent and affordable shelter for the Police Force as one of the ways and means to boost their morale during active service as well as when they retire.

    The Katsina South lawmaker spoke on the heels of reports that the Post -Service Housing Scheme of the Nigeria Police Force was under threat of being abandoned as a result to poor funding.

    One of the schemes situated in Lagos and executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement is reported to have been technically grounded following inability of the Police to meet its N6.6 billion counterpart funding obligation.

    Already the first phase of the project comprising 500 units of three-bedroom flats have been completed and commissioned,

    The second phase expected to deliver over a thousand bungalows in Lagos is said been stalled due to poor funding.

    Ibrahim,  who identified lack of adequate accommodation for police personnel across the nation as  a major hindrance  to effective policing,  said the situation could be improved by not only renovating  barracks but by adequate funding of the Post Service Housing Schemes.

    He attributed desperation by policemen to acquire wealth to build their own homes as one of the reasons for corruption in the Force.

    Ibrahim noted the need for proper funding of the police informed the decision to initiate a Bill for An Act to establish the Nigeria Police Development Fund.

    The lawmaker explained the bill which has passed the crucial second reading in the upper chamber has housing as  a major plank.

    He expressed confidence the enactment of the bill will encourage the police to put in their best in the service of the country.

     

  • Stop abusing judicial process, Lawyer cautions Senate

    A legal practitioner, Ugochukwu Osuagwu Esq has called on the Senate to respect the doctrine of separation of powers and not to arbitrarily constitute itself into a court of law or usurpate the powers of the judiciary as clearly stated in the constitution.

    Barrister Osuagwu was apparently reacting to a recent summon by the Senate, mandating the Chief of Army Staff to appear before its ethics and privileges committee on a petition file by one Lt. Col Mohammed who was dismissed from the Nigerian Army for abusing his office and carrying out actions considered to be at variance with the code of conduct for members of the Armed Forces in Nigeria.

    The legal luminary in his reaction while speaking to newsmen said there is every likelihood that the Senate is not aware of its standing rules which bare her from interfering in issues before the court or is out to carry out start another war with the judiciary in its desperate attempt to override other arms of government.

    He therefore condemned the summon purportedly issued to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, ordering him to appear before its committee for the purpose of discussing or investigating an issue before the National Industrial Court in order to make a mockery of the court and what lawyers are expected to do before the temple of justice.

    Osuagwu added that the Senate must not be allowed on this wild goose chase against its own rules as stated in STANDING Rules 2015, where it was unequivocally stated that matters in Court must not be discussed before the plenary.

    ” We must do well to save this hallowed chamber from self destruction to quickly remind them that by the provisions of the STANDING RULES 2015 of the Senate, matters in court
    are not allowed to be entertained by the SENATE. Yet the
    Senate went ahead, usurping the powers of the Court and took
    up a matter of Employee dismissal already before the
    National Industrial Court.”

    “It is clear that the Senate on this ground does not have the
    jurisdiction to hear the petition or even summon the Chief of Army Staff.”

    For the records LT.COL Mohammed had on August 12, 2016 filed
    a suit in the National Industrial Court against the Chief of
    Army Staff and the Nigerian Army seeking reinstatement. This
    means the matter which the dismissed officer took to the Senate is
    already in Court and sub judice. If the senate had done due
    diligence it would have realized this long ago, ” he added.

    Osuagwu therefore charged the Senate to respect its boundary and allow the Court to do justice to the matter by expressly discharging itself of the powers to abdicate in this particular dispute.

  • Revenue scam: Senate to send firms to EFCC for prosecution

    Revenue scam: Senate to send firms to EFCC for prosecution

    The Senate said on Wednesday that plans have been concluded to hand over companies found culpable in its investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, stated this during chat with journalists in Abuja.

    He said firms to be handed over to the EFCC were those found to have manipulated the foreign exchange procedure and those involved in money laundering, round tripping and abuse of foreign exchange manual.

    He said the Committee would pass all established evidences against the companies to the EFCC for immediate prosecution.

    Uzodinma also said companies with established cases of infractions within the import and export value chain would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for blacklisting.

    He said: “We have also established another department of the investigation, which is abuse of fiscal policies from Federal Ministry of Finance.

    “Most of these companies that have applied and gotten approval as manufacturers of different products, assemblers of various products but import finished goods in the name of CKD (Complete Knock-Down) will be charged for economic crime.

    “We are going to follow up the prosecution with all evidences available to us.

    “As we are about concluding our investigation on the 60 selected companies being currently investigated, it is very clear that so much collectable revenues are still hanging.

    “These are monies that government would have used to ease governance and provide necessary infrastructure and amenities to the citizenry.

    “So, this Committee will not sit back and allow the economy to crumble.  This is just 60 selected companies. We are visiting over 1,000 companies.”

    The senator said of the 60 companies in its first phase of investigation, the Committee had been able to interact with 50 while 10 others were on the run.

    He vowed that the Committee would ensure that those companies were fished out by the relevant security agencies.

    NAN

  • Senate sets up committee to probe corruption allegations against IGP

    Senate sets up committee to probe corruption allegations against IGP

    The Senate has set up an eight-man ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of corruption brought against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, by Senator Isah Misau.

    The Senate also mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate police allegations against Misau and present its findings to the lawmakers.

    The police had alleged that Misau did not follow due process when he retired from the force.

    The Senate’s resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Misau, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Navy.

    The senator had told his colleagues that he had been having a running battle with the IGP over corruption in the police.

    Misau said he deemed it necessary to bring the matter before the Senate because it had been in public domain for “some weeks now.”

    He accused the IGP of blackmailing him because he dared to talk about the level of corruption in the force.

    He said: “I am a retired police officer and served for 10 years. My father served the force for 34 years. In fact, he joined the police before I was born.

    “So, when I speak about the police, I know what I am saying. When I speak about the police, I speak with authority.

    “I am concerned about what is happening in the police in terms of bribery. There is a need for something urgent to be done to salvage the image of the institution.

    “Before raising alarm on the irregularities in the institution, I called three serving officers and they confirmed to me that people pay more than N500,000 to get promoted.

    “I also have other evidences that I am ready to release for investigation.”

    NAN

     

  • Kachikwu’s allegations: Senate to probe NNPC GMD

    Kachikwu’s allegations: Senate to probe NNPC GMD

    The Senate Wednesday resolved to investigate allegation of illegal award of $25 billion contracts leveled against Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director (GMD), Dr. Maikanti Baru.

    The upper chamber said that the weighty allegation of maleficence and shoddy dealings in the NNPC should not be swept under the carpet.

    It said that issues of abuse of due process and corruption raised by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, against NNPC GMD in his leaked letter to the President should be thorough investigated by its special panel.

    The resolution followed the unanimous adoption of a motion entitled “Allegation of corruption against NNPC Trading: Time to conduct a holistic investigation” raised by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East).

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara central) drew that attention of the Senate to the report of wide spread award of contracts by the NNPC GMD without regard to due process.

    Marafa in his amendment prayed the Senate to investigate the allegation against the GMD insisted that “we cannot gloss over the allegation.”

    Senator Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South) seconded the prayer.

    Senator Yusuf Yusuf (Taraba central) who also commented on the issue noted that NNPC in the past 15 years had been living above every Nigerian.

    Yusuf said, “NNPC officials believe that they are a government unto themselves. We have been asking NNPC to come with documents over alleged misuse of funds NNPC has not been able to provide any document.”

    Kachikwu in the leaked letter accused NNPC GMD of awarding $25 billion contracts without consulting either his office of the corporation’s board.

    The minister blamed the GMD for alleged insubordination, lack of adherence to due process and running a “bravado management style.”

    Kachikwu also claimed that he was being sidelined by the GMD and other heads of parastatals in major decision and appointments.

    Kachikwu said that he was disturbed that $25 billion contracts would be awarded without his input.

    He said that “The legal and procedural requirement is that all contracts above$20 million would need to be reviewed and approved by the Board of the NNPC. Mr. President in over one year of Dr. Baru’s tenure, no contract has been run through the Board. This is despite my diplomatic encouragement to Dr. Baru to do so to avoid wrongfully painting you as a President who does not allow due process to thrive in the NNPC.”

    Anyanwu in his lead debate said that the Senate should be aware that NNPC Trading limited is a business creation of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation

    He said that the Senate should also beware that NNPC Trading is composed of the following “outfits, Duke Oil; Hyson/Carlson (JV); NAP Oil (JV); and West Africa-Gas LTD (JV).”

    He said that he is aware that Duke Oil was incorporated in 1989 in Panama and therefore, does not pay tax in Nigeria

    He continued: “Aware also that Duke Oil was specially registered to play a dominant role in the trading of petroleum products especially crude oil trade in the international oil market several years ago;

    “Further aware that Duke Oil, compared to other major players in the sector, is still grappling with the basics of what it was registered to do in spite of massive support from the NNPC, owing to large scale corruption;

    “Aware of the decision by the current GMD to allocate almost all products to Duke Oil, this is in addition to its automatic inclusion in the lifting of Crude Oil, Gas etc, which thus, made Duke oil a money spinning outfit that is accountable only to NNPC;

    “Aware that Duke Oil remains the sole importer of AGO to PPMC and Retail, which it does through third party since it cannot import by itself, this contributes in slowing the growth of our indigenous companies that are making giant strides in the sector;

    “Aware that since NNPC owns NNPC Trading Limited and the refineries, they also shortlist companies that get allocation of products, lifting of crude oil and importation of products thus, giving undue advantage to the in house company, even where it lacks the capacity and requisite requirements to do what it is doing today;

    “Also aware of the general lack of transparency and level playing field in favour of Duke Oil to lift products without payment as against its competitors in the sector;

     “Further aware that these have combined to make Duke Oil the highest money earner and at the same time, the highest money waster because of the massive corruption in the way and manner they transact business;

    “Concerned that this relationship has helped to greatly stifle the growth of indigenous companies operating in the sector;

    “Concerned that Duke Oil lacks the requisite credentials to trade internationally, it therefore, makes Duke Oil a giant commission agent only;

    “Also concerned that the net effect of the above arrangement is that, NNPC and by extension, Nigeria earns less than otherwise it would have if the process is open and transparent where products are sold directly to indigenous international oil traders;

    “Further concerned that money so far earned by NNPC Trading limited through its subsidiaries such as Duke Oil, remains only in the knowledge of NNPC officials.”

    Anyanwu prayed the Senate to resolve constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the policy introduced by the current NNPC Trading Limited.

    The prayer was unanimously adopted.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who did not make any comment about the motion, named former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko, as chairman of the panel to probe the allegations.

    Other members of the committee included Senators Tayo Alasuadura, Marafa, Albert Akpan Bassey, Anyanwu, Ahmed Ogembe, Rose Oko and Baba Kaka Garbai.

    READ ALSO: Kachikwu protests award of $25b contracts by NNPC