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Tag: Senate

  • Why I can’t appear before Senate, by IGP

    •Senate accuses police chief of avoiding scrutiny

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has given reasons why he cannot personally appear before the Senate.

    The IGP, who faulted the Senate’s insistence on his personal appearance, said his presence at the Senate was unnecessary because the issues for which he was invited were not personal.

    He said if he was to personally honour every invitation sent to the office of the IGP, he would have no time for his main responsibilities.

    The IGP said he was allowed under the Constitution and Police Act to delegate responsibilities, including directing some of his subordinates to represent him where he is invited.

    His position is contained in a suit filed by the IGP before the Federal High Court, Abuja through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN).

    The IGP queried the propriety of the Senate’s decision to insist on his physical presence and its decision to enquire into issues relating to the charges filed against Senator Dino Melaye and on which he had been arraigned.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/457/2018, has the President of the Senate and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.

    The Senate, in a letter dated April 25 this year, invited the IGP to appear before it in relation to the purported inhuman treatment of  Melaye and killings in the country.

    The IGP honoured the Senate’s invitation on April 26 this year, but was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) and Commissioner of Police, Kogi State.

    The Senate denied the two representatives of the IGP audience, but instead, rescheduled the meeting for May 2 and insisted that the IGP must honour its invitation in person.

    The IGP, in a supporting affidavit, stated that his choice of the DIG (Operations) and CP, Kogi State was because they were conversant with the issues for which he was invited.

    He argued the it was not compulsory that the occupant of the office of the IGP must honour every invitation in person.

    The IGP noted that the invitation letter from the Senate, with the title: “Invitation to brief the Senate on the inhuman treatment of Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending in court,” showed that the Senate was aware Melaye “is facing a criminal charge in a court.”

    The plaintiff argued that he is not answerable to the defendants in respect of a case pending in court, but to the judicial arm of government, before whom the case was pending.

    He added: “The said Senator Dino Melaye is facing a charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms before a court of competent jurisdiction in Kogi State.

    “The heading of the said letter, which reads inter alia inhuman treatment meted to Senator Dino Melaye, who is a member of the 1st and 2nd defendants, clearly show the motive of the briefing.

    “Once a charge is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it is only the judicial arm of government that adjudicates and disposes of the matter one way or the other, and not subject to the oversight functions in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the defendants.

    “Chapter Viii Rule 53(5) of the Senate’s Standing Order prohibits any reference to any matter in which any judicial decision is pending, in this case, the pending charge against Senator Dino Melaye before the court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    “There is no how the discussion on the Dino Melaye’s case by the 1st and 2nd defendants will not relate to or impact on the matter in court,” the IGP said.

    The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to among others, restrain the defendants, any of their committees or agents from insisting that he must appear before them in person.

    The IGP also urged the court to declare as unconstitutional, the defendants’ insistence that he appears in person before them or any of their committees is contrary to the combined provisions of Section 21d(1)(a) of the Constitution and sections 2, 5, 6 and 7(1) of the Police Act.

    The defendants, in a counter affidavit, accused the IGP of using the court to shield himself from being scrutinised by  the Legislature.

    They stated that the IGP’s representatives were denied audience  because of “the weighty issues which requires clarification, as they touched on the very soul of our national existence and in order to ensure fruitful and meaningful deliberations.”

    They prayed the court to reject the plaintiff’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

    When the case was called yesterday, Izinyon informed the court that it was scheduled for the hearing of the substantive suit, and that he was ready.

    The defendants were not represented, but the court confirmed receiving a letter from the defendant’s lawyer, seeking a stand down till 12noon.

    Although Izinyon agreed to wait, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn to another date on the grounds that a stand down was not feasible.

    He adjourned to June 29 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

     

  • Senate urges NSA to submit funding request

    THE Senate yesterday held over two hour meeting with the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno, over mounting insecurity.

    The closed-door meeting was part of the security briefing the upper chamber held with security chiefs last week.

    After the meeting, Senate President Bukola Saraki said Monguno answered questions bothering on security, insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, coordination of the security agencies and the killings in the country.

    Saraki said: “Thereafter, we directed that he submits a funding request similar to other heads of security agencies that had come before us and to submit consideration where relevant amendments to existing laws involving security agencies’ need for consideration.”

  • Senate to probe OAU sexual assault allegation

    The Senate yesterday mandated its committees on Tertiary Institutions and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the alleged sexual assault against Miss Monica Osagie by a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State.

    It said the investigation would ensure transparency and accountability in the matter.

    The Senate said the probe would ensure justice for the victim, if her allegation was found to be true.

    It urged the joint committee to invite OAU authorities to explain steps taken and the outcome of internal investigation  as well as institutional reviews and proposals to nip the problem in the bud.

    The Senate advised the House of Representatives to concur with its Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill.

    The resolutions followed a motion on “The growing trend of sexual harassment in higher institutions of learning: the case of Monica Osagie,” sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South).

    In her lead debate, Olujimi noted the menace and culture of sexual harassment in higher institutions and the psychological, physiological and emotional damage such incidents caused students.

    The senator said it was for this reason the Senate, in October 2016, passed the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill, and prescribed punishment on lecturers and academic workers who, either sexually harass or assault their male or female students.

    She added: “The case of the brave Nigerian and student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Monica Osagie, who, in an audio recording, which went viral, was able to expose her lecturer demanding sex to increase her grades.

    “This has further brought home the point, further justifying the specificity and target of the new bill and the need to ensure that this perversion is kicked out of our places of learning,”

    Olujimi said the university authorities had weighed in on the matter to ensure justice for the victim.

    She said: “This is another matter that must not be swept under the carpet of expediency, forgetfulness or deliberate abandonment.”

    The senator noted that Osagie’s case “deserves greater scrutiny and attention as it signposts how serious we are as a nation to eliminate this perversion from our schools”.

  • Senate moves to end detention of juveniles

    The Senate on Wednesday asked security agencies involved in the arrest and detention of juveniles to ensure that they are not incarcerated beyond 48 hours.

    The upper chamber said if convictions are secured, the security agencies should ensure that juveniles are separated from adult inmates.

    It urged the Federal Government to establish more juvenile remand and correctional homes to cater for offenders below the age of 18 years.

    The mandated its committee on Interior to invite the Comptroller-General of Prisons to brief it on the state of prison inmates in the country.

    The committee was also asked to investigate the confinement of underage offenders and infants with adults in the various prisons and report back within four weeks.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on “illegal confinement of underage offenders and infants in same prison with adult prisoners” sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central.)

    Umeh, in his lead debate, noted that “the negative implication of keeping underage children in conventional prisons is that they would mix up with adult inmates who are likely to influence them negatively, using manipulation techniques to espouse and enforce beliefs and practices that create a paranoid view of the outside society.”

    He said: “The repercussions of keeping infants in prisons with mothers are enormous, ranging from making them scape goats for their mothers’ offences, lack of proper upbringing, health implications and psychological damage to estrangement from the larger society.”

     

     

  • Breaking: Dino Melaye ‘defects’ to PDP

    There was drama on Wednesday in the Senate as the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, announced his tactical defection from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

     APC and PDP senators appeared to have been caught unawares by Melaye’s announcement.

    Although Melaye did not mention ‘defection’, he requested Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to quickly assign him a seat on the side of the minority PDP.

    The embattled Kogi West senator who appeared in Senate chamber clutching a walking stick and wearing neck brace claimed that he was no longer comfortable sitting on the side of APC senators.

    Melaye said, “Mr. President I want to seek your indulgence, you will call in the sergeant-at-arms to look for a comfortable sit for me on the other side of the divide.”

    “Mr. President, because of the trauma I went through and I am still going through, I want to seek your indulgence that you will call on the sergeant-at-arm to look for a comfortable seat for me on this side (pointing at PDP row) of the divide because I am no longer comfortable sitting here.

    “So I want to ask Mr. President that you mandate the sergeant-at-arms tomorrow to look for a seat for me on this other divide of the chamber. And that before you do that today, through help of my walking stick, I will take a comfortable seat close to Papa General Senator David Mark, pending when you get me a comfortable seat on this side.

    “I want to thank you very much and say no retreat, no surrender.”

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan and Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye struggled to ensure that Melaye did not cross the Isle to the PDP side.

    Lawan went the extra mile to even offer his seat to Melaye if that would make him comfortable.

    Adeyeye said  allowing Melaye to move to the PDP side the way the Kogi Senator wanted it would plant disorder in the chamber.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that what Melaye was looking for was welfare and comfort.

    Ekweremadu who read relevant sections of the constitution noted that Melaye should be allowed to sit where he would be comfortable as doing otherwise would not be in his interest.

    Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, cited privileges of senators and declared that PDP senators were not complaing.

    He welcomed Melaye to the PDP side and assured him of his absolute comfort.

    Other PDP senators who joined the fray rushed to the APC side to escort Melaye to their side.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki in his ruling said, “As he said, we all thank God for his life. Let me on his behalf and on behalf of all of us thank those that gave all the supports during the difficult times and travails he has been through.

    “We as members of the National Assembly have always shown that whatever happens to one happens to all.

    “I appreciate you all for all the supports and we would continue to speak with one voice and be there for each other.

    “The last point I just want to comment, Senator Dino, you made a request which I can’t see the reasons why you now want to sit elsewhere.

    “Is it due to your injury or what? As far as I am concerned Senator Dino, I still know you with that seat. I take note of your request and I take note of your comments.”

    Melaye also recounted his ordeal in the hand of the police while he was detained over alleged gun running.

    He claimed that the police attempted to kill him “through the application of a chemical substance and secondly by injection.”

    “They actually came with an injection to inject me but God intervened. And to Him alone be the glory forever and ever,” he said.

    Melaye said, “Mr. President, my very respected colleagues, I am in your midst today alive by the grace of God. I am a manifestation of the declaration that there is God.

    “I want to start by appreciating God, the Supreme controller of the universe for manifesting that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.

    “I want to specially acknowledge the Nigerian Senate under the capable leadership of the irremovable President of the Nigerian Senate. I want to thank you for your love, concern for speaking for me and for defending the cause of democracy.

    “My President, my respected colleagues, I doff my hat.

    “Mr. President, I will not also conclude my appreciation without appreciating the indefatigable and indomitable Speaker of the House of Representatives and indeed the House of Representatives members. I thank them immensely and sincerely for showing that an injury to one is an injury to all.

    “I particularly thank my constituents, men of honour of Kogi West Senatorial District not only for showing love, praying for me, but for defending my mandate that when I couldn’t fight for myself, when I couldn’t speak for myself, they fought for me, they spoke for me and they stood for me, especially during the failed recall exercise orchestrated by the Governor of Kogi State.

    “I thank them immensely and I appreciate them and I pray the almighty God will continue to protect everyone from that senatorial district.

    “I indeed I thank Kogites and specially also appreciate the Peoples Democratic Party for making statements during my recall exercise and asking everyone to stay back. Politics have been shown not to be individualistic but to be about issues and purpose.

    “So, to the National Chairman of PDP, and indeed the Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State, I salute you! I salute you!! I salute you!!!

    “I want to thank Nigerians in general for showing me uncommon love, for showing me that they can stand by the truth at all times. I think Nigerians! I thank Nigerians!! I thank Nigerians!!! And I cannot stop thanking Nigerians.

    “When I went through the social media, when I saw the kind of support I got from Nigerians, then I am propelled, encouraged to continue to do only those things that will promote the integrity and prosperity of this country.

    “I want to say I am alive because God defended me. But I want to say that the Nigerian police attempted to kill me twice. One, through the application of a chemical substance and the second time through injection.

    “They actually came with an injection to inject me but God intervened. And to Him alone be the glory forever and ever.

    “And that is why I quote this part of the Holy Book that “He who sits in the sacred place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.

    “I thank the Almighty God for being alive and I want to promise Nigerians that because of the love I have seen, I will not derail. I will stand by the truth. No amount of intimidation, harassment, arrest, name-calling, blackmail planted will detract my attention from championing this cause.

    “The battle to salvage this country from financial scavengers and economic cankerworm is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.

    “We must salvage this country together. We have no other country to call our own but this country. So, I want to say as I get better, my voice gets better, it will become better. And I shall not cease to continue to ask questions where necessary.

    “Mr. President, once again, I thank you. I thank you for your show of love, show of comradeship, I thank you for everything you have done and say in your own life and that of my colleagues, afflictions shall not arise the second time.

    “But I want to conclude that by saying that we must not allow this to discourage us or get us disenchanted. We must be emboldened to ask questions.

    “The Executive cannot cow the legislature. We must be bold at all times and speak truth. Like I have always said, ‘if you speak the truth, you die; If you lie, you die. It is better to speak the truth and die,” Melaye stated.

    Akpabio’s attempt to ask Saraki to compel Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West) to move to APC side failed.

    Akpabio said that Uzodinma who participated actively in APC congresses should move to APC.

    Saraki overruled him.

    Insiders said that Melaye’s defection to PDP might have opened the floodgate of defections in the Senate.

  • Senate, security chiefs meet on insecurity

    For over four hours on Wednesday the Senate held a high level security briefing attended by heads of security agencies in the country.

    The briefing followed last week’s resolution by the upper chamber to invite security chiefs to brief members on proliferation of dangerous firearms, spate of killings by terrorists and kidnapping by hoodlums across the country.

    The briefing was held behind closed doors apparently due to the sensitive nature of issues under discussion.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) drew the attention of the Senate to “unabating killings in Zamfara State and prayed the lawmakers to take up the issue with relevant authorities.

    Before the briefing on Wednesday, the upper chamber conducted two successive closed door sessions to articulate the issues for discussion.

    At the end of the session, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, urged the Senate to invite the National Security Adviser,  Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede, Director- General of  the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura and Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, to brief the Senate on the proliferation of dangerous arms, killings by terrorism and kidnapping by hoodlums across the country.

    The Chief of Defence Staff led the DSS DG to the briefing.

    The Comptroller General of Immigration, Comptroller General Customs and the IGP sent representatives to the briefing.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who announced resolutions at the end of the briefing, said the security chiefs were directed to present emergency special budget for the consideration and approval of the National Assembly.

    Saraki said the special budget would be used for special funding of security matters.

     

     

  • Saraki/IGP face-off: Senate leadership meets Buhari

    The leadership of the Senate on Tuesday met President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors over alleged plot by the Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to frame the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on a murder charge.

    The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that they came to confer with the President on how to smoothen the working relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    But former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, told journalists they came  to meet the President because of the alarm raised by the Senate president on the plot to implicate him and Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, by suspected hoodlums.

    Adamu said: “The Senate President made some comments to the effect that he received a call from his governor that some persons suspected to be cultists who are undergoing investigation in Ilorin would be transferred to Abuja and it is becoming a problem that is why the governor intimated him.

    “That is why it was decided that we should come as leaders in the Assembly to hear what is going on and if anything can be done about it.”

    Asked why policemen were not allowed to perform their duties, the lawmaker added: “That cannot stop us from coming to see the President on the matter and to hear from him if you really know what has been happening at the National Assembly.

    “That cannot stop us from coming to see the President on the matter and to hear from him if you really know what has been happening at the National Assembly.

    “If there is a harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislature and even the judiciary all these type of things will not come up and even if they do come, not in the way they are coming up now.

    “A small matter is often overblown and it becomes a problem for everybody. This is the result of some unnecessary utterances because things are not going as expected. So long as suspicion and accusations continue to exist within the minds of some people who ordinarily shouldn’t have them, these things will continue.”

    Also in the delegation were the – Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, Danjuma Goje, Abiodun Olujinmi, and Sam Egwu.

  • Saraki vs IGP: Senate delegation meets Buhari at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with 10-man senate delegation raised to address the ongoing impasse between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Inspector-General of Police over a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

    NAN reports that members of the senate delegation included former governors of Nasarawa (Abdullahi Adamu), Gombe (Danjuma Goje) and Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio.

    NAN observed that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Mr Ita Enang also accompanied the senators to the meeting with the president.

    It would be recalled that the Senate had on May 9 passed vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ over his failure to honour its invitations twice.

    Read Also: Senate panel, Omo-Agege trade words over appearance at sitting

    Idris, however, asked the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joseph Habila to represent at the senate.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday also accused the IGP of plotting to implicate him and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara in a murder case involving some suspected cultists.

    The Senate on Thursday raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

  • Breaking: Buhari, Senators meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with a delegation of the Senate at the National Assembly.

    The 10-man delegate was constituted by the Senate over allegation by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of moves by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to frame him up.

    Read Also: Breaking: Buhari, Saraki, Dogara meet in Aso Rock

    They arrived the Presidential Villa around 1.p.m

    The relationship between the Senate and the Police has not been cordial in the past few weeks.

    IGP had refused to honour three invitations extended to him by the Senate.

    Frustrated by the behavior, the Senate had subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ and unfit to hold any public office anywhere in the world.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • Senate raises 10-man panel to meet Buhari

    The Senate yesterday raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the allegation that Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris is plotting to implicate Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Saraki made the allegation during the Semate Plenary yesterday following which he stepped down for his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to preside over the discussion on the matter.

    Ekweremadu noted that what Saraki said was some of the things wrong with the country’s democracy which should be halted.

    He insisted that the Senate must work to protect the rights of every Nigerian, no matter the situation.

    Ekweremadu said there should be a 10-man committee to engage President Muhammadu Buhari as soon as possible.

    He said the committee should report back to the Senate within one week.

    Ekweremadu named Saraki as the leader of the delagation. An objection to his leadership of the panel since he is the man at the centre of the matter was rejected.

    Other members of the committee are: Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye, Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Sam Egwu, Aliyu Wamakko, Oluremi Tinubu and Fatima Rasaki.

    Saraki noted that another leg of the plot was to also frame up Kwara State Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    The lawmakers described what they were told as “a dangerous development” that must be halted in the interest of democracy.

    Before the announcement, the upper chamber held over 45 minutes closed session which Saraki said was meant to deliberate on the running of the Senate and the National Assembly in general.

    Akpabio said the Senate was still in the dark about what actually happened.

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa said Saraki is not only the Senate President but chairman of the National Assembly.

    The Lagos East lawmaker suggested that a joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives be constituted to look into the matter.

    Senator Philip Aduda (FCT) described the information as dangerous for the country’s democracy and also proposed an ad-hoc committee to look into the matter.

    Adeyeye suggested a committee of seven from the Senate and six from the House of Representatives to consider the information.

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the Senate should take steps to make Nigerians appreciate the persecution members of the National Assembly were going through.

    Anyanwu said that the matter should be taken seriously, especially as it was a calculated attempt to ridicule the National Assembly and its members.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa, who differed, suggested that a high powered committee should meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter.

    Marafa said if a committee was constituted to probe the matter, the IGP might not be disposed to appearing before it.

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha described the matter as a dangerous development.

    Bwacha said that President Buhari should be told in clear terms that democracy was in danger.

    He described how his security detail was withdrawn on his way to Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    Senator Isa Misau said that he had the inclination that other security organisations were behind the onslaught against the National Assembly while the police were being used as the face.

    Misau said that what was happening was all geared towards 2019 general elections.

    He said: “It is either we have this democracy or we change it to another thing. We must know where we are. We cannot continue to work under intimidation and harassment. The whole thing is planned and it is obvious that people have been marked.”

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu described the report by Saraki as weighty.

    He noted that though senators received the information with shock, they should apply maturity by setting up an ad-hoc committee to consider the information and advise the Senate.

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan noted: “This is one of the sad moments of the Senate.”

    Lawan noted that senators would have just walked into the chamber to pass the 2018 budget already listed in the Order Paper.

    He said that it was pointless to continue to beat a dead horse by constituting another committee that the IGP might not honour.

    Lawan said that some people might be taking advantage of situations without the President being aware of what was going on.

    He agreed that a committee should be constituted to engage President Buhari to intimate him about the development and other issues the Senate might decide to bring to the attention of the President.