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Tag: Senate

  • Senate fails to stop Omo-Agege

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by the Senate to say execution of the judgment voiding its suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling yesterday, held that the application, in addition to the notice of appeal attached to it, was wrongly directed.

    The judge noted that the application did not show that it was targeted at the court’s judgment of May 10, declaring Omo-Agege’s suspension as unlawful.

    Justice Dimgba noted that, while the application said it sought a stay of the judgment in which all the plaintiff’s reliefs were granted, the May 10 judgment did not grant reliefs one to seven of the plaintiff, but merely made consequential order under the omnibus prayer.

    The judge said: “An application that is desirous of the court’s exercise its discretion must be an application that is genuine. And to be genuine, it must realistically target the actual decision that was reached by the court, and which enforcement is being asked to be stayed.

    “Looking at the ground of the application as well as the notice of appeal submitted to support the application, I am of the view that the ground and notice of appeal are targeted at a different decision of the court made on May 10, 2018.

    “The ground of the application as well as the notice of appeal attacks a decision where all reliefs of the plaintiff were granted, whereas, by the record of this court, in the judgment delivered by this court on May 10, 2018, all the seven main reliefs of the plaintiff were refused.

    “The court only made an order pursuant to the eight omnibus relief, on the basis that the sole reason given for the recommendation and the subsequent suspension of the plaintiff was an unconstitutional reason.

    “I have seen nothing, either in the application or the notice of appeal, that attacks or targets that sole conclusion of the court.

    “On the sole reason that the application and the notice of appeal do not show that they are targeted at the judgment of this court of May 10, 2018 sought to be stayed, I believe that I am left with no choice than to exercise my discretion in refusing the application. I hereby dismiss the application.”

    The Senate and its President, Bukola Saraki, had sought to stay the execution of the May 10 judgment pending the determination of an appeal they claimed to have filed.

    Senator Omo-Agege attended plenary yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reports that Omo-Agege was seen signing the attendance register at the upper chamber, and immediately walked into the chamber for proceedings of the day.

  • Breaking: Court grants Melaye bail

    …in the sum of N10,000,000

     

    The Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, has granted bail to the embattled lawmaker representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye.

    Read Also: OPC demands Melaye ’s release

    The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, in a ruling on the bail application by Melaye’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Wednesday, granted the bail in the sum of N10,000,000.

     

    Details later

  • Senate endorses attractive investment environment bill

    The pro-business, Attractive Investment Environment Bill, was yesterday passed by the Senate.

    The passage of the repeal and re-enactment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), is perhaps the biggest business reform bill in the country in over 28 years.

    The passage of the Bill, heralds a new dawn for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development in Nigeria, as the country will now join a select group of countries with attractive investment environments.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who spoke about the Bill, noted that the passage of CAMA was a significant milestone in the 8th Senate’s legislative agenda.

    Saraki said, “With the passage of CAMA, which is by far the biggest and one of the most far-reaching legislation ever passed in any legislature in our country, we have now put in place a regulatory framework to promote the ease of doing business and reduce regulatory hurdles.

    “This is a pro-business law. This bill that we have just passed will show the audacity that we have to move Nigerian businesses into a new era of success and development.”

    If signed into law, the new Bill will help to make country’s business environment as competitive as its counterparts around the world.

    It also “allow business owners to register their businesses in a faster and more efficient way by using technology; removes all the unnecessary regulatory provisions , such as the requirement for ‘annual general meetings’ and ‘company secretaries’; and reduces the minimum share capital for all companies and start-ups in Nigeria — which will encourage more investments and create new jobs.”

     

     

     

     

  • Invasion: National Assembly panel summons Omo-Agege, Ndume

    … To face panel Wednesday over alleged complicity in mace theft saga

     

    The Senate and House of Representatives joint committee on the investigation of the April 18, 2018, invasion of Senate chamber Tuesday invited a former Senate leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to explain their alleged roles in the incident.

    Ndume and Omo-Agege are to answer questions on allegation of aiding the invaders to force their way into the Senate chamber to snatch the mace.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, issued the invitation at the committee’s meeting Tuesday.

    The invitation was said to have been sequel to testimonies by heads of different security agencies within the National Assembly alleging that “Omo-Agege led seven unauthorised persons into the Senate to steal the mace.”

    The action of the chamber invaders was said to have “disrupted plenary.”

    Findings also showed that Ndume was alleged to have prevented Sergeant At Arms who keeps the Mace, from taking it away to safety.

    The invitation letter to read in part:

    “Based on the testimony of the Sergeant At Arms before the committee, you (Mr. Ndume) are alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety.

    “The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation.

    The committee’s invitation to Omo-Agege said, “Based on the testimony of the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the DSS and the Sergeant at Arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly accompanied by seven persons who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 a.m.

    Read Also: Saraki inaugurates panel to probe invasion of chamber

    “All those who testified, stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you.

    “The committee, in pursuance of this, has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am,”

    The National Assembly Divisional Police Officer, Sulu-Gambari Abdul, had accused the Ndume and Omo-Agege of conspiring with thugs who invaded the Senate chamber and took away the mace on April 18, 2018

    Sulu-Gambari noted that the Senate invasion was an act of internal conspiracy among some security agencies and some lawmakers, confirming allegation of complicity of security agencies in the invasion.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who inaugurating the joint ad hoc committee of the National Assembly to investigate the invasion of the Senate chamber and snatching of the mace by suspected thugs last week noted that the attackers had violated the liberty of the people who the National Assembly represent.

    Saraki had said, “The events of the 18th of April, 2018, will go down as one of the darkest days of our democracy. The precincts of the National Assembly is not just a place where the National Assembly meets, it is the symbol of our liberty and freedom from autocracy and the base of our democracy.

    “This should not happen. It should never have happened. The violation of this solemn place, the symbol of our liberty to have a government by the representatives of our people for our people, by a group of mobsters and criminals cannot simply be ignored.

    “It has been inferred in many quarters that this group of thugs and urchins were led by a serving distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (this) is most despicable and unspeakable.”

    Meanwhile Senator Omo-Agege failed to resume plenary Tuesday as widely reported.

    The Delta Central lawmaker was reported to have said that he would resume plenary Tuesday following a court ruling which set aside his suspension by the Senate.

    Although no reason was given for his absence, sources said that Omo-Agege is likely to resume plenary Wednesday

    in compliance to the court judgement.

  • NASS jerks 2018 budget to N9.120 trillion

    The 2018 budget has been jerked to N9,120,334,988,225 by the House of Representatives.

    According to the document laid on Tuesday, N530,421,368,624 was proposed for statutory transfer; N2,869,600,351,825 for development fund for capital expenditure; N3,516,477,902,077 for recurrent (non debt) expenditure while N2,203,835,365,699 is for debt service; and N199b for sinking fund for maturing loans.

     

    Read Also : Senate to receive report on 2018 Budget today

     

    Details later…

  • Senate receives report on 2018 Budget today

    As plenary resumes on Tuesday, the Senate is set to receive the report on the 2018 Budget proposal.

    This is coming six months after the Budget was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2017.

    Mr Olu Onemola, Special Assistant on New Media to the President of the Senate, took to his twitter handle @OneMolaOlu to share a picture of the Order Papre for Tuesday which showed that the draft report will be laid on the floor of the Senate.

    The 2018 Budget has been on the front burner in recent times as many people have blamed the National for purposely delaying the budget as using it as a tool against the Executive.

    However, the National Assembly had maintained that the delays were due to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) who have failed to submit their details within the stipulated time.

    The President of the Senate and head of the National Assembly, Dr Bukola Saraki had assured that the Budget will be treated with the uttermost urgency which it deserves.

    Read Also: 2018 budget: Senate, Reps, request N2bn more for Tourism sector

    Below is the breakdown of the 2018 Budget.

    Budget size: N8.612 trillion (16 % higher than 2017 estimates)

    Assumptions, projections
    ==================
    • Benchmark crude oil price-US$45 per barrel
    • Oil production estimate – 2.3 million barrels per day
    • Exchange rate – N305/US$ for 2018
    • Real GDP growth of 3.5 per cent
    • Inflation Rate of 12.4 per cent

    Expenditure Estimates
    ================
    The proposed aggregate expenditure of N 8.612 trillion (16 per cent above 2017 budget estimate)
    will comprise
    • Recurrent Costs of N3.494 trillion
    • Debt Service of N2.014 trillion
    • Statutory Transfers of about N456 billion
    • Sinking Fund of N220 billion (to retire maturing bond to local contractors)
    • Capital Expenditure of N2.428 trillion (excluding the capital component of statutory transfers).

    Recurrent Expenditure
    =================
    A substantial part of the recurrent cost proposal for 2018 is for the payment of salaries and overheads in key ministries providing critical public services such as:
    • N510.87 billion for Interior
    • N435.01 billion for Education
    • N422.43 billion for Defence
    • N269.34 billion for Health

    Capital Expenditure
    ===============
    Key capital spending allocations in the 2018 Budget include:
    • Power, Works and Housing: N555.88 billion
    • Transportation: N263.10 billion
    • Special Intervention Programmes: N150.00 billion
    • Defence: N145.00 billion
    • Agriculture and Rural Development N118.98 billion
    • Water Resources: N95.11 billion
    • Industry, Trade and Investment: N82.92 billion
    • Interior: N63.26 billion
    • Education N61.73 billion
    • Universal Basic Education Commission: N109.06 billion
    • Health: N71.11 billion
    • Federal Capital Territory: N40.30 billion
    • Zonal Intervention Projects N100.00 billion
    • North East Intervention Fund N45.00 billion
    • Niger Delta Ministry: N53.89 billion
    • Niger Delta Development Commission: N71.20 billion.

    Key projects and programmes to be implemented in 2018:
    =========================================
    • N9.8 billion for the Mambilla hydro power project, including N8.5 billion as counterpart
    funding
    • N12 billion counterpart funding for earmarked transmission lines and substations
    • N35.41 billion for the National Housing Programme
    • N10.00 billion for the 2nd Niger Bridge
    • About N300 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of strategic roads

    Regional Spending Priorities for Peace, Security and Development
    ==============================================
    • N65 billion for the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been retained in the 2018 Budget
    • Capital provision for the Ministry of Niger Delta increased to N53.89 billion from the N34.20 billion provided in 2017
    • Completion of East-West Road, with a provision of about N17.32 billion in 2018

     

    (NAN)

  • Senate: We won’t stop Omo-Agege from resuming

    The Nigerian Senate said Monday night that it will not  from attending plenary on Tuesday, in compliance with a Federal High Court order.

    The Senate had initially stated it would not respect the order, since it has filed an appeal, in a higher court.

    But in a sudden twist, the Senate gave its new position in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, chairman of the Committee on Media and Publicity.

    “The Senate leadership has been briefed by our lawyers on last Thursday judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on whether the Senate has the legal authority to suspend a member for certain misconduct or not.

    “We have equally filed an appeal against the judgement of the court and a motion for stay of execution of the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

    “As an institution that obeys the law and court orders, the Senate has decided that it will comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court and do nothing to stop Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from resuming in his office and at plenary from tomorrow May 15, 2018, pending the determination of the application for stay of execution.

    “The Senate has been advised that since the motion for stay of execution of the Thursday (May 10, 2018) judgement shall be heard and possibly determine on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, we shall therefore respect the subsisting High Court judgement and await the appellate court decision on the pending motion”, said Sabi Abdullahi.

    The senate backpedalling came hours after Senator Omo-Agege vowed to attend today’s session despite the reported beefing up of security by the National Assembly authorities.

    Omo-Agege spoke at the APC National secretariat citing his legal victory.

    Last week Thursday, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the suspension of Omo-Agege for 90 days by his colleagues and declared it illegal.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered his reinstatement with immediate effect.

    The senator representing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central, was suspended by the senate because he openly criticised the amendment of election sequence carried out by the senate.

    He accused the senators of making provision for election sequence in the amended Electoral Act in disfavor of President Muhammadu Buhari,

    The 2019 general election sequence released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) placed the presidential election first, but the senators reversed it

    Buhari refused to assent to the bill and the court had also ruled that the senate had no power to alter the sequence of election as fixed by INEC.

    The court also presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba declared Omo-Agege’s suspension unconstitutional.

    Omo-Agege, a lawyer had challenged his suspension in court.

    Dimgba said that the reason given by the Senate and the Senate President for suspending Omo-Agege was unconstitutional.

    “While the legislator has powers to take disciplinary measures against its members, the reason given for the punishment is an unconstitutional reason.

    “I hereby nullify the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) which was based on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions with immediate effect.”

    Dimgba also ordered the Senate to pay Omo-Agege any outstanding salaries or allowances which were due to him during the period of the suspension.

    The judge stated that the decision recommended by the committee to punish Omo-Agege for going to court was wrong and contravened Sections 4 and 6 of the constitution adding that he had a right to go to court.

    “Access to court is one key indicator of a democracy, the exercise of his rights cannot be a basis for punishment.”

    The judge further stated that the court took judicial notice of the fact that while the suit was pending in court, the senate went ahead to suspend the senator for 90 legislative days.

    “In sanctioning a legislator, the legislature must act within the law. While this suit was pending, and to the knowledge of the Senate and the Senate President, they went ahead and imposed a sanction on him.”

    The judge also said that the 90 legislative days suspension was against Order 67, Rule 4 of the Senate Standing Rules which provided for a lawmaker to be suspended for only 14 legislative days.

    He maintained that suspending the senator for more than 14 days was denying his constituents the required representation.

    He, however, held that the legislature had the powers to sanction any lawmaker who set out to make comments or act in a way that could bring disrepute to the institution.

    But that the legislature went out of track and arrived at a wrong and false end by punishing the senator for exercising his rights.

    According to him, Omo-Agege’s right was not breeched when the senate referred him to its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions as he erroneously believed.

    Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the senate.

    He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator and to make any order that it may be deem fit

  • CIBN to Senate: pass Financial System Strategy 2020 Bill

    The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CBN) has called on the Senate to urgently pass the Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020) Bill into law. The passage of the bill, it said, would promote financial inclusion and strengthen electronic payments.

    The CIBN President/Chairman of Council, Segun Ajibola, made the demand during a visit by the CIBN team to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

    The Institute, Ajibola added, has also worked closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in carrying out a national survey on the possible adoption of cryptocurrency (particularly Bitcoin) as a legal medium of exchange in the country.

    Ajibola explained that the quick passage of Nigeria International Financial Centre Bill, Financial Consumer Protection Bill, and the Electronic Transactions Bill are critical to the implementation of FSS2020.

    While appreciating the level of work done by the Senate, including the passage of the Collateral Securities Bill into law and review of about 50 existing extant laws.

    He thanked the Senate President for the leadership in getting the eight Assembly to pass legislation that has positively impacted on the financial sector. This, Ajibola said, has in no small measure enhanced the recovery and resilience of Nigeria’s economy.

    He also praised the legislation establishing the Collateral Registry Bill that has provided an enhanced environment for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access credit.

    He also disclosed that the CIBN will be approaching the NASS to amend its extant law, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Act No. 5 of 2007 in order to further strengthen its capacity to deliver on its statutory mandate.

    In his response, Saraki said the Senate under his leadership has passed several Bills that are geared towards strengthening the financial sector for the overall growth of the economy.

    He said that Nigeria has demographics that highlight more than 70 per cent of the population is in the youth bracket which is an asset to the nation if properly utilized so that it does not become a liability.

  • l never refused to honour Senate’s invitation- IGP

    The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has said that there was never a time he turned down the invitation of the Senate. 

    Speaking in Kano on Saturday on a local Radio Station, Idris  affirmed that he has never at any time refused to honour the invitation of the Senate, because he holds them in high esteem. 

    The IGP said the invitation of the Senate according to the letter sent to him was on Senator Dino Melaye’s case which is before a court and discussing such will amount to prejudice and contempt.

     He said he has no cause to refuse to answer the call of the Senate if the issue has to do with national interest and issue.

    He explained that  since assumption of office in June 2016, he has  appeared 10 times before the Senate on different issues of national importance, noting that he holds the lawmakers in high esteem.

    “The recent claim by the Senate that the reason for inviting me is to brief them on the recent killings in some part of the country could be an afterthought which can be seen from the headings of their invitation letters,” the IGP stated.

    The senate at plenary recently declared the IGP an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country for failing to honour its invitation thrice

    Speaking on the spate of killings in the country,Idris said  that new area commands have been created in some volatile environments with the deployment of additional Policemen to Zamfara,Birnin Gwari in Kaduna, Benue and Taraba States.

    He also  said the mop up exercise of prohibited arms  and weapons across the country has led to the recovery of  over 5000 prohibited arms from wrong hands .

    According to him, it is a continuous operation as those in possession of such arms will be prosecuted after the expiration of the window created for voluntary submission of illegal weapons.

  • IGP Idris was invited by Senate because of Dino Melaye – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force has alleged  that the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris was invited by the Senate because of Sen. Dino Melaye and not the killings across the country as claimed.

    The senate at plenary recently, declared the IGP as enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country for failing to honour its invitation thrice.

    The senate had refused the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of operations and other senior police officers to represent the IGP when he was invited on April 26.

    “The recent claim by the Senate that the reason for inviting the IGP is to brief them on the recent killings in some part of the Country is an afterthought which can be seen from the headings of their invitation letters”, ACP Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman said in Abuja on Saturday.

    Moshood said that if the invitation was for him to brief the senate on strategies adopted in tackling killings in the country, it would not have been planned for a national television.

    “The Senate’s action to cover the appearance of the IGP on National Television is against National Security, unconventional and it negates global security practice,”he said.

    The spokesman said that the letter the senate wrote inviting the IGP clearly showed that the invitation was not about the killings but about Dino.

    “From the headings of the invitation letters, it is very clear that the IGP was invited on those occasions by the Senate purposely because of Senator Dino Melaye’s criminal indictment,”he said.

    Moshood said that the purported list of killings in Nigerian this year by the senate, was shocking, unfortunate and capable of worsening the security situation in the country.

    “It is mischievous and heinous to play politics with people’s lives; even if it is a soul.

    “The release is speculative and not supported by any fact. Office of the Senate President does not receive or process security report from State commands,”he said.
    He said that the Force as a law abiding entity would continue to uphold the rule of law in all its ramifications.

    “The Force insists on due process of the law and once again implores the Senate not to whip-up sentiments or resort to self-help but to allow the rule of law and justice to prevail on the whole matter, “he said.