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Tag: Senator Dino Melaye

  • Recall: Drama as INEC dumps bags of documents at Melaye’s office

    Recall: Drama as INEC dumps bags of documents at Melaye’s office

    IT was all drama at the National Assembly yesterday as Senator Dino Melaye and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) engaged in hide-and-seek game over the Kogi West lawmaker’s recall.

    The INEC officials had arrived at the National Assembly complex as early as 11am with four ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags containing recall petitions and a heap of tied documents signed by constituents in Melaye’s  Kogi West.

    The INEC officials had split into two with one group waiting at the door of the senator’s office. The other group was monitoring the chambers, where Melaye kept himself busy with legislative duties.

    Apparently aware that some of the INEC officials were waiting for him in the frontage of his locked office at the Senate Wing of the complex, the lawmaker refused to go to his office after plenary.

    Melaye, who participated actively in the day’s proceedings, left the National Assembly complex without getting to his office as is the tradition with every lawmaker.

    Flustered by the senator’s antics, the electoral officials dumped the documents on the recall at the entrance of his office in the National Assembly.

    The documents were dumped around 11:00am.

    The INEC officials left the National Assembly complex at about 1.14pm disappointed.

    One after the other, they filed into a waiting Toyota Hiace bus that brought them.

    The controversial senator has been in a running battle with the INEC over plans by his constituents to recall him for alleged poor representation.

    He decided to buy time by approaching the courts to stop the process and succeeded in pushing the process for over the 90-day timeframe prescribed by the constitution.

    Melaye had, at a press briefing on Monday, washed his hands off the recall process, saying that the 90-day span prescribed by the Constitution had elapsed.

    However, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba in a later ruling, had ordered the INEC to start the process afresh by serving the relevant documents on the senator.

    At the last court appearance, INEC’s lawyers had sought to serve the senator through substituted service, but Justice Dimgba directed them to make another attempt at serving Melaye and that they should report back to court should the attempt fail.

     

  • INEC receives petition for recall of Kuki

    INEC receives petition for recall of Kuki

    …writes Kuki, to release timetable for recall shortly

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will soon reel out the timetable for the recall of Honorable Abubakar Galadima Kuki, a member representing Bebeji Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly.

    The commission in a statement signed by Prince Adedeji S. Soyebi Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) said it received a petition for his recall at the weekend from his constituents.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday the 11th of August, 2017 received a petition for the recall of Honourable Abubakar Galadima Kuki, a Member representing Bebeji Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, from his constituents.

    “In accordance with the INEC Guidelines for Recall, the Commission has formally acknowledged the receipt of the petition to the Petitioners’ representatives and has written to inform Honourable Kuki of the presentation of the petition.

    “A timetable and schedule of activities pursuant to the petition will be issued shortly.”

    Kuki is the second to be facing recall in this dispensation.

    Senator Dino Melaye, the senator representing the people of Kogi West Senatorial District was the first to face the recall process.

    Though the process for Mr. Melaye’s recall has been put on hold by the ruling of the High Court, which has been challenged by the electoral body.

     

  • Recall: Melaye knows fate Sept 11

    Recall: Melaye knows fate Sept 11

    …Court adjourns for judgment

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 11 for judgment in the suit by Senator Dino Melaye, challenging his planned recall by voters of Kogi West Senatorial District.

    The court’s sitting vacation judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba announced the date today after listening to lawyers argued their client’s positions and adopted written arguments filed.

    In the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/567/2017, Melaye alleged among others, denial of fair hearing and queried the authenticity of some of the signatures of voters in the petition for his recall sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The court has just commenced hearing in a similar suit marked: FHC/ABJ/601/2017, filed by the Kogi State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and 12 others.

    The other plaintiffs in the second suit are Alhaji ‎Haddy Ametuo, Hon. Shaibu Osune, S.T Adejo, Comrade Yahaya Ade Ismail, Chief Gbenga Ashagun, Ahovi S. Ibrahim, Ghali ND Usman, Isa Abubakar, I. Molemodile, Abubakr M. Adamu and Daniel Sekpe.

     

  • APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured leaders of the party in Kogi state that it has no plan to dissolve the state chapter of the party or any organ of the party in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen at the end of their meeting with the leadership of the party at the part national secretariat, leaders of the party in Kogi state led by Senator Alex Kadiri and Dino Melaye said they have received the assurance of the party that the dissolution of the state leadership was not part of three agenda of the meeting of the NWC.

    Speaking on behalf of the Kogi APC leaders, Senator Alex Kadiri said “We met with the national chairman and his team and we agreed “that the national working committee will not tamper with the APC in Kogi State. That is very very important to us. We got an affirmation from the Chairman that that is not in their agenda for their (NWC) meeting on Wednesday

    “The executive of the APC at all levels in Kogi State will not be dissolved because there is a procedure for the dissolution of the party executives at the State level even at the national level. 

    “We also disabuse our minds vis-a-vis the mind of the national chairman over the fact that people have accused some persons of moving funds from Kogi to Abuja. We do not have facts to give you on this. The chairman has assured us that his hands are clean on this matter and we believe him. 

    “That the Tony Momoh led reconciliation committee have actually submitted their report and the report will be considered by the national working committee at their meeting because APC members in the State are anxiously waiting for the outcome of that report. 

    “It is that report that has made the leaders of APC to be calm and not to do anything that will disrupt the party. And it is not our intention to destroy this party. But we have always said this that politics is a game of interest and relevance. If your interest is not being protected and people do not find you relevant, then there’s no point being there. 

    “And we are satisfied with the position of the national chairman that he will never do anything to frustrate the leaders of the APC in Kogi State. And I can assure you that on our part, all the serving senators in APC, personified by Dino Melaye,  all the former senators from Kogi State including Senator Ohiare, Abdul Abubakar and myself are all behind senator Dino Melaye in this fight. 

    “We believe that his fight is just, we believe that it is not right for APC to fold its hands and see the only APC Senator left in Kogi State to be taken out of the Senate chambers. We believe that we must fight to keep our senator in the national assembly. 

    “We also believe that the process of recall being orchestrated are all based on falsehood. Dead persons names are there, people who do not have PVC to vote were there and i hope you remember that total votes cast for all those who ran for senate for Kogi West in the last election came to about 133,000, but those who claim to have signed petition to withdraw Dino from the national Assembly are around 188,000. It is an exercise in futility. He has done us proud and we will stand by him.”

    Meanwhile, the party has, however, said it has not taken any decision as regards the chairman of the Kano state APC chapter, Alh. Umar Haruna Doguwa. 

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) said though it aware of the crisis rocking the state chapter but no decision has been taken. 

    “We wish to state that in respect of Kano, no such decision has been taken by the NWC. Although, we are aware of issues in the Kano State chapter, efforts to find lasting solutions to the problem are ongoing. In view of this, the statusquo is maintained until the ongoing process is completed. 

    “Party members, stakeholders, leaders and indeed the general public are advised to disregard the false reports.” 

  • Melaye’s recall: Saraki, Ekweremadu slams Kogi Attorney General

    Melaye’s recall: Saraki, Ekweremadu slams Kogi Attorney General

    The recall process for the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, got messier on Tuesday with the Senate President, Dr Olusola Saraki and Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu taking on the state governor and its Attorney General.

    Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, fired the first shot when he drew the attention of his colleagues to a three page advertorial by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kogi State, Ibrahim Sanni Muhammed disparaging his (Ekweremadu’s) contribution on the recall process.
    Muhammed noted in the advertorial that Ekweremadu’s submission that Melaye’s recall was an exercise in futility was made in bad faith.
    The Kogi Attorney General also said that it was unbecoming of Ekweremadu to have said that “They are just wasting precious time because the constitution is clear on what should happen. It is possible that the attorney general of Kogi has not advised them properly. If he had done that, I am sure they would have applied their time to more meaningful ventures in the state. The process of recall is the equivalent of impeachment of executive positions.”
    The Attorney General signed off his advertorial by saying “Finally, I must put on record that contrary to the legal opinion of Senator Ekweremadu on the role of the Senate in the recall process, the Senate has no role whatsoever in the recall exercise than to receive the Certificate under the hand of the Chairman of INEC stating that the provisions 69 of the Constitution have been complied with: See Sections 68(h) and 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
    Muhammed added that “Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulations for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.”
    But Ekweremadu who came under Order 43 (personal explanation) of the Senate standing rule insisted that the Muhammed was ill informed and should have advised those behind the recall process how near impossible it is to recall a member of the National Assembly.
    He noted that contrary to the position of the Kogi chief law officer, the Senate has a major role to play in the recall of senator and in fact final say in the recall process.
    Ekweremadu said: “This morning my attention was drawn to a three page advertorial by AG of Kogi State (in a national newspaper.)
    “He (attorney general) was responding to my contribution on the floor of the Senate when Senator Melaye informed the house of his constituents’ effort to recall him.
    “I urged them to apply their time to more useful venture in view of the strenuous nature of the recall process and I said the AG may not have advised them properly.
    “I understand that every page (of the advert) costs about 700,000 and five other papers carried the advert and we are talking of about N12m of Kogi money sent.
    “I would have ignored him but because of his statement in the final paragraph stating that “I must put on record that contrary to the legal opinion of Sen. Ekweremadu on the role of the Senate in recall process, the Senate has no role whatsoever in the recall exercise than to receive the certificate from the Chairman of INEC stating that the provisions of Section 69 of the Constitution has been complied with.
    “Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulation for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.
    “He is saying that the Senate has no role. I stand by what I said the other day and I would like to take him to Section 68(1H) and (2) show the role of the senate, which he says has no role.
    “Section 68(1H) reads, “ the President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the Speaker of the House of Representatives receives a certificate under the hand of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission stating that the provisions of section 69 of this Constitution have been complied with in respect of the recall of that member.
    “That was the section the Attorney General was referring to but he mischievously refused to state the provisions of section 2 or probably out of Ignorance, he did not put Section 68(2) which states:
    “The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member.
    “I don’t know how he came to conclusion that we don’t have a role. I stand by my position. So, I pity the people of Kogi that hired this type AG. It is unfortunate that we are paying a public servant and he is unable to do a simple work of looking at the constitution.
    “Let me emphasise that this 68(2) is not part of the amendment we made to the Constitution.
    “This has been the original provision of the Constitution, so we did not effect it. It has nothing to do with Dino or whosoever. We inherited this provision since 1999. It has been there.
    “So, for him not to know about it I don’t know where he went to law schools anyway, because if he has been properly educated, he would have been conversant with the basic provisions of the constitution.
    “I also don’t know his age at the bar but I believe I am his senior at the bar and I expect him to show some respect to his senior because that is what we were taught at the law school.
    “For the avoidance of doubt, I also believe I have better credentials than himself in the legal profession.
    “I was a teacher and my specialization was Constitutional law. I also practiced law.
    “I have a doctorate degree in law and my interest is also Constitutional Law.
    “I am also the Chairman Constitution review committee of this National Assembly since 2010. So, if I am taking about the constitution, I know what I am talking about.
    “I expect the Ag, instead of him displaying his ignorance to simply call me and I will educate him on the correct position of the law.
    “So I take exception to this and I believe that he needs to refund the amount spent on this to the people of Kogi.
    “So I call on the Kogi House of Assembly to institute an inquiry on who paid for this and find a way of getting the money back to pay the salaries of the people of Kogi state.
    “Kogi should constitute an enquiry to know who paid the money.”
    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who did not allow any debate on the issue concurred with Ekweremadu.
    Saraki said, “The Deputy President of the Senate came under Order 43 and according to our rules it cannot be further debated, but honestly I am concerned with the caliber of people holding very senior position.
    “Even those of us who only have association with the legal profession by being married to one but we have learnt over the years to know that this is straight forward.
    “What is even more disturbing and irresponsible is how you can spend N10 million on advert. I have been a governor, when you file money for advert it is a difficult issue.
    “This pretty much shows that government is truly is behind the entire process, when a government can go about and take an advert on an issue like this.
    “There is a need for people on appointed or elected to positions to show some level of responsibility.
    “This is a very simple matter in the constitution. You did not write it neither did you invent it, so DSP, you were just reading it as it.
    “As you said it is very unfortunate for the people of Kogi State,” Saraki stated.

  • Melaye’s recall: There is no restraining order – INEC

    Melaye’s recall: There is no restraining order – INEC

    •Senator’s supporters seek divine intervention

    Barring a last-minute change of mind, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin today the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    But supporters of the embattled senator have been pleading with some Christian clerics to intervene in the matter.

    A team headed by INEC National Commissioner might oversee the process, which may also involve its Operation Department.

    A top INEC official, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is no restraining order from any court. We will go ahead with the first leg. But if along the line, INEC is stopped from going ahead with the exercise, we will stop it.

    “Pasting the verification notice is just the first leg of the process, which cannot hurt Melaye in any way.

    “Even the process does not amount to removing the senator. By virtue of Section 110, a lawmaker is only opportune to gauge the mood of his or her constituents on his or her performance.

    “If a lawmaker is doing well, he or she should feel free to face the electorate. The process is not a setback at all for any lawmaker.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “A team to be coordinated by the National Commissioner for Northcentral will oversee the process. Definitely, the Operation Department will be involved.

    “INEC will,  however, seek legal opinion immediately it is served the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “We have subsisting court judgments, including those of the Court of Appeal,  indicating that no court can stop a recall, which is like an election.”

    Melaye’s counsel Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) flew into Abuja yesterday.

    Some supporters of the embattled senator have been begging some Christian clerics to assist by whipping up religious sentiments, another source said.

    The INEC timetable shows that  Melaye’s recall will run from July 10th to August 19th.

    The notice, dated July 3, 2017, reads: “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Independent National Electoral Commission (“the Commission”) by Sections 69 and 110 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 116 of the Electoral  Act 2010 (as amended) and of all the powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby issues this timetable schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.”

    The details of the timetable are as follows:

    • Notice of Verification(July 10, 2017). To be posted at the constituency (INEC LGA office, Lokoja).
    • Last day for submission of application by interested observers (31st July 2017). INEC headquarters.
    • Last day for submission of names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled and the petitioners (August 10, 2017). By a letter addressed and submitted to the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) indicating the Polling Unit verification agents arranged by LGAs as well as collation agents and where they will serve.
    • Stakeholders meeting (August 15, 2017). INEC State Office.
    • Conduct of Verification (August 19, 2017). To be held in the Polling Units in the constituency.

    “The commission shall issue the timetable and schedule of  activities for the conduct of referendum subject to the outcome of the verification exercise.”

  • 188,580 Kogi West electorates signs to recall Melaye

    188,580 Kogi West electorates signs to recall Melaye

    Indication appeared Monday that 188, 580 electorates from Kogi West have signed the recall register form to oust Senator Dino Melaye from the National Assembly.

    The returning officer for the recall of the lawmaker, Adamu Yusuf claimed that out of 360,098 of the total registered voters from the seven local government areas that make up the senatorial district: Yagba, Mopa-Muro, Kabba Bunu, Yagba East, Koton Karfe, Lokoja and Ijumu, 188, 588, signed the recall register constituting 52.3 per cent of the voters in the district.

    He stated that the breakdown of the recall exercise for Yagba East – out of 35,331 registered voters, 18, 374 (52 per cent) signed the recall register.

    Others are Mopa-Moro, 18,356 voters (9,186 signed – 50.04 per cent), Kabba/Bunu 60,522, voters (28,277 – 46.7 per cent) and Yagba West, 35, 966 registered voters, 20,029 signed – 55.7 per cent.

    Lokoja LG, 63, 736 (54.8 per cent) out of 116, 296 registered voters.

    For Koton-Karfe 24,703 (52.77 per cent) and Ijumu, 46,819 registered voters, 24, 238 representing 51.8 per cent.

    He added: “Going by the above figures, it is important to let Nigerians know that we have met the constitutional requirements of 51.1 per cent. Senator Melaye has failed to represent Kogi West so we are calling him back home”.

    All the seven council administrators from Kogi West were present at the event which held at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, Lokoja.

  • Presidency pleased with development in Kogi – Gov

    Presidency pleased with development in Kogi – Gov

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday urged the Senate to ensure the red chamber is made up of men of high calibre, integrity and good character to retain its high esteem.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governor claimed that Senator Dino Melaye, who is representing Kogi West, was not fit for the Senate.

    He said: “You see, I would rather admonished Nigerians that when a child lacks proper parental care and home upbringing, he constitutes social menace in the society. And if the society does not take steps to check and correct such a child, they can turn into criminal and take into criminality then it will be left to government to check such criminality. And if government does not, such a child can cause a serious embarrassment. That is what is happening in Kogi State.

    Then talking of the Senate, let me rather admonish the Senate that that is an institution that is held in a very high esteem and I think the Senate and indeed the National Assembly is made up of men of high calibre and of high integrity and good character.

    “I think it is necessary that that wonderful House should as matter of urgency and as a matter of fact check any social deviant that exists within them before they could be adjudged birds of the same feather. I know they are not of the same feather.”

    But he said there is no crisis in the state, stressing that Kogi State is living in peace.

    “Projects are ongoing, we are all happy over there, salaries are being paid as at when due and we are making serious progress.” he added.

    On the claim by Melaye that the governor has earmarked N1 billion to remove him, Bello said: “That is figment of his imagination. The good people of Okunland and indeed West Senatorial District have learned from a bitter mistake of not taming and curbing that social deviant and they have decided to take lawful steps in recalling him.”

    He said he was in the Villa to brief the Acting President on the latest development in his state.

    “I came to brief the Acting President of development in my state. We all know Mr. President is taking a rest and the men at the helm of affairs needs to be periodically briefed. He is pleased with the development in Kogi State,” he stated.

  • Why I won’t apologise, by Ndume

    Why I won’t apologise, by Ndume

    Suspended former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has ruled out a likelihood of him apologising in order to get a recall.

    He told reporters, after an interactive session with his constituents in Abuja, that there was no basis for him to apologise since he did nothing to warrant a suspension.

    Ndume was on March 39 sent on a six months’ suspension for alleged breach of Senate rules. He allegedly alerted the Senate to the purchase of exotic cars for the Senate President, with forged papers, and the certificate scandal against Senator Dino Melaye.

    The Senate specifically blamed him for not “conducting due diligence” before bringing the matter to the floor.

    The Borno South senator, however, said though he is not averse to apologising where there is need to do so, there was nothing for him to apologise for.

    He insisted that he did not offend the standing rules of the Senate.

    His words: “The move for an apology was made but I did not do anything to warrant tendering an apology. I have no problem with an apology but you have to apologise for something you did.

    “The issues I raised were put to rest after I raised them. The issue of importation of car was put to rest. The certificate issue was also put to rest. It was because I raised the issues. Perhaps if I did not raise them, the issues may have lingered.

    “I did not do anything so there is no basis for me to tender any apology.”

    The lawmaker added that the resolution to investigate the issue was not his, but a Senate resolution.

    “The whole thing will come and go; it will pass away; it is part of the challenges a politician go through. My challenge in the Senate now is temporary; it should not stop me from doing what I have been doing for my constituents. It is very temporary.

    “I take my suspension in good faith. It will pass away. I am lucky to be in the Senate. Right now I am going through industrial attachment because one day I will leave the Senate. I don’t expect to die there.”

  • Updated: Two feared dead in pro-Melaye protest in Kogi

    Updated: Two feared dead in pro-Melaye protest in Kogi

    No fewer than two persons were Monday confirmed dead during a pro-Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) protest in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    All appeared to be relatively peaceful at the protest rally as the lawmaker, who was mounted atop a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), from across the entrance in the Kogi State Polytechnic, on the Lokoja-Abuja highway, rounded up on his message, when commotion came from nowhere.

    Clashes would later erupt between the supporters of Senator Melaye and others believed to be pro-Governor Yahaha Bello, as some unknown gunmen alighted from a Sienna SUV, and moved to disrupt the protest.

    But while Senator Melaye escaped gunshots by the whiskers, others including some that stood close to where the Sienna SUV stood were caught by the flying bullets.

    Senator Melaye was in Lokoja to address his supporters on his planned recall which he alleged was being bankrolled by Governor Bello.

    Melaye arrived the gate of the state polytechnic; in Felele at around 11:00am to address the waiting youths when midway into the address, sporadic gunshots were heard from the NATACO end of the Okene/Abuja road.

    The exchange of gunfire lasted for an hour before a combined team of security personnel, including the Army and SSS operatives arrived the scene.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Air Commodore Jerry OModara (rtd.) and the state Commissioner of Police Wilson Inalegwu were both sighted on the scene.

    Melaye, however, said that three people were killed and several others injured by those he described as agents of the government.