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Tag: Senator Dino Melaye

  • ‘EFCC must investigate Melaye, Justice Ikpeme over bribe allegations’

    ‘EFCC must investigate Melaye, Justice Ikpeme over bribe allegations’

    Concerned Nigerians, a pro-democracy group committed to accountability, rule of law, good governance and the fight against corruption has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  to investigate the Snator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye and Justice Akon Ikpeme of the Cross River State High Court.

    The group made this known on Friday in a press release signed by Deji Adeyanju, the Convener and Dr. John Danfulani, Secretary., stating that its attention is drawn to a conversation between the Senator and the Judge which was published by Sahara Reporters, an online news platform, recently.

    In the release, the group noted that its attention is drawn to a conversation between the Senator and the Judge which was published by Sahara Reporters, an online news platform, recently.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a voice audio recording purported to be a conversation between Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District and Justice Akon Ikpeme of the Cross River State High Court published by Sahara Reporters few days ago.

    “We are calling on the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu to sanction that an investigation be conducted into the allegations of bribery of the Cross River State High Court Judge by Senator Melaye.

    “A careful analysis of this voice recording suggests that the Cross River State High Court judge was bribed by Senator Dino Melaye.

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must investigate the circumstances of this recording, the allegations insinuated therein and the veracity of the recording. Senator Dino Melaye and Justice Akon Ikpeme of the Cross River State High Court must be invited for questioning by the EFCC. A thorough investigation must be done in this matter.

    “This is another test of the anti-corruption war of the Buhari led Government. EFCC must prove that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption and that all who commit financial crimes must be brought to book irrespective of their position.

    “Since members of the opposition have been at the receiving end in the fight against corruption of this administration, the investigation and subsequent prosecution of the culprits in this matter might correct the established notion.

  • Attempt on Melaye: Police arrest Ijumu LG administrator

    Attempt on Melaye: Police arrest Ijumu LG administrator

    The police have arrested the administrator of Ijumu Local Governmental Area of Kogi State, Hon. Taofiq Isa, in connection with last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Senator Dino Melaye (APC- Kogi West).

    Isa was arrested on Wednesday by the Police Special Squads drafted from Police Force Headquarters Abuja.

    He was arrested around 1.30pm at the premisis of the state ministry of education, in Lokoja where he had gone to visit the commissioner, Hon. Sunday Tolorunleke.

    The administrator had earlier been invited following Senator Melaye’s insistence that the hands of the administrator were clearly visible in the attempt on his life.

    Sources close to Kogi Sate Police Command told our correspondent that the directive to arrest him was from the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IG).

    The source said that the IG viewed such issues such as an attempt on somebody’s life, as “a very serious matter and ordered the command to do everything possible to investigate the alleged assassination attempt”.

    “No body is above the law in Nigeria as far the law is concerned. We are still investigating and we must get to the root of the issue”, he added.

    The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, (CP) Wilson Inalegwu while confirming the arrest, said his command was working round the clock on the issue.

    He also confirmed that some guns were recovered, pointing out that he was working hand in hand with his senior officers on the issue.

    He said anyone linked to the crime would be investigated no matter how highly placed.

    “Nobody is above the law. If you are linked to a particular crime, that person must be investigated to know if he or she is innocent,” he said.

  • Who wants Dino dead?

    News of an attempt to kill Senator Dino Melaye is a cause for concern. The controversial federal legislator may have attracted ill will on account of his chain of loudly dramatic actions inside and outside the legislative chamber, but his theatrics should not attract a death sentence. The incident of April 15 surely deserves a thorough police investigation.

    Melaye’s account: “I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the power that is in the state which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life. At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullet into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth.”

    He continued: “If I speak the truth, I will die, if I lie, I will die. I’ve decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men, I don’t fear them. I am championing an administrative cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”

    Melaye was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday when the attackers struck; and his house was reportedly “riddled with bullets while two of the vehicles parked in the estate were damaged.”  It is reassuring that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, has set up an investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to shed light on the dark operation.

    It is interesting that Melaye is trying to help the police do their job, but he is going about it in a characteristically noisy way.  He has accused Taufiq Isa, the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government, of sponsoring the attack, claiming that he was targeted because of his unrelenting condemnation of the state government.

    It is curious and ironic that Melaye also suspects the police in this matter.   He was quoted as saying: “The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the Area Commander in Kabba was not notified until I called the Commissioner of Police. I suspect a satanic collaboration between Taufiq Isa and the police in Aiyetoro because the duo held a meeting two days ago. Only God will protect us in this country but definitely not the police.”

    Since Melaye has reached this puzzling conclusion, the question must be asked: What does he want?  Considering his apparent influence in the Senate, perhaps he would get like-minded legislators to probe the issue, and create yet another distraction from the serious business of lawmaking.

     

  • Assassination unknown to Kogi – Sen. Melaye

    Assassination unknown to Kogi – Sen. Melaye

    • We’ll not join issue with him, replies govt

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye has expressed shock over the assassination attempt.

    He described the situation as highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political culture of the people of Kogi West.

    This was contained in a press statement he issued on Tuesday, a copy was made available in Lokoja.

    He declared that no matter what, he will continue to champion democratic courses targeted at good governance, masses empowerment and the rule of law.

    “No amount of threat, blackmail or harassment will stop me from being the voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of the common man,” he said.

    He also expressed outrage and disbelief that four days after the attempt on his life, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has not deemed it for to visit to know the state of affairs with him as a serving senator from the state.

    “The governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes. In the history of Kogi West, various political gladiators have at various times had their differences, but none had ever been escalated to the level of differences, but none had ever been escalated to the level of differences but none had ever been escalated to the level of the attempt on life.

    “Chief Awoniyi and Chief Daniyan (both of blessed memory) had their strong differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Prince Olusola Akanmode also had their differences.

    “Arc. Stephen Olorunfemi and Prince Olusola Akanmode and Tunde Ogbeha, also had their differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Smart Adeyemi had their serious political differences, none of these differences was ever escalated to the horrendous level of an the assassination attempt

    “The recent incident is alien to Okun people and to Kogi West. The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as a local government administrator in the political firmament of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” he lamented.

    Melaye, therefore, called on Kogi elders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to call for order and restraint, even as he promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.on Kogi elders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to call for order and restraint, even as he promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.

    He added: “It may be Dino Melaye today, we don’t know who is next. The agitation for good governance, payment of worker’s salaries and welfare of pensioners should not be punished with assassination”.

    The state governor has, however, said that he will not want to join issues with Senator Melaye.

    The governor who spoke through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, in a reaction, said Senator Dino Melaye ad an adult was in the best position to explain the path he has chosen to tread.

    He said, “If he accused me of complacency in the so-called assassination attempt, those who have been following the trend from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.

    “The case is under investigation by the police, and making serious statements about it may be seen to be subjudice. We have been witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and when I travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged I was attacked, even when the opposite was the case.

    “As a government, we believe the Nigeria Police is capable of getting to the root of the allegations and do justice to it once and for all.

    “I’m redefining leadership in Kogi State, therefore, the plan of, one day one trouble, will not work. We are in the news for the roads we are constructing, the agriculture we are reforming, the healthcare we are making affordable and the walls of insecurity we are pulling down. We have departed from their own ways.

    “You people need to ask Senator Dino Melaye if he reported the incident to the governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state. If you didn’t tell him anything, he too will have nothing to say. The reports of the security agencies will surely untie the riddles surrounding the allegations.

    “Security should never be politicised in our state. We will not be distracted. We know the plans, but if they know Governor Yahaya Bello, they would know he is too focused to be distracted, too courageous to be intimidated.

    “We are waiting for the reports of the investigation after which we shall be properly guided to make informed comments. Nigerians know what is happening”.

  • ACLN react to Saraki’s proposed visit: Diaspora Nigerians can’t tolerate corrupt office holders

    ACLN react to Saraki’s proposed visit: Diaspora Nigerians can’t tolerate corrupt office holders

    The Association for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (ACLN) acknowledges the proposed visitation of the Senate President of Nigeria, Dr Bukola Saraki to the United States, unfortunately, he is not welcomed as planned in early May.

    We cannot hold back from revealing how disappointed we, like many Nigerians, are with the Senate President and his Senate, who have failed to address the several cases of corruption levelled against them.

    Sadly, Saraki in recent times said that a lot of stakeholders must respect the Senate institution; an institution that has only succeeded in further granting power and more wealth to elected few. No wonder the institution will demand respect that it could not earn.

    •Saraki

    Recall that Saraki, like many others in the senate, has ongoing cases that have practically been swept under the carpet. Among several corruption allegations which till date has not been answered but rather avoided are:

    1. Saraki’s operation of foreign accounts between 2009 and 2012 while serving as a public office holder.

    2. Saraki was the Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011. Till date, there are still unanswered allegations regarding his misappropriation of the public funds during his tenure.

    3. Similarly, he was involved in the Panama papers controversy of 2016 and yet to resolve allegations of corruption levelled against the senate by the Paris Club.

    4. According to the Head of Intelligence Unit at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Samuel Madojemu, Saraki was wrong to have earned monthly payments from the Kwara State government at the same time when he was already elected to the Senate.

    5. Also worthy of mention is the fact that, it is under Saraki’s leadership that a key member of the Nigerian Senate was suspended for standing for the truth. Former Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, was sent home for six months for filing a petition against Saraki and the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, who was involved in certificates forgery case. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria – Femi Falana in a recent interview declared this act of the senate as absolutely unconstitutional.

    Aside a 6-month suspension of a fellow senator being unconstitutional, Saraki’s (Senate) Committee on ethics failed to address the raised issues, instead, they attacked the person. What a shame of a body of lawmakers’ institution.

    6. For several years, the Nigerian Senate has operated a hidden budget despite the demand for transparency and accountability by taxpayers. A fight that the governor of Kaduna state Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has taken on himself by challenging the National Assembly to follow his example of releasing the Kaduna state audited budget.

    ACLN commends governor El-Rufai for this action and hereby demand that Saraki and his team, as well

    •Governor El-Rufai

    as governors across the nation, release their audited budget otherwise they are not welcomed in the United States and are not fit to occupy the seats at the Nigerian National Assembly or Governor and at the ACLN, we will continue to hold them accountable. They are public office holders not private.

    Unfortunately, what Saraki is expected to speak on at the Town Hall event at Crown Plaza Suites Hotel, 9090 Southwest Freeway, Houston on May 4th, 2017, is Brain Drain and ACLN could not but marvel at the disillusion of Saraki and his team. Our question is, what has he done with the brains of Bachelor and Master degrees holders who have remained jobless in Nigeria? What is the Senate doing to the youths unemployment/underemployment which according to the country’s bureau of statistics stood at an alarming rate of 45.65% for Q3 of 2016. Is that not chasing shadows?

    To ACLN, it shows that Saraki and his team are disillusioned if they are concerned about Brain Drain but have not found a solution to the worrisome level of unemployment, poor infrastructure, shameful public institutions and rate of corruption in Nigeria.

    With the facts stated above and more not mentioned herein, the ACLN insists that the Senate President is not worthy of coming to the United States to address learned, skilled and hardworking Nigerians who, in their little capacity, contribute to the uplift of the country back home.

    Consequently, if Saraki eventually visits Houston, we hereby urge Nigerians in Houston and across the United States to rise up and show him our displeasure along with those of his colleagues in the National Assembly by protesting his presence. We cannot allow these rogues the pleasure of a peaceful visit to the U.S.A while they leave our fellow Nigerians languishing in misery back home.

     

  • Ndume to Saraki, Melaye: Clear yourselves of car importation, fake certificate allegations

    Ndume to Saraki, Melaye: Clear yourselves of car importation, fake certificate allegations

    Former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume on Tuesday asked the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye to clear their names over allegations of importation of bullet proof car with fake papers and parading fake certificates respectively.

    Details shortly…

  • N600m rent allegation: Senate clears Saraki, Dogara, others

    N600m rent allegation: Senate clears Saraki, Dogara, others

    • Senate to seek review of Senate President’s building contract

    The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday said that presiding officers of the National Assembly did not receive any rent from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
    The committee also said that the Senate would demand the review of the contract for the building of the residences of the Senate President and Speaker House of the House of Representatives.
    Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye at a media briefing in Abuja said that the review of the contract sum of the building became necessary due to the discovery of what he called “skyrocketed and over inflated contract prices.”
    Melaye said that the clarification of the “erroneous impression” that the National Assembly leadership collected over N600 million rent from the FCDA became imperative following a “false report by an online medium to that effect.”
    The Kogi West Senator noted that it is on record that the National Assembly leadership does not collect rent from the FCDA.
    Melaye said: “Our attention has been drawn to a story in an online medium, where a sponsored group called Citizen Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN). Obviously, one of this briefcase Civil Society Group that are not registered even by law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and hurriedly packaged to do assassin jobs on the social media.
    “This fake briefcase NGO called CATBAN claimed that the president of the Senate, the speaker and their deputies are using Federal Capital Development Authority to collect some amount of money as rent for their accommodation.
    “We want to state clearly that the four presiding officers of the National Assembly do not collect any money for rent, furniture and renovation from the FCDA or any federal government agency for that matter.
    “I as the chairman of the Senate committee on FCT, I put my integrity on test to say that no kobo was collected by any of the presiding officers from the FCDA and those who know how government bureaucracy works know it is practically impossible for any of the presiding officers to collect money directly from the FCDA.
    “It should be noted that while senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as well as Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Lasun Yusuff are entitled to well furnished official accommodation by virtue of their positions just like the president, the vice president and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, they all live in their private residences.
    “They even insisted last year if you recall that the president of the Nigerian Senate insisted last year that the N10 billion which the FCDA put in the 2016 budget for the completion of the official residencies of the Senate President and speaker be removed from the budget to save cost in reflection of the mood of the nation and that money was removed from the budget because Nigeria is in recession, they sacrificed their own personal comfort for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “It should be noted that this same group CATBAN on January 3rd, 2017 held a press conference where it cleared Mr Babachir Lawal, SGF who had been indicted by the senate for corruption in the award of contracts and utilisation of funds meant for the northeast humanitarian crisis.
    “Therefore, the same NGO that held a press conference and their name came into limelight for the first time on the 3rd of January is the same NGO now that is speaking trying effortlessly to indict the leadership of the National Assembly, therefore, we know where this is coming from.
    “We advise the sponsors of the group who are holding on to straw as they are drowning in the six pole of their corrupt practices to always check their information very well as they got it wrong this time.
    “I also want to use this opportunity to call on fake NGOs like this who propagate falsehood and lies all over the social media to advise themselves and do the right thing and I do expect that intelligence group before coming to the public will carry out even if they are been fed with lies.
    “I expect them to process this lies and check the veracity or otherwise of it before jumping into conclusion.
    “I challenge this group to provide evidence in terms of transfers or how in any manner any presiding officers have benefited financially from the FCDA.
    “I say it is a lie, it is not true, it is malicious, it is fallacious, it’s baseless and totally untrue.”
    On the review of the contract sum of building the Senate President residence, Melaye noted that as “Chairman of the committee, even if the Senate President had not asked that the money is removed from the budget we would have stopped it.”
    Melaye said that his committee went on oversight to the buildings and discovered that the contract was inflated.
    He said: “As I speak to you, the mosque that is occupying less than 100 square meters that are meant to be the prayer place for the Senate President and deputy senate president’s residence and even the Vice President’s residence was awarded for over N200million. And it is a three bedroom boys quarters less structure.
    “The gatehouse of the Vice President’s residence was also awarded at over N250million. We are going to call for a review of that contract and Julius Berger said they are going to build a concrete building.
    “I went there with a hammer and I hit the wall and I saw block. So, that investigation is ongoing. And we want to make sure that government is not being raped and shortchanged. So we are definitely going to call for a review of the contract because this is a rape of the taxpayers’ money.”

  • Senate probes alleged irregularities in award of road contracts

    Senate probes alleged irregularities in award of road contracts

    The Senate Thursday mandated its committee on Public Procurement to carry out a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities in award of multi-billion road contracts by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    This followed the consideration and adoption of a motion on “Irregularities in the award of contracts by the BPP” sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, gave the committee one week to turn in its report for the consideration of the Senate.

    Melaye in his lead debate noted with concern alleged irregularities in the award of contracts by the BPP.

    He said that desirous to award contracts for 10 and 13 projects for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridge projects in the first and second batch of road and bridge contained in the ministry’s 2016 budget implementation, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing requested vide letters dated 7th and 15th November, 2016 respectively, the BPP for due process certificate to award contracts for 10 and 13 projects for the construction and rehabilitation under the 2016 budget implementation.

    He observed that the BPP in the exercise of its mandate in accordance with Section 5 and 6 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, informed the Ministry that there was no objection to their request but later wrote back to the Ministry that due process certificate of ‘no objection’ cannot be granted to the Ministry in the award of the contracts.

    Melaye noted that the BPP in contravention of the BPP Act, went beyond its mandate to award the contracts to companies not recommended by the procuring entity for instance, “the procuring entity recommended Deux Project Limited for the rehabilitation of Numan-Jalingo road for N11.7 billion, the BPP awarded the contract to Rock Bridge Construction Ltd at N12.8 billion.”

    He added that whereas the ministry recommended the rehabilitation of Nenwe-Nomeh-Nburubu-Nara road project to Don- Machris Global Resources Ltd at N5.1 billion, the BPP awarded it to Arab Contractors Nig. Ltd at N6.4 billion.

    He noted that although the recommended contract sums by the Ministry were already high, and ought to have been reviewed downward, the BPP went ahead and reviewed the contracts upwards and subsequently awarded the contracts to companies not recommended by the procuring entity in violation of Section 19 of the Public Procurement Act.

    Melaye said that he chose only two instances to buttress alleged abuse of the PP Act.

    He prayed the Senate to investigate the anomaly in the interest of due process.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who seconded the motion called for caution because of technicalities involved in the construction of roads and bridges.

    Ekweremadu said, “I believe that if our committee goes into this, they will find out the details of what happened but the point I need to make here is that our procurement process needs to be sensitive to our season.

    “Presently we are in dry season, so if contracts were awarded for road construction I believe that whatever investigation we are doing should not prejudice the continued performance of that contract because if we do, it means that by the time we enter the rainy season this people will not be able to work again.

    “In the past some of our investigation will stalled the work of government because if you recall the issue of the second runway was stalled because of the investigation we had here.

    “The same thing happened to power sector reform. We are rolled back a couple of years because of the investigation in the House of Representatives carried out in the power sector.

    “My caution here is that while we are investigating, it should be without prejudice to the continued performance of these contracts so that we can take advantage of the dry season to ensure that our roads are repaired.”

    Senator Barnabas Gemade also supported the motion but gave some caution on how the investigation should be done.

    Gemade said, “I rise to also lend my voice in support of this motion and also just reiterate a little caution on the issues involved. The committee to investigate is specific that is by the recommendation of the motion committee on Public Procurement.

    “There are issues that need to be taken into consideration when the committee goes into its own investigation.

    “Road construction today is becoming very important to maintain certain standards because construction in Nigeria is being done in a manner that the roads get destroyed so quickly and there must be strict adherence to certain levels of quality performance.

    “The first three companies appear to have a history of road building. The two that were initially recommended don’t seem to have obvious records but this is a matter which the committee on procurement should look into very carefully.

    “I caution that technical issues should be considered very critically in looking at this matter.”

  • Senate orders slaughter of roaming cows in FCT

    Senate orders slaughter of roaming cows in FCT

    …As allottees, Nigeria Army bicker over land allocation

     

    The Senate Monday ordered the slaughter of cows found roaming within the Federal Capital City (FCT) Abuja metropolis.

    In the alternative of slaughtering such roaming cows, the upper chamber said that the cows should be arrested and a fine of N50, 000 imposed per cow.

    This is the declaration of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye at an interactive meeting with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Brutai in Abuja on the seizure.

    The session was summoned over the alleged seizure of over 400 plots of land in the Maitama District Extension, Abuja by the Nigeria Army.

    Melaye said that the responsible movement of herds of cows in and around the FCT in wonton disregard of law and order has become a matter of embarrassment to the residents of the capital city.

    The Kogi West lawmaker said that the FCT minister and other under him have been authorized to slaughter any wandering cow within the FCT metropolis.

    He further mandated the FCT Minister to henceforth arrest roaming cows warning that the minister would be severely sanctioned if mandate was not carried out.

    Melaye said, “We are not particularly happy with the state of sanitation in the FCT. We have received a lot of complaints across the metropolis of FCT but the greatest of it all is the menace of cattle rearers in the territory.”

    The lawmaker recalled how on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja he saw an underage herdsman with over 50 cows passing through the pedestrian route which blocked the only route for created for pedestrians.

    The movement of the cows, he said, caused pandemonium among passersby of the area who were forced to flee the route.
    He added, “To me that is absurd, that is not acceptable in the capital city. If it were to be at a time when we have a visiting president/ diplomats from other countries visiting our country what impression are we giving to our visitors.

    “So on this note we authorize the slaughter of any cow that is seen within the metropolis and if that is not going to work any cow that is seen within the metropolis of FCT must be arrested with a minimum fine of N50, 000 per cow.

    “This must be enforced if not anytime again we see cows or we receive reports of cows moving around the streets, the committee would sanction the FCT administration.”

    He also frowned against the menace of hawkers and beggars in the streets of FCT and asked the ministers to enforce the law on the issue.

    On the seizure of plots of land, the committee chairman, noted that his committee was taken aback when it received petitions from members of the public about the seizure of 238 heaters of land spanning over 400 plots in Maitama District Extension in Abuja by the Nigeria Army.

    He said that the petitioners claimed that the seizure was done without notifying the allottees or the FCT Minister.

    He noted that section 297 (2) of 1999 Constitution as amended further affirmed that the ownership of land in the FCT vests in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He also said that the Act establishing the FCT vests all land in the President who delegates this power to the Minister of FCT.

    Melaye noted that on 13th of September, 2016, the Nigeria Army without any provocation deployed soldiers to the district drove out workers of the construction companies who were engaged to provide engineering infrastructure for the district.

    He said that the Army sealed off the road leading to the district in disregard of the allottees. .

    According to him, “Access to the land was denied the allottees, all equipment and trucks were entrapped in the district. The committee was reliably informed that soldiers sighted at the entrance of the district barred people from entering the district at the order of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Brutai who instructed them to take over the district and not allow anybody in or out of the premises.”

    He recalled that Maitama extension district was designed and allocated in 2008/ 2009 by the then FCT Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero under the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
    He noted that the need to clear the confusion caused by the seizure informed Senate invitation of FCT Authority and the Chief of Army Staff to make their submission on the matter.

    He also recalled that building plan and Certificate of Occupancy have been issued to allottees and that most allottees have commenced the construction of their buildings while some have completed their.

    But the Chief of Army Staff represented by Major Gen. Pat Ake said that the land was allocated to the Nigeria Army in 1991.

    The FCT Minister said that the issue would be resolved.

    The committee gave them two week to resolve the matter.

     

  • Melaye: Women protesters storm National Assembly

    Protest over the unwarranted attack on the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) shifted to Abuja on Wednesday.
    Women numbering over 100 stormed the National Assembly to protest against uncomplimentary and indecent utterances of Senator Dino Melaye against Senator Tinubu (Lagos Central).
    Melaye attacked Senator Tinubu during a closed door session on Tuesday July 12, 2016 using indecent words against the Lagos Central lawmaker.
    The Kogi West senator was said to have threatened to beat up Senator Tinubu during the session.
    The protesters wore T-shirts with inscriptions such as “No to impunity for gender based violence.”
    The protester were heard chanting, “Stop violence against women”
    They also carried placards that reads: “Support gender equality opportunity bill”, “A Senator is a Senator, women are not threat object”, Senate Leadership silence in the face of violence against women is conspiracy”, “Say no to impunity.”
    Leader of the protesters Mrs. Kemi Nelson, in her address noted that “enough is enough.”
    She asked the Senate to immediately take a disciplinary action against Melaye in the interest of justice.
    She said, “This is impunity and it has to be stopped, we must be accorded our right.”
    Senator Tinubu had already petitioned Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun alleging threat to her life.