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Tag: SENATOR

  • Jega, Senator tackle Jonathan over claims in book

    Jega, Senator tackle Jonathan over claims in book

    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan came under attacks yesterday over his claims in Against the Run of Play, a book by ThisDay Editorial Board Chairman Olusegun Adeniyi.

    Jonathan, in the book, accused immediate past Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega of disappointing him.

    Jega’s Special Assistant, Prof Mohammed Kuna, disagreed with Jonathan’s belief that the wide margin between the presidential election and National Assembly results in Kano State was a reflection of a flawed election.

    The former President said it was strange that the state recorded 1.8 million votes in the presidential poll and 800,000 in the National Assembly election on the same day.

    But Prof Kuna, in a section of the book, said: “There is nothing particularly special about the Kano result; it is a general trend as many votes were more interested in the presidential election than in other elections. That was what happened across the country and you can go and do the tabulation.”

    He said the introduction of the card reader made it difficult to manipulate elections and inflate results.

    “There is nothing particularly special about the Kano result; it is a general trend as many voters were more interested in the presidential election than in other elections. That was what happened across the country and you can go and do the tabulation.

    “With the card reader, it is no longer possible to return results that are higher than the accredited voters. If you analyse the results nationally, you will discover the same trend.”

    Also yesterday, a source close to the former INEC chief dismissed Jonathan’s claim that Jega’s behaviour changed few days into the 2015 elections.

    According to the source, the former President must have been misadvised to make such claims, pointing out that Jega, being a principled and disciplined personality, could not have been arm-twisted on the conduct of the polls adjudged as by local international overs as reflecting the wishes and aspirations of the electorate.

    Senator Abubakar Girei urged the former President to stop blaming anybody for his defeat in the 2015 presidential election, saying that, Jonathan dug his own grave.

    Senator Girei, who represented Adamawa Central Senatorial zone between 1999 to 2003 under the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), noted that it was uncharitable of Jonathan to blame his defeat on local and international leaders who have seen through his foolery and decided to ditch him in the interest of Nigeria and their respective countries.

    Girei, now a staunch member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in a statement issued in Kaduna, also faulted former military governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, for tongue lashing the government for alleged disrespect for Jonathan.

    Girei said:  “The likes of Col. Dangiwa Umar and their pay masters cannot save him (Jonathan) and his cohort from paying for sins sooner than later.

    “GEJ and his cohorts should bury themselves in shame as the nation awaits their eventual prosecution and imprisonment.

    “They must pay for their sins, especially for the thousands of our people in the Northeast who lost their lives and over two million others displaced from their homes for more than five years now.

    “GEJ said it without mincing words that he did not concede defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari for patriotic, nationalistic or even Godly reasons but purely because all the tactics and strategies employed by his clueless self and his greedy co-travellers could not work.

    “I am compelled to respond to GEJ’s widely reported remarks in the papers today (yesterday), that the cat is now out of the bag is no news, what makes the news juicier is that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) let the cat out of the bag by himself.”

  • Senator distributes transformers

    The lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Monsurat Sunmonu, has distributed 25 transformers across the 11 local governments.
    She said she did so to fulfil her promise of giving succour to the people.
    Addressing residents of the communities while delivering the transformers, Sunmonu, who was flanked by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the occasion marked another fulfilled promise to the people.
    The ex- Speaker of House of Assembly noted that as she discovered during her campaign that electricity is the major problem of the constituents, she is hopeful that when installed, the transformers will boost the economy of the district.
    According to her, each of the transformers cost N5million, while each local government in the district will receive three transformers, with the installation spreading across towns and villages.
    Sunmonu, who was welcomed by community leaders, party leaders, local government party chairmen and other leaders, assured the people that she would continue to give them the dividends of democracy.

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  • Police, Senator intervene in Kafin Koro crisis

    The Police in Minna, Niger State, and the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, David Umaru, have intervened in the Kafin Koro crisis to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
    Representatives of the community, including District Head Alhaji Abubakar Mamman, were invited to a peace meeting in Minna yesterday. Senator Umaru pleaded with parties involved to “bury the hatchet and allow peace reign in the community”.
    The peace meeting, which lasted about three hours, was coordinated by the Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu.
    Police spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed the meeting, saying an official statement would be issued later.
    Senator Umaru in a statement, said: “This incident should not be allowed to bring sharp divisions among us and erode the age-long unity and harmony instituted by our forefathers.
    “I want the people of Kafinkoro to know that I am with them at this trying moment, and that I share their pains though I was unable to access the communities yesterday due to serious security situations.
    “I, therefore, call on all to bury their hatchets and continue to maintain the peace as efforts are on to finding lasting solution to the problem.”
    Trouble broke out in Kafin koro when some pigs reportedly exhumed a body from the burial ground, ate it and left only the head.
    Muslim youths complained to the Alhaji Mamman, who was said to have ordered that any pig sighted be killed.
    The killings caused protest by over 200 women believed to be owners of the pigs, leading to the sacking of the district head from his palace.

  • Tinubu ‘has no hand in negative report on any senator’

    Tinubu ‘has no hand in negative report on any senator’

    •ThisDay gets knocks for ‘selling its soul’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu commented yesterday on a report in which he was accused of “conspiracy to destroy the Senate”.

    The report was published by ThisDay in its April 2 edition.

    He described the report as “political libel” and spurned it as “balant lie”.

    In a statement signed by Tunde Rahman for the Tinubu Media Office, the former Lagos State Governor, said:

    “After giving substantial time for ThisDay to correct the outright falsehood used as cover story for its Sunday, April 2 edition, we are constrained to correct the record. Those behind the report are practitioners of political libel. That blatant lie was reported as fact breached the minimum standards of journalism. It is sad that ThisDay allowed itself to become an instrument of errant mudslinging.

    “Hopefully, ThisDay was only a dupe in this deception. It would be painful to think the newspaper might have been wilfully complicit in this bald assault against truth. There is nothing wrong with publishing hot news; but hot news should never amount to a rotten lie.

    “The newspaper claimed in the report “PDP Caucus Accuses Tinubu, EFCC of Conspiracy to Destroy Senate” that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in concert with the EFCC, has instigated media attacks against the PDP Senate Caucus.

    “The story is such an outright fabrication that it claims the PDP Senators held a special meeting to discuss Asiwaju Tinubu. However, PDP Senators claim no such meeting was ever held and that they hold no special animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu.

    “We are usually not in the position of agreement with PDP members. But on this rare occasion, we have no contention with them.  Asiwaju Tinubu is a former Senator. He has a special affection for the Senate as an institution. It is not within him to belittle the institution or members of that institution who happen to be in the opposing political party.

    “Moreover, his brand of politics does not lend itself to engaging in wanton character and personal attacks. There is significant policy difference between our progressive school of thought and the often reactionary ideas of the PDP.  There are more than enough serious issues over which to grapple the PDP.  Asiwaju TInubu’s politics are driven by his policy views. He will gladly wrestle against the PDP on substantive political differences. But engage in personal attacks, rumor-mongering and mudslinging, never.  We leave that for others. The gutter is no place to build a better nation. We seek higher ground.

    “So that there is no confusion on the core issue here, we categorically deny any hand in any negative personal report on any senator.

    “In that the PDP leadership disavows such a meeting, we must question the source of ThisDay’s fictional account. More importantly, we can only conclude that the impetus for this liar’s account can only be a malign one.”

    In TInubu’s view, “the false story is motivated by venal political objectives that dare not come out of the shadows”.

    “Those behind the report know they cannot show themselves for what they truly are. Their tactics are underhanded because their objectives are equally so.  They lie because the awful objective they seek cannot be gained by telling the truth.

    “Some malefactors want to use the name of Asiwaju Tinubu to stir opposition in the Senate to the confirmation of Magu as EFCC chairman. By trying to paint Magu as Tinubu’s partner in mudslinging, the false story seeks to induce senators to oppose Magu as a way of thwarting Asiwaju Tinubu.

    “The authors of this screed thus revealed their moral barrenness.  The fight against corruption is a cardinal battle this nation must win or forever forego its greater destiny.  Despite the importance of this matter, someone is trying to exalt his narrow personal interests above the long-term interests of the nation. Someone so brazen and self-absorbed is a dangerous instrumentality when placed in a position of power.

    “That person will undermine the very institutions of democracy to get his way. In this very story, they have tried to break down both the Senate and the press in one swoop. Sadly, they seem to have already conquered at least one important press organisation. ThisDay apparently has shunned the ethics and ways of responsible journalism.  One can only hope that the newspaper received enough in return for selling its journalistic soul.”

    The statement dismissed the report as a “fable”

    It said: “The anatomy of the report is that of a fable that never should have been told.  The report centered on a meeting that never held. The reporter neither stated who attended the meeting nor alluded to any formal statement issued after the meeting.”

    The PDP caucus had earlier denied ever meeting to discuss Tinubu and the EFCC.

    The Southeast Caucus Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who has been named the spokesman of the party’s caucus said: “It is far from the truth. We did not at any time discuss Senator Tinubu at any meeting and nobody accused the EFCC of anything.”

    Besides, when the party’s caucus and its leaders met, there was no mention of either Tinubu or the EFCC.

  • Senator sacked by court loses stay of execution bid

    The Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom Sate, yesterday struck out the application for stay of execution filed by Senator Bassey Akpan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) representing Akwa Ibom North.

    Akpan filed the suit for the court to stay execution of its February 27 judgment, which declared  Bassey Etim, also of the PDP,as the rightful owner of the ticket that took Akpan to the Senate.

    Justice Fatun Riman, said that since there was an appeal on his judgment of February 27, his court has no jurisdiction to entertain the same matter.

    The court, therefore, struck out the case and awarded N50,000 cost in favour of Mr. Etim, the defendant.

    The court in the February 27 judgment had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue certificate of return to Mr. Etim.

    The court faulted the primary that produced Mr. Akpan as the flag bearer of the PDP.

    Speaking to journalists after the judgment, counsel to the defendant, Taiwo Abe, described the judgment as excellent.

    He said that the application was brought by the appellant, PDP and Mr. Akpan.

    “The record shows that the appellant had already filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Calabar.

    “His Lordship said that only the Court of Appeal can entertain stay of execution, since the case had been transmitted from the Federal High Court, Uyo, to Court of Appeal, Calabar, since March 10, 2017.’’

    “I made the application that the court should strike out the case and award me a cost, the judge today has agreed with me and even granted cost of N50, 000.’’

    Also speaking, counsel to Mr. Akpan, Godswill Umoh, said that he was satisfied with the judgment.

    “Actually, that is the rule of practice, since we have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal; the lower court cannot adjudicate on the same matter. “Earnestly, the rule of practice is we withdraw the case, which I did.”

    Despite the court ruling, Akpan will remain a senator until the Court of Appeal, or eventually the Supreme Court, rules on the matter.

  • Senator in trouble over N4b contracts, 20 bank accounts

    Senator in trouble over N4b contracts, 20 bank accounts

    EFCC probes lawmaker’s assets missing on Code of Conduct Bureau form

    A senator is the subject of a massive probe for not executing N4 billion contracts awarded by the government of Delta State, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Sources told The Nation yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also looking into how the lawmaker operates 20 accounts in six banks with different signatories.

    Besides, the senator allegedly used a company, to buy a 12-storey building in Apapa, Lagos, belonging to the Delta State Government for N805 million.

    The Nation learnt that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) record showed that the senator  “did not declare all the companies and bank accounts he has despite being operational prior to the time he made the declaration”.

    The senator’s investigation, a source said, followed a petition from  Delta State.

    The petitioner alleged that the senator owns a firm which was awarded a N1,580,000,000 contract by the Direct Labour Agency to supply construction equipment.

    Instead of following specifications, the petition said, the senator allegedly supplied used equipment, contrary to the Bill of Quantity which specified new ones.

    Besides,  his firm was alleged to have  secured  over N2 billion contracts from nine local government areas in Delta worth over N2billion when it was yet to be registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act.

    The firm was alleged to have  secured N474, 936,000 contract from the Waste Management Board  to supply bulldozers, payloaders and tipper lorries.

    The, EFCC, however, found out that the equipment were used items contrary to contract specifications.

    A source in the anti-graft commission said: “We have traced five companies to the senator.  We were able to detect that in the course of contract execution, his company  imported and supplied used equipment, contrary to the specifications in the bill of quantity.

    “Our team has discovered that the senator’s personal and companies’ bank accounts were linked to a bank verification number (BVN) which has more than 20 accounts domiciled in six banks.

    “But his relative is the sole signatory to the accounts.

    “They also located  one foreign account identified with the senator in HSBC Bank in Marbile Arch London, United Kingdom”.

    Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “So far, the senator has questions to respond to bordering on false asset declaration, official corruption, procurement fraud, tax avoidance, false information, impersonation and embezzlement of public funds.

    “We are almost concluding the investigation of the senator. We will soon invite him for interview.”

     

  • Customs impounds 13 vehicles owned by senator

    Customs impounds 13 vehicles owned by senator

    The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Compliance Task Force, says it has impounded 223 vehicles 13 of which belong to a senator in Kano state.

    The task force also said that it seized other items, including foodstuff worth N269.5 million in Kano and Jigawa states within eight months.

    The Task Force Zonal Commander, Mr Bala Dole, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

    He said the vehicles, belonging to the said senator were; 12 new Toyota Hilux and one Land Cruiser Jeep.

    Dole, who declined to name the said Senator, said the 13 vehicles were trailed from Maigatari in Jigawa, following an intelligence report.

    “Based on the intelligence report, the vehicles were 30 in number but we were able to trail 13 of them 12 of which were hidden in the senator’s compound.

    “We sealed the house and retrieved the vehicles and they are now in our custody,” Dole said.

    He said the other items the task force confiscated during special operations include; 9,757 bags of rice, 2,916 of foreign supergetti, 2,770 cartons of foreign vegetable oil and 999 cartons of macaroni.

    He said others were; 889 veils of second hand clothes, 50 used school bags, 110 cartons of new foreign shoes, 956 bags of mosquito coil and six fairly used cars.

    “The total value of the seizure made by the task force since it was established in July 2016, excluding the 13 Senator’s vehicles, is N269.5 million.

    “We are yet to determine the cost of the 13 vehicles belonging to the Senator“.

  • 2019: Senator gets more support

    Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have declared support for the 2019 governorship aspiration of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi.

    The PDP stalwarts are State Deputy Chairman Boye Adesina and party leader in Ogun West Aliu Ajibode.

    Others are youth and women leaders in Yewa South and Yewa North local governments.

    Adesina said Adeola is fit to become the next governor as a true son of Yewa who has experience in governance.

    The senator thanked the PDP members for accepting to work towards achieving a greater Ogun State and promised to improve on the state’s socio- economic fortunes if given the mandate.

  • Senator condemns foreign currency tuition fees in Nigerian schools

    Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) has described as unacceptable the use of foreign currency for the payment of tuition fees in Nigerian schools.

    Yusuf, who is Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    According to the lawmaker, it is wrong for any institution of learning in the country to demand tuition fee in foreign currency.

    “There is no support whatsoever for a school to demand any form of payment in Nigeria using foreign exchange.

    “For me that is an aberration and it shouldn’t be allowed in any way.

    “Cost your things in Naira and you will be paid in Naira; why would someone insist that he or she should be paid in dollars? Where would they get the dollars from?

    “ I do not think it is right. I do not think it is fair and we should go all out to stop this kind of practice,’’ he said.

    The senator said that a bill was already in place in the Senate to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act in that regard.

    He urged the apex bank to closely monitor businesses in the country against using foreign currencies for local transactions.

    The lawmaker further noted that some individuals and companies in the country were equally guilty of the practice.

    “There are also claims that NNPC, that is government owned, pays pension and other forms of welfare packages in dollar. Do they have the right to do that?

    “The only body that has the right in terms of disbursement of foreign exchange in this country today is the CBN,’’ he said.

    On the recent appreciation of the Naira against other foreign currencies, Yusuf said that every bank branch must have foreign exchange window for selling forex to small buyers.

    “There are some big time buyers of foreign exchange that are paying lower than what small holdings are paying, so, the market is lopsided,’’ he said.

    He urged Nigerians to cut down on their demand for foreign exchange to acquire foreign goods in order to strengthen the Naira.

    “There is no cosmetics product or textile that we cannot produce in this country, but unfortunately so much is coming in from China and other places.

    “This insatiable taste for foreign goods is also affecting how much we can control the value of our Naira,’’ said the senator.

  • Resign if you can’t wear uniform, Senator to Custom boss

    Resign if you can’t wear uniform, Senator to Custom boss

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd)  has been urged to resigned his appointment if he cannot wear the uniform and rank of his position when he appears before the Senate.

    Senator Solomon Adeola of Lagos West stated this in a statement on Sunday in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode dunaro.

    Adeola said it is regrettable that as a retired army colonel who should know the importance of uniforms, the Customs boss wants to demean and undermine the symbolic importance of uniforms, discipline as well as the authority it confers on the agency in its operation as a lawful body.

    He said that the Senate Resolution summoning Ali to appear in Customs Service uniform and rank to explain his refusal to suspend the policy on duty on vehicles and other recent acts of the Customs was to protect the organisational integrity and discipline in the institution of the Customs Service as well as protect the interest of the people.

    “We have had a Major General Haladu Hanniya as head of FRSC wearing the agency’s uniform as well as a Major Danjuma Maigari wearing even the KAI uniform in Lagos State all in a bid to promote agencies they lead. This is not the Abacha military era when a Sole Administrator was appointed to head the Nigerian Customs.” Senator Adeola stated.

    According to Adeola, military and paramilitary uniforms inclusive of ranks are part of the symbol of a legitimate authority conferred on the wearer to carry out certain duties on behalf of the government.

    “Except in covert operations, an officer in these organisations operating without uniform could be taken to be performing the illegal duty or worse, be taken as not representing the institution at all. And as stated on the floor of the Senate in plenary, the Comptroller General is a rank that can only be worn on uniform and not on mufti” the senator stated.

    Senator Adeola said there is concern among officers and men of the Customs Service on the appointment of ‘outsider’ to head the agency as it is a morale killer, career progression inhibitor as well as damaging to the organizational growth of the service stressing that there may be the need to amend the Nigerian Customs Act to restrict appointment of CG to career officers as is done in the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Immigrations and the Nigerian Prisons Service.