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Tag: summons

  • Rivers crisis: Senate summons IG

    Rivers crisis: Senate summons IG

    SENATORS had a noisy session yesterday. They were considering a motion titled “Recent shooting and disruption of political rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State”, sponsored by Senator Wilson Ake (Rivers West) and 47 others when the rumpus broke out.

    Not withstanding, the Senate resolved to invite the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, to give a situation report of the events in Rivers State.

    On Tuesday, the House of Representatives was embroiled in uproar as All Progressives Congress (APC) members claimed majority.

    The Senate’s version of disorder was averted by the timely intervention of the Senate President, David Mark, after Senator Alkali Jajere (Yobe South) had sprung up from his seat to protest an alleged abusive comment directed at Senator Ahmed Lawan by Senator James Manager (Delta South).

    Jajere was said to have been infuriated by alleged unprintable remarks Manager made against Lawan.

    He (Jajere) demanded an apology from Manager and insisted that proceedings at the chamber could only resume after Manager must have apologised to Lawan.

    For more than 10 minutes, plenary was disrupted as some senators battled to calm Jajere who charged furiously at Manager.

    Mark watched in disbelief as voices rose and some senators formed a ring around Manager – apparently to ward off any possible attack on him.

    A group of senators prevailed on Manager to apologise to Lawan and also reminded him (Manager) that the proceedings were being televised live.

    The Delta South lawmaker left his seat, shook hands with and embraced Lawan.

    “Can I appeal that we cannot be telling people dialogue, dialogue and then we want to fight,” Mark told his colleagues.

    He added: “Tempers rose just now; I hope it does not rise again. We have to be careful about the situation in Rivers State.”

    Before the consideration of the motion, Manager had, through a Point of Order, attempted to abort its consideration by informing his colleagues that the Rivers State House of Assembly was still under the retainership of the National Assembly.

    He noted that he was surprised to learn that late in 2013, the Assembly sat and approved the state’s budget.

    Manager also said that Mark informed the Senate that he sent the Committee on Police Affairs on a fact-finding mission to Rivers State after the alleged disruption of a pro- Governor Chibuike Amaechi rally on January 12.

    He wondered the import of a motion on Rivers when the Senate had not been properly briefed.

    Before Mark gave Ake the floor to move his motion, he warned that contributions should be devoid of sentiments.

    “I appeal that we face facts and concentrate on what is in the motion,” Mark said.

    Ake urged the Senate to note with dismay that the nation had witnessed, once again, a new dimension in disruption and d obstruction of political gathering and meetings of people in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The lawmaker said he was deeply disturbed that on January 12, the relative peace the people of Rivers State were enjoying was interrupted by an attack on the people of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and its environs by policemen who stormed a Save Rivers Movement (SRM) programme.

    He said the police dispersed the peaceful crowd that gathered at Rivers State College of Arts and Science, with tear gas, guns and other weapons.

    Ake noted that he was disturbed that a senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, was shot at and hit with rubber bullets by the police who stormed the venue of the rally with unprecedented concentration of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and heavy presence of men and officers.

    According to Ake, the state under the present police leadership has witnessed “too many simultaneous attacks professionally unleashed on the ordinary citizens”.

    In his view, “the increasing and continuous attack, disruption and arbitrary obstruction of any peaceful gathering in Rivers State, be it political, religious or civil meetings by any of our security agencies will further create more anxiety, panic and eventual loss of confidence in the security system, which is meant to protect and defend all and sundry”.

    But Senator George Sekibo (Rivers East) noted that though he does not support the disruption of properly organised functions or the harassment of anybody, “no man fights alone”.

    He asked: “Does it take one man to create violence? Does it take one man to cause trouble? We are all aware that public rallies and gathering, need police permit. The law that protects everybody has its rules. Save Rivers Movement is not a political party. Save Rivers Movement is an NGO.”

    There was a resounding “No, no, no. Police permit is not required to hold rallies.”

    Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) said there was Supreme Court ruling that police permit was not required to hold rallies.

    Ake urged the Senate to “condemn the unjustifiable disruption and interruption of the proposed peaceful rally and gathering of Save Rivers Movement (SRM) by men of the Rivers State Police Command, occasioned by sporadic gun shots and tear gas on January 12.

    He also prayed the Senate to “invite the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, to come and brief the Senate and give a situation report of the Rivers State crisis.”

    The two prayers were adopted.

    The lawmakers rejected the prayer to call the Senate to immediately implement an earlier resolution calling for Mbu’s redeployment.

    They also rejected the prayer to condemn the Rivers State Police Command under Mbu for shooting Abe and others with rubber bullets.

    Mark turned down another prayer by Senator Attai Ali Aidoko (Kogi East) that the Senate should mandate him (Mark) to mediate in the Rivers crisis.

    Mark said that his previous efforts to solve the problem did not yield any fruit.

    The Senate President was categorical that “the Rivers problem is beyond me”.

    Mark said: “I already have enough problems in my hands. You recall that the Senate mandated me to mediate in the Rivers State crisis. I even involved the distinguished female senators of this chamber, but we could not make any headway.

    “The Rivers problem is beyond me. I did not report back to the Senate because we did not make any headway.”

  • Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    The Senate yesterday invited the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama over the implementation of the 2013 budget.

    They are expected to brief the lawmakers on the level of implementation of the 2013 budget, including releases made to Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The invitation followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and 13 others, entitled, “2013 Budget and alleged over bloated revenue estimates.”

    Ningi had on Wednesday drawn the attention of the Senate to a statement allegedly credited to Ngama that “the National Assembly over bloated the 2013 budget, thus making it unimplementable.”

    Ngama had since disowned the alleged statement saying he never made such pronouncement.

    Senate President, David Mark, said that Ngama wrote him denying ever saying that the National Assembly over-bloated the 2013 Budget.

    In the motion, Ningi noted that the National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill on December 20th, 2012 and was assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan on 15th February, 2013.

    He said that Appropriation Act guiding the implementation of the budget, most especially clause six, states that “the Minister of Finance shall ensure that funds appropriated under this Act are released to the appropriate agencies and or organ of government as and when due, provided that no fund for any quarter of the fiscal year shall be differed without prior waiver from the National Assembly.”

    He noted that the alleged utterances of Ngama were clearly targeted to blackmail the National Assembly, considering that all the revenue variables are within the target expectations.

    He said that such unguarded pronouncement was capable of sending serious negative signals to Nigerians and the international community.

    Some Senators who contributed to the motion cautioned that the upper chamber should not base it conclusion on newspaper reports.

    Senator Bello Tukur (Adamawa Central) wondered why it took the Senate nine months to come up with a motion on the implementation of the budget.

    Tukur said that the Senate needed to be given actual figure of the implementation of the budget for it to draw conclusions.

    He noted that it was wrong for the Senate to use newspaper publication as its guide without thorough investigation.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) said that the two Ministers should be invited instead of inviting only Okonjo-Iweala to speak on the level of implementation of the budget.

    He also cautioned against using newspaper report to draw conclusion on what Ngama was alleged to have said. Mark noted that the motion is a wake up call to committees to conduct their oversight thoroughly.

    He said that the committees should know the level of implementation of the budget including the level of releases to MDAs.

    Senate mandated its Committee on Finance and Appropriation to find out the level of implementation of the 2013 budget and report to the Senate within three weeks.

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday threw out the 2013 budget proposal of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    The lawmakers said the presentation of the bill failed procedural steps as details of the proposal were not in the bill that would have enabled thorough examination by the lawmakers.

    House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola who presented the bill, had a difficult time reading it while making the presentation.

    Of the N55,852,837,000, the NCC proposed N29,317?457,000 for capital and special projects, while N14,667,445,000 was for recurrent expenditure.

    N7,311,474?000 was proposed for transfer to Federal Government, while N10,521,740,000 was for transfer to Universal Service Fund,

    On reading the mood of the House, Chairman, Committee on Communications, Oyetunde Ojo (APC, Ekiti), said the Committee needed time to further scrutinise the document to be able to make quality input. He was supported by the House Leader who asked that the bill be stepped down.

    The request was granted by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

  • Court summons RCC over land dispute

    JUSTICE Mufutau Adegbola of the Oyo State High Court yesterday granted a writ of summons to Chief Areoye Oyebola in a land tussle between the former commissioner and the Osanyindina family.

    Oyebola bought 100 acres of land in Onitupuru on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway from the Osanyindina family in Ibadan in 2003 for N4 million. It was learnt that the family re-sold the land to the Road Construction Company (RCC) last July.

    Oyebola sued the family and the construction company. The family was represented by Baale Aba Nla Chief Lamidi Oladipo, Tiamiyu Oladipo, Gbolagun Oladipo and Chief Adeleke Makinde, the Baale Olokuta.

    Oyebola prayed the court to grant him “an order restraining the defendants and their agents from further trespassing on the land and allowing him to deal with them in whatever way if they do pending the determination of the suit.”

    Speaking with The Nation after the hearing, Oyebola’s counsel, Biodun Amole said: “Oyebola bought the 100-acre of land in 2003. The family executed a deed of conveyance in Oyebola’s favour, duly signed by its accredited representatives. Ten years later, they purportedly resold it to RCC.

    “The law says that if you want to serve someone who is not within the jurisdiction of the court, you must obtain leave of the court to serve the company. That is what we achieved today because RCC headquarters is in Abuja. Until they come to the court, we do not know if the company has any claim to the land in dispute.”

    On his losses, Oyebola said: “I planted maringer trees and quick-yielding species of plantain on the land, but they destroyed them. The company needs the rock on the land and has started blasting it. It has taken possession of the land, but I know justice will prevail.”

  • Senate summons FCC chief for screening

    The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs has summoned the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaibu Abdulrahman Oba, for fresh screening, it was learnt yesterday.

    Although Oba was the chairman of the commission, he resigned to contest the 2011 governorship election in Kwara State, but failed.

    His return to the office generated a lot of controversy as the then Acting Chairman of the FCC, Alhaji Mohammadu Ari Gwaska, accused him of breaching civil service rules which prohibit an officer who resigned to contest an election from returning to the seat he willingly vacated to go into politics.

    However, Oba had his way, while the Senate charged Gwaska with insubordination and was shown the way out of the commission.

    Gwaska was then the National Commissioner representing Nasarawa State.

    Part C of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that the Chairman and members of the FCC shall be appointed by the President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

    But there are fears that Oba may not have a smooth sail this time round becuase two senators from Kwara State are said to have opposed his reappointment.

    A source close to the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character said there were petitions before the committee against the former University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice-Chancellor.

    Another source close to the FCC chief said he may have “bitten the fingers that fed him”, prompting the stiff opposition to his clearance by the Senate.

    The summons by the committee was said to have caught the FCC chief by surprise.

    The source said Oba is presently doing all he can to appease the leadership of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain his job.

    The source added: “After he served out his term as the chairman of FCC, which he got through the political leader of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, he went lobbying the Presidency to serve a second term that he knew he might not get from the state due to zoning arrangement of political offices in the state, which did not favour him.

    “He started a cold war with Senator Saraki and he was able to get a second term from the Presidency through a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    “He organised a prayer session at the Emir’s palace in Ilorin, which was not attended by the party leadership. He also commissioned news stories and opinion articles in many online portals, saying the party leadership in the state did not have input in how he got his second term appointment, having it in mind that he needed not to be confirmed by the Senate.

    “But his joy was short-lived two weeks ago when he was informed by the SGF that he would need to go back to the Senate for confirmation.

    “This shocked him and his supporters, who had believed that he didn’t need the two-thirds of the state or at least the support of two senators from the state to get Senate’s confirmation.

    “With this new development and having known that he altered the state political zoning formula, he reached out to a party leader in the state to help him beg Senator Saraki.”

     

  • N38b loan deal: EFCC summons House of Reps Clerk

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last night summoned the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Sani Omolori, in respect of a N38billion loan deal during the tenure of ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

    Omolori is expected to appear for interaction between today and tomorrow.

    A source said: “The invitation is in respect of the ongoing trial of Bankole. Omolori is expected to assist the commission on some issues.

    “The same Clerk had appeared before the EFCC in 2011 when he admitted that he had advised House leadership against taking the loan.

    “I think he is wanted by the EFCC on the details of his meeting with 37 wise men who endorsed the loan.”

  • Jonathan summons police chiefs on killing of NSCDC personnel

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned leadership of the Nigeria Police to get to the root of the recent clash between policemen and officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The clash resulted in the death of two NSCDC officials in Lagos.

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Abubakar could not attend the meeting because he was out of the country.

    The police delegation was led by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Zone ‘A’ Suleiman Fakai.

    Jonathan had met with the leadership of the NSCDC on Wednesday evening.

    Also in the police delegation were Lagos State Police Commissioner Umar Manko; Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Anti-Vandalism, Friday Ibadin; and Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.

    The President called for cooperation between the sister security agencies.

    Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mba said the police delegation briefed Dr Jonathan on the clash.

    According to him, the police presented their perspective of the report and the facts.

    He said: “The meeting is just one of those routine visits where the police leadership comes around to brief the President on cooperation-related issues. Basically, that is why we are here…”

  • Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria summons US ambassador

    Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria summons US ambassador

    Nigeria has summoned United States Ambassador Terence McCulley over his comment on the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who invited the Ambassador, discussed with him his comment, which the government said it was not comfortable with.

    But a government source said despite the interaction, there was no strain in the two countries’ relationship.

    Speaking in a telephone conference with journalists from four locations in West Africa on Thursday, Ambassador McCulley said: “The Boko Haram phenomenon has not stopped as a result of the operation going on in northern Mali. I do believe that Nigerians feel that there is a link between extremist activity in the Sahel and in their internal extremist insurgency.

    “The government of Nigeria clearly needs to address this issue with what we call a multi-pronged approach that focuses generally on the security threat that Boko Haram represents. Also, in addressing economic and social conditions that exist in the North, communicating to northern populations, who have suffered most from the deprivations of these extremist attacks.”

    A source in the ministry, who pleaded not to be named because he is not authorised to speak officially, said: “It was shocking to the government for the Ambassador to have faulted our approach to the Boko Haram crisis. Apart from demanding a new approach to Boko Haram, he expressed doubts that the ongoing intervention in Mali might not solve the crisis.

    “We felt the Ambassador did not explore appropriate diplomatic channels to air his views on such a volatile matter.

    “But when the Ambassador came, he told the Minister that he was misquoted. He took time to explain what he meant during a telephonic conference call with journalists.

    “So far, I can tell you that the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Ambassador had fruitful interaction. There is no cause for alarm at all in our relationship with the US.”

    Asked if it was right to invite the Ambassador, the source asked: “Is it bad to seek clarification on any issue or comment? We need to find out if the US is not on the same page with us on Boko Haram menace.

    “We are concerned because the US is a member of the UN Security Council which approved the intervention in Mali.”

    Also on Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned a top U.S. diplomat over the U.S. Embassy’s Twitter account critical of the unconditional pardon given to former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was convicted on corruption charges.

    Two short tweets were published by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. The first said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” over the Alamieyeseigha pardon.

    The second tweet simply said: “We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption.”

    The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it was urgently calling James P. McAnulty, the U.S. deputy chief of mission, for a meeting. The statement called the U.S. remarks “undue interference and meddlesomeness,” since the president had followed the provision of the Nigerian constitution granting him the power to issue pardons.

    “The ministry finally expressed the hope that the embassy of the United States of America would henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal affairs, which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist between them,” the statement said.

    The search for the bodies of the seven hostages allegedly killed by Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan (a.k. a Ansaru) has not yielded results.

    It was also learnt that US drones are not in Nigeria to track down Boko Haram leaders.

    A Foreign Affairs Ministry source, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “The Federal Government is aware that there are US drones in Niger Republic and not in this country as being insinuated.

    “We have not entered into any agreement with the US to establish a drone base in this country.

    “We understand the apprehension of some Nigerians because we share borders with Niger Republic. So if the drones are patrolling towns and villages close to Nigeria, people are bound to be concerned.”

    The search for the bodies of the seven hostages killed by Ansaru has not yielded results.

    Besides Nigerian security agencies, all the foreign missions with nationals among the hostages are carrying out investigations into where they were killed, what has become of their bodies and how to retrieve the remains of the victims.

    Those purportedly killed were three Lebanese and one each from Britain, Greece, Italy and the Philippines.

    They were all employees of SETRACO , a Lebanese construction company.

    Also, there were indications that the United Nations might float a peacekeeping operation in Mali from July.

    According to the UN news service, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, gave the hint in Bamako on Saturday after a week-long assessment visit to Mali.

    Mulet said: “July could see the transfer of African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to a UN stabilisation mission

    “Any UN force would be limited and focus on supporting the Malian authorities and protecting civilians.

    “The sovereignty of Mali is the main objective of this international support,” Mr. Mulet said.

    “It is not to create a buffer between the north and the south. The members of the Security Council and the member states are very clear on the need for Mali to extend its authority over all its territory,” he added.

    The News Service said the 15-member UN Security Council would be required to vote on any UN presence in the country.

    “That authorization is likely to be up for debate following a report from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon due on 27 March. Following Security Council approval, it would take approximately another two month to deploy a force to Mali,” the News Service added.

  • Senate summons NDDC chief, others

    The Senate has summoned the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Christian Oboh, over abandoned projects.

    Also to appear before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, on Wednesday are NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Edikan Eshett, Akwa Ibom State representative in the commission and FCC Construction Company, which is accused of abandoning projects, especially in Akwa Ibom State.

    The upper chamber said it would not consider the 2013 budget proposal of the commission until it is done with the oversight of contracts awarded by the commission and the level of execution.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, James Manager, issued the summons at the weekend when he led members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta on oversight function of NDDC projects.

    Manager said if not for democracy, the committee would revoke the contracts.

    National Assembly, he said, may be pushed to recommend that contracts be taken away from unserious contractors.

    Some of the contractors were accused of subletting contracts to other contractors after receiving percentage of the contract cost.

    The committee specifically wanted Oboh to explain why the commission has several abandoned projects.

  • A grisly summons to enfield

    As snooper was landing in harsh and wintry London on Friday morning, we received a grisly summons to suburban Enfield to attend the funeral of Bimpe Ojerinola, nee Osibodu. A funereal gloom descended on yours sincerely which was compounded by the cold Arctic blast. Snooper had long been expecting a reunion with Bimpe, our late friend’s wife, but not a final farewell. Such is the ephemeral nature of life and the brutal contingency of human existence.

    Snooper was too overwhelmed and exhausted to make it to Enfield, but almost all the funeral eulogies painted a life of unblemished generosity and selfless love. Bimpe lived her life at the behest of others and was the nearest thing to a secular saint. A scion of the illustrious Osibodu family of Ilishan Remo, the departed was the wife of Segun Ojerinola, a Nigerian diplomat who fell in the course of duty to his fatherland in the Nigerian embassy at Belgrade in the late nineties where he was Head of Chancery.

    The ever swankily turned out and swaggering Segun Ojenrinola, a.k.a Jagger, was one of the rising stars of the Nigerian Diplomatic Corps until sudden death snatched him away in faraway Belgrade. Affable and clubbable to boot and full of witty pranks, Segun was a pure delight to be with. He was kind, courtly and courteously solicitous of the wellbeing of others. Now, he has been joined by his equally virtuous wife. May their worthy souls find eternal repose and may their orphaned children reap the fruits of the goodwill and kindness their parents have sown.

  • Lagos Assembly summons commissioner

    Lagos Assembly summons commissioner

    The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday summoned the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, over the plan to introduce the study of the Chinese Language, Mandarin, in public schools.

    Mr. Abdoulbaq Balogun (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 2) said the introduction of Chinese Language in public schools would have no relevance on the state’s economy.

    Mr. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 2) said: “Our children are yet to understand our local languages and we are planning to introduce another language.”

    Mrs. Lola Akande (Ikeja 2) said there was nothing wrong in introducing Chinese Language to schools.

    Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said: “In most of the countries I have visited, people from age 15 speak three or more languages. I think it is good for us to learn more languages.”