The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Victor Oluwasegun

  • Reps move to decongest prisons

    Reps move to decongest prisons

    • Pass Criminal Justice Act Amendment

    A reprieve may be in the offing for people who are awaiting trial in prisons across the country following the Wednesday consideration for the bill on Criminal Justice Act Amendment at the House of Representatives.

    This is as Lawmakers expressed support for the bill that strengthens the Criminal Justice system as it went through consideration at the committee in the Whole.

    The bill which amends the Criminal Justice (Release from custody) (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. C40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, with the view to decongest and reduce the number of pretrial inmates in Nigerian prisons and for other related matters was co-sponsored by Nicholas Ossai and Ochiglegor Idagor.

    It seeks to “order the release of a person detained in custody pending trial where the prosecution fails to commence after the person had spent one-third of the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence.”

    Figures released by the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in August 2016, states that  out the 63,000 inmates spread across 240 prisons in the country, 17,897 are convicted while 45,263 are awaiting trial.

    Idagor while arguing for a positive consideration of the bill said its “embarrassing and worrisome State of Nigerian prisons, where over 70% of inmates are awaiting trial, has made it imperative for us to apply extra LegislativeBudget measures to decongest our prisons and further strengthen the criminal justice system.”

    He further states: “Our society is one in which innocence until proven guilty has been thrown into the wind, as Nigerians are made to spend months and years in incarceration even without being proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    “We can no longer continue living in the dark age where  people’s rights are constantly abused while the government stands aside and watch. We all know that in the 240 prisons spread across Nigeria, the innocent who were wrongly accused, wrongly detained and are awaiting trial constitute 70% of the Nigerian prison population.

    “It has also been revelead that 95% of riots, escapes and jail breaks are perpetuated by this category of inmates.”

    The lawmaker stated that the bill seeks to cure the age long problem of awaiting trial persons languishing in various prisons as well as saddle an awaiting trial perons with powers to apply to a Judge within the judicial district for unconditional release from custody.

    This he said is especially in a situation where the person has been in custody for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which he could have served had he been convicted of the offence in respect of which he was detained in the execution of a court or Tribunal duly constituted by law.

    According to him, the Judge on receipt of the application will summarily release the inmate if satisfied that the person has been in custody longer than the maximum period the person would have served had he been convicted.

    The lawmaker states that the bill is beneficial in the sense that there is reduction in monetary expenses spent on feeding and upkeep of inmates across the country, reduction of Staff workload and stress, manageability of prisons/improved prison regime, reduction in prison overcrowding rate, improved sanitary and living conditions in prison and reduction of lack of discipline, disturbances and aggression in prison.

    He said the passage of the bill into law will help in reducing unnecessary violation of individual’s right to liberty, prevention of the negative effects of incarceration such as psychological stress to the prison, financial, psychological and social stress faced by the  families, opportunity for better preparation of their cases and prevention of criminal socialisation of those innocent by the more serious and sophisticated offenders.

    However, an observation by the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, that it requires amendment of section 35 of the 1999 Constitution to run the bill through, made the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun who presided to referred it to the House Committee on Rules and Business for further advise.

  • Herdsmen massacre: Reps charge FG on security emergency

    Herdsmen massacre: Reps charge FG on security emergency

    Lawmakers in the Green Chamber on Wednesday called on the Federal and the Kaduna State governments to immediately declare a security emergency in Southern Kaduna Senatorial district over the recent massacre of over 44 persons by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.

    They also called on the government to set up a military strike force in Southern Kaduna as an interim measure to curtail incessant attacks that have been going on in the area since 2011.

    The resolution which was a continuation of a motion brought under Matters of urgent importance by a member Simon Arabo and five other lawmakers also called on the security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend and bring to justice all persons involved in the series of attacks in the area.

    The resolution of the motion titled, “Urgent need for a declaration of emergency over the security situation in the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District of Kaduna State,” also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide relief materials to the internally displaced persons on account of the attacks.

    While moving the motion, Arabo alleged that various communities in Southern kaduna had been consistently attacked by Fulani terrorists since 2011 resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of properties and displacements of the communities.

    Arabo alleged that the recent attacks were in the presence of some security personnels who did nothing to prevent them.

    His words: “On the 15th-16th October 2016, Godo-godo community in Jama’a Local Government Area and other communities in Kaura and Kauru Local Government Areas have been attacked by the Fulani terrorists resulting in deaths of scores of people, injuries, wanton destruction of communities and other acts of mayhem.”

    He said that Southern Kaduna is substantially agrarian with arable and fertile lands and good weather and that subsequent to attacks by the Fulani terrorists, Fulani herdsmen had occupied some of the displaced communities.

    The House of Rep member further noted that the Federal Government had declared a security emergency in Zamfara State in the wake of similar terrorist attacks and set up a military strike force there.

    The attacks on the communities, he said, “indicated a pattern of deliberate desire to annihilate the affected communities, decimate their population, occupy their lands and create an atmosphere of terror.”

    In the time past, he said, there was a resolution to set up a military battalion/base in Kafanchan in Southern Kaduna, but the resolution was yet to be implemented, adding that there was a general atmosphere of insecurity in the area.

    However, there was a mild drama as a member Abubakar Lawan representing Yola South, Yola North Federal Constituency of Adamawa State raised a point of order, saying that the use of “‘Fulani terrorists” by Arabo was offensive to the Fulanis.

    The Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, who presided however got Arabo to expunge the word from the motion to allow peace return to the plenary.

  • Corruption: Reps partner UK, Nigerian accounting firm

    The House of Representatives has reiterated it’s readiness to curb wastages
    and other forms of corruption in the utilization and application of public
    funds.
    Chairman, Public Accounts (PAC) Kingsley Chinda said his Committee is
    partnering Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy -UK and
    Periscope Consulting Limited, it’s Nigerian public financial management
    firm.
    Chinda, while receiving the delegation at the National Assembly on Thursday, regretted that the country is faced with challenges of corruption, weak structures and transparency.
    However, he stressed that the government is determined to put in sustained structures that can not be washed away too soon.
    “That is the reason we try to make utilization of public funds a public
    document through regular engagement of the Auditor General of the
    Federation at our meetings.
    “Together with Senate PAC, we looking at how to strengthen all State PACs
    so that we can be on same page.
    “It is in view of this that we need to partner professional bodies on
    training States PACs,” he said.
    While noting that the House is committed to good governance, Chinda
    disclosed that an European parliament would be visiting the Committee next
    week to further collaborations on transparency in government.
    Leader of delegation, John Matheson, President of the Chartered Institute
    of Public Finance & Accounting, UK commended Nigerian government efforts at eliminating corruption in the country.
    According to Matheson, curbing of corruption in accounting reporting which has been the focus of his Instirutute in its 30 years of existence is in tune with Nigerian government’s efforts against corruption.
    “We are in Nigeria to seek partnership for that purpose. We are very impressed with what is going on in the country because the
    journey appears very committed to reduce corruption at federal level and
    improving efficiency at State level,” he added.
    A member of the delegation, Emmanuel Bola Samuel of Periscope Consulting
    Ltd regretted that skill gap in finance administration in Ministries,
    Departments and Agemcies (MDA) is regrettable.
    He said: “What is we don’t seem to realise is that accounting has
    tranformed from collation of figures to reporting which makes
    accountability very critical.
    “Fighting corruption with robust finance management is now more expedient
    but there must be a good reporting structure in the MDAs.”
    Periscope’s Chief, Martins Olajide said the delegation was also at the
    Office of the Accountant-General for the Federation (OAGF) ad well as the
    Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation (OAGF).

  • Reps charge FG on Nigerian students arrested in Turkey

    Reps charge FG on Nigerian students arrested in Turkey

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to explore all diplomatic means of rescuing the student arrested by the Turkish Gvernment and resolve the issue.

    The House also mandated its committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Matters, Interior and Tertiary Institutions to investigate the matter and report back to the House in one week for further legislative duties.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion sponsored by a member Hon. Solomon Bulus Maren under matter of urgent national Importance.

    Maren while moving the motion noted that 50 Nigerian students  were illegally arrested  and detained on October 1st 2016 at the Instanbul Airport on arrival to pursue their education.

    He noted he continuous humiliation of Nigerian Students and nationals in various countries of the world without any diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian  Government.

    “Recall the murder of a Nigerian student in Dubai who was thrown from a multi- storey building, the case of our dear sister Julie who is bedridden in a rehabilitation home for the elderly and mentally ill in Italy due to doctors torture and maltreatment . The death of a Nigerian students and Nationals around the globe on flimsy excuses.

    The lawmaker recalled the July 15th failed Coup in Turkey and the clampdown on 2099 schools, dormitories and Universities and the allegations that they were terrorist institutions due to,their links with Islamic scholar Fetullar Gulten “whom the Turkish Government has accused of being the mastermind of the failed coup in Turkey.”

    Maren expressed concern that some of the arrested students are being humiliated and abused, while some are sick and are being held in dark rooms.

    “Of the 102 countries that have students in that university, only Nigerian students are being treated in this manner, whereas other countries have sorted out their’s diplomatically,” the lawmaker said.

    The Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje while speaking on the matter said Nigeria will not normally interfere in the internal workings of any country especially when its in a situation that seem to threaten their democracy.

    “As a country we also owe a responsibility to our citizens to know exactly where they are or how their doing in their host country. But we would draw the line when it comes to that number of our citizens who have been arrested in a foreign country and especially charged with treason.

    “It is pretty heavy, and any responsible country and parliament would want to find out exactly what the true status is,mand that’s what we intend to do, moving forward.”

    Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters Hon. Rita Orji described the arrest of the students as an assault on Nigerians.

    She said that the fact that’s were taken from the airport to detention is an insult on the sovereignty of Nigeria as a whole. According to her, it is not enough to allege that the student may be linked to schools that are supposedly linked with terrorism.

    She said it would have been better if the government of Nigeria had been informed on the suspicion of the Turkish government, rather than clamping innocent Nigerian into detention.

    “I have to let Nigerians know that it is high time we rose up to this challenge. So that people will know that the life of every Nigerian student abroad matter.”

  • Budget padding: Gombe Reps caucus knocks Jibrin

    Budget padding: Gombe Reps caucus knocks Jibrin

    Federal Lawmakers from Gombe State on Thursday swung to the side of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, over the allegation of inserting billions to the 2016 budget for personal gains.

    The House members including Hon. Ali Isa, the Gombe Caucus Leader, who read the statement, Aishatu Jibrin Dukku, Ustaz Yunusa Ahmad Abubakar, Binta Bello,  Ismaila Muazu Hassan and Yaya Bauchi Tongo, described the allegation by former Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin against the leadership of the House of Representatives, as a “campaign of calumny.”

    The statement reads in part: “We of the Gombe State caucus of the House of Representatives wish to categorically and publicly declare that we are not part of any evil group trying to cause disaffection and instability in the House of Representatives, and we in like manner dissociate ourselves from any conspiracy and attack against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the entire leadership of the House.

    “We are aware that the current impasse is generated and orchestrated by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin through his wild goose claim that the 2016 federal budget was “padded” by the Leadership of the House, and we are appalled and shocked that Hon. Jibrin only came out with this accusation just after the House has duly sacked him as appropriation Committee Chairman over the offense of unlawfully inflating the budget in his own favour!

    “And if we are to talk about this “budget padding” scandal, we want to tell the whole world that shortly after Hon. Jibrin was appointed Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, he sent letters to all members of the House of Representatives requesting them to send details of projects they want captured in the Federal Budget for their constituencies, and Honourable Members complied with his circular accordingly.

    “But we are now shocked and surprised that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin is now using these same letters to blackmail the House as guilty of padding the Federal Budget! What a shame!

    “The world, particularly Nigerians, must be told that the figures being reeled out by Hon. Jibrin as his basis of blackmail against the leadership of the House were actually suggested by him.

    “As a matter of fact, the Appropriation Committee under the leadership of Hon. Jibrin initiated the allocation formula with which the constituency projects of Honourable Members were inserted into the 2016 budget.

    “By reason of their leadership position, the Appropriation Committee conceded significant provisions to the principal officers of the House, but we are even shocked that Hon. Jibrin who is not a principal officer allocated provisions to his Constituency far beyond what the principal officers he is accusing got.”

    The caucus said the National Assembly cannot be accused of padding the budget.

    “Section 80 subsection 4 and section 81 subsection 1 of Nigeria’s constitution have expressly given the National Assembly powers over the entire budgetary process, which also means the lawmaking body can make additions or subtractions on any budget document.”

    According to the lawmakers, since the parliament can make such additions or subtractions, “it is then unfair and uncharitable for anyone to accuse the National Assembly of padding the budget..”

  • Reps to introduce e-parliament – Dogara

    Electronic voting system in the conduct of activities of the House of Representatives would soon be the order of the day, according to plans by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    The Speaker recently announced that in compliance with the Legislative Agenda of the 8th Assembly the House would
    adopt the e-voting system in its operations.

    “Consequently, forms have been distributed to individual members to collate their data ahead of production of e-voting cards to all the 360 MPs,” a statement by the Special Adviser (Media & Public Affairs) Turaki Hassan said.

    It further states: “The implication of the new system is that records of each member’s punctuality and voting patterns can easily be accessed by his/her constituents and members of
    the public.

    The Legislative Agenda as adopted by the 8th Assembly last year states: “The 8th House commits to the use of ICT in the
    daily conduct of legislative activities of the House. E-parliament and e-voting platforms will be made a regular feature of the House.

    “E-voting will be used regularly during voting to properly reflect voting records of Members and parliamentary
    accountability. The House shall collaborate with relevant
    stakeholders to achieve the goal of an e-parliament.”

    According to the statement, other initiatives that will be introduced include the establishment and equipping of a
    Parliamentary Information Centre where information and documents of the National Assembly will be made available.

    The introduction of the e-voting and e- parliament will further increase citizens access to the legislature and solve the
    problem of public access to authentic documents of parliament, the statement said.

    According to the statement, the e-parliament initiative is expected to operate on the platform of modern, up-to-date digital technology, and Internet and intranet access supported by computerized legislative information management system is also be put in

  • Fuel scarcity is a gangup by oil marketers, says Rep

    Fuel scarcity is a gangup by oil marketers, says Rep

    A member of the House of Representatives, Olajide Olatunbosun (APC, Oyo) said Nigerians should direct heir anger to independent  oil marketer for the hardships they are currently going through due to fuel scarcity.

    He said the removal of petroleum subsidy in January was responsible for the refusal of the marketers to import fuel.

    According to Olatunbosun, who is a member of House Committee on Appropriation, the resultant hardship foisted on the country was meant to arm-twist the government into agreeing to their terms which may be inimical to the interest of Nigerians.

    While reacting to comments on President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policy during the weekend in Abuja, Olatunbosun said the implementation of the Single Treasury Account (TSA) was the best to have happened to the Nigerian economy.

    He said: “In January, fuel subsidy was removed but there is a gang up to sabotage this government by some elements. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was to import 50 percent of our fuel consumption while the balance was to be given to independent marketers that have refused to supply the fuel.

    “In the past, they were importing it but this stopped suddenly. My understanding is that the stoppage of patronage they were getting from subsidy, which was a monumental fraud was the cause.

    “It means they were never in that business because they loved Nigeria and Nigerians in the first place, they were doing it solely for the ill-gotten wealth they get from the undue advantage they get through the subsidy but because there is no more free fund to get from the subsidy, they stopped importing the product.

    “Unfortunately, that was not communicated to Nigerians. I think there is a need to go back to the 2012 report of the House probe on the subsidy, those indicted should be prosecuted.

    “That forex scarcity was responsible for their inability to bring in fuel is a diversionary excuse because fuel importation is prioritized since it affects the economy directly”.

    The lawmaker further condemned unpatriotic Nigerians with domicilary accounts running into $20b saying it was a major cause of the falling naira and a struggling economy.

    Noting that the TSA has nothing to do with the issue of dollar exchange rate, Olatunbosun said, “I will rather say that it has helped us as a nation in a way. This is because when you have an economy being driven by ill-gotten stupendous wealth chasing the dollar, maybe by now we would be talking about N500 to a dollar.

    “The TSA is one good policy that has happened to our economy because there have been monumental leakages in all agencies of government, most especially those generating revenue.

    “Nigerians have about $20b in various domicilary accounts by individuals and corporate entities. That is over N1 trillion at N300, the size of our budget, and if it’s at N200 that’s I’ve N4 trillion, that is still huge.

    “All over the world I have never seen a nation where the citizens have such reserve of foreign currency. This is not America where the dollars us he legal tender, so why are keeping such a huge money in our dollar accounts?

    “The reason is simple, we don’t believe in our own country. Until that trend is reversed, it is going to be same song we will be singing about the state of our economy, that the naira is falling, dollar and other currencies appreciating he naira.

    “If I have my way, I will prostrate to these Nigerian and beg them to bring the dollars out. If we pump just $10b of that money  into our economy, one can only imagine the rippling effects on all facets of our economy”.

  • Reps take over Kogi House of Assembly

    The House of Representatives has taken over the legislative functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly until the political crisis is resolved.

    The Federal lawmakers have also declared as null and void, the impeachment of the Speaker,  Momoh Lawal by five lawmakers , while describing the action of the five  as embarrassing to the institution of legislature.

    The Federal lawmakers have also asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase to seal the Assembly complex.

    This is in addition to the condemnation of the roles played by the Nigeria Police for providing cover for the five lawmakers against 15 to commit the illegality of impeaching the Speaker.

    The decision of the House followed the adoption of the report of Pally Iriase-led ad hoc Committee that was mandated to investigate the matter today at Committee of the Whole House chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun.

  • Dogara rues non-listing of telecom, oil firms on NSE

    Dogara rues non-listing of telecom, oil firms on NSE

    [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would have been more vibrant if multinational oil and gas and telecommunication companies were listed, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara has said.

    Dogara who spoke yesterday while receiving members of the Nigeria-United Kingdom Capital Market Project in his office applauded the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the stock exchanges of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    The Speaker while lamenting the refusal of the multinational oil and gas and telecoms companies to list on the stock exchange, said there was no justification for such.

    According to him,  big companies in these two major sectors must have to list on the capital market to make capital available for investors, create employment and deepen the market.

    He said the House may consider passing a law that will compel multinationals in oil, gas and telecommunication sectors to list certain percentage of their value on the stock exchange.

    His said: “Apart from capital inflow sought, the market needs to be deepened, as most of the big international companies in Nigeria are not participating in the NSE. This is sad because these companies account for a huge percentage of revenues in oil, communication and energy.”

    Dogara assured that all areas of value-added partnership aimed at wealth increase and redistribution, as well as the creation of employment and economic diversification, will have legislative interventions.

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