Jubilations in Rivers State,Abuja and Lagos as election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja FCT today nullify the election of incumbent governor of Rivers State Barrister Nyesom Wike and order a fresh election within 90 days

Akwa Ibom : Election petition tribunal orders re-run of governorship election in 18 LGAs.

president Buhari flags off of 260km Calabar-Katsina Ala super highway road project in Cross Rivers state yesterday.

Senate president Bukola Saraki false assets declaration cases resumes today at code of conduct tribunal.

Nigeria Army set up Board of inquiry to probes alleged role of Army in last Ekiti state governorship election rigging by some Nigeria Army officers.

EFCC arrests former Minister of interior Abba Moro over N700million scam of Nigerian youth looking for Nigeria immigration job that take many life.

Onu,Ngige,Onyeama, others 'll bring development to igboland - Anyim.

The All Progres­sives Congress (APC) gubernato­rial candidate in the April 2015 election in Abia State, Mr. Nyer­ere 
Chinenye Anyim has thrown his weight behind some ministerial nomi­nees from the South-east 
geopolitical zone, de­scribing their emergence as a step in the right di­rection.

Mr. Anyim who spoke to journalists in Abuja yester­day, maintained that some of the nominees like Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Chris Ngige and others from the region had the right cre­dentials to bring develop­ment to Nigeria and Igbo land.

He said: “What the president has done is the best. We are talking about the likes of Senator Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. You also talk about the nominee from Abia State. These are credible people and I believe they will bring development to Nigeria and to Igbo land. The essence of politics is to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and what these people are bringing to the table.

“We must differentiate between those who are coming to play politics and those who will work. We 
are looking at people who are ready to make sacri­fices. We are not looking at people who will come 
and play politics with the wel­fare of the people.

“Look at the anteced­ents of the people that have been nominated. They have track records. When people talk about the age of the ministerial nomi­nees, I always tell them it is beyond that.

In as much as we wish that some younger people will be given the opportu­nity to serve this country, we should know some­thing. There are other ca­pacities where they can serve. 

Ministerial screening: Ex-Governor Ameachi fights back.

…writes Saraki, Senate panel  •Says I’m innocent until proven otherwise by court

A former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has written three letters on why the Senate should not stop his screening as a ministerial nominee.

He said the allegations against him were not only false but also made malafide with the intent to “solely irritate, embarrass and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.”

He said he should be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved.

He said since there are pending cases at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Court of Appeal, any action by the Senate will be subjudice.

He asked the Senate to preserve its Standing Order which bars it from dabbling in any matter pending before a court.

Amaechi broke his silence in three separate letters to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki,and Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The letters were written by his solicitor, Edward E. Pepple.

In the letters, he asked the Senate to “discard” the  petition against him by the Integrity Group  and the report of the Justice G. G. Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Citing the case of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Amaechi said the Supreme Court had emphasized  that an indictment by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry or Administrative Panel is not an “indictment” or sufficient for the purpose of preventing a person from holding a public office.

The October 12 letter to Saraki (EW/GC/CRA/15/012) reads in part: “ It has informally come to our 
client’s attention that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief/Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, to judicially investigate our client and probe into some transactions of the Rivers State Government undertaken during the tenure of our client has purportedly come up with a report based on which the Governor and Government of Rivers State have supposedly also issued a White Paper, wherein it has proposed that certain steps and actions should be taken against our client.

“Of course, this is clearly in defiance of the pending suit at the Court of Appeal on the issue.

“It is important to mention that our client only became aware of this situation through a news bulletin aired on both the Channels Television and the Independent African Television (AIT). Apart from those, no other form of communication has been sent to our client, whether directly or indirectly.

“As had been mentioned in our earlier letters, our client is challenging the competence and validity of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and its powers to make any valid or binding decision or pronouncement as it relates to him.  The matter is pending at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, in suit No. CA/PH/342/2015; Between Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (claimant/appellant) and the Governor of Rivers State; Attorney General of Rivers State; Judicial Commission of Inquiry and 7 others (defendants/ respondents).

“On the 14th of July 2015, our client caused to be issued an originating summons against the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and 7 others before the High Court of Rivers State, presided over by Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi in suit No. PHC/189/2015 between Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi vs. The Governor Of Rivers State & 9 Others, wherein he challenged the competence and powers of the Hon. Justice G.O. Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to carryout judicial function of investigating him and making pronouncements thereof, instead of the authorities established by law to do so. However, Hon Justice 
S.C. Amadi on the 20th of August 2015 dismissed the suit on very spurious and unjustifiable 
grounds. This led to the appeal referred to above.

“Much as we do not intend to canvas our arguments at the Court of Appeal before the Distinguish Senate, it is pertinent to highlight some salient provisions of the law and pronouncements of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on this issue and the rationale for our client’s challenge of the competence of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“ The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the grundnorm upon which every other law derives. Therefore, any law that is inconsistent with the Constitution is to the extent of the inconsistency void. Section 6 of the Constitution establishes the judicial powers of a state, which is vested in the courts, being courts established for a state pursuant to the Constitution. Section 272 of the Constitution provides for the jurisdiction of the High Court of a state, in this case, Rivers State. See the provisions of sections 1, 6, 36, 251 and 272 of the Constitution on the above propositions of the law.

“On the other hand, the summary of the provisions sections 7 (b-f), 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 21 of the Commission of Inquiry Law (Cap 30), Laws of Rivers State 1999 is to the effect that the commission under that law has the power to summon, issue warrants of arrest, impose fines, commit for contempt and summarily convict and impose terms of imprisonment. This is contrary to the express provisions of the constitution. These are obviously powers exercisable by the courts.

“This position of the law has been upheld and reaffirmed severally by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In the case of Doherty V. Balewa (1961-1962) NSCC (page 248) at 257, lines 35-50, the Supreme Court in a similar situation with the instant case held as follows:

“The power of the commission to impose imprisonment is clearly contrary to the provisions of Section 20, and this was not disputed by the Attorney-General. This must also apply to the power to 
impose a fine, which is enforceable by imprisonment. In these circumstances, we would hold that 
Sections 8, 15 and 18 are invalid to the extent that they purport to empower a commissioner to inflict a punishment of a fine or imprisonment that the Sections should be ‘read down’ accordingly.”

Earlier in an October 9 letter to Saraki and the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions (EW/GC/CRA/15/011), Amaechi said the petition against him by Integrity Group was heinous.

He said: Sir, following the receipt of the letter for and on behalf of the Distinguished Senate (Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions)which was graciously served on our client today (9th October, 2015) with a copy of the petition, accordingly inviting him to appear before the committee, we wish to furnish you and the committee with some further and better particulars, hence this letter.

“ We make bold to say that as grievous, heinous and worrisome as the contents of the petition may seem on the face value, it is as malicious, dubious and libelous as it is falsehood.

“As we had stated in our earlier letter, whereas our client is very desirous of defending himself of these allegations made against him, we are sincerely afraid that he is, in this case, constrained and unable to do so before the distinguished Senate at this moment. This is because the subject matter of the petition is subjudice, being issues pending and subsisting before courts of competent jurisdiction. The cases include:

1.   Suit No: CA/PH/342/2015; Between Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (claimant/ appellant) and the Governor of Rivers State; Attorney General of Rivers State; Judicial Commission of Inquiry and 7 others (defendants/respondents), pending at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division. (ANNEXURE 1)
2.   Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15; between Advante Consulting & Mgt Co Ltd; Result Import 
3. Export Co Ltd; Capital Index Ltd (plaintiffs) and Livingstone Wechie (for and on behalf of the Integrity Group), The Sun Publishing Ltd, Leaders and Company Ltd and Guardian Newspapers Ltd (defendants), pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. (ANNEXURE 2)

“Sir, at the Court of Appeal, our client is challenging the competence and validity of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and its powers to make any valid or binding decision or pronouncement against him.

“The issues for determination before the Court of Appeal therefore relate and pertain to the ‘wrongful allegations of corruption and corrupt practices’ levelled against our clients and the unlawful and unconstitutional procedure adopted by his accusers and indicters (which in this case includes the Governor and Government of Rivers State, the Petitioner, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry) in what may seem as an attempt at establishing the ‘purported wrongful doings’ against our client.

“On the 14th of July 2015, our client issued an originating summons against the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and 7 others before the High Court of Rivers State, presided over by Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi in suit No. PHC/189/2015 Between Tr. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi vs. The Governor of Rivers State & 9 others, wherein he challenged the competence and powers of the Hon. Justice G.O. Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to carry out judicial functions of investigating him and making pronouncements thereof. However, Hon Justice S.C. Amadi on the 20th of August 2015 dismissed the suit on very spurious and unjustifiable grounds. This led to the appeal referred to above.

“  In suit No. FCT/HC/CV/2677/15 that is before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the issues relate directly and specifically to the contents and subject of this petition. The 
petitioner, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, between 3rd and 4th August, 2015, using the title ‘Looting of Rivers State Treasury’ caused to be published the same contents of this petition in some national newspapers (Thisday, The Guardian, Daily Sun, The Nation, etc), wherein he published that our client and Messers Advante Consulting &Mgt Co Ltd; Result Import Export Co. Ltd; Capital Index Ltd were involved in corrupt practices.

“He did, as in this present petition, also allege that the said companies were fraudulent and not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Aggrieved by the libelous publications, these juristic persons (the companies) approached the court to challenge the veracity of the contents and subject matter of this petition and to seek damages for libel against the petitioner for the falsehoods published and circulated against them and our client. Find attached the bundle of court processes; including Writ of Summons, Statement of Claim, Order for Substituted Service on Mr. Livingstone and other defendants, etc.

“Mr. President, this suit is still pending and subsisting at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The court in order to come to the conclusion that the contents of that publication are false and libelous, for which damages should be paid must make findings and resolve some issues, including for instance:

1.   whether or not our client was involved in any form of corrupt practices as alleged, be it stealing, unlawful enrichment and laundering of public funds through the plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15
2.   whether or not the companies (Plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15) are registered with CAC, fake or authentic;

iii.    whether or not there are glaring cases of corruption, criminal breach of trust, unlawful enrichment and wanton conversion of funds as it relates to the transactions between the Rivers State 
Government under our client and the plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15.

1. whether or not our client approved the sale of the Gas Turbines to NG Power-HPS Limited, and if he did, whether it was for the said amount and whether the proceeds were diverted by our client
2. whether or not there was any transactions between the Rivers State Government under our client and the plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15, and if so, whether there was any corrupt practices in the said transactions.

“ Mr. President, we have no doubt that the Senate being an Arm of Government established under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria verily appreciates the general principle of the rule of law, hence the invitation extended to our client to respond to the petition.

“Whereas we appreciate the commitment of the Senate to be fair and just, especially in offering our client an opportunity to state his side of the matter, however we need to state, and most regrettably too, that our client is unable to comment or respond in specific terms to the allegations contained in the said petition, as that would amount to commenting on the subject matter before the court of law.

“Sir, we are afraid that there is no way the distinguished Senate can effectively, successfully and conclusively investigate and determine the allegations in this petition without making findings, decisions and pronouncements, one way or another, on the issues listed below, which would be substantially the same issues that the court needs to resolve.

“Some of the issues that this Senate would have to resolve for instance will include:

1.   whether or not our client was involved in any form of corrupt practices as alleged, be it stealing, unlawful enrichment and laundering of public funds through the Plaintiffs in suit No: 
2. FCT/HC/CV/2677/15;
3.   whether or not the companies (plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15) are registered with CAC, fake or authentic;

iii.    whether or not there are glaring cases of corruption, criminal breach of trust, unlawful enrichment and wanton conversion of funds as it relates to the transactions between the Rivers State Government under our client and the plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15;

1.   whether or not our client approved the sale of the Gas Turbines NG Power-HPS Limited, and if he did, whether it was for the said amount and whether the proceeds were diverted by our client;
2.   whether or not there was any transactions between the Rivers State Government under our client and the plaintiffs in suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2677/15, and if so, whether there was any corrupt practices in the said transactions; and several others.

“Just as the general principle of law is that commentaries and other forms or outside-the-courtroom discussions should not be encouraged or engaged in relation to the subject matter of any judicial litigation, so as not to prejudice and prejudge a matter before a court, we have also realized that this distinguished Senate has not only adopted this principle of law, but has also made it a written code in its Rules and Standing Orders, which is the compass for the proceedings of the Senate.

“The Senate by so doing has debarred distinguished Senators from considering matters which are rightly or wrongly subjudice for the sake of ensuring the much-desired separation of powers and preventing possible loopholes that may exist or be created in an attempt at short-circuiting the process of justice and circumventing the stringent application of the laws of our land.

“Mr. President, needless to emphasise that it is one of the cardinal pillars of fair hearing that an 
accused person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. Again, this position is strengthened and reinforced by section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) (hereafter simply referred as the Constitution).

“As our client has indicated, the allegations are not only false, they are also made mala fide with the intent to solely irritate, embarrass and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of our client and maliciously represent him as a person not fit and proper to occupy public office.

14.   Sir, this intention is borne out clearly from the conduct and restless activities of the petitioner who has expressly stated in his petition to the Senate that he had written same petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC), the two foremost institutions in the country vested with the authority to prosecute financial and corrupt practices related offences. Except to speculate that the petitioner has no confidence in both the EFCC and ICPC, one would have thought that the petitioner should have awaited the outcome of the investigation of his allegations by these institutions. He did not do so because he has one goal, one mission: to malign and discredit the person of our client before the Nigerian people.

“Mr. President, we wish to resist the temptation of delving into the subject matter so as not to fall foul of the law and prejudice the case before the court.

“ In the circumstances, we most respectfully urge the Senate to invoke its powers and the Rules and Standing Orders to protect our client from commenting on the subject matter of the petition and any issues relating to or arising from the judicial commission of injury and/or the purported White Paper issued thereto.

False Assets declaration trial: Appeal court rules on Saraki Monday.

Saraki 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja will on Monday decide whether or not the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) could proceed with the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki on charges of false asset declaration.

The appellate court yesterday chose Monday for judgment in an appeal by Saraki, after taking arguments from parties in the case.

Saraki, who was arraigned last month before the CCT on a 13-count charge of false asset declaration, is appealing the tribunal’s decision to assume jurisdiction over his trial.

Listed as respondents in the appeal are the CCT, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Federal Ministry of Justice and a lawyer in the ministry, Muslim Hassan.

Arguing the appeal yesterday, Saraki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the appellate court to set aside the entire proceedings before the CCT, including the charge before it.

He argued that the CCT was not properly constituted when it assumed jurisdiction to entertain the charges because it was made up of two members as against three, which is provided for in Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

Daudu contended that the provision of Section 28 of the Interpretation Act relied upon by the respondents to argue that the tribunal could validly sit with its Chairman and one other member, was a contradiction of the three-member provision in the Constitution.

He also argued that the tribunal, not being a superior court recognised by the Constitution, could not exercise criminal jurisdiction.

Daudu said the CCT lacked the power to exercise the power of “a court to enable it to do some of the things they did which were exclusive preserve of a court with criminal jurisdiction.”

Daudu contended that an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal (per Justice Aboki in the case by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar) on which the CCT relied to assume jurisdiction over the case, was wrong.

He argued that the appellate court’s pronouncement in the Atiku case, to the effect that proceedings at the CCT were “criminal in nature,” was a mere obiter (a non-binding opinion).

Daudu also argued that the CCT is an inferior court to the Federal High Court, and ought to stay proceedings and await the determination of the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Saraki before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In a counter-argument, respondents’ lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds it was based on “misconception and wrong interpretation of the law.”

He faulted Daudu’s prayer for the dismissal of the charge on the grounds that the panel of the tribunal was not properly constituted because two of its three members are currently sitting.

“Their prayer is at large. If they are contesting the proceedings of the tribunal of September 18, how does it affect the charge before the tribunal,” he said.

Jacobs argued that two out of the three members of tribunal could validly conduct proceedings by virtue of the provisions of Section 28 of the Interpretation Act recognised by the Constitution in its section 308(4).

He argued that the provision of Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution dealt with the establishment and composition of the panel, it was silent on the number of the panel members that formed its quorum.

He faulted Daudu’s position that the argument that the Court of Appeal’s decision in Atiku Abubakar’s case was an obiter.

“The decision of this court (the Court of Appeal), cannot be an obiter. The Court of Appeal ruled that the case at the Code of Tribunal was purely criminal and Justice Aboki who read the judgment said I so hold, meaning that it is a finding of fact,” Jacobs argued.

Jacobs described as misconception, the argument by the appellant that without a sitting Attorney-General of the Federation, the CCB could not validly file a charge against anybody.

Earlier, Justice Moore Adumein, who presided, struck out the appellant’s application for stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

Justice Adumein said going ahead to hear the motion and write a separate ruling on it would amount to “a waste of judicial time” since the substantive appeal which would effectively decide the entire suit had been heard

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Alleged N108.1billion fraud: EFCC arrests ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested former Akwa Ibom State governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over alleged N108.1 billion fraud.

The ex-governor, now a senator, was also accused of mismanaging the state’s funds, and plunging it into huge debt.

About N18 billion of the said sum was allegedly lavished on special services, reception of very important guests and sundry items.

The ex-governor was also said to be under probe for allegedly acquiring five choice buildings in Abuja and Lagos.

But Akpabio last night denied being arrested by EFCC.

He said he went to the anti-graft agency on his own volition to respond to a petition that was filed against him.

According to investigation, Akpabio was picked up in Abuja after a two-week surveillance had been carried out on him.

A top source in the EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have picked up the ex-governor based on some petitions against him. One of the petitioners alleged mismanagement of about N108.1 billion. Others have visited the EFCC to adopt their petitions and show that they are not anonymous.

“Akpabio has been under investigation for some time. At a point, he got intelligence report that we were after him, and he has a peculiar security ring around him.

“But we have got to a convenient bend to arrest him for interrogation on some of the allegations already isolated for him.

“Akpabio is already in custody where our operatives are interacting with him. This is just the first leg of his grilling by the commission.”

It was not immediately clear if Akpabio would be granted bail last night.

Responding to a question, the source said: “The EFCC had interacted with some of the petitioners. Fairness demands that Akpabio should be invited.

In a June 22, 2015 petition to EFCC, an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong had accused Akpabio of sheer waste in office.

The petition alleged that between January and December 2014, the trio of Godswill Akpabio, an ex-aide of his and another associate made illegal but substantial withdrawals of cash from a designated state government-owned account with Zenith Bank with account number 101037588, amounting to N22.1 billion.

“It is worthy of note that reasons for such ungodly cash withdrawals against financial regulations and due process laws range between sundry use and unjustifiable expenditures by Godswill Akpabio and his numerous surrogates and proxies.

“For example, a whopping N18 billion was withdrawn fraudulently from the state FAAC account with the United Bank for Africa in tranches of N10 million and above by the associate in a surreptitious manner to conceal their dishonest intention.”

“The cumulative aggregate of the monies stolen by Godswill Akpabio from the coffers of government as pocket money is the annual budget of some states in Nigeria put together.”

At press time, it was gathered that about five choice mansions have been put under searchlight by EFCC.

The top EFCC source added: “The allegation we have is that these mansions were bought by Akpabio through some fronts.

“This allegation is being looked into. If it is true, we may invoke temporary assets forfeiture clause in the EFCC Act.

“But we have to give Akpabio the benefit of the doubt to react to all these allegations against him. They might be true or false.”

Some of the choice properties, allegedly traced to Akpabio’s fronts and under probe are a mighty building at Ikogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja; a mansionette at Colorado Close, Maitama, Abuja; a choice property at Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; another mansionette at Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos and a 25-storey building on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a swift reaction, Akpabio’s media aide, Mr. Jackson Udom, denied the arrest of his principal.

Although the statement said Akpabio only visited the EFCC, it was silent on whether Akpabio was being detained or had been released.

It confirmed that Akpabio went to EFCC voluntarily based on the petition by the Abuja-based lawyer-activist.

Udom said Senator Akpabio went to the EFCC yesterday evening on his own volition, based on some spurious allegation by one Leo Ekpenyong to the EFCC.

EFCC Arrest Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arrested ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio for alleged N101.8billion fraud, mismanagement of state funds,  and plunging the state into huge indebtedness.
Akpabio has been taken into custody for interrogation at press time.

Oscar pistorious to be moved from prison to house arrest Next week Tuesday.

Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, jailed for killing his girlfriend, is to be freed from prison to house arrest next Tuesday, a South African parole board says.
He was sentenced to five years in prison in 2014 after being found guilty of culpable homicide, or manslaughter.
He shot Reeva Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door but said he thought she was an intruder.
The prosecution has appealed, saying he should instead be convicted of murder.
That case is expected to be heard on 3 November.
Pistorius has spent 12 months in jail and will now spend the rest of his sentence under what is termed in South Africa “correctional supervision”, the parole board said. An earlier decision to release him in August was blocked by South Africa’s Justice Minister Michael Masutha, who said it had been made “prematurely”.
At the time, Ms Steenkamp’s family had said that 10 months behind bars was “not enough”.
Responding to Thursday’s decision, a lawyer speaking for the Steenkamp family said her parents had expected the early release even though they opposed it, adding that nothing could bring back their daughter.
The Pistorius family have said they have received the news of his planned release, but are not making any further comment.
During his house arrest, Pistorius is likely to face restrictions in terms of gun ownership and may have to continue getting psychotherapy.

Ooni's deputy, Obalufe, dies at 85.

Less than three months after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, joined his ancestors, his second in command, Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin has also passed on.
Though one of the palace chiefs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Sun when our correspondent visited the palace yesterday that Omisakin was in an undisclosed hospital, one of his daughters, when contacted, confirmed that he actually died at 10a.m. yesterday.
The daughter, who also preferred anonymity emotionally said: “won ti ku o,” meaning “he has died.”
It was gathered that the late Obalufe, who was also the leader of Ife kingmakers, was on sick bed when  Sijuwade died in a London Hospital during a brief illness.
When Daily Sun visited the palace at Iremo in Ile-Ife, family members and palace chiefs were in pensive mood.
They were seen discussing the development in groups.
Ife traditional chiefs, however, allayed fears about  Obalufe’s demise, insisting it  would not in any way affect  efforts to appoint a new Ooni.
A source said the next in rank, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, might perform the functions of the late Obalufe, whose duty it was to make official pronouncement of the new Ooni when appointed.
Another source from the Giesi Ruling House commiserated with the people of Ile-Ife and expressed shock over the development.
The source admonished the remaining  kingmakers to quicken the mourning processes to avoid delay in appointing a new Ooni.

Ameachi splits senate panel.

•Amaechi

The Senate seems to be finding ministerial nominee Rotimi Amaechi’s case a hard nut to crack.

For the umpteenth time, its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions could not sit to consider the petition against him, it was learnt yesterday.

But the panel chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said there was no cause for alarm, dismissing allegations of a crack in their rank.

The panel, sources said, has been unable to write its report because it could not form a quorum.

It has not been able to sit in the past three days despite being asked to hasten action on the petition by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

On Tuesday, Saraki  mandated the committee to ensure that its report was ready for consideration on Wednesday.

He asked the committee to speed up after Anyanwu told the Senate that the report was not ready.

But the panel submitted its report on another nominee, Amina Mohammed, who was among the 18 cleared on Wednesday.

The panel could still not submit its report on Amaechi on Wednesday, leading to the dropping of the former Rivers State governor from the list of those screened.

The panel consequently scheduled a meeting for 2pm on Wednesday but only Anyanwu and Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central) turned up.

The development has increased talks of a division among members.

Sources said there was a plot to sabotage Amaechi’s screening by some interested parties to orchestrate his withdrawal by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A member of the committee, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “It seems all is not well in our committee. Some of us are not happy about certain things. We cannot just go to a meeting for going sake. But what is happening is not for the media please, I beg you.”

Another member said: “No comment. I am not the spokesman of the committee. Go and meet the chairman if you want any information about the Ethics Committee.”

But Anyanwu, who is worried about the panel’s inability to submit its report, said he had carried every member along.

The Imo State-born lawmaker said he had demonstrated “a high level of openness and transparency in the affairs of the committee”.

He insisted that the committee is not facing a crisis.

There was no indication of when the committee will meet to write its report when the Senate adjourned plenary yesterday.

Saraki also did not mention the petition against Amaechi at the session.

When Amaechi appeared before the committee on October 12, the petition against him could not be considered because of his disclosure that it was a subject of litigation.

The Port Harcourt-based “The Integrity Group” petitioned the Senate asking that Amaechi should not be confirmed as a minister.

The group claimed that Amaechi mismanaged N70 billion of Rivers State funds when he was in office.

Amaechi has long dismissed the claim as part of the orchestrated campaign to smear him.

But the Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Dino Melaye, yesterday raised hope of Amaechi’s screening.  He said: “ The committee has a one-line report that the matter is in court and that in compliance with our laid down rules and regulations, any case that is undergoing judicial remedy cannot be discussed.

So, we have distanced ourselves from it. The report will be presented on Tuesday by the grace of God.

“I assure Nigerians that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the grace of God, will be screened on Tuesday.”

According to him, the screening and confirmation of the remaining 18 ministerial nominees will hold on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Melaye said: “We are going to screen nine of them on Tuesday and the remaining nine on Wednesday.

“The confirmation of all the nominees will be taken on Wednesday.”

There is another petition against another nominee – Mrs Aisha Abubakar from Sokoto State.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) laid the petition against Mrs. Abubakar on the table for consideration.

The petitioner’s demanding  her replacement with “a more competent person.”

The nominee, according to him, hails from the same local government with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.  The Senate referred the petition to its Ethics Committee.

Also yesterday, Saraki wrote President Muhammadu Buhari on the Senate’s confirmation of 18 nominees who were on the list sent to the upper chamber on September 30.

In a letter sent through Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on legislative matters (Senate), Saraki told the President that the Senate found the 18 nominees worthy to be ministers as provided for in Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The ministers-designate are Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Danbazzau, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Hajiya Amina Ibrahim Mohammed, Suleiman Adamu, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril,  Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, Senator Aishat Jummai Al-Hassan, Mr. Solomon Dalong, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Senator Hadi Sirika.

Buhari,Abdusalami meet in Aso Rock.

•Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari and former military Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, met behind closed-door at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

Abdusalami arrived the State House at about 3:30pm for the private meeting that lasted for about 30 minutes.

He declined to speak with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Senate clears Fashola,Lai,Ngige,Fayemi,Adeosun, and others.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT, BUKOLA SARAKI USING THE GAVEL AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 8TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY.WITH HIM ARE SENATORS DINO MELAIYE (M) AND SANI YERIMA

AFTER a two-day screening, the Senate yesterday confirmed 18 ministerial nominees, among them former Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

The other ministers-designate are Senator Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom), Chief Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Dr. Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kwara), Lt. Gen. Adulrahman Danbazzau (Kano), Amina Ibrahim Mohammed (Gombe), Mr. Suleiman Hussaini Adamu, Mr. Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) , Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Mr. Solomon Dalong, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Senator Hadi Sirika.

The confirmation of Mohammed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, was as dramatic as his screening on Tuesday.

Mohammed’s screening  on Tuesday was an exchange of banters between him and the senators.   But yesterday, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) senators shouted ‘nay’ when Senate President Bukola Saraki called out his name for confirmation. But APC senators rose stoutly in his defence with  their ‘yes’ shout.

Eight of the ministersl-designate were yesterday screened. The Oyo State nominee, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, was not screened apparently for lack of time. He is likely to be screened today.

Former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s screening was deferred because the petition against him had not been considered by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.  Amaechi is also likely to be screened today.

Musa Ibeto’s nomination was withdrawn by the President. He replaced the Niger State nominee with Bawa Bwari, a former House of Representatives member.

Ministers-designate such as  Ngige, Sirika and Alhassan were asked to introduce themselves, make some remarks and “take a bow and go” being former senators.

They spoke on a number of issues.

Kachikwu

The NNPC GMD told the senators that President Muhammadu Buhari is insisting on putting necessary palliatives in place before considering oil subsidy removal.

If any person from the private sector is asked whether subsidy should be removed, the categorical answer, he said, would be yes.

He said the President was particularly concerned about the provision of necessary palliatives especially in the areas of transport, health and education, when the issue came up before him.

Kachikwu said he agreed with the President that unless necessary palliatives were in place “you cannot just remove subsidy.”

“The NNPC is working to establish the actual volume of PMS the country consumes monthly and the actual amount the country spends on subsidy to determine the direction to go”, he said, adding:

“If you don’t handle it with palliatives, you create problem.”

To encourage the use of domestic gas in the country, the Federal Government, he said, would begin the distribution of free gas cylinder next year.

The NNPC GMD said the country loses about $15 billion yearly because of the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The minister-designate noted that the NNPC is perfecting the policy of free gas cylinder distribution to encourage the use of gas and also reduce the use of kerosene.

Kachikwu said he has been in the oil industry for 30 years covering all sectors.

On the perennial scarcity of petrol and high cost of kerosene, he said NNPC was working to ensure that fuel scarcity becomes a thing of the past.

He said there was no plan to reduce the pump price of petrol as being speculated by some people.

Kachikwu said: “We have come out very clearly that there is no such plan. In the next one, two days, you will find that individuals will open their stations and products are there. We have enough storage in this country that will last us for the next 40, 50 days”.

On production level of refineries, he said: “Refineries are operating today at about 25, 27 per cent capacity. I know that there had been this whole number bandied around to the fact that we are at 65 per cent performance level; that is not true and I have advised His Excellency as such. “

He insisted that if the country can’t run the refineries “then we need to get out, make adequate arrangement to privatise them and take them out.”

On why refineries are not producing at optimal capacity, he said: “Over the last 10 years, we have not really done a serious shut down routine maintenance.”

Most of the refineries, he said, were 30 years old and above when refineries have a lifespan of 50 to 60 years if maintained constantly.

“Kerosene is a different ball game. You will notice that only NNPC for now, imports kerosene. And that is because the sale prices are such that nobody can bring in kerosene and make money.

“As a matter of fact, 50 per cent of NNPC’s subsidy charges come from importation of kerosene. So, the first thing is how do you make kerosene easily available?

“If the refineries work and produce more kerosene. If you begin a good deforestation and afforestation programme, you can begin to take our people away from kerosene”, the NNPC GMD said.

On the PIB, he said he promised himself not to be constrained by the lack of PIB in finding holistic solutions to the industry’s problems.

“So, using existing laws, we have continued to make changes. Because at the end of the day, whether or not PIB is available and passed, it really doesn’t lie within the umbrella of the executive, it lies with this revered Assembly. But I also do not think that the problem with PIB has been the facts of the versions. By the time the last Senate was rounding off, it had got a version that was clearly the version that both houses were looking at. Am I  going to create a new version? Not really. What I will need to do is take the version that you have, look at it again and make changes”, Kachikwu said.

He described corruption as a major issue in NNPC, saying: “We are working very hard to try and wipe that out. Since I joined, we have literally cut every contract that we found suspicious.”

Over nearly 40 per cent of the revenue that NNPC generates, he said, is utilised by NNPC for its own needs, adding: “ If you look at the numbers for NNPC, NNPC spends more than a lot of three or four, five states gathered together in terms of their annual budget.“

NNPC, he said, had downsized at the upper level, moving from nine directorates to four or five.

“We have removed from the system about 150 Deputy General Managers (DGMs) and cut that down to about 100 DGMs. We have moved General Managers from a total of about 180 to about 90,” he said.

Fashola

The former Lagos State governor denied corruptly enriching himself in the controversial N78 million personal website deal executed under his administration.

Asked to define loyalty, the former governor described it as a strange concept, saying: “I have always prayed that may our loyalty never be tested.

“I pray that my loyalty should not be tested. In my public life, I have had cause to be loyal to causes I believe in”.

Fashola, the first to be screened yesterday said he could not take credit for his work in Lagos, saying it was a team effort. “It was a team work, a pioneering work by all those who served before me and it is a continuing effort.

“So, it will be extremely inappropriate and immodest of me and indeed, they would not let me if I had attempted to take personal responsibility for all that happened,” he said.

On the alleged deportation of some Nigerians from Lagos during his tenure, Fashola apologised to those offended by the action, adding that people were rehabilitated and taken to where they called home instead of being kept continuously against their wish.

Malami

Malami spoke on the administration of justice, saying whatever responsibility he is given he would be true to his God, the country and President Buhari.

He noted that justice administration would be incomplete without financial independence of the judiciary.

No person should be detained in criminal matter beyond three months before being brought to court, Malami said, noting that under the Justice administration, criminal cases should be determined within 180 days.

For a proper justice administration, there must be collaboration among the three arms of government, he said, adding that prisoners should be made to acquire vocational skills while serving their terms.

Malami urged the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the bills that would assist the administration of justice.

Hajia Alhassan

She told the Senate that contrary to insinuations, she is still pursuing her governorship election petition at a tribunal in Taraba State

She contested the last governorship election on APC  platform against PDP’s Ishaku Darius.

She said: “My nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari has nothing to do with my ongoing election petition. President Buhari will not prevent me from going ahead with the case”.

On corruption in the judiciary, Alhassan said the problem is not only about money. “When a judge exercises his discretional powers injudiciously, it is corruption.

“Corruption is perpetrated by judges and lawyers in many ways. Lawyers ingratiate themselves with judges and make friends with them. They then lobby to have their cases assigned to such judges.

“We all know that judges are also human beings capable of being influenced by their friendship with their lawyer-friends”, he said.

Mrs Adeosun

To avoid economic recession, she said, the country must increase its revenue base by expanding its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“There is need to pursue an aggressive cashless system to plug leakages and to explore additional revenue options to augment dwindling oil earnings”, Mrs Adeosun said, adding:

“The economy is slowed down but not in recession. We can avoid recession by creating more jobs, particularly in the private sector”.

She added: “Investing in infrastructure will also help in stimulating the economy for job creation and expanding the frontiers of entrepreneurship.

“The Treasury Single Account (TSA) will reduce borrowing by government and if government is not borrowing, private businesses will be able to access loans for investment. The policy may appear harsh in the short run, but it will be beneficial in the long run.

“The country must develop its infrastructure to attract foreign investment while interest rate must be brought down to enable legal businesses to access loans.

“Governments at all levels must cut down on recurrent expenditure and increase capital spending in annual budgets. The present situation where government runs budget on 78 per cent recurrent cannot grow the economy.

“To avoid revenue leakage, there must be transparency in the waiver regime, while the exchange rate cannot be entirely left to market forces alone to determine.

More importantly, we must encourage local industries by patronising made in Nigeria goods. “We should buy made in Nigeria, eat made in Nigeria and drink made in Nigeria products”,

Ngige

Ngige called for peace in the country “because we are through with the elections”.

He said there was the need to pay attention to the economy because of the dwindling oil revenue.

The former Anambra state gtovernor said the country is in the era of change, adding that the change must be holistic.

Dalong

He spoke on how to decongest prisons.

The country, he said, should pay more attention to solid minerals, which he noted had been neglected for long.

He said the history of the crises in some states, including Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and the Northeast should be considered in finding lasting solution to them.

Sirika

He spoke about the need to revive the national carrier.

The country, he said, should work quickly to revive its national carrier for reasons of national interest.

Sirika said most of the bilateral agreements the country signed were lopsided because of lack of national carrier.

Tags: Senate

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