To remove EFCC from presidency contro

*Vow to back Saraki

*To confront older senators over juicy committees

By Henry Umoru

STRONG indications emerged early yesterday of a hardening of position by senators who have coalesced into a Group of 77 drawn from various parties and camps to protect what they have dubbed as the integrity of the Senate.The new G77 which had its maiden meeting on Thursday night has meanwhile launched moves to extricate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC from the control of the presidency in the light of claims by the senators that it had become a tool of the administration.The G77 comprising mostly of new senators it was gathered, also up in arms against older senators who they claim have monopolised the juicy committees of the Senate to the detriment of the newer ones.
The maiden meeting of the G77 was hosted by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio who incidentally was not at home at the beginning of the meeting.

The meeting monitored by Saturday Vanguard commenced shortly after 7.00 p.m. on Thursday and ended just before midnight following which some senators also broke up into groups.

36 senators were physically present at the meeting which inside sources disclosed has a membership roll of 77, almost all of them new senators. Remarkably, the group is also putting forward itself as a bulwark for the embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki with members vowing to defend him against what they alleged as the persecution of the executive branch of government.

The formation of the new group came barely 24 hours after senators resolved in a closed session on Wednesday to put aside all acrimonies and project the institution as one. In that light the senators it was learnt resolved to withdraw all cases against the election of Saraki as the Senate President.

It was also resolved that as a sop to critics that the Senate would withdraw the amendment bill to the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act.

However, that agreement ran into trouble at the G77 meeting on Thursday as senators in the group resolved to push forward an amendment bill to the law establishing the EFCC to among other things remove the president’s right as appointing power and transfer same to the National Judicial Council, NJC.

Besides, the amendment aims to ensure that the minimum qualification for the office of executive chairman of the EFCC would be a Deputy Director General of Police, DIG.

A senator from the former Bendel State is to present the amendment bill which would be expected to be fast tracked.

The senators at the Thursday meeting particularly lamented what they claimed as the way and manner the EFCC was being used to hound what they claimed as perceived opponents of the administration. The case of former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and his son was given as a particular instance at the meeting as it was claimed that the EFCC rushed to file charges without investigation.

As part of the amendment the EFCC would be compelled to finish investigations before filing charges against anyone, a source at the meeting disclosed.

Noting the determination of the new senators to get their own entitlements in the chamber, a senator who attended the meeting told Saturday Vanguard that the group would frustrate what they described as the over ambitious nature of the older senators who are anointing themselves as those that will take over from the embattled Senate President, Senator Saraki.

The source also disclosed that the G77 came into existence to frustrate any gang up against Senator Saraki’s leadership of the Senate.

Among those sighted at the meeting were Senators Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East; Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central; Matthew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South; Ben Murray Bruce, PDP, Bayelsa East; Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West; Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti South; Isa Misau, APC, Bauchi Central, among others including Akpabio who came into the meeting not too long before it ended.

Among those sighted at the meeting were Senators Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East; Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central; Matthew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South; Ben Murray Bruce, PDP, Bayelsa East; Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West; Biodun Olujimi, PDP, Ekiti South; Isa Misau, APC, Bauchi Central, among others including Akpabio who came into the meeting not too long before it ended.

tuale4u:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/twist-senate-peace-moves-senators-form-g77/

You would have just wriiten d heading as PDP/Saraki APC 77 senators instead of G77 senators.

Rubbish. Greedy 77 (G77)

realestworld:
I'm not even concern about our politicians but about these people supporting them while they are inflicting pains on them.
Isn't that madness?

EdCure:

It's real madness indeed. Yet, it depends on the side that you accuse of inflicting pains on the people.
Saraki is a criminal and one of the main duties of government is to fight crime.

tuale4u:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/twist-senate-peace-moves-senators-form-g77/

You would have just wriiten d heading as PDP/Saraki APC 77 senators instead of G77 senators.

Rubbish. Greedy 77 (G77)

A senator from the former Bendel State is to present the amendment bill which would be expected to be fast tracked.

modath:


You believe this, you can believe anything.

Remove EFCC from presidency's control? Really? As it stands today, they can barely do anything that will incite the public further.




Who even uses such words as fomer Bendel state or Gongola state?

Former bendel state AKA Peter Nwaoboshi?

Expected to fast track? & they've made a u turn from every other crap they've been pushing? Not only G77, it's Godly 77

There is no story here, just an over active imagination & wishful thinking...

Mynd44:

They keepkeep forgetting that the President will not sign their bills. They can get 2/3 in the senate…… expecting to get that in the HOR is a dream that wont come true

Mynd44:

They keepkeep forgetting that the President will not sign their bills. They can get 2/3 in the senate…… expecting to get that in the HOR is a dream that wont come true

BADNEAT:
a criminal really??how many people do u sincerely think will stand if their CCB assets declaration was looked into??while affirming that He is a criminal, there should be a but there...that's what makes u human...a law shouldn't be used to victimize...when everyone falters a law and only one person is punished,then it's no longer a law as a law is all encompassing

EdCure:

When a conspicuous criminal relentlessly sabotages the government, the government must do everything (within its powers) to get him out of the way.
The war on corruption has to start from the top and powerful to serve as a deterrence. There are many fraudsters in the parliament but you don't expect Buhari to turn the NASS into a labour camp. It's one thing at a time.

chukwudi44:


Lolz!! Whether G77 or Saraki77 majority is majority and they will surely carry the day.

modath:


You believe this, you can believe anything.

Remove EFCC from presidency's control? Really? As it stands today, they can barely do anything that will incite the public further.




Who even uses such words as fomer Bendel state or Gongola state?

Former bendel state AKA Peter Nwaoboshi?

Expected to fast track? & they've made a u turn from every other crap they've been pushing? Not only G77, it's Godly 77

There is no story here, just an over active imagination & wishful thinking...

BADNEAT:
I believe the trial began even before what u term sabotage...there are many fraudsters both in NASS and Buhari's government, and if it will take more than a year to get a judgement for just one,then your telling me it's one thing at a time is misguided!

lakhadimar:
You no even see the name of the reporter: Henry Umoru Strong

onexile:
Tinubu is in trouble oooo


Saraki teaching Tinubu and Bubu Politics since the era of Change

rusher14:
Saraki is bluffing.

Believe me if Saraki knew he could get 2/3 from both Houses he would have moved for impeaching the president.

I gave a breakdown of votes of leadership of the lower house and how they split the votes;

Dogara = 182

Gbajabiamilla = 174.

How they hope to swing approx. 240 votes can only be by delusion.


For this G77, 36 senators showed up at first meeting?