₦airaland Forum

CCT Chairman Demonstrates Erratic Behaviour as #CCTvsSaraki Trial Enters Day 5

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, (CCT) Danladi Umar has shown signs of erratic behaviour as the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki over his assets declaration forms from 2003 enters its fifth day.

Umar, who at the beginning of the trial on Monday, stated that the court hearings will be on a daily basis from 10am -6pm has consistently failed to keep to his own words by resuming very late to court.

"Let me state it here for both the prosecution and the defence that the trial of the defendant shall proceed on a day to day basis till the conclusion of this matter and it will begin from 10am to 6pm," Justice Umar held earlier.

Recall that counsel to the defence Kanu Agabi (SAN) had yesterday requested for adjournment till 12pm  today to allow his team go over the evidence. This request was refused by Umar on the grounds that he cannot go back on his words.

"We are not here for one person. We are doing this on the provisions of this act. I have said it and that is final." Umar said.

Umar arrived the court today at exactly 11:39am instead of his scheduled 10:00am. At Tuesday’s proceedings, Umar  also arrived at 1:40pm, when the hearing was set for 12 noon.

The CCT Judge had also scheduled a hearing on the charges levelled against the former Minister for Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe over alleged false declarations, at the same time as Saraki.

Counsel to Orubebe on Umar's arrival  makes a case that Umar had asked for them to sit today and double scheduled another case for the same day.

Umar stated that he lacks respect, ordered him to sit down and adjourned his case till tomorrow Thursday, 21st April, 2016.

SAVE OUR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROTEST (#saveNASS):
WHY EVERY PROGRESSIVE NIGERIAN MUST JOIN US

WHY MUST WE SAVE OUR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY? BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT SARAKI. IT IS ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. IT IS ABOUT STANDING UP TO SAY "NO" AGAINST EXECUTIVE IMPUNITY & INTIMIDATION AS WE MUST DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY FROM DICTATORSHIP

WHY IS SARAKI BEING PERSECUTED? BECAUSE HE WENT AGAINST THE DECISIONS OF APC LEADERSHIP NOT TO BECOME SENATE PRESIDENT, AND AS SUCH HE MUST BE REMOVED BY EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HIS GROWING IMAGE & INFLUENCE.

WHY IS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEING INTIMIDATED? BECAUSE SOME THIRD PARTIES OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WANT TOTAL CONTROL TO ENABLE THEM USE IT AS A WEAPON TOWARDS 2019 BOTH IN CHECKMATING THE PRESIDENT & DECIDING ON HOW NIGERIA IS GOVERNED IN THE NEXT 4 YEARS

WHAT DID THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DO TO WARRANT THIS? BECAUSE OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS BLEW THE WHISTLE ON HOW OUR BUDGET WAS PADDED & SUBMITTED BY THE EXECUTIVES WHO WANTED TO HOODWINK THE PRESIDENT INTO SIGNING A BOGUS DOCUMENT TO ENRICH THEM & THEIR PROXIES.

WHAT IS THEIR LATEST LINE OF ACTION? TO ENSURE THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT ATTENDS DAILY TRIAL AT THE CCT SO AS TO BREAK DOWN THE UNITY OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHILE SPONSORING AN ADVERTISED #occupyNASS PROTEST TO SHUT DOWN PLENARY & SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSE CHAOS WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM INSTALL THEIR STOOGE

AS CONCERNED NIGERIANS, WE MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ENSURE THAT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE IS MAINTAINED OR OUR DEMOCRACY IS DEAD.

WE WILL ORGANIZE A COUNTER RALLY TERMED #saveNASS PROTEST ON THE SAME DAYS THAT SPONSORED ELEMENTS OF #occupyNASS WILL BE ON THE STREETS, THEN THE WORLD WILL JUDGE WHICH SET OF PROTESTERS HAS THE LOUDER VOICE REPRESENTING THE MASSES.

WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT, FOR IF THIS PROCESS OF INTIMIDATION SUCCEEDS, IT WILL BE USED NOT JUST ON EVERY MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUT ON ALL ELECTED OFFICE HOLDERS IN NIGERIA...AND WE ARE DOOMED

NIGERIA IS BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL OF GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. WE BELIEVE IN CHANGE, AND CHANGE MUST START WITH RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTED ARMS OF GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT ANY FORM OF CONTROL FROM THE CENTER (like our page: www.facebook.com/save-our-national-assembly)

Kwara APC berates Oyegun over reckless comments on Saraki's ordeal

‎The All Progressives Congress, APC, Kwara State chapter,  has vehemently chided ‎the party's Chairman, John Oyegun, over his recent comments on the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. 

In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the party said it was rather unfortunate that when ‎Mr Oyegun had opportunity to speak for the APC, he chose to speak for a cabal. 
‎‎‎‎
Having waited ‎endlessly for Mr Chairman to deny comments credited to him that our party is ready to sacrifice Dr. Saraki and his office, it is necessary to make the underlisted observations and declarations. 

To be mild, the outburst of Mr Chairman is unfortunate, shocking and regrettable. 
‎
‎If anyone is still in doubt about the propriety of our expressed opinion that the travails of the Senate President was orchestrated by some forces within the APC, recent outbursts by Mr Chairman has cleared such doubts. ‎

When Mr Chairman is expected to stand forthright and firm to protest the political persecution of his party member and leader of a critical arm of government, he portrays the image of an incompetent and unreliable leader. ‎

‎Obviously, those reckless outbursts were either Mr Chairman's personal ‎views or the agenda of the cabal he belongs. However, irrespective of what he says, Mr Chairman and his cabal can not play God on the fate of the Senate President. 

Even tough, it is needless to remind Mr Chairman the unquantifiable contributions of the Senate ‎President in the transmogrification of the APC from an opposition party to a ruling party, it is shocking and beyond imagination that a party chairman who is suppose to be father to all party members could make such reckless and divisive comments. ‎

‎Therefore, we were spot on when we raised alarm that desperate politicians have hijacked the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and handed its controversial chairman, a pre-determined ‎verdict to deliver on the ongoing trial of the Senate President. ‎

Meanwhile, it should be noted that Mr Chairman has failed to exonerate himself from this extra-judicial and evil plot, rather he has confirmed and vindicated our expressed opinion. 

Futhermore, Mr Chairman should be reminded and guided by history, no political party has ever survived the war it waged against itself.
‎
We hereby restate our unconditional loyalty to the Senate President. ‎We are proud of the Senate President. We shall continue to stand by him. We shall continue to solidarise with him. 
‎
‎Lastly, we maintain that ‎even though, a pattern of inconsistencies and unfairness have emerged in the ongoing trial of the Senate President, we believe if the trial is conducted fairly, ‎he would be vindicated at the end of the trial.‎

The attention of the Media Office of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a press statement released by a group known as the Citizen United For Peace and Stability (CUPS), Titled SECURITY ALERT! - BUKOLA SARAKI FINALLY DECLARES WAR ON THE NIGERIAN STATE!

The report by CUPS stated that some unamed sources told them that Senator Bukola Saraki has made plans to disrupt his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by making use of thugs through some key personalities from Kwara State.


The statement is false, malicious and aimed at further denigrating the hard-earned image of Senator Bukola Saraki after their planned sponsored protest failed through earlier awareness to the general public of their sinister moves.


It is worrisome that aggrieved politicians opposed to Saraki's emergence as the Senate President, having failed to remove him, now resort to cheap blackmail by concocting lies under the disguise of "unidentified sources ".

The individuals mentioned in the statement to be planning the sinister move, are prominent Nigerians who respect the rule of law and stand strongly behind the Senate President. In this regard, this is a cheap attempt to intimidate supporters of the Senate President.

It will be recalled that this same mischievous group called CUPS had earlier circulated messages at different times requesting for funds for different non existent political gatherings.


The CUPS has been in the habit of peddling falsehood and deceiving unsuspecting Nigerians as the body has not lived up to its name of maintaining 'peace' and 'stability.'

Senator Bukola Saraki is a law abiding citizen who has demonstrated the utmost respect for the judicial system by taking the pain to attend and defend himself at the Tribunal even though the trial is believed to be borne out of malice and political persecution.

Moreover, Senator Saraki, despite his trial at the CCT has continued to perform his constitutional duties as the Senate President elected by his peers.

It is therefore a gratuitous insult to the Office of the Senate President, and the personalities of the patrotic and decent individuals mentioned in the concocted lies by this organisation to link them with tales of acts of gangsterism and violation of temple of justice.

This propaganda by his political opponents is not new and we urge law abiding citizens to disregard the body, its sponsors and promoters. This is the time to for everybody to forget our narrow, self-serving interest, dissuade the manipulation of state institutions to achieve personal and partisan objectives and ensure that rule of law prevails as prerequisite towards the entrenchment of our democratic tenets.


Signed:

Bamikole Omishore


SA (New Media) 

Office Of The Senate President.

Fresh: Despite Strong Warning, Senators Stand in Solidarity with Bukola Saraki at the CCT

As the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, continues at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), despite a statement from Dr. Saraki on Monday night that Senators should focus on attending the Senate plenary on Tuesday morning, and not his trial, as at 1:30pm, over 30 Senators from both parties were present at the tribunal.

Speaking with newsmen, a South Eastern Senator who pleaded for anonymity, stated that immediately the Senate plenary adjourned, he and his colleagues rushed to the CCT to stand in solidarity with the Senate President, who many believe is being persecuted by the CCT on the authority of cabals within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who were opposed to his emergence.

HIGHLIGHTS OF SENATE'S ACHIEVEMENTS

- The 8th Senate has identified #30bills priority that will drastically improve economy.

- Monday, August 3rd, 2015, the Senate embarked on a high-powered investigative visit to camps of internally displaced peoples (IDPs) in Borno State, the first in 6 years with a promise to pass rehabilitation legislation to restore normalcy in the region.

- Thursday, August 6th, the Senate discussed a motion on the Ban of Nigerian Agricultural Exports Products by the European Union (EU). T

- The Senate on Tuesday, August 11, asked the NERC to immediately abolish fixed charges on electricity consumption, and bulk marketing of villages and communities

- Passage of the #2016Budge

- Motion by the Nigerian Senate on International Women’s Day on on Gender Equality and fair treatment among women in Nigeria.

- National Assembly Business Roundtable #NASSBER

- #OpenNASS

- Public Hearing on Bankruptcy & Insolvency Bill

- Visit to Nigeria by the South African President, Jacob Zuma

- Public Hearing on Frivolous Petition Bill

- Oversight by Petroleum Committee on Fuel Crisis

- The ammendment of the procurement act shortly after the bill passage and the invitation of some Aba traders who displayed their locally made products.

- The insistence on CBN restriction of forex on imported goods.

- On Treasury Single Account (TSA) , keen observers of the media debacle that trailed the Senate's decision to investigate the process, costs and terms of operation, especially the mode of e-collection and the humongous charges drawn as commission at the expense of tax payers' money will agree that it is no longer business as usual.

- The PIB will see it's light at the 8th National Assembly again in a very short week to come, members of the public have sighted the PIB as a measurement for a good legislature if duly passed, the commitment of 8th assembly towards addressing the various set-back the country has encountered in the years back will bring about revival in the country’s economy which dwindle at present.


- The Senate President has been responsive to public concern, to some degree, to what citizens want, as well as to what the legislature determines they need. He assume that responsiveness is part of the representational function, with public demands and with public needs in achieving a long-term goals inorder to witness the Nigeria ahead of us.

- ‎The 8th Senate set up an ad-hoc committee to unravel the companies that were granted import waiver to the detriment of the Nigerian economy, and tasked the committee to ensure that the companies remit the money back into the coffers of government

- The 8th Assembly has woked on the need to restructure the NNPC to ensure better service delivery and accountability for the public.

- The Senate has taken the lead role to spearhead the move to ensure the concerns of the Chief of Army staff and his entourage to the Senate are met in a timely manner. This is a huge relief for the Nigerian Army.

- The ad-hoc committee of the Senate led by former governor of Kebbi state, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, is currently probing the power sector where the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of power, Godknows Igali, has revealed that over N2.77 trillion has been spent on power generation since 1999


- The 8th Senate ad-hoc committee to unravel the companies that were granted import waivers to the detriment of the Nigerian economy, and tasked the committee to ensure that the companies remit the money back into the coffers of government

- In spite of these modest achievements registered by the 8th Senate in months, the 7th National Assembly will also be perpetually remembered for the failure to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill. Although it was passed by the House of Representatives on the last legislative day of the four year term.

#NotOurSenatePresident Hashtag Backfires

Earlier today, Nigerians engaged in a war of opinions regarding the ongoing trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Some Nigerians, who was alledged to be paid social media handlers of a Southwest politician started trending the hashtag #NotOurSenatePresident, until others took over to voice their concerns about the trial, the state of the economy, and other pressing issues...


Some of these issues raised by youths on Twitter this morning included the inadequate or lack of power supply being experienced by Nigerians nationwide, the fuel scarcity and harship experienced by Nigerians while queueing daily for fuel, the killings that have been going on in the North Central and some other parts of the South West, the South East and also the Shiite killings which took place in Zaria. They blamed it on the incompetence of President Buhari, stating that Buhari is the one responsible to Nigeria's hardship and #NotOurSenatePresident.

 

A number of other tweets were focused on the trial faced by Former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Tinubu with the CCT on the same grounds and charges that Bukola Saraki is currently being tried for. But in the case of Tnubu, the Judge, Justice Danaladi Umar who is still the same judge presifing over Saraki's case dismissed Tinubu's case saying he found no competence in it.

 

Those tweeting against the Senate President also received back lash from others for getting paid to trend hastag against Saraki while they kept quiet when the wife of the president chose to launch a book on beauty on the same day Nigerians were mourning the abduction of the #ChibokGirls and other matters that needed this much given attention like the Agatu Massacre, how the #BBOG Campaigners were not allowed into the Villa and others...
 

Meanwhile, a few others were comparing President Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki saying; "It was Buhari who claimed he borrowed money to purchase his nomination form and later declared ownership of nearly a billion naira and #NotOurSenatePresident", "it was Buhari who promised to defeat Boko Haram in 2 Months and #NotOurSenatePresident", "it was Buhari who promised to sell off the presidential fleet to cut cosst of governance and #NotOurSenatePresident", "it was Buhari who padded the budget; over 3 Millon Nigerians lost their jobs in 10 Months and #NotOurSenatePresident" and "it was Buhari who turned a blind eye, deaf ears and dumb mouth when his kinsmen were killing hundreds of people in Agatu and #NotOurSenatePresident"

 

And it has also been noticed that the championer of the damning hashtag was one of the first people who gave a vote of confidence and also tweeted about the humilty and competence of Bukola Saraki when he emerged as Senate President.

while the discourse was about 50/50 on those who support and against Saraki, almost everyone agreed that indeed the Presidency is not doing enough to put the economy on the right path and also on the fight against corruption presidency was scored low for allowing the likes of Ameachi and Tinubu to remain party leaders while they haunt Saraki

10 Lies & Facts about Bukola Saraki
Everything you need to know about the Senate President and his Trials

DID DR. BUKOLA SARAKI ACTUALLY DECLARE A N17 TRILLION WORTH OF PERSONAL ASSET?
No. He did not. This is an unimaginable lie being told deliberately to deceive the masses. Dr. Bukola Saraki’s total declared assets then (both tangible and intangible) is N15,345,765,020 (Fifteen Billion, Three hundred and Forty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Six Five Thousand, Twenty Naira). This is a verifiable fact that is already in the public place. Come to think of it, if Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man is worth less than 5 Trillion naira (18.3 Billion USD) as at 2015, how can a self-made like Dr. Bukola Saraki – who by the way is not even rated among Africa’s 500 – be worth more than 300% over and above Africa’s globally recognized richest man?

GIVEN THE STAGGERING FIGURES CHURNED OUT BY EFCC WITNESS, WHERE DID SARAKI GET THE HUGE MONEY TO FINANCE HIS PRIVATE INVESTMENTS?
AS already admitted by the EFCC witness himself in the course of the ongoing CCT trial, Saraki sought and obtained loans worth billions of Naira from commercial banks to finance his private investments. Despite the staggering figures, the money involved doesn’t belong to Kwara State Government and the prosecution team has not proved that it belongs to Kwara State Government.

IS THE CCT TRIAL A TRUE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION?
No. from all indications, it is not. The reasons are not far-fetched. Why was an asset declared as far back as 2003 now suddenly become as issue for litigation thirteen years after? Why has the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) issued several Certificates of Compliance to Dr. Bukola Saraki on subsequent declarations in 2007, 2011 and 2015 respectively when it knew of alleged infractions in the 2003 declarations? After a long period of lull and slumber, why was CCB suddenly resurrected just shortly after Dr. Bukola Saraki defiled entrenched cabal within APC to becoming the Senate President? Why is it that only Dr. Bukola Saraki was singled out among the 2003 Class of Governors who equally declared their assets and got certified? These are genuine questions which point to one thing – the CCT Trial is tainted by political vendetta, mischief and malicious intent. And all these put a question mark on the integrity of the process. IS THE CCT TRIAL A TRUE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION?

DID DR. BUKOLA SARAKI ACTUALLY CORRUPTLY ENRICH HIMSELF FROM KWARA’S PUBLIC WEALTH?
No. He did not from all honest indications. For those who knew him back in the days, Dr. Bukola Saraki was already a self-made man before venturing into politics. He was at several times the CEO of popular private companies like Joy Petroleum (oil and gas), BAS Trading and Investment Limited (licensed import and export firm) Calistle Properties Limited (Estate and Estate Management), Skyview Properties Limited, etc. through which he made substantial legitimate fortune in the private sector in Lagos state.

BUT WHY DOES DR. BUKOLA SARAKI SEEM TO BE RUNNING AWAY FROM TRIAL AT THE CCT?
It is not true that Dr. Bukola Saraki is running away from trial at the CCT. Left to him, Dr., Bukola Saraki’s deepest desire is to use the instrument of the CCT trial to clear his name of all wanted and unfounded allegations of graft, so that ultimately, the cause of justice may be served. However, it is normal practice for lawyers to test the efficacy of the law and its procedures by raising preliminary objections either on jurisdictions or error of procedures. This is what has happened so far on the CCT trial. But now that the coast seems clear, Dr. Saraki has declared that he was happy on the commencement of his full trial, so that he may once and for all clear his cherished name before the CCT and the court of public opinion.

IS DR. BUKOLA SARAKI RESPONSIBLE FOR KWSG’S INABILITY TO PAY SALARIES TO CIVIL SERVANTS?
No. He is not. Dr. Bukola Saraki left office as the Executive Governor of Kwara state more than five years ago and handed over to the mantle of leadership of the state to Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed who exercise full and unhindered control over the government. Global economic downturn and not human factors are largely responsible for the salary crisis currently facing the country.

“…Sen. Bukola Saraki receives a total N1,262,626…only in pensions monthly and nothing more.”

IS IT TRUE THAT AS THE POLITICAL LEADER OF KWARA STATE, DR. BUKOLA SARAKI REGULARLY DRAWS FROM THE MONTHLY FEDERAL ALLOCATIONS TO THE STATE?
Dr. Bukola Saraki DOES NOT draw any KOBO from either the Monthly Federal Allocations to Kwara state or any other allocations belonging to the Kwara State Government. The only fund that accrues to him legitimately is his pension pursuant to the Kwara State Pensions Law (2010)

BUT IS IT TRUE THAT DR. BUKOLA SARAKI RECEIVES N100 MILLION IN MONTHLY PENSIONS FROM THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT?
There is no true in this rumor. Dr. Bukola Saraki, like all other formal Governors and Deputy Governors of Kwara State, receives stipends in pensions and benefits from the Kwara State Government every month. As a formal Governor, Sen. Bukola Saraki receives a total sum of N1,262,626 (One Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Six Naira) only in pensions monthly and nothing more. However, as a demonstration of his passion for excellence, he has instituted his own monthly pensions into a dedicated fund called the ABS Scholarship Funds which is set up to cater for the academic needs of outstanding Kwara indigent students.

“…the Senate are now far more transparent and freely open to public scrutiny.”

HAS DR. BUKOLA SARAKI’S SENATE PRESIDENCY BENEFITED NIGERIA IN ANYWAY?
There is no denying the fact that the leadership of Sen. Bukola Saraki in the National Assembly in the last 10 months has borne positive fruits for Nigeria and Nigerians alike. First, there has been an unprecedented political stability between the executive and legislative arms of the government which has allowed for seamless government at the federal level. Two, the oversight of the Senate are now being conducted with more decorum, maturity and less controversy bothering on bribery and corruption. Most importantly, the affairs of the Senate are now far more transparent and freely open to public scrutiny.

HAS SARAKI’S SENATE PRESIDENCY BENEFITED KWARA IN ANYWAY?
By far, this is Kwara’s best moment in both chambers of the National assembly. Five of Kwara’s brilliant legislators today chair juicy and strategic committees like Banking and Finance (Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim), National Security and Intelligence (Sen. Sha’aba Lafiagi), Primary and Basic Education and Services (Hon. Zakari Mohammed), Justice (Hon. Razaq Atunwa) and Water Resources (Hon. Haman Pategi-Baago). Kwara has never had it so good, thanks to Senator Bukola Saraki. Through Sen. Saraki’s effort and influence, the Ilorin-Jebba road is now getting renewed federal attention and is already penciled for reconstruction in the 2016 Federal Budget. But most importantly, Dr. Bukola Saraki has improved human capital development within his constituencies through scholarship, direct and indirect employment for several hundred of youths and concrete empowerment of women across the state.

“…if Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man is worth less than 5 Trillion naira (18.3 Billion USD) as at 2015, how can a self-made like Dr. Bukola Saraki-who by the way is not even rated among Africa’s 500 - be worth more than 300% over and above Africa’s globally recognized richest man?”

PRESS RELEASE
April 15, 2016

Senate Intervenes on Debts Owed GENCOs by FG

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has mandated the Senate Committee on Power to liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Finance on how to address the debts owed to the Electricity Generating Companies (GENCOs) in the country.

He also directed the Committee to meet with the relevant stakeholders on how to address the problems of transmission and capacity needs of the electricity generating companies as he said that it would amount to a huge problem when electricity is generated but cannot be transmitted.

Saraki who spoke in Abuja when a delegation of Electricity Generating Companies visited him, said that efforts must also be put in place to ensure that adequate gas is made available to the GENCOs to meet the demand by the Electricity Distributing Companies (DISCOs).

According to the Senate President, the objective of the engagement of the Senate Committee on Power with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance is to ensure that the debts owed the GENCOs are paid so as to enable the companies meet up with their targets.

He urged the Senate Committee on Power to ensure that the problems of generation and distribution are resolved, stating that it makes no economic sense to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity, when it cannot be distributed to end users.

Dr. Saraki who called for a quick solution to the problems affecting electricity distribution, urged the Senate Committee to ensure that there is always adequate gas supply to the electricity generating companies, so as to “bring some confidence into the chain of activities in both the generation and distribution of electricity”.

Earlier, the leader of the Electricity Generation Companies, Engr. Mohammed Daudu told Saraki that the GENCOs are owed N213 billion covering the period November 1, 2013 to January 31, 2015, while a second segment of debt is the shortfall during the transition electricity market (TEM) between February 1, 2015 to date, which is yet to be disclosed by the National Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET).

The leader of the delegation said the Federal Government had initiated a settlement of the first segment through the CBN/Nigeria Electricity Stabilization Fund but up till now, less than 40 per cent of the money was released to the GENCOs, lamenting that a member of the electricity generating companies that contributes 35 per cent of the power grid is yet to be paid any money.

He therefore appealed to the Senate President to prevail on the CBN to conclude plans on the payment of the stabilization fund.

Daudu who complained of scarcity of foreign exchange, told the Senate President that the spare parts and other equipment used for the operation of the GENCOs are largely imported, but lamented that there is scarcity of foreign exchange for the transaction.

He complained that the GENCOs are not allowed to include Value Added Tax (VAT) when selling their products to the DISCOs, suggesting that VAT be included in the bulk purchase to cushion the effects on their revenue.

The leader of the GENCOs' delegation described non-availability of gas as the biggest challenge befalling the electricity generation companies, explaining that if there is additional gas input of 500mmcf to the generating companies there would be increased electricity generation to 10, 000 megawatts from its present capacity of 2,673.4 megawatts of electricity.

Signed: Chuks Okocha

Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media

Today, the Senate laid the revamped Petroleum Industry & Governance Bill for First Reading. With this simple but pivotal action, the Senate has demonstrated its commitment to seeing that the Nigerian economy is restructured for much-needed recovery.


Despite the unnecessary distractions that have presented themselves in recent times, the legislature is fully committed to putting the Nigerian people first and solving our pressing national issues.


In a similar regard, today, the Bill to Amend the Public Procurement Act to provide for the adoption of a Local Content Policy and timely completion of Procurement processes passed its Second Reading at the Senate.


With this, Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs are one step closer to having a first option policy, as this amendment would ensure that as a matter of law, agencies of government patronise made in Nigeria goods.

Posted on Senate President's Facebook

Today, the Senate laid the revamped Petroleum Industry & Governance Bill  for First Reading. With this simple but pivotal action, the Senate has demonstrated its commitment to seeing that the Nigerian economy is restructured for much-needed recovery.


Despite the unnecessary distractions that have presented themselves in recent times, the legislature is fully committed to putting the Nigerian people first and solving our pressing national issues.


In a similar regard, today, the Bill to Amend the Public Procurement Act to provide for the adoption of a Local Content Policy and timely completion of Procurement processes passed its Second Reading at the Senate. 


With this, Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs are one step closer to having a first option policy, as this amendment would ensure that as a matter of law, agencies of government patronise made in Nigeria goods.

Posted on Senate President's Facebook

Exposed: How Sahara Reporters Spies The Homes of CCT Chairman, Judges to Discredit The Integrity of The Nation's Judiciary

By Akpan Bassey

All indications have shown that Sahara Reporters, a politically sponsored online platform which has unashamedly sold its soul to the devil, apparently has never relented in its pursuit of spreading falsehoods; rather, it has upped its game by spying over the houses of not only the personnel of the Code of Conduct tribunal (CCT), including its chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, but also all the personalities in the judiciary arm of federal government of Nigeria. It is an understatement that the online medium which has in current times, concentrated its energy in digging down the judiciary for information and twisting the information to the tunes of its sponsors, is on a paid assignment of soiling the integrities of the nation’s law lords. With the recent preemption of court cases, especially on the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki, one would conspicuously see that the platform, which has left a lot of Nigerians spoon-fed with erroneous submissions and lies, is not only a tool to protect the interest of its sponsors but also a threat to the privacy of judiciary and judicial officers in Nigeria. This is because virtually the judges' households and that of their associates are the strong sources of its distorted facts. Reports have exposed the platform's operator, Omoyele Sowore, connects his deployed spies and blackmails judges via his hotlines:08097048153 and +16467045433.

Remember few weeks ago, the Special Adviser to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu blew the whistle that SaharaReporters is on the mission of maligning and bringing to dishonor, the person of his principal. The Senate President's aide, in that report, was bittered that it is constant with the online news platform in its calculated attempt to always malign and bring to disrepute, on all topical issues, the Senate President, Dr. Abubukar Bukola Saraki. ‎All sensible Nigerians should share the conclusion of Olaniyonu that SaharaReporters ‎represents the greatest shame of the professional genre it pretends to represent and disregard its day-to-day anti Saraki fairy tales. Conversely, people would conspicuously see that since all the past orchestrated plans by its sponsors and the CCT chairman have failed, there seemed to be a rapture in their unholy marriage which resulted in the recent blackmails of the CCT chairman on facebook, twitter and other online channels. Unarguably as written by the late Chinua Achebe, things will always fall apart, when the Centre could not fall.

In reminiscening, two months ago, after the apex court dismissed Saraki’s appeal to stop his trial, his lawyer, Ajibola Oloyede filed the lawsuit asking the federal high court to halt his trial and to disqualify the chairman of the CCT, Mall. Umar Danladi whose white garment is evidently full of stains but still stays put to preside over the trial. Meanwhile, as a law abiding citizen, Saraki understood his prayers in the violation of his rights to fair hearing by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which he said did not invite him for clarification according to the law of the federal republic of Nigeria, Section 3D, before it filed charges against him at the CCT. The worst of it all was that he heard about the trial first from Sahara Reports, even before he was served the handy copy of the letter. This also exposed the thick political conspiracy involved in the trial which gives the credence to it being regarded as harassment. It is significant to revisit the two corruption allegations on Mr. Danladi and his impunity displayed when he was summoned to appear before the House of Representatives Committee. A petition however requested the House to investigate alleged acts of impropriety purportedly committed by Umar while the other requested it to investigate the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for its failure to act on investigations ostensibly conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on him.

Its most recent libel act is that, which made Justice Abdul Kafarati of the federal high court, Abuja, to withdraw from a fundamental rights suit filed by Saraki’s lawyer, Ajibola Oloyede to quash the trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Monday 22nd March, 2016. The judge who earlier disqualified himself from the trial with the explanation that his integrity had been called into question in the matter, having read a report of Sahara Reporters accusing him of corruption to the tune two billion naira, has now been re-assigned to take over by the Chief Judge of Federal High Court Abuja this week. I personally am not happy seeing our Judiciary operating with fairy tales fabricated by some individuals from the corners of their houses and circulating online. In that earlier circumstance, he deemed it fit to disqualify himself from this case thereby sent the case file to the chief judge for re-assignment to another judge. If Judiciary is believed to be the last hope of the common men, then I can say that the hope has been dashed out. Kafarati's decision was borne out of his hard-built good name which was up for staining with slots of mud by the trivial media platform called Sahara Reporters, though, I would have loved the platform shamed at the end. After all, the EFCC it claimed alleged the Judge of 2 billion naira bribery, refuted the news the next day the platform allegedly dragged its name in, that it was the figment of imagination of the owner of the platform and its sponsors. Well, I sound it laud and clear to Umar Danladi and other Judges in Nigeria that 'Watch your back" by doing the right thing or "get blackmailed".
Sane Nigerians won't be disappointed if Sahara Reporters does some preemption on the High Court judgement to come up this week but will, when when our judicial officers, once again succumb to mere threats of blackmail by unethical platform.

Akpan Bassey is a Public Affairs Analyst from Eket, Akwa-Ibom State

Now That the Mob Is Trying To Convict Saraki In The Media For Emerging Senate President.


OPINION Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201604120215.htmlBy Tope Ajayi

Tope Ajayi reckons that the latest turn of events in the media trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki is a major diversion and a disservice to the nation's justice system.

Last week must have been the lowest point in Senator Bukola Saraki's political career. Quite literally speaking, he was dragged to the market square, denuded, and sprayed with opprobrium so thick that his traducers would hope never washes off.

As the prosecution chief witness reeled out fantastic stories of serial cash lodgments and illegal salary earnings, everyone gasped in disbelief. Powered by the social media, the stories leapt across boundaries within seconds. As the stories were retold and re-circulated, they grew weirder and wilder. Cash lodgments totaling N70 million became N70 million paid into Saraki's account 70 times in one day! Some said it was actually $70 million dollars paid into his account 50 times in a day.

People brought out their calculators to multiply 70 million by 50, still the sheer absurdity of the result did not clear their minds. As the stories grew wilder, public anger against Saraki grew in geometric proportion.

He was brutally savaged in the social media, ridiculed in the newspapers, cursed in the market places, abused in motor parks, and mocked by his political enemies. It was a timely diversion for a country brought to its knees by fuel scarcity. To an anguished people, who have to rely on the black markets to keep their lives going, this was a comic relief. The Saraki story became the new tales by moonlight!

If this was all that Saraki's political opponents set out to achieve; they have done a good job so far. Never before has a number three citizen in the land been so publicly humiliated. In fact, it is difficult now not to think that the damaging testimony of the prosecution witness was an end by itself; calculated as it were, to achieve this very objective of eroding the Saraki brand. Anyone familiar with court proceedings would clearly see that what happened at the tribunal last week was more evocative of an inquisition, programmed to pander to the mob, rather than a trial meant to serve the cause of justice.

What became clear also was that Saraki is on trial in two courts: the court of law and the court of the mob. Even as the trial at the court of law is still at a very early stage, he has already been found guilty and condemned in the court of public opinion.

As one commentator noted last week, the prejudicial value of the prosecution's story overwhelms its probative value; but who cares! The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs is a very smart lawyer. He knows his case rests on a very weak foundation. Therefore, if the only conviction he is able to get in the end were in the media and the motor parks, the mission would have been accomplished.

In his testimonies so far, what the prosecution witness has failed to show was how his stories relate to asset declaration offences for which Saraki was charged. At best, the link between his testimonies so far and the charges remains circumstantial.

Assuming it was true that 50 lodgments were made into an account in one day, this would appear suspicious on the face of it, but it does not prove anything. It is certainly not a crime for anyone to choose to make 100 payments into his account in one day, if he so decides. What is potentially criminal was how he acquired the money, not how it was paid into an account.

So far, the witness has only succeeded in instigating the public and exciting mob imagination with suggestive stories and conspiracy theories, without proving any case of wrongdoing. Perhaps, more significantly, we should ask what the issue of Saraki collecting salaries after leaving office has to do with assets declaration.

Was the prosecution trying to prove that the half a million naira or so that he was allegedly receiving as salaries after leaving office was used to acquire the assets under trial or in off-setting some of the loans he was said to have taken? This particular aspect of the testimony was nothing but sheer mischief, targeted at damaging him in his home state and nothing more.

Otherwise, one should ask, which of the 13 charges against him does it apply to? This case, therefore, is like dragging a man before a court for sleeping with another man's wife, then proceed to argue that he stole money. Then when you were asked how the two were related, you say oh, you were just trying to prove that it was the stolen money that he used in enticing the woman. Anyone interested in justice should still ask for what offence exactly you were charging him.

Many have wondered why Saraki's lawyers have failed to raise objections to some of the stories told by the prosecution witness, especially when they all seemed to have bordered on allegations of financial crime rather than assets declaration. Even though they noted that they reserved their objections to the time of cross-examination, my guess is that they had been caught unawares. They must have come to the tribunal ready to defend a case of asset declaration and not to prove that their client was not a money launderer.

They must have come to the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear how the Code of Conduct Bureau conducted its investigations into Saraki's assets and how they came to the conclusion that he had not fully declared his assets, only to be confronted by EFCC agent reeling out investigations allegedly conducted by the EFCC.

They must also have wondered whether the case was an EFCC case or a Code of Conduct Bureau case; and why, if it was a case of financial crime, they were not at a high court where cases of financial malpractices should ordinarily be tried, instead of a Tribunal. Saraki has been shouting that his case was political, but his lawyers must have assured him they could get him justice in the courts; now they should know better.

Jonathan Swift, said truth limps, while falsehood flies. Truth would eventually catch up, but by the time it does, falsehood would have done its damage and truth's victory would at best be puerile. Could be that by the time Saraki's lawyers begin cross examination, they would be able to destroy the stories of the prosecution witness, and quite improbably under this political circumstance, even get their clients off the hooks; but the damage to Saraki would have been done.

This is the mortal danger of trial by the mob; it runs counter to the natural cause of justice: the guilt of the accused, rather than his innocence is presumed. All Saraki's political opponents that are gloating at his travails should however realise that what is being set before our eyes, is a very dangerous precedence. This is not Saraki on trial, but the entire political elite.

Mr. Danladi Umar said he made a mistake in dismissing the case against Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2011, and therefore could not apply the same standard of justice in the case of Saraki; all well and good. What is certain is that a Pharaoh would mount the throne someday soon, who would not know any Joseph; and all chickens would come home to roost!

Perhaps, what is also unprecedented about Saraki's trial is the overwhelming support he had received from his colleagues in the Senate. Under president Obasanjo alone, we had five Senate Presidents: Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani. Some were removed with ignominy for no apparent infraction other than refusal to do the bidding of the Executive.

The current class of Senators must have been familiar with recent history of leadership instability in the Senate and how the highest lawmaking body in the land could easily be turned into an appendage of the executive. I do not think that any of them who are standing with Saraki are doing so because they think he is a saint. What has been clear to them from the beginning, however, was that this particular trial is not about corruption.

In fact, it is not even essentially about Saraki. What is on trial is the very independence of the Senate and its right to freely choose its own leadership. Those who want to get Saraki out must have calculated that all they needed to do was to tarnish him as much as they could so that the Senators would not even want to touch him. They have been gravely mistaken.

They have failed to take into account that this is the most educated set of Senators we have had in a long time, if not ever. They could easily see though the subterfuge; and that is why even as he was being roundly vilified by the public last week, Senators were still insisting that he remains their only choice as Senate president. However, by so declaring, the Senators were not demonstrating their loyalty to Saraki, but to the principle that is necessary for the preservation of our democracy.

I could see that some have started circulating text messages that Saraki should resign. They said a certain Prime Minister of a certain country had resigned after he was mentioned in the Panama papers. What they failed to add, however, was that the said Prime Minister resigned because he admitted to a wrongdoing.

Pray, what wrongdoing has Saraki admitted to? What wrongdoing has he been convicted for? So, why should he resign? Still, the argument remains that we must not allow politicians to achieve through the courts, what they failed to achieve on the political field. In the end, it is our hard-earned democracy that is on trial. No one, therefore, should weep for Saraki; for the bell tolls for us all.

-Ajayi wrote from Abuja

Quote

In fact, it is difficult now not to think that the damaging testimony of the prosecution witness was an end by itself; calculated as it were, to achieve this very objective of eroding the Saraki brand. Anyone familiar with court proceedings would clearly see that what happened at the tribunal last week was more evocative of an inquisition, programmed to pander to the mob, rather than a trial meant to serve the cause of justice.

Security Agents Arrest 10 Workers on Suspicion of Possessing Fake Documents


Ten people in possession of suspected fake academic document were today arrested by security agents during the ongoing physical verification of workers and pensioners at the Ilorin West local government secretariat.


This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Kwara State Committee on Personnel Database Development. According to the commitee, the affected workers have since been handed to security operatives for further investigations and possible prosecution.



The committee, therefore, advised anybody in possession of unverified academic credentials to rectify their documents or risk arrest and prosecution by security agencies.



The Committee stressed that the state government takes the workers and pensioners verification exercise very seriously and would frown at any attempt by any attempt to circumvent or abuse the process by presenting false documents, which it emphasized, is a criminal offence.

The verification exercise, which began on Monday, 4 April, is expected to end on the 16th of May, 2016.

PRESS RELEASE FROM SENATOR GBENGA ASHAFA ON THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTS’S BUDGET

 

I have carefully followed the news items making the rounds in relation to the budget presented to the National Assembly and what was defended by the Ministry of Transport before the Senate Committee on Land Transport which I have the privilege of chairing.



The focal points of controversy seem to be the Lagos to Calabar railway modernisation projects and the completion of the Idu – Kaduna rail line.



I confirm that the Lagos to Calabar rail line was not in the original document that was presented to the National Assembly by the Executive. However subsequently at the budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Land Transport, the Hon. Minister for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, did inform the committee of the omission of the Lagos to Calabar rail modernisation project and indeed sent a supplementary copy of the ministry's budget to the committee which contained the said project.



The minister noted that the amount needed for the counterpart funding for both the Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar rail modernisation projects was in the sum of 120 Billion Naira, being 60 Billion Naira per project.



While the committee did not completely agree with all the changes made in the subsequent document, being fully aware of the critical importance of the rail sector to the development of our dear country, distinguished members of the Senate Committee on Land transport keyed into the laudable (Lagos to Calabar, rail modernisation) project and found ways of appropriating funds for the project without exceeding the envelope provided for the ministry.



In so doing, the committee observed that the Lagos to Kano rail rehabilitation project had been allocated the sum of N52 Billion Naira as against the sum of 60 billion which the Hon. Minister requested as counterpart funding while no allocation whatsoever was made for the Lagos to Calabar rail line.



Hence, the sum of 54 billion Naira that was discovered by the Senate Committee on Land Transport to be floating in the budget of the Ministry of Transportation as presented by the Executive was injected into augmenting the funds needed for counterpart funding of both projects (Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar Rail modernisation), as at the time the committee defended its report before the senate committee on Appropriation. The Lagos to Calabar rail modernisation project was therefore included in the Senate Committee on Land Transports recommendation to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.



With regard to the Idu to Kaduna rail completion, the Senate Committee on Land Transport did not interfere with what was provided for in the budget as sent by the executive, being approximately 18 Billion Naira hence I am equally surprised to read on the pages of the newspapers that the amount allocated to the said project was reduced by 8 Billion Naira.



While I would have preferred to wait till Tuesday 12th April, 2016 when the National Assembly reconvenes in order to have the benefit of viewing the details of the budget that was conveyed to the executive as passed, I am compelled to place the facts in proper perspective as it relates to the activities of the Senate Committee on Land Transport.



Without prejudice to the considerations and powers of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with regard to the appropriations process, the foregoing is the true reflection of what transpired at the committee level with respect to the Land Transport sector of the Ministry of Transport.


Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East)
Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport

Saraki’s ally, Baraje attacks APC

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, on Sunday described the party’s performance since taking office close to one year ago as unimpressive.

He also warned the party against repeating the mistakes made by the Peoples Democratic Party, which led to its electoral defeat in 2015.

Baraje, a vocal ally of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said this during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

According to him, Nigerians are not happy with the socio-economic and political development in the country, adding that it was imperative for government to address the sufferings and expectations of the people and make them happy.

He cited the current petrol scarcity, poor electricity and hunger as some of the hardships being experienced by Nigerians.

Baraje said, “I belong to the group that is not very satisfied with the performance of the party; not only because the Senate President is having a very serious political issue, but because there are other cases and instances where we are not happy with the performance of our party.

“I am not a prophet of doom, neither am I a political prostitute. Are you happy going to queue up for up to two to three hours? Are you happy that electricity is not functioning well and people sleep in darkness?

“What we are saying is that majority of Nigerians are not happy and we need to make them happy. Most Nigerians are suffering and we need to make our impact felt by addressing the suffering of the masses.”

In response, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, described Baraje’s comments as unfortunate.

He said, “We are working on a solution in the medium to short term; yes, we can make the fuel queues disappear but we don’t want the problem to re-occur and to do that, you have to work out a
solution that will be long lasting.

“If people want to play to the gallery they are at liberty to; they know why they are doing what they are doing.”


http://www.punchng.com/sarakis-ally-baraje-attacks-apc/

PEOPLE WORKING FOR PRESIDENCY ARE NEEDLESSLY LYING ABOUT 2016 BUDGET

Excerpt Of Tweets By The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation Via His @AbdulAbmJ On The Budget

I actually find it shocking that even some National Dailies made the removal their headlines. A little research would would have helped.

Lagos-Calabar Railway line was NEVER captured in the budget that was sent by the Executive. How then could it have been removed by NASS?

All they, and those spreading the false information needed to have done is check the initial document sent by the Executive.

Lagos-Calabar Rail was never included. How could NASS have removed what was not there? But the nation is being misled.

The NASS has always been on the receiving end of bad press. This is being capitalised on in the conversations on #Budget2016

This is unfortunate as it is quite clear to all and sundry that #Budget2016 and all its headaches and controversies didn't emanate from NASS

Take the budget of the ministry of Transportation was overshot by N54b. That is, by the time you add up the items on the ministry's budget..

You'd still have a gap of N54b. N54billion lying there without being allocated. NASS has a responsibility and here it did the right thing

What NASS did with the N54billion; We added N39.7b to the Lagos-Kano Rail project. This will help complete the project once and for all.

We also allocated N10b of this sum to the airport's navigation and security apparatus.

We often make so much noise about airport security after major plane crashes. But we need not wait for crashes to enhance safety at airports

We allocated the balance to Baro Ports for its completion and equipping. Baro Port is strategic to our economic development.

Much ado about vaccines that weren't even there. The budget of the ministry of Health was the most controversial.

The Minister of Health came to deny the document that was presented to the NASS by the Executive for the 2nd time.

There is a lot more to be said about this and they will be said in the coming days.

I saw reports saying NASS allocated too much for Rural projects including rural roads, primary health care, empowerment programmes...

we also allocated funding for rural solar street lights, vocational centres, cottage industries etc. On this one, there is no going back.

Nigeria isn't just for urban dwellers & as representatives of the people, ours is to ensure justice in the distribution of national wealth.

About 95% of the input of NASS which would have given life to the policy thrust of Mr. President were discarded by the Executive.

Some of these inputs include; Special Intervention for the Solid Mineral Sector. This is even imperative seeing the realities around oil.

Some of our other inputs include; Special Intervention for Rural Agriculture, Payment of Pension Arrears. Rural Community Light project.

The Rural Community Light project to light up 100 communities spread across the 774 Local Governments.

We also had Special Programmes for Women Empowerment and the payment of debt owed local contractors.

We also suggested N100b be taken out of N500b set aside as Special Intervention Fund.

That N50b be set aside as special bursary for students of tertiary institutions and another N50b for special training on Entrepreneurship for students of tertiary institutions pre-graduation. These were our inputs.

These are my preliminary submissions seeing as there have been no official communication between the Executive and the National Assembly.

These points are being noted because of the reports in some of today's papers -who really would have done better with a little more research

Not to mention the fact that the Executive has not come out to disown the false reports flying around.

We will come up with a comprehensive position especially with respect to our observation of the budget and what we did to make it better.

The crux of the matter as it is, is that while the NASS believes in the bottom up agenda for development- focus on rural areas & communities

The Executive seems to favour a top-down approach. But this is not enough reason to mislead Nigerians on the role of NASS on the budget.

CCT: Dele Momodu Makes Case For Saraki

http://www.thebriefng.com/2016/04/10/cct-dele-momodu-makes-case-saraki/

MUCH ADO ABOUT WHITEFIELD HOTELS LIMITED



Our Firm Messrs Rose-Marie Iweze and Company, solicitors to the management of Whitefield Hotels Limited, Ilorin wish to debunk the statements of some unscrupulous persons via an online news medium, alleging that the Kwara state Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has links with the management/ownership and construction of Whitefield Hotels Limited.

We would like to state categorically that His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is not linked to the management, nor is he one of the owners of the hotel. Likewise, His Excellency the Governor has never been involved in the construction of the hotel.

The publication on the online news medium is malicious and aimed at maligning the image of the management of the hotel and His Excellency the Governor. We shall take the necessary legal steps to redeem our clients image.

Press Release

April 9, 2016


Plot to Unleash Sponsored Anti- Saraki Protests Uncovered


The Office of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has uncovered plots by some politicians to sponsor protest marches and demonstrations in which some hired people will be given placards to disturb public peace.


In a statement signed by his Special Adviser ( Media and Publicity), Saraki's Office stated that sponsors of the proposed protest marches are seeking to forcefully mobilize and pollute public opinion against the Senate President.


"As part of their plan, they are already distributing money and other materials to some faceless civil society Organisations, market men and women associations and other shadowy groups with a view to instigate demonstrations in Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin starting from Monday, April 11.


"They believe that the on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal provides them the opportunity to stampede Dr. Saraki out of office so that their defeated objective of getting their lackey into the office of Senate President will be realized. This is another desperate move by these spineless politicians to achieve through the back door what they failed to realize on the floor of the Senate.


"We are alerting members of the public to the antics of these desperate politicians which may result into breach of public peace, order and health. Dr. Saraki is a peace-loving and law abiding politician. The trial at the CCT is just beginning and while the prosecution's witness has started giving evidence, he is yet to be cross-examined by the defence team. The defence has also not opened its own case. We urge members of the public to patiently wait for the conclusion of the case.


"Since the fundamental principle of our legal system is that an accused person is presumed innocent until he is found guilty, Dr. Saraki will not allow any distraction to take him away from his responsibility as President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly," Olaniyonu added.


Signed


Yusuph Olaniyonu


Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has denied any link with the management, ownership or construction of Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Governor Ahmed described as false, mischievous and evil the publication bysaharareports.com that he reportedly built the said Ilorin Hotel.
Governor Ahmed, therefore, stressed that he remains committed to fulfilling his covenant with the people of Kwara State and refuses to be distracted by Saharareporters’ deliberate and malicious falsehood.

CCT TRIAL: Saraki’s Lawyer Set to Summon Lamorde For Allegedly Manipulating Evidence Against him

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on asset declaration continued with the first witness of the prosecution, Michael Wetkas, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continuing his testimony against Saraki.

Many will recall that at the onset of the trial, Saraki maintained that under Section 3D of the act that established the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal, he ordinarily should have been given an opportunity to either confirm or deny the allegations brought against him in the 13 count charge. Saraki, through is lead counsel at the time, Philip Daudu, mentioned that based on those grounds, the trial should have been dismissed.

Several Senators like Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, and Senators Ibrahim Gobir and Isa Misau, have  maintained that the trial of the Senate President is clearly politically motivated and is distracting the process of governance.

On the sidelines of the CCT sitting, Mr. Bode Abodurin, a political analyst, mentioned that it was odd that after two days of the trial, we are yet to see or hear from any official of the CCB.

“I find it funny that it is only the EFCC that we have heard from,” Abodurin said, “This is meant to be a false asset declaration case of the CCB, yet we all we are seeing and hearing is information that the EFCC failed to prosecute Saraki for the past five year.”

Abodurin further maintained that it was mighty suspicious - given the history of the CCT Chairman, Dan Ladi Umar with Ibrahim Lamorde - that the first witness maintained that the evidence he was presenting in court were gotten directly from Lamorde.

“I don’t doubt the credibility of the witness, Mr. Wetkas,” Abodurin said, “He seems like a fine gentleman. What I do doubt, is the fact that given Lamorde’s history with Umar - with Umar’s N10 million bribery case with the EFCC - the documents Wetkas obtained from Lamorde could have been doctored.”

A member of Saraki’s legal team, disclosed that with the connection between Lamorde, Wetkas - the witness, and Umar, the defence would be inviting the former EFCC Chairman to the trial to find out his connection to the documents presented in court on Wednesday, April 6th.

Additionally, there have been recent rumours that as the case of the Senate President continues to gain nationwide traction, there have been a few meetings between Lamorde, Umar, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Lawal, and a National Leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.


Many will remember that during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the two other judges of the CCT, Robert Odu rtd and Agwaza Atedze had in a joint letter to former President and copied to the EFCC, drew the attention of the government to the N10 million bribery allegation made against Umar, saying that the issue had brought serious embarrassment to them and the tribunal.

After the disclosure of an abated investigation and continuous happenings in the CCT-EFCC, it was gathered that Dan Ladi Umar was granted bail by the Lamorde-led EFCC on self-recognition on 29th of March 2014.

Since the Senate began the probe of the EFCC in September 2015 for diverting ceased funds, analysts believe that Umar was directed by Lamorde to begin the trial of the Senate President, in order to put an end to the probe of the financial crimes watchdog. 

Lamorde was subsequently fired by President Buhari in November 2015. However, in a clear indication that the case against Saraki was motivated by the former EFCC Chairman, all the witnesses so far have been drawn from the EFCC, and not the body meant to investigate asset declaration forms, the Code of Conduct Bureau.

#CCTvsSaraki: Rafiu Ibrahim Calls for Calm as Trial Continues

The Kwara South Senator, Dr. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim has called on all Kwarans, lovers and supporters of Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki to remain calm and intensify prayers on the ongoing trial at the CCT. The senator asserted that at the end of the day, those who orchestrated the political persecution against the Senate President and their cohorts will be put to shame.

He noted in his words that, ''the coast is becoming clearer as it is becoming glaring that the trial is all about persecution and not prosecution.''

He added, ''We should remain resolute in the ongoing tribulations as we remain optimistic that our Leader, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki shall be vindicated at the end of the day''.

He noted that even though the political adversaries at home front are of the myopic belief that their major obstacle is being weakened politically by power that be, the prayers and support of the majority of Kwarans and members of National Assembly still keep him glowing.

''One thing we must appreciate is the solid support of the entire National Assembly and the prayers of our people back home. We know justice will be done and our Leader shall be free and grow stronger against the wishes of the enemies'', he submitted.

Ndume, Senators: “We are firmly behind Saraki.”

As the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki continues at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), several revelations from Senators lend credence to the notion that the Senate President’s trial is indeed politically motivated.

Speaking on the sidelines of the trial moments after his arrival at the CCT at about 4pm, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, told pressmen that he was just arriving at the CCT because he too was in court for politically-motivated reasons.

“This is not just about Saraki,” Ndume said, I have been at the court since 9am. They are pushing my case too to make sure they can only have people that they can control in the National Assembly leadership.”

Ndume then chatted briefly with Senator Kabiru Gaya before making his way into the tribunal.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir, representing Sokoto East, told reporters outside the tribunal sitting that Saraki was the only option for Senate President.

“Our first option is Saraki,” Gobir said, “Our second option is Saraki, and our third option is Saraki.”

Gobir, a second term Senator, and the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, remarked that because the Senate was on recess and many legislators have traveled, the number of Senators present at the court had gone down to between 25 and 30.

“However, if it is a question of those who support Bukola Saraki,” Gobir said, “You will see about 83 to 85 Senators here.”

Meanwhile, Senator Isa Misau, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, said that officials of the executive branch were busy pushing to persecute the Senate President and have abandoned governance. Also speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CCT, Misau said:

“The executive branch seems to have abandoned their duty, which is governance, and are instead focusing on persecuting the Senate President. This seems to be why there is fuel scarcity, and nothing seems to be working in the country.”

The trial of the Senate President has been adjourned till Monday, April 18th.

WE DIDN'T PAY SARAKI’S SALARY AFTER OFFICE-KWSG

Kwara State Government has denied paying former governor of the State, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki salary after he left office in May 2011.



Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold in a reaction to claims that the former governor was drawing salary from the State after he left office, explained that Dr Saraki’s last salary was N291,474.00 for the month of May 2011.



According to the SSG, “from June 2011, former Governor Saraki started receiving his pension which was N578,188.00 as other past governors in the country”.



The statement added that after the review of pensions of former political office holders by the State Pension Board, the former governor’s pension increased to N1,239,493.94 monthly from October 2014 to date.



Kwara State Government, therefore, dismissed as false and misleading the allegation that former Governor Saraki was receiving salaries after the expiration of his two-term tenure as governor of the state.

Alhaji Gold advised interested stakeholders to seek clarification from appropriate authority to avoid misleading the public.



Alhaji Isiaka Gold

Secretary to the State Government

WE WILL NOT ALLOW SARAKI’s IMPEACHMENT – Senators 

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, got yet another lifeline in the midst of the controversies surrounding his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as his colleagues senators rose today from a meeting and declared that they would protect the seat of the Senate President currently occupied by Saraki with the last blood in their veins.

This is not the first time the overwhelming majority of senators have lined-up their support for Saraki on the ongoing trial before the CCT.

Arising from a meeting at the Asokoro residence of Sen. Magartarkada Wammako, the Senator representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District, the Senators said for whatever it is worth, they would continue to stand firmly behind Dr. Saraki and ensure that his Senate Presidency seat is protected.

While addressing the media in Abuja on Wednesday on behalf of other senators, Senator Ibrahim Abdulrafiu reiterated their earlier stance that Saraki’s trial was a ‘mere persecution’ and an attempt to tarnish his image in ways not experienced before.

“We have since discovered that the trial of the Senate President is a mere attempt to blackmail him and make him look bad in the court of public opinion. No more, no less. A dispassionate analysis of the proceeding of the CCT yesterday has pointed to the fact that the APC led Executive is still embittered against Dr. Saraki over the manner of his election as the Senate President.”

“This is why we are standing for the Senate President and we will so do till the very end. We are doing this not for him but for the institution of the Senate that he imminently represents. We will never allow any arm of government to rubbish the cherished autonomy of the Senate.”

However, commenting on the calls in some quarters that the Senate President should resign from his position, the senators insisted that the calls are borne out of ignorance and pure hatred. The Senators described the calls as ‘wicked and unfounded.’

“For those calling for the impeachment of the Senate President, we urge them to avail themselves of the provisions of the law relating to such a sensitive step. As far as we are concerned, there is nothing like that on the table, and if anybody is trying to import that from the outside of the Senate, God helps them. All I know is that they will have to produce as many as a 100 senators to achieve that aim. As long as they don’t have the majority, the call is a tall dream that will remain a figment of the imagination of the groups and their sponsors.”

Many Senators were interviewed on the ground of the CCT where the trial is happening and they affirmed that officials of executive are busy pushing to persecute Saraki and have abandoned governance which is why there is scarcity and nothing seems to be working in the country

Rearrest and Prosecute Tinubu- PDP charges CCB; Chides Buhari over silence

The lagos state chapter of PDP has charged the Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately re arrest and prosecute Bola Tinubu, former governor of lagos state and APC National leader.

This is just as the Party has also accused the president of manifesting selective fight and prosecution in his anti corruption crusade.

The Party's call is consequent upon the disclosure by the CCB lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the former governor, Tinubu, was erroneously discharged by the CCT in the Trial of holding 10 foreign accounts contrary to section 7 of the CCB & Tribunal Act, Cap 15 LFN, 2004 as amended.

The learned SAN made the disclosure in his opposition to the application by Senate President, Saraki, that he be discharged. The Lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) described Tinubu's discharge as wrong and that the tribunal was misled into discharging the former governor.Lawyer to Saraki, Kanu Agabi (SAN) applied for Saraki's discharge on the basis that he was also not invited before he was charged by the CCB, which is similar to Tinubu's fact of case. They wondered why Tinubu was discharged whereas Saraki continues to be prosecuted even when the surrounding facts are similar.

"We demand the immediate invitation, arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for violating the laws of the land and breaching public trust by operating several foreign accounts during his tenure as lagos state governor between 1999 and 2007. During these period, the state did not witness meaningful developments commensurate to its internally generated revenues and federal government allocations. We strongly believe that those foreign accounts were used to steal Lagos funds. It still amazes us how a Tinubu, well known before he became lagos state governor, is now the undoubtedly wealthiest and 'influential' personality out of politics in the country. The code of conduct tribunal erroneously discharged but that does not remove the fact that the offence was committed. Now that the facts of Tinubu's erroneous discharge are in the public glare and in the spirit of the hyped anti corruption crusade, president Buhari ought to take a stance and speak out on the proprietary of Tinubu walking free while Saraki, Dasuki, Kanu, are being prosecuted with vigour. Alas! Rather, the president and other APC leaders chose to adopt and celebrate a betrayer of public service. The President particularly recently directed the grounding of the Capital city to celebrate Tinubu's birthday. An unequivocal declaration of loyalty to Tinubu who no doubt bankrolled the president's election. No doubt that president Buhari is only mouthing anti corruption and cannot summon the gut to prosecute APC leaders.

The erroneous discharge of Tinubu must be appealed against. Alternatively, Tinubu should be invited, interrogated and prosecuted. He was discharged and not acquitted and there is no time limitation for criminal trial.


Signed:

TAOFIK GANI

Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary

3/4/16

Rearrest and Prosecute Tinubu- PDP charges CCB; Chides Buhari over silence

The lagos state chapter of PDP has charged the Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately re arrest and prosecute Bola Tinubu, former governor of lagos state and APC National leader.

This is just as the Party has also accused the president of manifesting selective fight and prosecution in his anti corruption crusade.

The Party's call is consequent upon the disclosure by the CCB lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the former governor, Tinubu, was erroneously discharged by the CCT in the Trial of holding 10 foreign accounts contrary to section 7 of the CCB & Tribunal Act, Cap 15 LFN, 2004 as amended.

The learned SAN made the disclosure in his opposition to the application by Senate President, Saraki, that he be discharged. The Lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) described Tinubu's discharge as wrong and that the tribunal was misled into discharging the former governor.Lawyer to Saraki, Kanu Agabi (SAN) applied for Saraki's discharge on the basis that he was also not invited before he was charged by the CCB, which is similar to Tinubu's fact of case. They wondered why Tinubu was discharged whereas Saraki continues to be prosecuted even when the surrounding facts are similar.

"We demand the immediate invitation, arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for violating the laws of the land and breaching public trust by operating several foreign accounts during his tenure as lagos state governor between 1999 and 2007. During these period, the state did not witness meaningful developments commensurate to its internally generated revenues and federal government allocations. We strongly believe that those foreign accounts were used to steal Lagos funds. It still amazes us how a Tinubu, well known before he became lagos state governor, is now the undoubtedly wealthiest and 'influential' personality out of politics in the country. The code of conduct tribunal erroneously discharged but that does not remove the fact that the offence was committed. Now that the facts of Tinubu's erroneous discharge are in the public glare and in the spirit of the hyped anti corruption crusade, president Buhari ought to take a stance and speak out on the proprietary of Tinubu walking free while Saraki, Dasuki, Kanu, are being prosecuted with vigour. Alas! Rather, the president and other APC leaders chose to adopt and celebrate a betrayer of public service. The President particularly recently directed the grounding of the Capital city to celebrate Tinubu's birthday. An unequivocal declaration of loyalty to Tinubu who no doubt bankrolled the president's election. No doubt that president Buhari is only mouthing anti corruption and cannot summon the gut to prosecute APC leaders.

The erroneous discharge of Tinubu must be appealed against. Alternatively, Tinubu should be invited, interrogated and prosecuted. He was discharged and not acquitted and there is no time limitation for criminal trial.


Signed:

TAOFIK GANI

Lagos PDP

3/4/16

CCT Trial: Why is Saraki's case different?

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has described the continued trial of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal  (CCT) as worrisome in view of the manifest flaws and in the processes leading to the arraignment of Saraki.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, said it was dangerous that the leadership of the APC has decided to sit on the fence and watch Saraki swim or sink in this trial.

He said: I sincerely hold that the current trial of Saraki is not only underserved, but amounts to paying a good man with evil. I also want to say that the leaders of our great party have unfortunately remained quiet in the face of evil.  

"I don't believe we have forgotten that the victory of the APC during the last general elections could not have been possible without courageous strategists like Saraki who lent their political weight in favour of the APC at the risk of their own lives send personal survival. 

"I don't think we have forgotten how Saraki as a Senator in the 7th Senate brought the attention of Nigerians to the fraud perpetrated by the the last administration in the name of fuel subsidy. 

"I don't think we have forgotten do soon how Saraki led five other governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC - a development that successfully turned the political tide against the PDP and eventually tipped the electoral scale against them during the 2015 general elections.

"I don't think we have forgotten how Saraki led scores of Senators to cross over to the APC on the floor of the Senate. 

"I don't think we have also forgotten what he gave of his time, personal resources and energy to ensure that the APC emerged victorious both at the National, State and Local Government level. 

"The question is: Why is the case of Saraki being treated differently at the CCT that in 2011 struck out the case against one of our national leaders because he was not given the opportunity to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in his asset declaration forms in line with Section 3(d) of the CCB/CCT Act unlike 11 other ex-governors who had similar cases of irregularities whose cases were dropped by the CCB after they were invited by the agency."

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 3(d) of the CCB/CCT Act which has been so undermined by the CCT in its Thursday ruling states that the CCB shall: "Receive complaints about non-compliance with or breach of this Act and where the Bureau  (not the AGF or EFCC) considers it necessary to do so, refer such complaints to the Code of Conduct Tribunal established by Section 20 of this Act in accordance with the provisions of Sections 20 to 25 of this Act: provided that where the concerned makes a written admission of such breach or non-compliance, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary."

It is pertinent to mention that when this section of the Act was pleaded in the defence of one of the leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011, the selfsame Justice Danlandi Umar struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the suit when he ruled that that "...On Section 3(d), I feel compelled by the argument of the learned SAN for the accused. It is a condition precedent for referring a charge to this Tribunal that the Accused ought to have been invited to either deny or admit the allegations against him. This is missing in this case as the Complainant has no such evidence of a prior invitation. It would be proper for me at this stage to simply decline further exercise of jurisdiction having held that the co diction precedent to the instituting of charges against the Accused has not been complied with. I hereby resolve this issue in favour of the Accused..." 

He added: "It is based on the above precedent that I want to ask why Saraki's case is different? Why is the judiciary suddenly giving in to apparent blackmail from a section of the media by refusing to do their job as required by law?

"Already the Senate President has told the world that the trial has nothing to do with corruption but that he is being persecuted for emerging as the Senate President. To me the ominous silence of our leaders since the day he was arraigned uphill now  serves to validate the claims of the Senate President that he is being persecuted. 

"Or where else in the world will the number three citizen of a country be hulled before a tribunal over alleged irregularities in his asset declaration forms 13 years ago, and the hierarchy of the ruling to which he is a bonafide member will not come out to show solidarity or defend him?

"If it is true that the trial of the Senate President is not borne out of genuine desire yo fight corruption but is being carried out for selfish political ends, then who is next?

"I think the party need to be courageous enough to speak out against this unwholesome trend whose outcome will definitely not augur well for the overall development of our party and by extension the country at this hour. 

"Even the holy scriptures admonish us not to muzzle the of that thresh the corn. Saraki has paid his dues at a time it was suicidal for anybody to stand up against to the then ruling PDP. I believe it is time for all of us to act to save our party. It is time to rally round our generals who have fought valiantly and led us to victory. To abandon Saraki is to abandon a worthy comrade."

Comrade Timi Frank
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC

Saraki, CCT trial and the Game of Thrones

After the Supreme Court decision that the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as presently constituted, has the jurisdiction to try Senate President Bukola Saraki, the case has continued. Since then, several legal luminaries including Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN; a former justice of the Supreme Court, Samson Uwaifo; and Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have faulted the apex court judgment on the grounds that it established a wrong precedent as the CCT was not meant to prosecute criminal matters. However, it appears that those legal opinions have been treated as mere academic and, therefore, do not really matter. The decision of the Supreme Court is final and anyone who seeks a redress would have to turn to God.
And so, the trial of the Senate President has returned to the tribunal where it all began. But what manner of justice should Saraki expect to get from the tribunal? Given what has transpired so far, I don’t think the camp of the Senate President should expect any dramatic turn of fortune. This case is crystal clear, and it is certainly not about corruption.
If anyone ever thought that this case was going to be determined by sound interpretation of the law, what happened at the last sitting of the tribunal must have cured that illusion. This case is not about law. It is an act in the ultimate drama of the ‘game of thrones.’ The plot may thicken, it may twist and turn, but it inexorably leads to only one predetermined outcome: the script has been written. Like anyone who has followed that TV series would recall, in a game of thrones, there is no middle ground; you either win or you die!
The defence team had asked that the case against Saraki be dismissed on the grounds that he was not invited to clarify issues raised over his asset declaration before he was dragged to the tribunal. Their argument was based on the provision of Section 3 (d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which states that on receiving “complaints about non-compliance with or breach of this Act and where the Bureau considers it necessary to do so, it refers such complaints to the Code of Conduct Tribunal established by Section 20 of this Act in accordance with the provisions of Sections 20—25 of this Act: provided that where the person makes a written admission of such breach or non-compliance, no reference to the tribunal shall be necessary.”
In a layman’s term, this means that the Code of Conduct Bureau is required to invite a public official to clarify any suspected breach or non-compliance before he or she may be charged. In fact, it was on the basis of this that the CCT dismissed the charges against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and one of the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in 2011.
However, while delivering his ruling on the Saraki case, Mr. Danladi Umar, the CCT Chairman, said, to the utter astonishment of everyone present, that his decision in the Tinubu case was made par incuriam, that is, made in error. To any dispassionate observer, this is not only distasteful but in far more serious, a mockery of Nigeria’s judicial system. This willful abnegation is, till date, the strongest indication that Umar may himself be an unwilling pawn in a political chess game that he himself probably does not fully understand.

If the CCT Chair was not the judge in the 2011 Tinubu case, it would probably have been easy for him to depart from the ruling. But fate is a terrible thing. And like the late Uthman Dan Fodio famously declared, ‘conscience is an open wound, and only truth can heal it’. The Umar that I saw deliver that infamous ruling is still a good man. But it takes a conscience that is still alive to torture its owner so much whenever he decides to act contrary to its dictates.

If you receive my protest picture that has gone viral courtesy of Sahara Reporter here is my stands as follows:
That I appreciate your concerns for calling my attentions and reactions.
That without any iota of regret #ISTANDWITHSARAKI solidly like Oluma rock come rain come shining.
That CCT Trial against the SP is total persecution and not prosecution has been posted.
That all the enemies of SP shall have the course to bow for him by the special grace of almighty God.
That no matter how they plan their evil stormy against his position it has been destined he'll be the 8th President  of Nigeria Senate till the end of tenure and answer for greater call.
That Sowore the publisher of Sahara Reporter can not withstand my intellectual capacity and wardrobe despite his pay  by the regional leader TINUBU against the will of God# 
Sign: Akaje Ibrahim.(GCOA) 
Kwara Peace Ambassador.