₦airaland Forum

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu and Eniola Akinkuotu

The House of Representatives may witness a rowdy session as it resumes today (Tuesday) in connection with the alleged budget padding scandal in the chamber in which the House principal officers have been accused by the sacked House Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

The PUNCH gathered in Abuja, on Monday that members, backing the call for resignation of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Whip, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, had concluded plans to ensure the matter would be debated by the lawmakers.

However, it was learnt that the leaders of the House and their supporters had argued that the issue could be handled as an internal affair of the House.

The PUNCH also gathered that Jibrin might be suspended during plenary today.

A member, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said, “We definitely cannot continue like this. No individual member is greater than the House. The way Jibrin is going about his agitation is an embarrassment not only to himself and the House but the All Progressives Congress as the governing party. The House must take a stand.

“What I think is likely to happen is that we may either hold a closed-door session to deal with this matter once and for all or allow our ethics committee to deal with it, but we have to take a decision.”

Jibrin’s allegations will not be ignored—Transparency Group

The Chairman of the Transparency Group, a pressure group within the House, Muhammad Soba, said issues raised by Jibrin would not be swept under the carpet.

Soba, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “We will demand that the accused persons step down for proper investigations to be carried out. It is as simple as that.”

Members of the TG held a secret meeting and resolved to summon Jibrin, The PUNCH learnt on Monday.

One of our correspondents learnt that the meeting, which was held at an undisclosed location in Abuja, on Monday night, had close to 80 members in attendance.

It was gathered that members of the group sent words to Jibrin to appear before them to state his case and explain the level of his involvement in the budget padding saga.

Members of the group also agreed to resist any attempt to pass a vote of confidence in Dogara and those accused of complicity in the saga and reject any attempt to suspend the embattled Jibrin.

A member of the group, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity on Monday, stated, “We met with close to 80 of our members in attendance. Our demands are not difficult for the Speaker and his group to meet; they should simply step aside and submit themselves for investigations. If they are found blameless, they can come back.

“We hear there is a plot to suspend somebody. It is our considered opinion that it will be hasty without giving all concerned a fair hearing.”

Budget padding allegation, not our priority –Whip

But the Whip of the House, Ado-Doguwa, in an SMS to The PUNCH, explained that the alleged budget padding scam was the least of the challenges facing the House.

Ado-Doguwa stated, “The unfortunate budget padding matter, in my opinion, is not going to be a priority issue at all.

“Even though the House may wish to address its shortcomings through our internal legislative code, I am confident we will have no time to waste on the budget padding issue because we all believe the matter is mischievous and unfounded and therefore lacks merit to attract our special attention.

“We, as leaders, will not allow ourselves be distracted by politically-motivated trivialities.”

In response to what is going to top the agenda of the House on resumption, Doguwa said, “Robust oversight of ministries and agencies of government vis-a-vis the implementation of the 2016 budget through our committee systems will be our key priority.

“Other priorities will be to continue on the lawmaking process from where we stopped. We have over 116 bills at various levels of legislative considerations; we will continue on such bills.

“The President’s possible request for emergency powers will also be on the priority as a House of the people. We will also give attention to any request that is intended at improving the lot of our people.”

I don’t care if House suspends me –Jibrin

Jibrin has said he will not be bothered if his colleagues in the House suspend him when the House resumes on Tuesday (today).

He stated this on a live television programme titled, ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television on Monday.

He added, “On the issue of suspension, I am less bothered. Perhaps that is the sacrifice I will have to make for the country and for us to be able to deal with the issues of corruption in the House, but I doubt very much that the 360 members, having followed the events of the last two months, and of course the letter I wrote to each member last week, will go on the floor of the House and start talking about suspending me.”

The lawmaker said even if he was suspended, he would continue to fight corruption and ensure that Dogara, and the three other principal officers in the House were brought to justice.

Jibrin added, “Whatever happens on Tuesday and the rest of the days we want to spend in the House before the end of the year, one thing is certain and I say this without any element of contradiction, I will continue to pursue this issue until justice is served on Speaker Dogara and other principal officers whether I am suspended or not.”

Senate focuses on economy, may summon finance minister, CBN gov

On resumption on Tuesday (today), Senate President Bukola Saraki is to address his colleagues after which they may or may not debate his speech, which is expected to set the tone for Senate deliberations in the weeks ahead.

A statement by the Senate President’s Media Office on Monday said Saraki would dedicate his welcome address to the state of the economy.

The statement partly read, “The Senate President’s address will coincide with the return of the 8th Senate from its annual recess.

“His Excellency’s speech will announce that the Senate will focus the majority of its legislative days on solutions to tackling the recession and the timely passage of the 2017 federal budget.”

It further quoted Saraki as saying, “During our annual recess, I and many of my colleagues in the Senate returned to our constituencies to witness the impact of the economic downturn on local communities.

“The conditions on the ground demand that we put forth our best efforts to get the economy moving and people back to work.”


http://punchng.com/reps-set-rowdy-session-nassembly-resumes-today/

victorvezx:
I don't want to see any Igbo person or Igbo looking moniker on nairaland on Friday oh!!!

simplycarro:
There will be holiday in igboland this Friday.

says who? if they no arrest them cha

Beremx:
i cannot switch off my phone for nnamdi kanu. except he is lucky my battery drains and my phone is off without no where to charge ehe then it will be a coincidence.

This is the change you voted for.

abokibuhari:
I am a proud Jew

jew

abokibuhari:
you brought the change on us

eya, pele. meanwhile, OP try and put source and maggi to your story please.

Come to think of it, i hope this guy's background is not coming up coz he exposed Dogara and other principal officers involved in the budget padding.

Tony Okafor, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared September 23 (Friday) as the day all supporters of Biafra will sit at home without going anywhere or doing any work.

This, it said, would be a protest against the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

It enjoined the Igbo and all those who believe in the Biafra ideology all over the country to shut down their businesses and stay at home

It ordered IPOB members outside the country to stage open protests in their areas on that day.

In a press statement from the group’s Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State, it said, “The IPOB worldwide protest will take place in all the countries across the globe, except in Biafra land and Nigeria where church services will be held.”

The statement added, “Every IPOB member and other Biafrans living in Nigeria and Biafra land will stay in their homes on that day.

“We also ask that all markets, schools, banks, transport companies and manufacturing companies to close on that day in solidarity with the overall objectives of the Biafran restoration process, irrespective of your persuasion or affiliation.

“We call on Okada riders, Keke drivers, bus drivers, owners of luxurious buses and drivers, the 911 drivers and owners, the National Union of Road Transport Workers and National Association of Transport Owners to withdraw their vehicles from roads on that day in solidarity with IPOB worldwide for the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and for the total liberation of the Biafra people.

“We also advise every Biafran to switch off their communication devices, especially mobile phones, on that day from 8am to 4pm in solidarity.

“This will let the world know including communication companies that Biafrans are serious towards the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the restoration of the ancient and sacred sovereignty of God’s nation, Biafra.”

It maintained that “only IPOB members in Biafra land and Nigeria are exempted from street protests on this occasion”, noting that, “Any country where there are IPOB family units that doesn’t participate in this global event will be shut down.”

http://punchng.com/ipob-declares-sept-23-sit-home-day/

Remember this thread? https://www.nairaland.com/3357393/man-brutalises-wifes-niece-using

The Lagos State Police Command has just arrested Mr. Rasak Alabi, the man who allegedly battered his wife’s niece, Latifat Adeyemi, in Ikorodu for using air conditioner.

Our correspondent had reported that Alabi hit Adeyemi with a spanner and whipped her with a piece of cable last Friday.

The victim had been admitted in a hospital.

After the report, the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, was said to have ordered the arrest of the suspect.

“The CP took up the matter and ordered that he should be fished out. He was arrested in his hideout in Ikorodu around 1.30pm. He struggled with the officials, but he has been arrested and the case transferred to the command headquarters. He will face charges if found culpable,” the police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos said.


http://punchng.com/breaking-police-arrest-man-battered-wifes-niece/

abeg take me to Ghana

SweetLove0:
Jonathan and his wife has finished naija

really? are you calling our hero of democracy thief?

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced properties worth N1.5bn to a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

Our correspondent learnt on Sunday that as part of investigations into an alleged case of money laundering, the EFCC discovered some properties, which Dudafa had not been able to explain where he got the money to buy them.

The commission discovered a mansion in the Agungi area of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, allegedly belonging to Dudafa, said to be worth over N300m.

The anti-graft agency also traced a plot of land around the Chevron Estate, off the Lekki-Epe Expressway and a twin duplex within the same area said to belong to Dudafa.

Apart from the Lagos properties, an edifice in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was also traced to Dudafa.

A source in the EFCC said, “When we are probing a person, we usually investigate his lifestyle and see if he or she is living above his means. Since Dudafa has already been arraigned for money laundering, we decided to launch further investigations into his lifestyle.

“We found a white mansion in the Agungi area of Lagos, very close to Lekki. He has about four exotic cars in the compound. We did not seal it off because people live there. So, we just placed a sticker on the fence to indicate that the property is a subject of investigation.

“Dudafa also has a twin duplex around the Chevron Estate. We did not seal it off because he has rented the property out. However, he has a parcel of land around the place, which we have sealed off.

“We have arraigned Dudafa and if he is found guilty, he will forfeit the properties.”

Dudafa first became a subject of EFCC investigation when a former Aide-de-Camp to Jonathan, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe (retd.), told detectives that he handed over N10bn (converted to foreign currency) to Dudafa on the eve of the 2014 Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary in which Jonathan was the sole aspirant.

The money given to Dudafa was allegedly used in bribing PDP delegates.

The money was allegedly diverted by the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) from a Signature Bonus Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The N10bn is believed to have been diverted from oil receipts as follows: $5m (November 14, 2014); $47m (November 27, 2014); €4m (December 3, 2014) and €1.6m (December 24, 2014).

While Adegbe was arrested but later released, Dudafa was said to have fled to either Dubai or a Caribbean country where he stayed for several months.

Dudafa was finally arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services upon arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on April 18, 2016.

The anti-graft agency said the former presidential aide returned N900m to the Federal Government.

Dudafa is also believed to be a front for Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the former President.

Patience had said in a sworn affidavit two weeks ago that she gave Dudafa some money to help her open an account at Skye Bank.

She, however, stated that Dudafa used the money to open five accounts of which only one bore her name while the other four were opened in the names of Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited.

The current balance of the four accounts is $15,591,700 while the money in Patience’s personal account stands at $5m.

The four companies last week pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Patience risks losing the $15m to the government.

One Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of Patience, claimed that the former President’s wife was the rightful owner of the $15m and that Dudafa helped her to open the bank accounts in 2010.

The deponent claimed that Patience was the sole signatory to the accounts.

http://punchng.com/efcc-traces-lagos-bayelsa-properties-jonathans-ex-aide-dudafa/

oochi123:
Happy bday to me,linda and everyother persons celebrating today.God will grant us our heart desires.Amen

Happy bday

RealJaneDoe:
lol hbd . I remix this for you


Aunty Ikeji


Party Ikeji


Men have been knocking


And menopause is knocking


If all men are the same


Pick one already




Shey until you discover Mungo Park

you bad

cktheluckyman:
Femi abeg tell them. If dem chop liver they should also go after her

Which femi again?

Waka waka

Cc: lalasticlala

JonSnow:
Your thread, oya come and push me out.

i don't have your time now bro

Antidote77:
Don't mind the fool, if he is been led by a goat, what is he? slavegoat?

i tire o

SweetLove0:
forget that dude

thanks dear

JonSnow:
Calling him a goat is an insult to goats sef.

He's a congenital _imbecile. GEJ was called worse names and the world didn't end. People like you cheered them on. So, once again, I'll advice you to smell out of my mentions.

If you want to cry, cry.

for you? unless i dont have better stuff doing. and for your mentions, this's my thread bro

JonSnow:
Smell out of my mentions please?

guy, you don't call your president goat no matter what. He remains your president.

JonSnow:
Even if na World association of weed smokers, this goat would attend.

na osunbade i dey pity sha

mere commissioner

on your own o. I no dey o

President Muhammadu Buhari will from Monday in New York, United States, participate in the five-day 71st session United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) beginning on Monday.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The statement said that the president would deliver Nigeria’s statement at the opening of the General Debate of the Assembly on “The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World.”

Adesina revealed that the president would also attend a high-level summit to be hosted by the UN, on “Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants’’.

“The summit, which is the first of its kind organised by the General Assembly at the Heads of State and Government level, is expected to come up with a blueprint for a better international response to enhance protection of migrants and refugees.’’

He also said that Buhari would deliver a keynote address on “Taking Climate Action toward Sustainable Development in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.”

The president’s aide disclosed that leaders of member-countries of Lake Chad Basin would attend the summit, organised by Nigerian government, to highlight the urgent need to mobilise international response to the situation in the Chad Basin.

“Over nine million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the Lake Chad Basin.”

He said that while in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders, the president would attend series of meetings as well as side events, which were of significant interest to Nigeria.

Adesina said that the president would equally participate in an event hosted by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on “Ending Need in the Lake Chad.’’

“On the margins of the 71st UNGA, President Buhari will sign the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and participate in activities commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of the Right to Development.’’

He said that the Nigerian leader would attend the Clinton Global Initiative as well as the United Nations Private Sector Forum on Business and Global Goals organised by the Secretary General.

According to Adesina, the president will lead discussions at the United States-Africa Business Forum devoted to investing in Nigeria.

Cc: lalasticlala

http://punchng.com/buhari-to-attend-annual-united-nations-general-assembly/

you mean a senator?

HERSLEY:
no switch Lane o... U better face her. My bf dey NL o!

you wan date two guys abi? after you don collect all my recharge card finish you no wan do again. you no want but you like all the outing. no try am o