₦airaland Forum

The Assets Recovery Committee set up by the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has explained that two former Governors of Bauchi State Mallam Isa Yuguda and the immediate past Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and their associates are to refund over one trillion Naira allegedly looted during their tenures to Bauchi State Government.

This is coming as the committee which is preparing to wind up activities claim that it discovered more items allegedly belonging to the State Government in the House of the Former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

A member of the committee Barrister Lawal Husseini Ibrahim stated this in Bauchi Saturday while answering question on the activities of the committee.

He said “as the committee was rounding up its activities it received a whistleblower tip of items being carted away and transferred outside the state by the family of former governor Abubakar, the committee visited the House of the former Governor at Fadaman Mada and was able to recover only few items like 105 Pasta making machines, 10 sewing machines, cartons of surgical hand gloves and several office furniture belonging to the Bauchi Government, the committee had earlier recovered four tractors, a luxury Bus and a House belonging to the state government which the former governor Abubakar sold to himself.

The house is located opposite Government House adjacent to Wikki Hotel”

Lawal said the committee traced a lot of Bauchi Government properties and resources frittered away by the two former governors and their associates and the committee may submit its report any moment and expressed optimism that if the recommendations of the committee are implemented the two former governors and their associates will refund over one trillion naira to the state government.

When asked about the suit filed by the two former governors challenging the activities of the committee, Barrister Lawal said “ Yes the former governors Abubakar and Yuguda took the committee before the Federal High Court in Abuja and Bauchi State High Court but the committee is responding adequately to the suits and will submit its report without hitches by the grace of Allah”.

He said the committee traced over 16 different lands, building and properties at different locations in Kaduna State with certificate of occupancy belonging to the Bauchi government and they investigated various contracts awarded by the two previous administrations like purchase of 500 tractors of which 40 were delivered, how ecological funds, Paris club refunds and various loans were taken and details of their findings will be made available when they submit their report to the government.

Effort to Speak to the two former commissioners of Information of the past governors, however, proved abortive

Babatunde Ogala, National Legal Adviser to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday revealed those who will decide disciplinary actions against members who dragged the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to court.

Ogala disclosed that elders and leaders of the party would decide on whether or not to punish those who instituted legal actions against the party’s chairman when court makes its final ruling on the matter.

Recall that some aggrieved members of the party had dragged Oshiomhole to court in a move to get him removed as National Chairman.

Following the suit filed at a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Justice Danladi Senchi had ordered Oshiomhole to stop parading himself as National Chairman of the party pending the determination of the matter.

However, a Federal High Court in Kano State had on Thursday vacated the order of the court.

Reacting, Ogala disclosed that the party has since filed an appeal against the suit seeking to get Oshiomhole removed from office.

According to Ogala: “The party and Adams Oshiomhole were defendants in that suit and they have since filed an appeal.

“I’m not in a position to determine if there will be a punishment or disciplinary measures for anybody or not. The appropriate organs of the party will have to decide that.

“I can tell you for free that in the light of what has transpired, the elders and leaders of the party are on the matter as lots of mediations are going on, the crisis hopefully will be resolved sooner than imagined

“This for me is just children of the same father having a disagreement, and yes the crisis will be resolved before the 2023 general elections.”

Bragalane:
He answered Amen because others b4 him have been worse. Because you chose to hate Buhari out of bigotry does not mean he as not been beta than each n every president that ruled Nigeria since 1999 except for Yardua.

I also join in saying amen so long the alternatives we have are the foolish PDP president that entrenched corruption brigandage n hell on Nigeria.

wildernessVoice:
Diploma is not even acceptable.
For president, vice, governors, deputy and law makers should be minimum of first decree.

SanusiGworo:
Even voting sef.
The minimum requirement to vote should be set as well. We have millions of illiterates making the wrong choice for the country.

RagaMufeen:
Buhari would be the LAST dullard to rule Nigeria.
Zombies will not like this.

Okoroawusa:
Amen

It seems someone is with his phone

CaptainMitch:
Na your mother be the youngest I don fvck before.

The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, on Thursday told Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that governors of the zone would soon unveil a security outfit for the zone, the way the South-West governors did in their zone.

According to the governor, the South-East already had its own ‘Amotekun’, that would soon be launched for adequate security of lives and property.

The Vice-president of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, stormed Ebonyi State for the flag-off of National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic at Christain Ecumenical Center, Abakaliki.

Umahi stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, during the commencement of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Clinics for viable enterprises in the state by the Vice-President.

South-South governors agree to raise security outfit He said, “We have been challenged so much in the South-East because of security problems.

I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible together with you and Mr President to secure our people.

We will not break the constitution to satisfy our people.

“We have our own Amotekun with us and we will soon unveil it within the limit of the constitution of the Federal Republic,” he said.

Mimiey:
Hello Nairalanders.

I haven't been with any man in about 7 months now, I am single and It's hard for me to do a little thing as even kissing randomly.

This is what you wrote here but your second thread shows you have a bf.

ORIENTATION101:
Old news As expected Tinubu name will feature but jagaban is ten steps ahead of the other minnows.if oshomole is eventually removed another Tinubu loyalist is waiting at the sideline to take over

The current news is oshomole has been re-instated.

A bill for the establishment of a National Electoral Offences Commission passed second reading on the floor of the Senate yesterday.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno), proposes a jail term of 20 years or fine of N40m for any candidate, person or agent who destroyed electoral materials during election.

It also seeks to prohibit hate speech or words that incite violence during elections and proposes 10 years or a fine of at least N40m or both for offenders.

The new bill is also proposing a term of 15 years on anyone found guilty of “destroying, snatching or opening a ballot box when you are not so authorised.”

If the proposed legislation is passed, a person shall be jailed for 15 years if, without due authority takes out at polling station any electoral document, or he is found in possession of any electoral document outside a polling station.

It also seeks an imprisonment of 20 years without an option of fine for a judicial officer or officer of a court or tribunal who is found guilty of corruptly preventing electoral justice, before, during and after election.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan and other lawmakers advocated punitive penalties for electoral offences.

The lawmakers, in their contributions, said the commission should exist along with a special tribunal to prosecute electoral offences.

They said establishing a tribunal would sanitise the electoral process, deepen Nigeria’s democracy and bring an end to impunity associated with elections.

Meanwhile, there was a protest when Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi) said the military era was better than democracy.

He said, “Mr. President, when people of questionable character become leaders, then what is the future of that country. In fact, I am compelled to say military era is better than Nigeria’s democracy currently.

“When you talk about maladministration and misappropriation of public funds, it emanates from people who have criminal records, people who have no background who were elected or forced themselves into power.”

James Manager (PDP, Delta South) quickly raised a point of order but the Senate President said Adeyemi’s position was personal to him and not the view of the Senate.

“The position of this chamber is that democracy is better than military era and Senator Adeyemi is entitled to his opinion,” Lawan said. Kyari, in his lead debate, said the bill would solve the problem associated with elections, if passed into law.

He said electoral crimes helped election riggers and offenders take control of government against the will of the people.

Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi described electoral offense as an existential threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Senate Minority Leader Eyinnaya Abaribe said if electoral offenses are tried in normal courts, the delay in the judgement will still go on.

Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi) and Rochas Okorocha (APC, Imo) advocated stiffer sanctions to deter electoral offenders.

While Aliero alleged that politicians employed all sorts of strategies to ensure that they won elections, while Okorocha said there should be more emphasis on those who conduct elections.

George Sekibo (PDP Rivers) urged the president to assent to the bill when it gets to him, saying anything contrary would mean that 2023 general elections will be worst.

Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has assured that all unassented bills by President Muhammadu Buhari would be revisited by the ninth Senate.

He said the legislature would leverage on its cordial relationship with the Executive to re-pass bills by the eight Senate, but were declined by the Executive.

Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Otive Igbuzor gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja, when he played host to a civil society organisation, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), led by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere.

Dr Igbuzor listed one of such bills to include the Federal Audit Service Commission Bill.

According to him, enactment of the Audit Reform Bill will strengthen fiscal laws and the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration.

He said: “The Ninth Assembly is committed to looking at those laws that were passed in the Eighth Assembly that were not assented to. Since the Audit Reform Bill is in the House of Representatives, definitely it will come to the Senate for concurrence.

“The good working relationship between the Ninth Assembly and the Presidency may be a way to ensure that this one gets passed and signed into law this time around.

“And I hope that your advocacy will also engage the Attorney General of the Federation. You can be assured of our support.

“The Ninth Senate is concerned about issues of transparency and accountability. In the past, there has been a lot of emphasis on expenditure without emphasis on revenue. Recently, the Senate held a meeting with the revenue generating agencies.

“So, we are on the same page in terms of what needs to be done to improve transparency and accountability in the country”.

Earlier, the Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, said the visit was part of its advocacy engagement with key stakeholders in the Executive and Legislature on the need for audit reforms.

“We are here to introduce the programme we are running on improving the effectiveness of Federal Audit Process and Reforms.

“This bill is such an important bill considering that the Auditor General of the Federation is one of the few constitutional agencies working on anti-corruption,” he said.

Lol

Former New York City Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, suspended his presidential campaign on Wednesday.

Bloomberg’s billions on strategy failed to yield any wins on Super Tuesday, apart from the American Samoa caucuses.

The mogul endorsed Democratic front-runner, Joe Biden, former United States Vice President.

“I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions. After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists”, Bloomberg said in his statement.

He stated that he remained clear-eyed about his overriding objective which is victory in November.

“I’ve known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs”, Bloomberg added.

Currently Biden has won more states ahead of major contender, Bernie Sanders.

He won Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas while Sanders won California, Vermont, Colorado, Utah.

The duo continues the battle for more states. At the end, the top aspirant will emerge the Democratic candidate and contest against President Donald Trump in November.