₦airaland Forum

THE REAL GIST OF WHY BUHARI FIRED EFCC BOSS.





The sack of the former Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been linked to his handling of the Corruption case against the Chairman of the CCT, Dan Ladi Umar, who was being investigated for taking bribes from Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a former Comptroller of Customs.



Based on documents signed by Former Attorney General, the EFCC’s investigation revealed that Dan Ladi Umar, did not only meet the accused he also accepted the bribe through his PA, he also allegedly kept on pestering Taiwo for the balance of the N10million that he had requested. Helpless to meet up with the balance, Mr. Taiwo petitioned the EFCC in the case against Dan Ladi. The EFCC then launched a case against Dan Ladi and found out that:



· Dan Ladi then texted Taiwo his account number using his own phone: 0807 445 5022;



· Dan Ladi also sent Taiwo the details of his PA, Ali Gambo Abdullahi to Mr. Taiwo’s number: 0803 336 7814;



· Taiwo paid N1.8 million into Dan Ladi’s account, and Dan Ladi’s PA withdrew the money on the same day 12/12/12.



After reviewing the facts of the bribery case, Bello Adoke (SAN), the former AGF, wrote to President Jonathan on the 7th of May, 2014, stating: “In light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the Chairman.”



Lamorde wrote back to the AGF stating that there was in-fact strong evidence to suggest an attempt by Dan Ladi to “cover up” the bribery scandal. It is believed that the Chairman of the EFCC may have dropped the charges against Dan Ladi, because the Senate started investigating him on the 26th of August, 2015.

See attached files for more details.

http://www.elombah.com/index.php/special-reports/2370-revealed-lamorde-fired-over-cct-chairman-corruption-case-docs

Opinion: Is the promised war on corruption?
Any careful observer of the interaction between Nigeria’s justice system and the political attacks on non-conformists will immediately surmise that Nigeria’s justice system is under attack.
Similarly, as democracy is aimed at enshrining institutions and precedents for the common good, and not to serve vested interests, people have started to notice that the way and manner our investigative bodies and our courts are handling certain legal cases, does not bode well for the future of our great country in the long-run.
During the 2015 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presented its manifesto to Nigerians with promises of fighting corruption and prosecuting those found guilty of corrupt practices irrespective of class, status, and party affiliation.
Nigerians had high expectations of having a corruption-free society in no time. Now that the present government has been sworn into power, things are now taking a different turn from what was earlier promised.
The rise to power and the subsequent intended-purging of chosen targets in the political space, one by one, group after group, has become the order of the day.
So far, we have witnessed arrests, re-arrests, court cases, court hearings, EFCC invasions of private properties, public harassment and embarrassment of Nigerians both in power and out of power.
It has also become apparent that only members of the opposition party (PDP), and people who supposedly do not bend to the whims of the present government have been through this ordeal time and time again. Now, I ask: “Is the promised War on Corruption?” Also, “Can corruption be used to fight corruption?”
First, it was the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. Having been alleged to have orchestrated President Buhari’s arrest over three decades ago, the Department of State Security (DSS) violated the law by harassing him when the case against him was already before a court.
Even after Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High court ordered his passport returned to him to enable him to go abroad for medical treatment — an order from some highly placed people was given to the operatives to effect his arrest at the airport.
Godswill Akpabio, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the current Minority Leader in the Senate, was then next on the target list. We all saw how he was being tossed around like a child — arrested one day, released in the evening of that same day, then re-arrested again the next morning. Have we lost our value for human rights? Whatever happened to due process?
And now, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has subjected itself to being used as a tool by some highly placed and masked puppeteers to persecute the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who many seems to pose a threat to the future ambitions of some nameless 2019 contenders.
According to Comrade Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, the people going after Saraki think that by pinning him down with a case of corruption, he will be discredited, thus, making him unsellable for the future.
Saraki is not just being tried by an incompetent court, but by an incomplete tribunal. Constitutionally, the CCT should have a three-man panel.
However, given the need by the political interests to expedite the case against the Senate President, perhaps to remove him before he becomes even more of the ‘perceived threat’ that they think that he is, the court has been sitting with only two members – a breach of Paragraph 15 (1) of the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution.
Furthermore, to add insult to injury, the court has insulted the superiority of the Supreme Court by going ahead with the trial, even after Saraki’s lawyers made it known that they had filed a case before the apex court of the Federal Republic.
In addition, with the way and manner in which Saraki’s case has been handled, his fundamental human rights are being trampled upon as well.
In respect to this, Saraki has sought for the intervention of the High Court, Appeal Court, and now the Supreme Court with a bid to halt the proceedings of the CCT and annul the decision of the Court of Appeal. Will the Supreme Court also subject itself to be used by some puppeteers?
Under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the rights of an accused person standing trial for a criminal offence are fully guaranteed. The relevant sections are sections 35 and 36.
Such rights include: the right to be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail the nature of the offence; the right to be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defense; the right to defend himself in person or by legal practitioner of his own choice; and the right to be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty.
The trial judge must also ensure compliance with the fundamental rights of the accused in Section 36 (6) of the constitution and there cannot be a fair trial, when any of the constitutional rights of the accused are violated.
With what has been happening in the CCT for the past few months, it is evident that Section 36(6) of the constitution has been bridged without fear or consideration of the law.
Furthermore, the constitution also states that the accused must be given adequate time and facilities to prepare his defense. In this area, the court should grant adjournment to the accused person either to obtain the service of a counsel where necessary or call a witness that will be material to his case.
During the last hearing at the CCT, Saraki’s legal team walked out of the court in protest of the CCT’s defiance of the case already filed at the Supreme Court which left the Senate President with the option of either defending himself or hiring new lawyers to defend him.
When he was asked how long he would need to get a new set of lawyers, he responded by saying one month. However, the counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, asked the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, to rule for one week which he did, and then Rotimi Jacobs checked his calendar and realized that the date will not favor him, he then went ahead to ask Justice Danladi Umar to rule for two weeks and just like a puppet, the CCT Chairman ruled as he was asked.
This was done to the amazement of all present in court and against the wishes and convenience of the accused. Are these not enough pointers to the fact that justice in Nigeria has taken a new turn for the worse?
With all this presented, it is clear that there is more than meets the eye in the cases against Dasuki, Akpabio, and Saraki. At this point, we must all pay attention, and we must all begin to ask about the other APC-stalwarts that have been accused of corruption.
Why is no one banging on Amaechi’s doors seeking his arrest at night? Why has Fashola not been invited in for questioning by the EFCC? Why is Fayemi sitting in the comfort of his own home — waiting to be sworn in as a Minister?
The official status and relationship ties of these perpetrators with The Presidency shields them from sanction, creating a culture of impunity in which the most inhumane corrupt acts can be carried out without fear of repercussions.
Everyone seems to be shutting the doors of justice against Bukola Saraki right now. Let us not forget the famous saying from Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Slowly, the three arms of government are beginning to lose their independence and the executive wants to take us back to dictatorship.
Now they have come for the Legislature and the Judiciary is not speaking out. Someday, when they come for the Judiciary, there may be no Legislature left to speak for them.
If we allow this current government to violate the rights of Saraki, Dasuki and Akpabio today, you do not know who it might be tomorrow.
Chima Chime is a Writer and

Soundbites on Saraki’s Trial at the CCT

by Tomisin Yakubu



Pound-for-pound and news-for-news, the Senate President has been in the news recently, owing to the fact that as the head of Nigeria’s legislature, he recently presided over the screening of 36 ministerial nominees submitted by the President, and appointed committee Chairmen to the standing committees of Nigeria’s Upper Legislative Chamber. However, his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has generated a lot of discussion in the public sphere.

Everywhere you turn these days, everyone who is anyone seems to have something to say about Saraki and his trial at the CCT...

 

Legal Experts on Saraki’s Case at the CCT

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, on the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Saraki’s case against the CCT:



“I will go with the dissenting voice. Although, I am yet to see the full judgement to be able to give an informed opinion, I will go with the dissenting voice.”



Justice Joseph Ekanem, the dissenting opinion in Saraki’s Court of Appeal case against the CCT, nullified the CCT’s charge against the Senate President on the grounds that there was no evidence before the court that as Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, M.S. Hassan, has the authority of either the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) or the Solicitor General of the Federation to file charges at the Code of Conduct Bureau. Ekanem ruling on the Senate President’s case said:



“Where a word is not ambiguous and it is plain and clear as in this case that the proceeding was initiated by Hassan, it should not be difficult to arrive at a conclusion that Section 24 of the CCB and Tribunal Act 2004 had been breached by the said M.S Hassan". – ThisDay, 31st October, 2015

 

Politicians on Saraki’s Case at the CCT

Deputy Leader of the Senate, Ibn Na’Allah, commenting on Saraki’s case had this to say:



“You see, it is a matter of belief and I am going to tell you in very clear language. The belief of the 8th Senate and substantial number of the senators is that the trial of the President of the Senate is persecution rather than prosecution. If it is persecution, we believe that we have a responsibility to stand by him. But if it is prosecution, every senator of the federal republic believes and rightly so, that this government must be given all the necessary assistance it requires to fight corruption.” – Guardian, 6th November, 2015

Comrade Shehu Sani, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, and the Senator representing Kaduna Central (APC) in the 8th National Assembly, commented on the CCT trial of the Senate President saying:

“Saraki is a guinea pig of a conflict of ambition whereby if he wasn’t a senate president, he couldn’t have been in this spot light. And if he is not a threat in the future, he wouldn’t be passing through what he is passing through now... there are puppeteers who feel that pinning him down to a case of corruption will discredit him, will keep him busy and make him unsellable for the future.” – Today.ng, 30th October, 2015



George Sekibo, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, and the Senator representing Rivers East (PDP) in the 8th National Assembly, had this to say on Saraki’s trial:



“The Code of Conduct case is against an individual and not APC. We gave [Saraki] our support in the spirit of espirit de corps.” – TheCable.ng, 30th October, 2015



Additionally, Gershom Bassey, the PDP Senator representing Cross River South in the 8th National Assembly, and the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum, said:



“We have had two votes of confidence on [Saraki] and they stand. He has the confidence of the Senate and there is absolutely no problem.” – TheCable.ng, 30th October, 2015



Meanwhile, the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, and the Senator representing Sokoto North in the 8th National Assembly, Aliyu Wamakko, commented on Saraki’s trial saying that “faceless groups outside the National Assembly” are orchestrating the attempted removal of the Senate President using the CCT. Wamakko further stated that:



“Majority of senators weeks ago passed a vote of confidence in Saraki because they were convinced that his style of leadership has been broad and progress-inclined. Nothing has changed. Majority of our colleagues still believe that Saraki remains a stabilising factor in the Senate for now.” –Naij.com, October 2015

 

Also speaking on the Senate President’s case, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, following a House Resolution seeking an end to the politically-motivated trial of the Senate President at the CCT, said:



“The little I understand is that there is an issue involving the Senate President. That has nothing to do with the APC. That has to do with the issue of law and I am sure the Senate President is being represented and he will have his day in court.” – Leadership Newspaper, 23rd October, 2015

 

Additionally, the APC Youth Forum (APYF), the youth wing of the ruling party, in a statement credited to three members of its National Working Committee, urged Nigerian institutions to push for the rule of law in Saraki’s case, and commended the Senate President for submitting himself to the law:



“Dr. Saraki has demonstrated by his actions that truly he is committed to the APC ideals of nation-building, the furtherance of the rule of law, and competent governance. By subjecting himself to the judicial process as the Number 3 citizen of the country, the Senate President’s actions have revealed that he has nothing to hide.” – Vanguard, 19th October, 2015.

 



 -Tomisin Yakubu is a freelance writer and journalism student. Contact her at tomi.yakubu@gmail.com -

Saraki’s trial is persecution rather than prosecution — APC senator

Leadership of the Senate on Friday said that it shut down activities on Thursday in solidarity with its President, Bukola Saraki, because of circumstances surrounding his ongoing assets declaration trial.
Deputy Leader of the Senate, Ibn Na’Allah, in an interview in Abuja that the senate believed that rather than prosecution, Saraki was being persecuted, hence the level of solidarity from the lawmakers.
According to Na’Allah, majority of the senators believe that the trial of the president of the senate by the Code of Conduct Tribunal is in no way a prosecution.

“You see, it is a matter of belief and I am going to tell you in very clear language.
“The belief of the 8th Senate and substantial number of the senators is that the trial of the President of the Senate is persecution rather than prosecution.
“If it is persecution, we believe that we have a responsibility to stand by him.
“But if it is prosecution, every senator of the federal republic believes and rightly so, that this government must be given all the necessary assistance it requires to fight corruption,’’ he said.
He argued that Saraki’s trial for alleged offences he committed 13 years ago was more of a political move than a legal or anti-corruption matter.
Maintaining that the senators felt that Saraki was on political trial, Na’Allah said that all the senators could not be wrong at the same time.
“Let me be honest with you; from the little that I know, the senate sees the trial as more of a political trial than a trial intended specifically for the purpose for which it should be done.
“It may be wrong, it may be right, but the circumstances of the trial and for the reason that the subject matter of the trial occurred about 12 or 13 years ago, you cannot fault the senators if they come to that conclusion.
“I am not so sure that you can say that the substantial number of people who believe that this trial is wrong can, at the same time, be said to be wrong.
“We keep on hoping that those who want to assist this government honestly and sincerely will see the wisdom in portraying this government in the best tradition of democratic society,” he said.
The senate leader, however, said that he was sure that President Muhammadu Buhari meant well for Nigeria, with the intention of shifting from culture of impunity to that of adherence to the rule of law.
He decried that Nigerians, most times, did not like to hear the truth on issues, and would label somebody as ‘’bad’’ no matter how many times the person testified to his innocence.
“It is in the overall interest of everyone who loves this country to assist this government in doing everything in accordance with the dictates of our Constitution,” he said.
He urged Nigerian to desist from the habit of always treating actions of people in authority with suspicion, adding that citizens must also learn to speak well of the country in every circumstance.
“We must, as citizens of this country, decide whether we will hang ourselves on the landing of unquestionable acts or we imitate our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.
‘’These are people who have seen good in themselves, in their leaders and in their country, and who have become patriots of their nations rather than patriots of myopic thinking,” he said.
Thursday’s suspension of plenary over Saraki’s assets declaration trial was the third time the senators shunned sitting over the matter.

#MINISTERIALSCREENING: What Saraki taught the nation

By AdeDemolaAdeyeye
The Screening of Ministerial Nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to the upper chamber of the National Assembly has come and gone but therein lies important lessons from the entire process.
The names of the 36 individuals came in two batches through the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, to the Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Several pundits have spoken about the rather professional way the Senate President led the screening processes. Frankly, Senate President Bukola Saraki took the bulls by the horn, personally and intelligently asked the nominees salient questions, made sure both the Senators and the nominees were adequately protected against any bullying and ensured proper decorum throughout the course of the screening.
This simple gesture has made his name written in gold with commendations pouring in from different quarters on the mature and proficient way he handled the screening. Many Nigerians are indeed pleasantly surprised at his dexterity as Chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole being without any blemish.
Furthermore, the Senate tried as much as possible to reduce the usual practice of bow and go. Personally, I stand against the crass practice that has pervaded our legislative space for a number of tenures as bow and go remains largely unproductive as prospective ministers who were supposed to be grilled in order to understand their strengths and weaknesses are summarily passed even without saying a word.
The 8th Senate though not entirely, did take its time to engage the nominees but not without a lot of room for improvement. Nigerians do not care if a Senator was the father of the day at your son’s traditional marriage, nor care about the number of grandchildren a ministerial nominee has when our security, economy and educational sectors are in need of a dire revamp.
It would also not be out of place to ensure the Federal Capital Territory has a Nominee in the Federal Executive Council just as other States do.
The extent to which the screening was open also remains a major plus. The Office of the Senate President allowed several bloggers, online magazines and media personalities as well as the terrestrial TV and Radio Stations unfettered access to the entire screening.
The Senates Official Twitter handle @NGRSenate gave real time information as the screening went underway just as viewers worldwide watched LIVE online just as several distinguished senators sourced questions from their constituents online.

These developments speak volumes of the extent of transparency we should look forward to henceforth from the Senate as the expectations of the citizenry regarding the functionalities of the National Assembly further increase.
The Screening also made Nigerians see their representatives in the Red Chamber sitting for between 6 to 8 hours daily in the spirit of national urgency to conclude the screening and subsequent confirmation in due time. It was also noticeable that the Senate did not allow this to affect its entire normal legislative functions as the presentation of not less than 30 Bills were presented for first reading within this period and debates still held on the Motion on the Apapa Gridlock by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) which was overwhelmingly supported by almost all Senators across party divides as well as the Motion on theN64Billion Over-bloated Contract of the Second Runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja brought by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
Oversight responsibilities continued as the Ad-Hoc Committees on Power, Aviation and Import Waivers were having meetings just as official condolence visits paid to the Awolowo, Onosode and Alamieyeseigha Families.
One must not but also commend the intermediary in between the executive and legislative arms, the SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang as he was visible throughout the screening mediating between the senators and the nominees.
He served his role quietly but with great vigour and determination even with the opposition senators on the management of petitions against the ministerial nominees. Information within the National Assembly say that there were more petitions filed against nominees than were actually presented on the Senate Floor but since the Senators concerned from the State of Origin of the Nominee did not lay it before the Senate and its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), they were as good as no petition.
For one, the screening showed the depth of our legislators on issues of national concerns from tax to tourism, education to the petroleum industry, environment, science, technology, the girl-child development to finance, health, investment, foreign policy and religious matters.
The screening was also an avenue for the Nigerian electorate to decipher the chaff and the wheat in the Senate. The Female Senators also had a good showing and were apt in their questions and contributions.
The Screening also saw its climax and the anti–climax with several quotable quotes that will stay for a very long in the Nigerian public’s consciousness.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, came with the much-revered line: “May our Loyalty never be tested.” In a similar light, APC Spokesperson, Lai Mohammed coined the phrase: “It is service to serve in opposition, but higher service to serve in the Government.”
The crescendo of the entire proceedings was the screening and confirmation of the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The Minority in the Senate, led by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which had taken a hard-line stance by not asking Amaechi any questions while he was being interviewed and screened, decided to stage a walkout during Amaechi’s confirmation in disagreement to the decision of the Senate Leadership. The very fact that the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is equally of PDP extraction did not walkout with his colleagues however tells a different story.
Nonetheless, moving forwards it is with the greatest of hopes that many Nigerians believe that the Senate will continue to have it’s A-game in play in the course of legislation on other matters of national importance. Motions and bills need to be speedily but thoroughly debated even as the National Assembly expects the 2016 Draft Budget from the Executive Arm of the Government.
The Legislature under the current political dispensation and leadership has indeed become better, deserves commendation but it can still up its ante towards the best.
-‘Demola Adeyeye loves the Legislature and tweets via @AAAdeyeye

Jude Ndukwe: The trial of Bukola Saraki’s loyalty
Loyalty is a key ingredient in power. It is an ingredient that requires believers in a cause, institution or person to stay true to the cause at all times by thinking, talking, walking and working for the realisation and promotion of the cause, institution or person.

It is easy to remain loyal as long as there is absence of friction and clash of interests. However, situations can arise and circumstances can develop that might lead to the testing of one’s loyalty at any point in time.

When such occasion arises, the position one takes goes a long way in determining whether the person being tested is loyal or not. So, in the test of loyalty, one is usually torn between two extremely burdensome decisions: to remain true to one’s principles and beliefs which would eventually advance the cause of the whole or to blindly follow the whole even when one knows that the road being followed could eventually plunge the whole group into perdition.

Loyalty is not to follow blindly, loyalty is to stand out and take decisions that help the whole even when it seems incorrect to others initially. With time one’s position would eventually come to be appreciated. It is like that everywhere. Many leaders have been reviled and mortified even by their own people only for them to be canonised later and the cause for which they were denigrated beatified.

It is in light of this that one must commend the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for the way he handled the recently concluded ministerial screening by the Senate.

Despite the diverse powerful interests that piled pressure on him, the Senate President seemed to have applied uncommon wisdom in handling the screening to the admiration of a majority of Nigerians. Surely, it was not an easy task, nor could it have been for anybody, yet, he successfully concluded the exercise admirably.

Having emerged Senate President despite opposition from some leaders of his ruling party, and enjoying the overwhelming support of the opposition PDP senators, Saraki has since been and remained in the eye of the storm.

To punish him for his “sin”, he was immediately dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for various offences. His trial, no doubt, has been conducted with palpable vindictiveness, vendetta and an atmosphere devoid of judicial sanity.

Although the APC continues to deny it, everyone has come to the inevitable conclusion of what everybody knows but only few are bold enough to say it: Saraki is being persecuted for emerging the Senate President. Simple!

One of the arguments against him was that he was not going to be loyal and that having emerged president of the Senate with the full support of opposition PDP Senators, he would work to frustrate the government of president Buhari and be an impediment to the implementation of the party’s manifesto.

No one would blame the ruling party for entertaining such fears really. It is their right to do so, but with events of recent days, it is obvious that Saraki would not jettison the programme or manifesto of the party on whose platform he rose to the height he occupies today.

The recent ministerial screening was the biggest test of his loyalty to both President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Having suffered extreme humiliation, harassment and embarrassment at the CCT trial, one would have thought that Saraki, just like any other person, would pull all the plugs in his power to fight back especially when he knew that no singular party could muster enough numerical strength to get him impeached.

One would have expected him to deliberately set in motion processes that would either embarrass some of the president’s ministerial nominees or cause their outright rejection by the Senate. And just with a hit of the gavel, Saraki could easily have had his way.

But rather than seek vengeance, Saraki proved an extremely loyal party man by not only ensuring that all the nominees were cleared, he also shielded the nominees from embarrassment that could have arisen from the opposition senators.

A clear but equally contentious case in sight was the case of former governor Rotimi Amaechi against whom the PDP senators came all out to stop his confirmation. Risking flaks from the vociferous PDP senators, Saraki went as far as ensuring that the report of the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee which obviously had indicted Amaechi was not tabled for debate before he could be screened.

Allowing that report to be tabled for debate would have sounded a definite death knell on President Buhari’s favourite nominee. Saraki tactfully prevented that from happening to the chagrin and consternation of the PDP senators who staged a walk out immediately in protest.

What else can a party ask from its Senate President? The reason another candidate might have been preferred was because the party wanted loyal party men to occupy such positions for them. This, Saraki has shown he can do in abundance, both for them and for Nigerians.

Having stabilised the Senate since its inauguration in the current dispensation, especially after the storms that followed, it would be absolutely unwise for the party to keep thinking of upsetting the apple cart.

With the number of opposition members in the senate, it would be better for the party to allow Saraki some peace as he has been able to win the trust and understanding of a majority of his fellow APC senators and enjoy the camaraderie of PDP senators.

For APC to succeed with matters that need two third majority of the senate to scale through, they need a man who already has the capacity to pull this through, and with the benefit of hindsight, that man is Dr Bukola Saraki. He is not going to prove it, he has already proven it.

To continue to persecute him will amount to being politically naive and unnecessarily bellicose. And to think that replacing him as Senate President would lead to a stable Senate needed to support the president and the party would amount to living in a fool’s paradise.

The reason for Fashola’s prayer never to have his loyalty tested is that no one can actually predict his reaction when his loyalty is tested except the one who has actually been tested.

Saraki’s loyalty has been severely and severally tested, and on all occasions, he has proved himself a loyal party man, a patriotic Nigerian and a mild-tempered Senate President who will not allow his personal interests to influence his official functions or decisions.

The saint one has come to know is better than the angel one does not know. An Igbo proverb says that when sleep becomes enjoyable, we snore. Let Saraki be. Let the Senate function. Let Nigeria work, so that we can all keep snoring. To do otherwise is to turn our sleep into a nightmare!



Jude Ndukwe can be reached on jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk and on Twitter: @stjudendukwe

PDP SENATORS PASS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON SENATE PRESIDENT

Some senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party have restated their confidence in the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in spite of the disagreement over Rotimi Amaechi’s confirmation as minister on Thursday.

The senators, who are members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said they would also continue to support Saraki as he faced his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

One of them, Gershom Bassey, said that there was no rift between the senators of the PDP and their All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts in the red chamber, adding that the PDP senators still had confidence in Saraki’s leadership.

Bassey said that the senators may disagree on issues, but that such disagreements were healthy for legislation.


“We have had two votes of confidence on him and they stand. He has the confidence of the senate and there is absolutely no problem. In spite of the disagreement between the APC and PDP senators, nothing has changed. In democracy, people must have different points of view and we must express those points of view.

“The senate is a vibrant senate that has a lot of vibrant debates; the Senate is not a football team that we all have to play in the same direction,’’ he said.

According to him, in the senate, we can play in different directions and still score the goal; I think the more debate there is in the senate, the more vibrant it is.

“We must continue to discus different points of view; it is important that we have different points of view, but that does not mean we are enemies,’’ Bassey said.

He revealed that the major disagreement was not the petition against Amaechi, but the move by APC senators to flout the rules of the senate and confirm the nominee without considering the report on him.

He said that PDP senators did not see any reason for the rush to confirm Amaechi, adding that PDP would never be part of any move to disobey the rules of the senate in favour of anyone.

On his part, Sen. George Sekibo (PDP Rivers East) said that PDP members at the upper chamber walked out to protest the refusal of the senate to discuss a committee’s report on Amaechi, insisting that they would not go back on the decision.

Sekibo, who submitted the petition against Amaechi to the senate shortly after the former governor was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari for ministerial appointment, said that PDP senators had made their position known.

According to him, it is now left for Nigerians to know what to do.

On Saraki’s assets declaration trial, he maintained that PDP senators were solidly behind him.

“The Code of Conduct case is against an individual and not APC. We gave him our support in the spirit of esprit de corps. As far as senators are concerned, what happened yesterday has passed; we are not working for political parties, but for the entire nation.

“When the time comes to express the wish of your people, you do that and that is what we did yesterday. We didn’t get it, so we let it go so that the country can move forward; we cannot hold the country to ransom,” he said.

OPINION: EFCC & CCT: ROTIMI JACOBS AND DAN LADI UMAR: PAWNS IN THE GAME OF THRONES?

To survive in the game of thrones, you’d constantly have to up your game but failure to do so means that your adversaries takes the centre stage, while you languish in the pecking order as seen in the original battle among the characters from the American medieval fantasy television series.

For Rotimi Jacobs, in the last 5years or so, his career path has been focused more on putting food on his table than exhibiting the tenets of a true professional legal luminary highly demanded of his job. As the Chief Counsel to the Lamorde led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission- Rotimi Jacobs has mastered the art of negotiating corruption cases on behalf of his masters: especially when such cases implicates his boss at the EFCC or a highly placed Nigerian is involved.

There couldn’t have been a better man for the hatchet job, the mirage of cases of alleged corruption investigated by the agency has left Nigerians more disappointed than ever; as those cases are either inconclusive and die a natural death or a u-turn is made to acquit  the suspect of any wrong doing.

We’ve witnessed many of such perfidy from the former Governor of Bayelsa State – Timpre Silva to Murtala Nyako to mention a few.
Obviously, some animals are more equal than others, the EFCC drum is only beaten whenever they seek to embarrass or punish a transgressor that does not conform to their crooked ways.

Rotimi Jacob’s antecedent has not gone unnoticed his highhandedness in handling high profile cases has reduced him to pawn in the fast emerging game of thrones. In 2015, Mr Lamorde was heavily criticised by Chief Edwin Clark for his handling of the interim order by the court to forfeit to the Federal Government Ibori’s $15m received by the EFCC from one of Ibori’s agent as bribe to compromise its investigation.
Rotimi Jacobs in an attempt to distract the court and defend his principal prevailed on the court to pay utmost attention to Edwin Clarke’s statement criticising the EFCC rather than the actual allegations before it.

Similarly, In a December 02, 2011 letter EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 (8 financial years) was  N1,326,754,554,482:80. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 Trillion recovered was remitted to. EFCC’s claim that it did not recover up to a Trillion is complete false. Mr Goerge Uboh’s exposé on the EFCC further revealed that Mr Lamorde and the agency counsel Rotimi Jacobs may have deliberately distorted the records at Efcc on recovered funds running into billions of naira for their personal gains.

In EFCC’s “SUMMARY OF EFCC MONETARY RECOVERIES 2003-MARCH, 2013” (11 financial years), EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries for eleven financial years is N497,385,427,485:63; EFCC did not mention where the N497.3 Billion recovered was remitted to.

Now that the Federal Government has ordered the probe of the agency, it will only make sense for the Independent Corrupt Practices (ICPC) to probe the alleged fund mismanagement rather the Efcc and his manipulative barrister of law – Rotimi Jacobs.

In a related competitive game of rent seeking as a major pawn to thwart justice where it is deserved, Dan Ladi Umar is fast climbing up the ladder and teaming up with his partner in crime Rotimi Jacobs to bring disrepute to our once revered judicial system. The many manipulative games of the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s attempt to independently determine and serve out judgement on the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki may have exposed their shoddy dealings of tampering with the justice system that encourages due process.
The Code of Conduct Bureau Chairman, Dan Ladi Umar is currently on an administrative bail with the EFCC on several cases of corruption charges. The EFCC and CCB has united to fight a common enemy in the person of Bukola Saraki who is undergoing trial for alleged false asset declaration being sponsored by one of the South West APC chieftain and a Northern governor. It makes arithmetic sense, that while the Senate is seeking for accountability from the EFCC  based on a petition submitted by a tax payer, the agency in retaliation summoned Saraki’s wife for questioning while the rest of the case file ended up at Dan Ladi Umar’s desk to prosecute Saraki for an event that was lasted visited in 2003.
It is noteworthy that Rotimi Jacobs has always been the preferred counsel to the EFCC on corruption cases involving brazenly corrupt ex-governors, there are a few pointers of “deal negotiations” that puts Mr Jacobs at variance with the efcc creed as regard handling of corrupt cases. It is an established fact that the EFCC is indebted to the federal government in tune of N1trillion non remittance to the federation account recovered by the agency, also, its counsel Mr Rotimi Jacobs is to be investigated for his role in deal “brokering” for corrupt officials while the CCB Chair, Dan Ladi Umar has cases to answer on bribe taking and financial misappropriation.

The question then is, who will probe the Efcc, Rotimi Jacobs and Dan Ladi Umar? These pawns activities deserved to be looked into by an independent panel of inquiry if our broken demeanour justice system is to be reformed in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

Written by Kuddi Haastrup, from Baltimore Maryland

Saraki Urges Ooni-elect to Work for National Unity
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday congratulated the newly selected Ooni of Ife-designate, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and advised him to concentrate on further solidifying the role of the Yoruba people in national unity.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, wished the Ooni-elect a long and peaceful reign, sound health and many years of service to his people.
According to the Senate President, the Ooni-elect has so many things in common with the immediate past Ooni, which include but not limited to being widely travelled, exposed, versatile, well-informed and somebody devoted to community service.
He noted that the appointment of Prince Ogunwusi could not have come at a better time.
Saraki said: "I am particularly delighted that the approval of your appointment by the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, came at a time when the youthful zest, experience, and knowledge of global best practices, which you possess in abundance are needed to move the traditional institution and most especially, the revered throne of the Ife Kingdom, to the next level.
"I have no doubt that your present assignment would greatly enhance the bond of unity that exists among the Yorubas as well as contribute immensely to the growth and development of our dear country."
The Senate President assured the new monarch that the Senate, under his leadership, will continue to hold the traditional institution in high esteem, considering the role they play in ensuring peaceful coexistence among the people, promotion of worthy cultural values in the society and sustenance of national traditions.
He encouraged Oba-elect Ogunwusi to sustain the harmonious relationship between his subjects and other kingdoms around his domain as a way of building on the impeccable legacies of the late Oba Okunade Sijuade of blessed memory.
The Senate President also enjoined the new Ooni of Ife not to see his ascension to the throne of his forefathers as a mere fulfillment of a life-long ambition but rather a divine opportunity to use his vast knowledge and royal wisdom to positively improve on the wellbeing and living standard of his immediate subjects as well as uplifting the glory of the Yoruba race across the continent.
Saraki prayed that the legacy of peace, harmony, prosperity and steadfast progress which the Ife Kingdom has witnessed so far will endure and improve tremendously under Oba Ogunwusi.
He however tasked the new Ooni of Ife Kingdom to continue to maintain the high sense of patriotism, unassailable piety and sterling leadership qualities which he is reputed for.
Saraki said: "May your ascension to the throne of your forebears mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity, peace, development and progress for your immediate subjects, the Yoruba race and the entire nation. It is my prayer that the people of Ife and the entire Yorubaland would find in you a rallying point for unity, peace and progress just like they did during the time of your predecessors."
Signed:
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President of the Senate

SENATE PRESIDENT, DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI CONGRATULATES UNILORIN AT 40TH

Over the last few days, the University of Ilorin, one of Nigeria's most prestigious institutions of learning, has been celebrating her 40th year of academic excellence.
These past four decades have seen UNILORIN - as it is fondly called by all - journey from a new establishment with just (200) a handful of students in 1975; into an academic melting pot that has forged, formed, and planted fires in the minds of hundreds of thousands of students.

Needless to say, the contributions of UNILORIN's past students to the Nigerian project cannot be underestimated. UNILORIN should also be proud to have produced vibrant minds like my successor Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Professor Isiaq Oloyede (Immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University and present Secretary of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs), Professor Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah (Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University), Dr. Sarah Alade, (former acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria), Professor Charles Ayo (present Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University), among others.

Over the years, its vibrant Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Science, Law, Education and others have also demonstrated that UNILORIN will continue to be at the forefront of academic discovery and innovation in Nigeria, Africa, and very soon, the world.

Again, as I join all founding fathers, past and present administrative heads, students, staff, and Nigerians as a whole to celebrate the Better By Far University of Ilorin, I wish her many more years of vibrant and tremendous contributions to academia in Nigeria.


Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki
President of The Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Exclusive. The real reason why Senate postponed Plenary today.


Here is the fact "It is not that Senate deliberately shut it's door and refused to sit today because the trial of Senate President. What happened was that the APC (Party) leadership requested that it will be a disgrace if because of the trial of Saraki, the Senate is now presided over by Sen. IKE Ekweremadu, a PDP member. They asked the APC members of the Senate leadership to avoid a situation that will make Ekweremadu preside particularly at a critical time when ministers confirmation hearing is on-going. They argued that in 16 yrs of PDP dominance of NASS, no member of the opposition ever presided over the Senate. It is this request that made the Senate leadership to hurriedly meet and adjourned till Thursday".

If president Buhari is able to claim as part of his anti-corruption credentials that he allowed the prosecution of some one high up the food chain as the Senate President, that would be good for him. But it is equally good for him to be able to claim that he ensured that Justice is done and seen by all to have been done.  After all, by swearing to defend the constitution, he was swearing to protect the rights of all citizens as guaranteed by the constitution. If we contend that no citizen should be above the law no matter his status,  we must also insist that no citizen should be treated beneath the minimum standards set by the laws for equity and justice no matter their status.  If President Buhari intervened in the flagrant judicial lynching of Dr. Saraki,  he would neither be meddling nor doing anyone a favour;  he would simply be doing his job.

Appeal Court President arrests judgement in Saraki's case.


Judicial sources has confirmed that forces from Bourdillon, a Governor from one of the North west states and some elements in the Presidency had compelled the President of the Court of appeal, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to arrest the judgement in the case filed by Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki challenging his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal due to non compliance with the provision of the law, 30 minutes before the panel resumed sitting to deliver its judgement.


It will be recalled that two hours before the time slated for the commencement of the delivery of the judgement by the Court of Appeal, an online platform, Sahara Reporters, had started a game of blackmail on the judges as it reported in their story that "the Court of Appeal Abuja, have concluded plans to order a stop to the trial of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal ordering immediate discontinuation of Mr Saraki's trial".


Nigerian public home and abroad have been wondering whether the online platform got the hint of the content of the supposed judgement and therefore decided to preempt the outcome of the case.

It is curious and unusual that a panel of Judges of the Court of Appeal will fix a date for giving judgement and less than 30 minutes to the period, the Judges did not even show up to brief either the counsel in chamber or the court but only a court clerk sauntered into the court room to announce that the judgement has been postponed and the court will communicate a new date to the parties at a later day.

The court clerk then immediately drove Saraki's lawyer and other people out of the court room and locked the doors and windows.

Strangely, Mr. Rotimi Jacob SAN and other government lawyers did not turn up at all, leaving many to assume that they had foreknowledge of the way the events eventually turned out.

Highly placed sources in the judiciary confirmed that Justice Bulkachuwa is under extreme pressure not to allow any development that will jeopardize the plan to convict Saraki by all means at the CCT.

The source added that the President of the Court of Appeal may attempt to reassign the case to a more malleable panel of judges.

Many senior members of the bench described what happened in the Court of Appeal today as an aberration and a flagrant attempt to bring the judiciary to disrepute.

Some of them are of the opinion that Justice Bulkachuwa herself is under pressure from external forces whose brother bidding she would be inclined to do because of her on-going investigations for some past misdeeds.

"With what happened today, The President of the court of appeal may make desperate moves that we cannot immediately contemplate. Only God knows where this will end", a top retired judge said.

APC Youths Back Rule of Law, Commend Buhari, Saraki
In the run-up to an eventful week on the national stage, the All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) wishes to commend our leaders at the national level for being committed to the reformist ideals of our great party, the APC.
First and foremost, the APYF wishes to reiterate our commendation of President Muhammadu Buhari for the competence and content of character that his ministerial nominees have demonstrated thus far at the Senate confirmation screenings, and to congratulate him for the confirmation of 18 of the 36 nominees.
The APYF would also like to commend the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for the democratic example and precedent that he has set by presiding over a Senate confirmation process that has been devoid of political sentiments, and focused on issues-based governance. At a time when enemies of this administration of change were hoping that Dr. Saraki’s case at the Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal, would bridge a political wedge between the executive and the legislature, Dr. Saraki has demonstrated by his actions that truly he is committed to the APC ideals of nation-building, the furtherance of the rule of law, and competent governance.
Additionally, by subjecting himself to the judicial process as the Number 3 citizen of the country, the Senate President’s actions have revealed that he has absolute respect for the rule of law. Hence, in these times when the executive has shown a good example by allowing the nomination and confirmation of credible ministers without the perennial allegation of Ghana-Must-Go bags; and the legislature has followed suit by doing a thorough job devoid of political sentiments and needless controversy by separating politics from governance, the APYF is confident in the direction that Nigeria is heading. Consequently, the actions of the executive and the legislative branches in recent times now places the burden of our positively-evolving democratic cycle on the judiciary to ensure that the rule of the law is always upheld. Namely, judicial cases involving political office holders must be devoid of external political motivations.
The APYF therefore cautions our institutions and arms of government on this issue by saying that the benefit of the doubt must always be given to all accused persons. In the pursuit of a sustainable democracy, due process must always be followed. To fix Nigeria: justice must not only be done, justice should appear to have been done.

Senator Bukola Saraki And Bola Tinubu

Jude Ndukwe
The well publicised denial of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, APC’s godfather, kingmaker and supremo, of having anything to do with a purported conspiracy between him and the president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, against President Buhari for which the presidency was said to have placed the former governor of Lagos State under security watch, was laced with poison and betrayed the seething emotions of a man who is upset at the sailor of the ship he built but which has left him behind at shore without consideration that he is fast sliding into a lonely lurch.


The language with which Tinubu referred to Saraki in that denial was not only too strong but highly inappropriate for our country’s number three citizen. No matter what happened between Saraki and APC, it all boils down to politics and they are all politicians. There was nothing that happened that was outside the borders of politics; Saraki did not become Senate President through a coup de tat so why should he be described as a man of “crass act of disloyalty” just because his colleagues in the Senate found him worthy to be their primus inter pares?  The same APC laughed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to scorn when one of their main men, Aminu Tambuwal, gave the now opposition party the same treatment in becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives? Rather than engage him perpetually in childish expletives, the PDP still gave Tambuwal the environment to thrive as Speaker even though he was PDP on paper but APC in soul.

It is not Saraki that is Tinubu’s problem; Tinubu’s main problem is President Buhari who has carried on with his presidency with the mind of not falling prey to the whimsical dictates of any godfather or group of errant governors or elders who could hold him to ransom on any issue. President Buhari understands that if he must achieve the true change he preaches he must disconnect himself from capricious elements within his own party even it means offending those who invested heavily in his election. Such people will by all means include an over bearing godfather like Tinubu.

Buhari knows that Tinubu is only good enough as a vehicle to take him to the airport. When the time for the flight proper comes, those who will board the flight would then be separated from those who joined in the convoy of vehicles to the airport. Unfortunately for Tinubu and unbelievably to him, he is aghast that he is being asked to join the convoy back home while the president flies higher with his own chosen team. Truth is, such treatment would make any one lose his sense of decorum and bare his fangs at any available lesser mortal as a means of expending poisoned emotions.

Tinubu’s choice of words against Saraki in that statement exposed the festering and smelly sore of the psyche he is suffering from. Truth of the matter is that every word thrown at Saraki by Tinubu was actually meant for President Buhari who reportedly ignored Tinubu’s ministerial nominees coupled with the fact that earlier appointments not requiring the confirmation of Senate were also done in defiance of the godfather. Buhari is the real offender to Tinubu: he defied the party in choosing his aides and other very key officers of government.
President Buhari himself had said that he would rather work with those he trusted, those who had been with him since his days at the ANPP/CPC, who had gone through thick and thin with him over time than succumb to the dictates of any party stalwart or even the party leadership. The ministerial nominees also almost followed the same selection process, and, this, to Tinubu, is not the way to go. There are boys to settle, and there are investments to recoup through such boys, so the president doing things almost all alone does not suit Tinubu’s style of politics. Saraki’s offence was of lesser gravity.

The man did not appoint himself as Senate president; he was elected by his colleagues in the Senate so that even if he wanted to obey party directive on who should become senate president, his colleagues thought otherwise. It is exactly the same thing that played out in the House of Representatives where Yakubu Dogara emerged Speaker despite not being the party’s choice. Honourable members wanted him and they voted for him in defiance of what the party directed.


In this light, Saraki was a less offender to Tinubu than Buhari. But there is an African proverb that says when a slave cannot stand his master strength for strength he descends on his master’s favourite goat. Buhari has the instrumentality of state in his hands: he has the military, police, DSS, EFCC, ICPC etc. It would be suicidal to confront such a man in our clime no matter how frustrated one feels. And since someone must bear the brunt of his frustration, Saraki has become the object of Tinubu’s venom spewed without class, and unrestrainedly too.

It is in light of the above that one feels compelled to commend Saraki for deciding not to join issues with a man like Tinubu since one understands why he is talking and acting the way he is doing. The number of PDP defectors to APC is legion. In fact, without these defectors, APC would be nowhere near power today. For Tinubu to have singled out the Senate president for a needless tirade shows how ungrateful he is to those PDP defectors who helped APC climb to power irrespective of their disagreements today.
Wisdom dictates that the number three citizen of the country should be embraced by all and sundry rather than be disgraced while he faces the charges against him at the CCT in an atmosphere devoid of hate and vendetta.

So, when next Tinubu finds it extremely needful to attack the Senate President, he should choose his words carefully and not address the number three citizen of our great country in manners only fit for garrulous and discourteous urchins as the younger ones are watching.
When mother cow chews grass, the younger ones watch its mouth. Saraki is the senate president and that office deserves all the respect the occupant can get from all citizens no matter how powerful, highly placed, wealthy or influential anyone is.
––Ndukwe writes from Abuja jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk  Twitter: stjudendukwe

BETWEEN BUKOLA SARAKI AND BABAJIDE OMOWORARE: IMPLEMENTING SENATE’S E – PARLIAMENT.

Recently, the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki officially inaugurated the Senator Babajide Omoworare representing Osun East Senatorial District at the Upper Chambers of the National Assembly as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, one of the most powerful committees of the legislature as its responsibilities being the ‘engine room’ or ‘power house’ of the Senate involves the scheduling of the day to day order of motions, bills and other matters of/for legislative deliberations and debate on the floor.

Without any doubt, this as well as other committee appointments made by the Senate President since his assumption of office seem to be a case of precisely round pegs in round holes. Visibly, the choice of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as head of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges and Senator Ibrahim Gobir as chairman of the Committee on Senate Services are pointers. They are indeed without the least political sentiments but rather speak volumes about the confidence in the competence and ability of these distinguished personalities.

The young vibrant lawyer and legislator, Babajide Christopher Omoworare known within the ranks of senators as the ‘APC Attacker’ due to his strengths in marshalling his arguments during debates while he and his party, the All Progressives Congress served in opposition in the course of the 7th Assembly, is indeed qualified for this position as his legislative experience spans wide having served as an honourable member and subsequently Majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2007, head of the African Bureau for Legislative Empowerment and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character of the 7th Senate under the astute leadership of the late Senator Dawisu Kuta as Chairman.

The new responsibilities of the smart chubby senator is one in which a lot of other senators have to lobby him to include their motions and bills in the Legislative Order Paper and Notice Paper. Personally, I am not surprised at the fact that the committee he leads alongside the Leader of the House, Senate Ali Ndume as Vice Chairman and Senators Uche Ekwunife, Kabir Marafa Garba, Joshua Lidani, Barnabas Gemade, David Umaru, and Clifford Ordia as members have taken on the challenge of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to move the 8th Senate towards E - Parliament.

Reports are rife within the Red Chambers that the Osun East Senator didn’t lobby for the Committee but only found himself as Rules and Business Committee Chairman based on the Senate Leadership’s belief in him as the one with the capacity and capability to see its lofty agenda through. This comes with an advantage; he comes into the chairmanship position with the ears and commitments of the Senate President as well as a free hand to do the right things which might include stepping on a few toes in order to succeed in the assignment.

please watch screening of Ministerial nominees live online www.nass.gov.ng/live

Response to Bola Ahmed Tinubu

I saw the statement said to be issued by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a story published by The Sun newspapers. I have decided not to join issues with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, I know that most Nigerians are aware that there has been no meeting or communication between me and Asiwaju Tinubu since I was elected Senate President. Therefore, I do not see any basis for a newspaper to report that we are both plotting to oppose the President.

I recognise Tinubu as one of the leaders of the APC who contributed so much to the victory of the party in the last election. Some other people also contributed and I believe the collective efforts made it possible for the first time in the history of our party for an opposition party to win the general elections,

Let me state clearly that I remain a committed member of the APC and will do all in my power to ensure the party fulfill its promises to bring positive changes into the country.

Since my election as Senate President, my focus and efforts have been devoted to doing the job that I was elected to do by my constituents and my colleagues in the Senate. Twice, my colleagues have confirmed their support for me as the primus inter pares in the Senate.

As I said in my speech when we resumed from our recess late September and in Ikenne yesterday, the screening of ministerial nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the constitution. We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria. The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or not.

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki CON
President Of The Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria

#Opennass: Senate To LiveStream Ministerial Screening

On Saturday, the 10th of October, 2015, the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria announced that the screening and confirmation process of the first batch of ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve in his cabinet shall be streamed live on the National Assembly website.

Additionally, on Friday, the Senate through its official Twitter account @NGRSenate, has also announced that the general public would be able to send in questions they would like to ask nominees by forwarding same to their Senators using the hashtag: #MinisterialScreening. All questions must be received before 5pm on Monday.

The @NGRSenate Twitter handle will also be providing live tweets throughout the screening process.

Nigerians would recall that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, took office amidst a pledge to reform the Senate and make its processes more transparent, inclusive and visible by employing e-Parliamentary technology in the Upper Chambers. Since then, the Senate President has tasked the Committee on Rules and Business to develop an e-Parliamentary system that can be employed at Senate Plenary sessions.

The screening will create an avenue for Nigerians from all works of life to partake in governance, as the bridge between representatives and constituents will be bridged; with Senators asking questions sourced from Nigerians on Social Media. Additionally, the submitted resumes of candidates will be made available in the public space for Nigerians to examine.

Bloggers and news organizations that are interested in Live Blogging or Live Tweeting, or those interested in plugging into the livestreaming of the Ministerial screening are asked to contact the New Media Office of the Senate President for entry passes to the National Assembly, and the Senate gallery. All requests must be submitted by 5pm on Monday.

President Muhammed Buhari yesterday met with Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, art Honorable Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was also present in the closed door meeting which held in the presidential villa and lasted for about two hours.

Saraki is his reaction on his social media page said the meeting signifies a good working relationship between executive and legislative arms of Nigeria's Federal Government which is a necessity for National development. Additionally, the meeting demonstrates that the nation is working.

Pictures available on www.facebook.com/bukola.saraki

As Bukola Saraki Unveils #TheList, What Should Be Paramount?

By: Makinde Smith

 

In the critical expectation of a magician government that will erase the miserable memory of Good Luck Jonathan from the people’s mind possibly in just a night, Nigerians are anxiously expecting the Ministerial appointees that will join the cabinet to assist President Muhammadu Buhari in bringing their dreams alive. For the past four months, citizens have eagerly been waiting for this day. If not for the overwhelming goodwill enjoyed by President Buhari in fact, a lot of turmoil would have emanated from the delayed process of the cabinet formation. Nevertheless, today, October 6th, 2015, is the day that #TheList submitted by the Presidency to the Senate on the eve of September 30th will see the light of the day. Hurray!

 

As we can all say that President Buhari has done all within his power to propose a set of ‘quintessential’ individuals to the Senate, we can also affirm the fact that Saraki isn’t meant to read the list alone, he has the power to influence who scales through, or not, among the nominees. Therefore, Saraki doesn’t only preside on the official declaration of the process; he largely presides on both the official and political passageways of the screening. The point of concern here is the boiling state of disagreement between the Senate President and some power holders of the ruling party. Saraki in his pursuit of efficient “Open NASS,” had promised a swift-but-thorough scrutiny of all nominees. Should any unexpected name, especially stalwarts of his opposing powers surface before the Senate? Then the hypothesis that Nigerians will have to exercise more-elongated patience would be very much correct.

 

In all sincerity, Nigeria is no more static like before. But to be completely frank with ourselves, the politics behind the screen is seriously horrible. What worries us as citizens is that we supported and voted for ‘change’, not by mistake in anyways, but by deep conviction and a renewed hope that our country would assume a practical turning point where democracy will eventually turn out as government of the people. However, with all the ready-made fractures in the APC through the battles and unending acrimonies confronting the Senate, hopes are shaking. What happened to the PDP under the watch of Janathan, I mean how the party warriors started creating its gradual wind-up by their purported clash of supremacy, has also started happening in the APC, much more early. Personally, I’m no way surprised because I never expected much difference from the APC. But the irreparable damages that the masses will be made to suffer once again are the cause of my fear.

 

Today, what happens if the list is read to the Senators? Nothing of course! Because if truly the nominees are yet unknown to anybody until that moment, then another round of power tussle is about to commence. Everyone wants his loyalist to make the high-rated Buhari cabinet, with many suggestions made to the President already. Assuming they have been taken into consideration and it’s just the Senate hook to be surmounted, should anything contravene the so-called “party interest” again? Then masses should kill all other expectations and be looking forward to a re-enforced CCB case or another EFCC invitation for the Senate President. Honestly, all these are likely to occur especially when credence is lent to the widespread rumour that Saraki was dragged to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) typically by some cabals who doesn’t want him on the seat of the Senate President, not to talk of their preferred candidates appearing before him for screening.

 

Dear brethren, things cannot continue this way. Political parties play very significant roles in democracy and governance. Their decisions, to a larger extent, inform the actions of the leaders. The winning unity, decorum and passion exhibited by the APC during the pre-election period are more needed now in order not to jeopardize the goals of the party and cause a derail for the government.

 

As Saraki uncovers the mask of the list today, Nigerians look forward to a well-stabilized government that will move swiftly to solve all economic and social problems pulling down the walls of this country. Complete priority should be given to productive governance and not counter-attacks by politicians that yield no positive result on the part of the masses.

 

Let the Senate begin the screening in a fair-enough mode that will not hold Nigerians in another set of ransom.

Saraki Condemns Abuja Bomb Blasts, Advocates Increased Intelligence Gathering
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday condemned the bomb explosions in the satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kuje and Nyanya, while calling on Security agencies to step up intelligence gathering activities.
Saraki in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, urged Nigerians not to panic, as the renewed attacks are signs that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
He commended the security agencies for their quick response to the incidents in Nyanya and Kuje, especially the prompt evacuation of both the dead and injured to medical facilities where they are receiving needed for medical attention.
He however urged the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the peace that has returned to the Federal Capital Tertiary (FCT) and its environs is not only sustained but improved upon.
"To maintain peace, we need to step up the intelligence gathering machinery and get ordinary people to give useful information on suspicious movements by individuals, groups or even unexplainable location of objects and structures. This war against insurgency is one that all of us must co-operate with and support the military", Saraki stated.
He also called on Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and making critical intelligence available to security forces, to aid them in their final onslaught against insurgency in the North-East and other affected parts of the country.
The Senate President commiserated with the families of victims of the explosions and wished those hospitalized speedy recovery.
He said: "We are definitely seeing the last days of these misguided elements. The resort to soft targets as their new mode of attack is a clear indication that there is tremendous heat on the insurgents from our gallant security forces who have vowed to vanquish these outlaws within the shortest possible time", he stated.
Saraki added that the Senate would continue to support the troops with appropriate legislations and necessary budgetary allocations to enable them succeed in the task of effectively defending the territorial integrity of the country as well as assisting in the maintenance of internal security.
Signed:
Media Office of the Senate President

#photonews President Muhammadu Buhari, VP Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki & House of Reps Speaker Hon. Yukubu Dogara at the state house today. Happy Independence day Nigeria @55

Onosode's Death, A Colossal Loss - Saraki
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday likened the death of foremost technocrat and administrator, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode to the loss of a library, judging by his deep knowledge of Nigeria and her socio-economic development.
Senator Saraki, while condoling with the Onosode family, government and people of Delta State on the demise of Chief Onosode, said he was a man of many parts and one of the second generation of architects of the Nigerian nation.
He stated that the deceased served the nation in various capacities with excellence, diligence and dignity.
Saraki said: "As a civil servant, Onosode's success story is unquantifiable. His career spanned both the public and private sectors. He was very refined and dedicated to his duties.
"He lived his entire life serving humanity. I recall when he ventured into politics. He was a fine and complete gentleman whose contributions to nation building knows no bound," Saraki said.
The Senate President added: "Although, Nigeria has lost one of her finest technocrats and a thorough-bred administrator, we are consoled that the late Dr. Gamaliel Onosode lived an exemplary life. His antecedents speak volume and will no doubt stand the test of time."
The Senate President prayed for the soul of the departed to find rest in the bossom of the Almighty God and urged his family to take pride in the good name he left behind.
He said: "Death is an inevitable end for all humans. With his death, his family is faced with the enormous task of upholding his rich and sterling legacy so as to sustain his legendary attributes."
He further called on the government of Delta State to immortalize the deceased for his noble deeds.
Signed:
Media Office of the President of the Senate

Excerpt of Senate President's Speech

 
"Distinguished Senators, I believe you have all followed with keen interest, my trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. I shall avoid discussing the details of that case here for obvious reasons. But let me say it again, that I am ready and will submit myself to the entire judicial process as provided by law. Meanwhile, I wish to reiterate my remarks before the Tribunal, that I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the president of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this Chambers. But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate. This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals.
 
"The laws of Nigeria do not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President. And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution. This is why we must once again, commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for refusing to interfere in the election of the National Assembly leadership even in the face of enormous pressures on him to do so. He has proven quite concretely that he is indeed a born-again democrat. "
 
" I invite all of you to stand with me to defend this Senate and preserve its sanctity. Ultimately, our legacies would not be defined by how long we stay here and in whatever position; but by what we did with this great opportunity that our people have given us by the grace of Almighty God."
 
Please visit www.abubakarbukolasaraki.com to read the full speech

Diplomatic community worries over politicisation of Saraki’s trial.

Although totally in support of the fight against graft and related sleaze, the diplomatic community is beginning to worry over the political dimension the ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is taking.

To that extent, the international community has refused to see the Saraki trial in the light of an anti-corruption issue, but a project designed to settle political scores.
It noted that such a disposition could undermine the gains the President Muhammadu Buhari administration might record afterwards.

A US diplomat was said to have told members of the Nigerian delegation during the United Nations General Assembly that the US respects separation of powers as an inherent part of its presidential system of government, but warned that politicising the campaign against corruption would not help Nigeria.

The diplomat, who does not want to get involved in the political mess and pleaded anonymity, allegedly talked about the need to always follow due process and comply with stipulated procedure because the failure to do this would be corruption on its own.

According to a member of the Nigerian delegation, they were embarrassed that the diplomatic community had as much insight into the happening back home and prayed that reason prevailed at the end of the day in collective interest.

A member of the Code of Conduct Bureau had recently corroborated some of the fears of the diplomat when he revealed that the entire trial was needless and in contradiction with the process stipulated in the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

The CCB member, who also spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity, reportedly said if the Bureau had followed the provision of Section 3(d) of its own law, it would not have rushed to trial but first invite Saraki to come and defend whatever inconsistency or infraction was observed in his asset declarations.

Unmasking The Demons Behind Saraki’s Travails

Editor’s note: Senator Bukola Saraki has been slammed with several damming allegations since he assumed the leadership of the Senate. These accusations vary from siding with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to forging the Senate rules. Saraki is currently facing allegations on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as governor of Kwara state from 2003 to 2011. But are these accusations credible or baseless?

No one needed a crystal ball to be told that Senator Bukola Saraki’s tenure as Senate president will be stormy following the acrimonious election that saw him emerge as president of the Senate on June 9, 2015, to the disdain of some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was an open secret then that some chieftains of the ruling party including its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were opposed to Saraki’s emergence as Senate president.

No sooner had Saraki assumed the leadership of the Senate than his wife was questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged graft that surfaced from who knows where.

This was followed by calls from some quarters for Saraki to step down on the grounds that the Senate rules used for the election of the leadership of the 8th National Assembly, which produced Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate president and deputy Senate president respectively, were forged.

Following an investigation, the police claimed the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) was forged, but stopped short of charging Saraki and others for forgery, thereby raising doubts if the Senate rules were manipulated as claimed by the security agencies.

The battle at the tribunal

Now, Saraki is facing a renewed assault from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation over allegations on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as governor of Kwara state from 2003 to 2011.

The deputy director in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, M.S.Hassan, filed the charges against Saraki on September 11, before the Code of Conduct Bureau. Justice Danladi Umar of the CCT even went as far as issuing a bench warrant on the Senate president, ordering the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest and produce him before the tribunal for failing to appear and answer charges over alleged false declaration of assets.

On his part, Saraki has described the charges leveled against him by the CCB as frivolous. On on September 22, he was docked and pleaded not guilty to the 13 corruption charges leveled against him.

No doubt, Senator Bukola Saraki is currently facing one of the toughest periods of his political career, but one thing is certain, his current trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, appears to be more of a political persecution than any issue concerning his asset declaration.

The case against Senator Saraki has the hall marks of a political vendetta from opponents who are not pleased with his reign as Senate president.

Highlighting this, an APC stalwart,  Alhaji Abdulhami Ahmed Adi, in a This Day report of September 21, 2015, wondered why it took the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) 12-year interval to unearth the allegations against Saraki.

He said:” I see it more or less as a political persecution. It is purely political. Maybe there are some political opponents that are trying to get at him.”

On his part, a former minister of works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, who was a member of the Senate between 1999 and 2003, suggested that the current trial of Saraki is shrouded in controversy.

“Was Saraki the only person that was a governor all through the period? Why is it that it is only Saraki that is being targeted now?” He said it was improper for the CBC to wait for years before investigating Saraki.

Even though the presidency has distanced itself from Saraki’s ongoing trial, it is however evident that some leaders of the APC are yet to accept Saraki as the leader of the National Assembly and are still plotting to remove him.

The conspiracy against Saraki

Recently, the national leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reportedly barred a lawmaker representing Ondo-Central Senatorial District, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, from attending south-west caucus meetings for taking sides with the Senate President.

“When Tinubu convened a South-West meeting in Abuja during the height of the National Assembly crisis, Alasoadura came. However, Tinubu walked him out of the meeting and told his orderly to ensure that the senator was escorted off the premises, a source within the party told The Punch.

“Tinubu also warned senators present to ensure that sensitive issues were not discussed in the presence of Alasoadura as he was an enemy within.”

The above occurrence suggests that the bad blood between Tinubu and Saraki camp is still exists, and doesn’t appear to be abating any time soon.

Saraki’s trial has all the bearings of unforeseen forces pulling the strings for personal reasons under the cloak of a pseudo anti-corruption war. It is an extension of the crisis that rocked the APC shortly after the leadership of the eight senate was inaugurated.

This is also evident by recent reports that some senators who are opposed to the emergence of Saraki as Senate president are planning to use his ongoing trial at the CCT as a ground to institute impeachment proceedings against the him, this is another pointer to the fact that Saraki’s political upheavals is a master plan by disgruntled APC members to unseat him as president of the Senate and not a war against corruption as the public are meant to believe.

From all indications, those behind Saraki’s travails are from his own party, the APC, who want him to step down as Senate president for an anointed candidate of the party.

They were likely the ones who sponsored the hoodlums who disrupted the Eid el-kabir prayers in Ilorin and attacked Saraki with stones and sachet water in Ilorin on Thursday, September 24.

They are also the invisible force fanning the flames of investigations against Saraki, his family members and close associates, but what they fail to understand is Bukola Saraki is an experienced politician, a rugged fighter who is capable of holding his ground. Those opposed to Saraki’s Senate presidency should brace up for a long fight because Saraki is a political survivor capable of outwitting his foes.

#photonews The Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Cinema in Ilorin with kids.

Senate President not attacked

The attention of the Media Office of the Senate President has been drawn to media reports that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was allegedly attacked at the Eid Prayer Ground during the prayers to mark the Eid-el-Kabir in Ilorin.

The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, among others.
Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.
We want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being 'whisked away' as reported by a section of the media.
We however observe that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this development was immediately curtailed by security agents.
Therefore, to say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him.
The Kwara State Government has since issued a statement in which it stated that majority of the workers in the state have received their salaries and that those yet to receive theirs will do so on Monday as Thursday and Friday of this week are public holidays.

Signed

Media office of the Senate President

Those calling for Saraki’s resignation ignorant, impostors, says APC

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, on Sunday, described those calling on the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to resign as ignorant and myopic.
Frank spoke on the heels of a call for resignation by a body known as “Northern Ethnic Nationalities Unity Congress (NENUC)”, led by one Bako Benjamin
In a statement in Abuja, Frank said that the purported resignation threat on the account of unproven allegations, does not hold water, saying that the masterminds were suffering from acute kwashiorkor in terms of knowledge.
He stated that the body does not exist and “therefore cannot purportedly speak on behalf of northern youths as “you cannot put something on nothing”, even as he called the convener a shadowy figure.
He said: “At best, NENUC is an impostor organisation hurriedly packaged to do a dirty job the behest of Saraki’s traducers, with the sole aim of assailing his towering image.
“Where were they when Saraki was governor? Where were they when he was chairman of the Nigeria Gogernor’s Forum (NGF)? Where were they when he blew the whistle on the fuel subsidy scam in the 7th Senate? Where were they when he contested and was elected Senate President?
“Let failed politicians not seek to make political capital from this set up against Saraki called asset declaration trial.”
“Their claim to have mobilized Nigerians to protest, should Saraki not heed their call to resign in three days, shows their level of desperation to deliver on the smear contract they have been awarded.
“Their ignorance of the law, that a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, is also most profound.
“Is the judiciary no longer the last hope of the people? Saraki had faulted the charges against him as being politically motivated. He had also gone to the Federal High Court to seek redress.
“But those who are eager to get him out will do everything to stop the wheel of justice in this case, hence the warrant of arrest issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the spurious calls for his resignation.
“Why the hurry to try Saraki, when it is apparent that the Chairman of CCT, Danlandi Umar, himself swimming in a pool of corruption allegations, would rather disobey the orders of a superior court of record that ordered that all parties to the case should appear before it,” he stated.
The Deputy Publicity Secretary further accused the group of attempting to trample on the rights of the senate president, calling Nigerians o disregard the body.
“The position of NENUC, even though does not represent the views of the people of North, are reminiscent of our dark past for which we pray never to return or experience in the annals of this country.
“Let this amorphous association and its backers know that we are in a democracy and not under a dictatorship as they would have wished.
“They have threatened to protest which I doubt because it is diversionary, but should they attempt it, they will meet Nigerians on the streets who will match them words for words and action for action,” he said.

Eid-el-Kabir: Saraki preaches fear of God

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged Muslim faithful and the citizenry in general, to make the fear of God the foundation of their lives.

Saraki, in a goodwill message on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir, said the event symbolised the fear of Allah and the desire of man to always comply with the wish of his creator. This, he said, was exemplified by the life of Prophet Ibrahim.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President stated reasons why the fear of God must reign supreme.

“With the fear of Allah, mutual respect and love, we will tolerate one another, work together and be able to harness our abundant resources as a progressive nation.

“We cannot achieve much with unnecessary frictions and disharmony. What Nigerians need now is to move forward with the present change era,” Saraki said.

He also called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance and mutual respect, adding that these virtues are the panacea to move the nation forward.

Saraki continued, “We have herculean tasks to address. Our army of unemployed graduates and youths are hovering on the street.

“Insecurity is threatening the peace and social development of our dear nation, quality health care services and economic buoyancy are major challenges that require urgent attention.

“I am very optimistic that with our collective efforts, these challenges are surmountable and we will soon overcome.”

The Senate President called on all arms of government not to rest on their oars in the onerous task of building a formidable nation where all Nigerians will live in peace and prosperity.

He urged the Muslim community to continue to pray for the government, the military and other security agencies in the fight against insurgency.

He stressed that peace and socio-economic development of the nation remained paramount.

On behalf of the Senate, Saraki pledged the lawmakers’ continuous support and encouragement towards putting the nation on the right track.

Senate is Solidly Behind Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki

After majority of us, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, witnessed the appearance of our President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal this morning, we are happy that he appeared at the Tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his Fundamental Human Rights.
We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership. We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.

By his appearance at the Tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.

We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due processes and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues.

The Eighth Senate restates its commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.

It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries.

May God bless our country, Nigeria.

Signed

Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba

On behalf of the Eighth Senate