₦airaland Forum

kingzizzy:
These people make me laugh. Where in the world do you charge people for chanting hate songs? So people are now charged in Nigeria just because of the kind of songs they sing? How can a person be charged for burning a flag? How is it treason to stage a protest for the release of an individual? The Nigerian authorities are crazy

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA — AHEAD of today’s screening of former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, yesterday, lampooned senators elected on the platform of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the 8th Senate belongs to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, the PDP should note that it has become a minority, a situation where the majority would always have its way, warning that PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on what he described as triviality instead of the constitution. He added that Amaechi  has not been convicted by any court of law.

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Sen. Ndume

Ali Ndume boasted that the Senators will determine the fate of Amaechi and not the report of Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, adding that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu would not have presided yesterday because APC ministerial nominees were being screened, which explained the adjournment.

Ndume spoke amid strong indications, yesterday, that PDP and APC senators will flex muscles today over Amaechi. While the APC senators have insisted on screening and confirming Amaechi for a ministerial appointment, the PDP Senators have not shifted grounds on the position they took on Tuesday to frustrate the screening of the former governor.

Today, Chairman, Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) will submit the reports of his committee on petitions against the nominees including Amaechi.

According to a PDP Senator, who spoke with Vanguard, the report will be up for discussion and votes will be taken in support or against Amaechi being screened and cleared.

The senator, who noted that if the voting favours that Amaechi be screened as opposed to their collective decision, they would as a caucus stage a walk out and allow the APC senators do what they want to do.

PDP senators to review pact with Saraki

The Senator told Vanguard that the PDP Senators who formed an alliance with Senate President Bukola Saraki prior to his election and which led to his emergence were planning to review the unwritten agreement.

On whether the PDP senators were aware that if the Senators failed to screen or reject Amaechi by October 29 upon the expiration of the 21 working-day constitutional deadline, the former governor would automatically become a minister, the Senator said “we will not allow that to happen” as PDP Senators.

The Senator continued: “The report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions will be laid tomorrow (today) and there will be voting on whether or not to accept that Amaechi be screened. The voting will determine the way forward and if the voting says he should be screened because APC wants and PDP as a caucus thinks we should not screen Amaechi and if the APC insists, PDP Senators will stage a walk out.”

Another PDP Senator, who spoke with Vanguard, said that the issue has to do with 21 working days which is like a month, adding that the position of PDP Senators is about the law and the society, adding that the National Assembly is a theatre of politics, but as law makers, they must be cautious.

According to the Senator, the PDP senators were standing on Section 66(h) which stipulates that when indicted by a panel, the person cannot occupy any public office.

Section 66(h) says: “No person shall be qualified for Membership of National Assembly and Right of attendance if he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act…”

The PDP senators are also citing section 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended on why they will work against the clearance of Amaechi.

Section 53(5) of Senate Standing Orders 2015 As Amended reads: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a Judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

The screening would have taken place yesterday, but the Senate suspended sitting to allow senators accompany Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is facing trial over alleged false declaration of assets.

For the third time since it began the screening of ministerial nominees, the Senate on Tuesday, postponed the screening of Amaechi.

We’re not against Amaechi— Sen Ogba

Also, a member  of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, Obinna Ogba, has denied allegation  that the committee was  against Amaechi’s confirmation.

He equally debunked insinuation that the delay in releasing the report of investigation on Amaechi, which resulted in the delay in his screening was as a result of sharp division among members of the committee on the report.

Reacting in an interview, yesterday, with Vanguard, in Abuja, Senator  Ogba, who represents  Ebonyi Central in the National Assembly, under PDP, insisted that there was no disagreement  among members of the committee.

We will determine Amaechi’s fate not Anyanwu’s report –
Ndume

Answering questions from Journalists, yesterday, on the issue, Ndume said Amaechi would be cleared.

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Former governor of Rivers State and Ministerial nominee Rotimi Amaechi

His words: ‘’The Ethics and Privileges report is not the determinant of Amaechi’s fate. It is the Senate. Even if they write their report, it has to be laid before the Senate which will decide on the report. It is not the report that will decide the fate of Amaechi.

“Whatever the Committee recommends to the Senate, it is the Senate that will decide. And I have told Nigerians several times that this Senate belongs to APC. We have PDP senators that are in the minority. We are practising democracy in a changed environment. That is to allow the minorities to have their say. But you know that the majority will always have its way. We have 58 senators, the Senate President excluded, and they have 48 Senators.

“And Amaechi is an APC candidate and the constitution is very clear. Until there is conviction, you are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court of law. Unfortunately, you cannot confirm or disqualify Amaechi, we are the only ones that can do that. And PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on triviality.
It must be based on constitutionality.”

On why the plenary was suspended, Ndume said: “The Senate President has a pending case before the Appeal Court which judgement was suspended indefinitely. We, therefore, thought that the lower court will suspend today’s (yesterday’s) sitting as the Senate President has to be in court by 10.00am. He is the Presiding Officer and this is an extraordinary period because we are screening ministers who are predominantly APC. So, that was why we said this screening should continue with the Senate President presiding. So, we are continuing tomorrow (today) by God’s grace.”

When told that the Deputy Senate President was supposed to have presided in the absence of the Senate President, the Senate leader said: “This is not a normal day because we are screening APC nominees and there are issues surrounding it. The Presiding Officer is the Senate President who started the screening and we said we would continue after taking a day off and continue tomorrow (today)”.

Speaking on the senators’ solidarity with the Senate President at the tribunal, Senator Ndume said: “It was not a solidarity as such. This Senate does not belong to Saraki, Senator Ali Ndume or anybody. The Senate is an institution, an independent arm of government and should be respected and strengthened. Besides, if the President takes his  time to submit the (ministerial) list, which Nigerians patiently waited for why will Nigerians not be patient with the Senate to wait for its conclusion? And why don’t you take us on issues other than these trivialities? Suppose we had said we are suspending the screening till next week, we have the right to do that.

“But the constitution is guiding us that we have to do this within 21 working days. And we are still within the 21 working days. It is not 21 days, it is 21 working days. And our working days in the Senate plenary is three days in a week. So, if you are talking about 21 working days, it means that the Senate will do this within seven weeks because we sit for plenary Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. That is three working days. It means that logically, we can do this up to seven weeks.”

“The ministries have not been streamlined yet to know where they are going. I don’t even see an issue out of it. I was thinking that by now, we will be talking about ideas not about people and events.  It won’t move this country forward. We are supposed to be talking about the screening details.”

Wike, Okorocha condemn MASSOB protest

OCTOBER 22, 2015 : CHUKWUDI AKASIKE AND GIBSON ACHONU 9 COMMENTS
   
 


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Mr. Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned that his administration will not tolerate a repeat of the protest embarked upon by the members of any self-determination group within the state.

The governor’s warning came on the heels of a massive protest the members of a self-determination group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, whose protest paralysed socio-economic activities in Port Harcourt, on Tuedsay.

Members and supporters of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and those of IPOB took to the streets of Port Harcourt, demanding the secession of the Igbo from Nigeria and the unconditional release of one of their members, Mr. Nnamdi Kalu.

The protesters had marched through Ikoku, Ikwerre and some major roads in the state capital.

But Wike, who spoke through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, said he was peeved by the protest.

The governor stressed the indivisibility of Nigeria and added that the actions of the protesters were capable of stimulating chaos in the state.

“The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned against insidious actions by anybody or group in the state.

“The governor, who was peeved by the protest by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra in Port Harcourt, warned that such a demonstration will not be brooked by his administration.

“Emphasising the indivisibility of Nigeria, the governor said the actions of IPOB members are capable of stimulating chaos in the state,” the statement read.

Wike warned that as the Chief Security Officer of the state who swore to an oath to protect lives and property, he would not tolerate actions that would lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

He, however, dissociated himself and the state from the protest, adding that legal machinery has been set in motion against any group that tries to breach the peace in the state.

The governor called on residents in the state to go about their lawful duties without fear, assuring them of safety.

Also, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has dissociated his government from the reported violent protests in Rivers, Anambra, and Delta states by MASSOB and IPOB members, on Tuesday.

In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha regretted the ugly development, saying that such violent protests in the name of Biafra would not add any value to the development of the South-East.

Okorocha said, “The governors and leaders of the South-East condemn the protests, especially when they were carried out in the name of Biafra. If a section of the people in the South-East or even the whole people in the geopolitical zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total negligence of the geopolitical zone, every governor and leader in the area would support that but not to protest over an issue that is neither here nor there.”

“The South-East is an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area believe in the unity of the country and would always work towards sustaining the unity. And as far as the governors and the leaders of the South-East are concerned, those behind the campaign for Biafra have their ulterior motive, which has nothing to do with corporate interest of the Ndigbo in Nigeria.”

Okorocha, however, called on those behind the protests to give peace a chance.

Meanwhile, a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday remanded in prison custody 20 suspected supporters of the MASSOB and IPOB.

The suspects were arrested by the police during their demonstration on Tuesday for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, even as they demanded the secession of the Igbo from Nigeria.

The suspects were charged with chanting of hate songs, treason and the destruction of Nigeria flags that were hoisted a new generation bank.

They were identified as Benson Sunday, Emmanuel Ali, Ukeme Monday, Chibuzor Eechina, Charles Eze, Egbo Okechukwu, Chibona Ifion, John Douglas, Ezenwa Alphonus, Wori Endurance, Chinomere Nwolu, Henry Eze, Friday Uzunwa, Igbodo Abio, Akaniyene Uwem, Eni Iboro, Obinna Stephen, Monday Ocha, Obinna Ibekwe and Kingsley Ezengorie.

The Chief Magistrate, S.D. Andrew-Jaja, had on Wednesday, told the counsel for the suspects that he was not convinced that magistrate court could grant bail on charges of treason.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. S.D Andrew-Jaja, in remanding the suspects in prison custody, directed their counsel to prepare to address the court on the suspects’ bail application during the court’s next sitting.

He adjourned the matter till October 27, 2015.

likila:
Sai Seriki! His granfather the Alimi dealt with Afonga, the way he is dealing with Jagaban

firstEVA:
Come back to APC, we will forgive u and accept you back. Nothing to be ashamed about.

chukwudi44:
Tanx God you are not him. He is still needed for stability in the Senate. If you doubt me ask Tinubu

234GT:
Keep shielding Buhari. You guys have not thought of how his official cars will get to Daura. Or will he be using private cars there? Or he will buy a new set of official cars and station them permanently in Daura to save the cost of fuelling the existing ones from Abuja to Daura lol! Confusion everywhere!

@Op, how did you come about all those figures? Do you think you are addressing SS1 students? You just cooked up some imaginary figures up there and you want us to work with those figures?

Buhari should sit his lean ass at Aso Rock and tackle Nigeria's problems.

barcanista:
Why them no do primary election sef?

AntidaftMOD:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/anambra-den-of-drug-trafficking-says-ndlea/
Cc Ishilove, Lalasticlala

AnambraDota:
Our people sell drugs but they dont use it.

Go to North an South West and see what drugs have done to their people.

gregg2:
Rubbish propaganda

Hishowlau:
Anambraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Bobbystanley:
Only in the North

By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi—Bauchi State High Court  yesterday sentenced to death by hanging Ibrahim Idris, 40, for killing a six-year-old girl after failing in his attempt to rape her.

Idris was dragged to the court, presided over by Justice Yelim Bogoro, by the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Dawud Yakubu, who charged him with culpable homicide, an offence contrary to section 221 of the state law.

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Dawud told the court that on September 14, 2012, the accused called the deceased, Asiya Mohammed, into his room with the intention to rape her.

He said when she refused, he used a knife to sever her head, put it in a polythene bag and threw it into a water channel.

He said the body of the deceased was recovered and taken to General Hospital, Darazo, for post-mortem examination before it was later handed over to her parents for burial.

He called five witnesses and presented the axe and knife the accused used to cut the head of the deceased as exhibits and the witnesses testified that he made a confessional statement.

In her judgement, Justice Bogoro said the confessional statement of the accused was direct, adding that the prosecutor proved his case beyond all reasonable doubt and sentenced the accused to death by hanging.

Justice Bogoro said:   “I, hereby, sentence you to death by hanging, but you have the right to appeal within 30 days.”

There is no military expedition or bombardment in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the government said yesterday.

Christian Ita, the chief press secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, said the report of a bombardment in Calabar was “unfounded and untrue, fabricated by twisted minds for devious purposes”.

In a statement in Calabar, the spokesman said there was no basis for such incident.

He said: “There is no military raid going on in Calabar. There has been no bomb attack in the state capital. The only military expedition that took place sometime last week was an operation undertaken by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to flush out criminals on the Cross River/Akwa Ibom waterways, which is far removed from towns and civilian population.”

Ita added that the military exercise only lasted a day.

He said: “As long as we cannot dissuade or prevent anybody from pursuing any course they deem fit, they should leave Cross River State out of their clandestine campaign and look elsewhere. All pictures purportedly showing places that were bombed were all simulated; they are products of photoshop.”

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[Size=15pt]Lucky Igbinedion vows to anoint Edo next governor[/size]

Posted by: Osagie Otabor, Benin in News Update 36 mins ago

Eight years after keeping mute on the political scene since he left office as Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion has bounced back vowing to anoint the next governor of the state when Oshiomhole’s tenure ends next year.

Chief Igbinedion noted that being a high ranking member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, he was in the prime position to anoint who will be the next governor of the state.

He said he would play a prominent in the process of picking the PDP governorship candidate when the time comes.

The former governor spoke at the birthday reception of former Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his wife.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu who shared the same birthday with his wife served as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government during Lucky’s administration.

Chief Igbinedion said that there was no iota of doubt that he is well loved by the people of the state and asserted that till date he was the only governor whose victory at the polls was never challenged in any court of law.

According to him, “Whoever is going to be the next governor of Edo State must be one of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. And must also be a member of the ‘family”.

The birthday party was attended by Chairman, Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Senator Domingo Obende, Chief Dan Orbih, Hon Sergius Ogun amongst others.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu who is a strong contender for the PDP ticket would be battling against Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and Mike Onolememen.

OREMUSSANCTUS:
Screw apc
Cum kano state

Cc lalasticlala obinoscopy ishilove