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Mr Olakunle Oluomo, Speaker, Ogun House of Assembly says there is a plan that bills passed into laws by the assembly will be translated to local languages for easy understanding by the people of the state. Oluomo made this known in Abeokuta on Friday while speaking at a strategic legislative luncheon organised in his honour by the State Branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

The programme was tagged: “Legislative Agenda for Good Governance’’. The speaker said that the Assembly under his leadership was committed to ensuring that all legislative functions, particularly budget processes, reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the common man.

He said that the assembly had resolved to engage residents through community engagement in the three senatorial districts to give all and sundry a sense of belonging in the passage of the annual Appropriation Bill. Oluomo said that it was important to consolidate on the successes of his predecessors and also reposition the ninth legislature for optimum performance to take the state to a new level of development. “My core objective is to ensure participatory legislation toward raising the bar of performance of the state legislative arm.

“Priority will be accorded to human capacity training and manpower development through training programmes for lawmakers and staff of the assembly. “This will avail them of international best practices in lawmaking for increased productivity to entrench democratic ideals,’’ the speaker said. Oluomo encouraged members of the civil societies to get involved in partisan politics and offer their wealth of experience to restore the hope of the masses toward achieving a better society. Earlier, the National President, CDHR, Mr Malachy Ugwummadu, gave an assurance of a good working relationship between the human rights society and the assembly.

He was optimistic that the assembly would record purposeful and people-centered legislations under the current leadership in the state. He described CDHR as an institution which remained closer to the masses and agitate for the delivery of democratic ideals. Ugwummadu promised that advice and suggestions would always be offered to the ninth Assembly in all its legislative activities, which must be reciprocated through qualitative representation and vibrant legislations.

In his submission, the Executive Chairman, Campaign Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, commended the plans of the speaker, particularly on the needs’ assessment of communities in the process of Appropriation law. Adeniran described the speaker as a credible representative, capable of leading the state assembly and also a partner in progress in critical development issues with other arms of government.

Messages were delivered by the Convener, June 12 Movement, Wale Okuniyi; and former assembly speakers including Suraju Adekunbi, Titi Oseni-Gomez and Muyiwa Oladipo, among others.(NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ogun-assembly-plans-to-translate-laws-to-local-languages.html

There is serious division among senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over plans by the party’s national leadership to alter the already agreed names of minority leaders in the 9th Senate, Daily Trust has learnt. The party’s national leadership had a fortnight ago picked Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia) as Minority Leader; Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba) as Deputy Minority Leader; Philip Aduda (FCT) as Minority Whip, and Clifford Ordia (Edo) as Deputy Minority Whip.

However, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday was said to have perfected plans to replace Ordia with Sen Sahabi Ya’u from Zamfara State as Deputy Minority Whip.

This development, Daily Trust learnt, was not going down well with some senators of the party, who vowed to resist any attempt by the NWC to change what was already agreed on. Some PDP senators from the South South, which produced the highest number of senators for the party, were disenchanted by the moves to replace one of them in the minority leadership of the 9th Senate. They said, the region produced the highest number of votes for PDP during the last general elections and that it should not be left out in the scheme of things in the 9th Senate.

One of the senators said they met at the residence of Uche Secondus, the PDP national chairman, on June 14 and conducted an election among themselves where the four senators emerged as minority leaders of the Senate and wondered why the NWC was “planning to impose somebody on us.” The senator, who did not want to be named, said there was an apparent pressure from some quarters on the NWC, and called on the party’s leadership to remain firm and not yield to any undue pressure.

In order to take a decision, it was learnt, the PDP senators will meet before next Tuesday, which is the resumption date for the members of the 9th Assembly, after they embarked on a short recess. “We met where an election was conducted. Nominations were made in the presence of party leaders and PDP senators and winners emerged. Those who emerged were unanimously backed by the various organs of the party. “In any case, under the rules of the Senate, it is not the responsibility of the NWC to select principal officials.

It is the responsibility of the senators themselves to do that. The minority senators have freely elected those they want and nothing will change it. “The argument that they want to represent every part of the country is false. There are eight positions open to the PDP in the two chambers of the National Assembly. Even if you share one to each geopolitical zone, two will still get an extra slot.

“Those we selected are known to us. They are the people we can work with. Some governors causing this division don’t know how the Parliament operates. They want to control everything in the party for their selfish interest. “Maybe the NWC has not learnt its lessons. The APC tried this imposition in the 8th Senate and they paid for it dearly. It’s up to the PDP to allow us have our way or allow strangers destroy its fold in the Senate,” the senator said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/crack-among-pdp-senators-over-plan-to-alter-minority-leadership-posts.html

A former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, failed to appear before Justice Folashade Giwa of the Federal High Court Abuja, to explain his role in the alleged approval of N2.5billion to Pinnacle Communications Ltd. The money was for the purpose of the Federal Government Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.

The sitting was in continuation of the trial of the Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo, Pinnacle Communications Ltd and two others. Mohammed was listed by the ICPC prosecution counsel, Henry Emore, as additional witness to give testimony on the approval of payment of N2.5 billion to Pinnacle.

However, after calling two witnesses, the prosecution counsel informed the court that the immediate past Information Minister was not in court. Umore said the former minister had travelled out of the country but was expected back in the country on or before July 31. In addition, the court was told that Mohammed made his statement before the ICPC. The prosecution counsel also informed the court that the other witness he wished to call, was still in Saudi Arabia. However, Alex Izinyon, SAN, counsel to Onifade Oladipupo, (2nd defendant), and Lucky Omoluwa (3rd defendant), told the court that he had already filed an application to oppose the list of additional witness filed by the prosecution counsel. Izinyon said the defence team had already joined issues with the prosecution on the failure of ICPC to call Mohammed who approved the payment of N2.5billion to Pinnacle and joined him as a defendant in the case. A witness called by the ICPC alleged that the former minister refused to make statement to the ICPC, claiming that he needed to get clearance from the Secretary to Government of the Federation.

Earlier, upon cross-examination by Izinyon, a prosecution witness Olugbemi Abraham, told the court that “during investigation, we could not interview Mohammed because he said he needed clearance from the Secretary to Government of the Federation.” Abraham, however, revealed that they later took statement from Mohammed during the pendency of the case. He admitted that: “Really, we did not bother to get in touch with the SGF to enable him allow the former Information Minister to make statement.”

Abraham also admitted that NBC, based on the provision of the White Paper that government should provide condition for a level playing field for signal distributors, was in position to determine the level playing field. “Under further cross examination by Amah Etuwewe, counsel to the fourth defendant (Pinnacle Communications), the witness said upon investigation, they did not value the facility put in place by Pinnacle at the Abuja DSO site.

“Further more, the witness admitted that the N2.5 billion was released under the supervision of the former Information Minister. “To the best of my knowledge, the Presidency that released the N10billion to the NBC for the purpose of DSO has not complained of how the fund was used. “I am not aware if the former Minister had withdrawn his approval.” Meanwhile, Justice Giwa, has adjourned the case until July 1, for ruling on a motion by the 2nd and 3rd defendants seeking the release of their international passports to enable them travel abroad for official functions. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/n2-5bn-dso-project-lai-mohammed-fails-to-appear-in-court.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Financial Inclusion State Steering Committee (FISSCO) have alerted Nigerians of the existence of fraudsters using its name to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. The bank said some individuals and organisations were cashing in on the financial inclusion trainings to perpetrate the act.

In a statement issued at the end of a 2-day stakeholders engagement and 2019 second quarter FISSCO meeting by the Niger State branch Controller of CBN and the state FISSCO chairman, Malam Mas’ud Ibrahim Tulu, it said individuals were taking advantage of the vulnerable and gullible populace to defraud innocent people of their money in the form of training fees. He said the Financial Inclusion Secretariat has not endorsed any outfit to conduct financial inclusion training on its behalf, and urged the public to beware of the nefarious activities of those outfits.

The statement said FISSCO targets 94,610 new accounts in Niger State alone in 2019, but that the state has only 38.1% financial exclusion rate in Nigeria currently, adding that there is need for serious sensitization for it to meet the mandate.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/beware-of-fraudsters-using-our-name-cbn-warns-nigerians.html

Suspected militia men yesterday attacked Rafin Kada town, a Jukun community in Taraba State and killed many people. Daily Trust gathered that the militia men crossed from neighbouring Benue State and killed many people and set many houses ablaze.

They also attacked the vehicle of Wukari Local Government chairman and another vehicle conveying some soldiers to Rafin Kada, following distress calls sent to them. It was further gathered that some Jukun youths from Wukari going to confront the attackers were ambushed and killed by the suspected militia at a forest. Rafin Kada is the third Jukun town to be attacked by suspected militia in one week and several people killed.

The chairman of Wukari Local Government, Mr Adi Daniel, said the militia men in large numbers launched an attack on the community early Tuesday. He said some people were killed and about 32 houses burnt down by the attackers. The spokesman of the state police command, David Misal confirmed that some armed militia crossed from Benue State and attacked a Jukun community near Wukari, killed one person and burnt some houses.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/scores-killed-32-houses-burnt-in-jukun-community.html

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday made a case for a total but gradual removal of subsidy on oil products and electricity tariff. The emir, who was speaking at the 3rd National Treasury Workshop in Kano, said government must take a bold, but difficult decision of addressing the problem of these two sectors for the country’s economy to flourish.

“100 per cent of what we earned in the petroleum sector went out to import petrol. You are treasurers, is this sustainable? The country will be bankrupted and we are heading to bankruptcy,” the traditional ruler said. The emir asked what was so crucial about petroleum products that the nation had to sacrifice education, healthcare and infrastructure just to have “cheap petrol” and risk the financial stability of the country.

“It is a difficult decision but if the president wants to deal with poverty, he has to deal with this. And you have to tell Nigerians that they have to be ready, if the international price of oil goes up, people must be ready to pay more and if it goes down people will benefit. We have to be responsive to what happens everywhere,” he added.

“Now we have this situation where people need to be told the truth because people don’t understand that N1.5 trillion into fuel subsidy is N1.5tr out of education, healthcare and infrastructure and that is why we have so many children out of school and that is why we have problem of malnutrition. And where are you going to get the money to solve these problems if all the money is going into petroleum sector?” the emir queried.

The emir said the consumption of power and petroleum products are private individual decisions and government could not fight poverty by subsidizing these products. “As treasurers, you are not just accounting money and keeping it, you are managing it and your duty is to tell the president, Sir look at these numbers, we cannot afford this, and if we continue spending billions on fuel subsidy, spending hundreds of billions on power subsidy this country will go bankrupt.

“And I am hoping that, again what I have said is simple honest contribution to you, so that you can begin to push through, even though it is difficult.” The emir also said, “Nigeria is the only country whose balance sheet does not benefit from an increase in the price of oil, and this does not start with this government, it has been on for 20, 30 years. Today you have tension between America and Iran the price is going up, every oil producing country is going to be happy because it is going to earn more.

But in Nigeria, we are going to earn more and we turn round and spend what we earned on importing petroleum products.” Earlier in his opening remarks, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said the objective of the workshop was to promote accountability and transparency in all facets of the nation’s finance and management architecture. “It is expected that participants should appreciate that accountability and transparency remain major watchwords for prudent financial management practices and are therefore, major prerequisites for economic growth and development,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said the best strategy for fighting corruption was to mobilize everybody to take part, as no one had the monopoly of knowledge. He charged the participants of the workshop to take lead in the fight against corruption being critical stakeholders in the financial sector.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-oil-electricity-subsidy-must-end-by-emir-sanusi.html

The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday led members of the Presidential Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary to submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari. Malami, who was among the 31 ministers that were relieved of their appointments at the twilight of President Buhari’s first tenure, led the panel to submit the report to the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari had on 10th December last year named Malami as the chairman of the panel by virtue of his position as the then minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. Our correspondent reports that weeks after the president was sworn-in for a second term, he is yet to make any appointment, even as his ministerial list is being awaited at the Senate.

Asked why did he lead the panel? He said “Am I still a minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation? “It is the prerogative of the president to appoint anyone as a member, a Nigerian for that matter and inclusive of someone from outside. I think this remains a constitutional prerogative of the president.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-ex-minister-malami-leads-panel-to-submit-report-to-buhari.html

Scores of protesters at Defense House on Monday ask Buhari to take full control of government.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/photos-apc-members-ask-buhari-to-sack-abba-kyari.html

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the military and the fighting troops not to relent at this critical time, noting that Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices they make in securing the nation. The party also said the defeatist comments by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on national security, affirmed its position that President Muhammadu Buhari failed in his duties as a Commander-in-Chief.

The PDP in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the blame must be placed at the doorsteps of the President, who was under oath as the Commander-in-Chief, to ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerians. “Mr. President, as chief security officer of the nation, should not hide under an Army Chief to push blames when he had failed to take appropriate steps to secure the nation and refused to heed wise counsel by well-meaning Nigerians to reorder his parade and rejig the nation’s security architecture for effectiveness.

“Instead, the Buhari Presidency had carried on with endless lip service, empty assurances, unnecessary blame-game and obvious lack of tact, while the nation is being ravaged.

“There is no doubt that despite the cluelessness of the Buhari Presidency, our fighting troops have remained gallant, patriotic, making sacrifices and risking their lives in defending the country. “One would expect that under the prevailing situation, a commander-in-chief should have risen up to the occasion, step up actions, resolve the issues and ensure that all efforts are galvanized to provide all necessary requirements for our troops combating insurgency and other acts of violence against our nation.

“The party also calls on the National Assembly to save the situation by immediately using its legislative instruments to wade into the situation in the interest of the nation,” the party said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-to-military-remain-gallant-in-securing-nigeria.html

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Kinzeyfranks:
A 300L female student of medical laboratory science in Uniben commits suicide by drinking sniper.
It was gathered that the student identified as Christabel Buoro who stays off campus(in Ekosodin area) was found dead in her room in the lodge where she stays with a note beside her where she stated someone broke her heart. Her corpse was reported to be taken by policemen who visited the scene for disposal.
May her soul rest in peace.

Great!

Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has suspended the executive chairmen and legislative councillors of all the sixteen local government areas in the state in line with the earlier recommendation of the State Assembly. “Pursuant to the resolution of the Kwara State House of Assembly dated 18th day of June, 2019, and Section 29 of the Kwara State Local Government Law Cap.

K33, 2006, I, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the executive governor of Kwara state, hereby suspend the executive and legislative committees of all the Sixteen (16) Local Government Areas in the state for a period of six months or pending the outcome of the investigations into allegations of misappropriation of public funds by the Kwara State House or Assembly, whichever is earlier in time,” a statement signed by the governor on Tuesday reads. suspension came hours after the Kwara State House of Assembly recommended the suspension of the local council executive and legislative committees.

The House had, in the resolution earlier in the day, urged the governor “to immediately suspend all the 16 Local Government Executive and Legislative Committees in the state pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations of misappropriation of public funds levelled against them so as not to jeopardise the process of investigation”.Section 29 of the Kwara State Local Government Law Cap.

K33, 2006 empowers the governor to suspend the chief executive of the local council for six months, our reporter learnt. The constitution, on the other hand, empowers the House of Assembly to investigate the local councils for alleged infraction and corruption, Daily Trust reports.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-abdulrazaq-suspends-kwara-lg-chairmen-councillors-for-six-months.html

An FCT High Court in Maitama has rejected 10 uncertified documents sought to be tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

The trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, who rejected the documents in a ruling delivered yesterday, however admitted as exhibits seven other documents that were duly certified.The former SGF was arraigned on a 10-count charge bothering on conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N544million along with Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday and two companies, Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

EFCC accused the former federal government scribe of benefiting illegally from the approval of N544million for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.The documents the court decided upon included payment vouchers raised by Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) for payments to both Josmon Technologies Limited and Rholavision Engineering Limited. They were tendered through the first prosecution witness, Hamza Adamu, a staff of PINE. Justice Okeke held that the essence of certification was to ensure accuracy of documents tendered in evidence.

He added that though the prosecutor attached the uncertified documents into the bundle of original documents, it was the duty of the court to examine them to know whether they were admissible. “I have examined the bundle of the documents and it consisted of original documents with attachments of uncertified ones, a total of 17 documents.

“The documents are bearing different dates. Besides this, it is also numbered as different exhibits, the mere fact that they were stapled together does not make them one document,” he held. He said for a public document to be admissible it must be in accordance with the provision of section 104 of Evidence Act, 2011. Meanwhile, the trial has been scheduled to continue today with further evidence from the first prosecution witness.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/court-admits-7-exhibits-against-babachir-rejects-10.html

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Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has appointed Dr Kabiru Shehu as the State Head of Service. The appointment is with immediate effect.

The appointment was contained in a statement, signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abba Anwar. Until his appointment, Dr Shehu served as Permanent Secretary at Governor’s office, Office of the Head of Service and Manpower Directorate. He was an Assistant Lecturer with the Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, (CARS) from 1984 and rose to Chief Lecturer in 2001. He was appointed Principal of CARS Kano, from 2002 to 2011.

Shehu was on secondment from Kano state government to Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, where he was appointed as the pioneer Head of Department of Biological Sciences from 2013 to 2017. Ganduje assured that civil service would continue to thrive under the new Head of Service. “We always place great priority to the public service. As we are moving to a more IT-based public service,” he said.

He charged the new HoS to continue with the selfless commitment to the service and the state, as he is known for.

Ganduje assured that government would give him all the necessary support for the development of the public service in the state.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ganduje-appoints-dr-shehu-as-kano-head-of-service.html

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Tactical Air Command in Benue State has restated readiness to carry out assigned military duties, aimed at defending the territorial integrity of the country.

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) the NAF in Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal, John Kwasu Baba, made the remark on Saturday shortly after the officers and men of the base completed a 10km first quarter route march exercise to strengthen their fitness and physical well being.

“As members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, our battle readiness must be supported by our being physically fit to carryout assigned military duties. “To maintain this momentum, you must develop the habit of exercising regularly. Only a healthy, emotional and physically sound body can defend the territorial integrity of our country,” he said.

Baba reminded the personnel of the threats to peace and security in Nigeria, posed by the activities of Boko Haram in the north east, kidnapping, cattle rustling in the north west and other security challenges across the country.

He therefore, stressed that it was their (military) duty to protect and safeguard lives and property in affected areas and charged personnel to, at all cost, be ready to discharge their constitutional duties with physically healthy bodies.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-need-fit-body-to-defend-nigerias-territory-air-force-chief.html

Thursday June 6, 2019 was exactly five years after the death of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, who passed on on Friday, June 6, 2014 after a brief illness. To mark the anniversary, the Kano Emirate Council cancelled the traditional Hawan Dorayi, saying it was organizing a prayer session for the former emir in its place.

It was two days after the death of Bayero in 2014 that Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II was appointed the Emir of Kano by the then governor of Kano State, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, an appointment that raised dust, especially among heirs to the revered Kano throne.

The special prayer session for Bayero which held on Friday, June 7, was attended by many scholars, district heads, children of the late emir and other traditional title holders from within and outside the state.

Daily Trust on Sunday observed that from June 8, 2014 when Emir Sanusi took the reins as the Emir of Kano a lot of changes have taken place in the traditional institution, some of them so big that they completely altered the status of the Emirate and that of the Emir.

Emir Sanusi, after he assumed office, was able to revive the traditional Sallah durbars in the state after four years of suspension. It would be recalled that the late Emir Bayero had suspended all durbar processions in the state for four consecutive years due to ill health and Boko Haram insurgents that were active in Kano at the time.

Apart from reviving the annual durbar processions, Emir Sanusi also re-introduced one old tradition that was abandoned by the emirate for several decades, that is Rangadi. Rangadi is a special visit to other parts of the Emirate by the Emir and his entourage. During this visit, the Emir will lead his entourage to any district of his choice and spend a day or two there interacting with his subjects.

The Emir also reviewed the salaries of palace staff upward with a view to improving their wellbeing.

In what appeared to be a family tussle, the Emir was dragged to court by another member of the royal family, Alhaji Salim Abubakar Bayero, over alleged plan by Sanusi to demolish some historical structures in the palace, including Ka’iya and Kachako palaces and 13 thumbs of the past emirs. The purpose for the demolishing was to build offices of district heads and other staff. However, this case was later withdrawn by the complainant and the demolishing took place, Daily Trust on Sunday, learnt.

Emir Sanusi and Kwankwaso, Daily Trust on Sunday observed, have little misunderstanding on the issue of banning of begging in the state. The Kano State government had set up a committee which was directed to liaise with Kano State Hisbah Board to ensure smooth implementation of a ban of street on begging in the state. However, the Emir was said to have criticized this move, insisting that whoever decides to feed the less privileged can do so since it his personal money. His statement did not go down well with the state government.

It was after the Emir took on Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s successor, that both Sanusi and the palace started taking the heat, to the point that Kano Emirate is longer what it was five years ago.

Sanusi’s first quarrel with Ganduje stemmed from his criticism of the governor’s light rail project, which he said was not the priority of the masses, asking the government not execute it. He described the project as a misplacement of priority by Ganduje-led administration. The Emir’s comment generated a serious debate within and outside the state.

A battle line was drawn between the Emir and Governor Ganduje when Sanusi fired another salvo at a conference in Kaduna State and the state government reacted by making some moves that people interpreted as akin to initiating his dethronement. That situation was, however, saved after the interventions of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, APC National leadership, two former heads of state, Ibrahim Badamsi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, respectively, as well as Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Aminu Dantata, among others.

The animosity between the two appeared to have faded until Nigeria’s general elections early this year, when the relationship between the two leaders once again hit rock bottom over allegations about the Emir pitching tent with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kano.

This time around, the state government appeared not ready to take any prisoners as it orchestrated a move to balkanize the Kano Emirate through the state assembly, a move that scaled through with a lightning speed.

For the first time, the Kano traditional institution which has survived through centuries as an entity under a powerful ruler was reduced in status and significance to five emirates, each with its emir – just five years after the death of Ado Bayero who ruled it for over 50 years. A Kano State High Court has ordered the state government to suspend the carving of new domains and appointment of new emirs.

Also, for first time in the history of Kano, the Kano Emirate Council came under probe by a government agency over alleged financial misappropriation. The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission is investigating the Emirate over alleged “questionable expenditure” to the of N4billion, The investigation was based on petitions to the commission by some friends of the Emirate, who accused the council of embezzling the amount within three years under the watch of Emir Sanusi.

This was followed by a recommendation to the state government by the anti-corruption agency to suspend the Emir and other officials of the council, so as to pave way for unfettered investigation

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/5-years-after-ado-bayero-so-many-changes-in-kano-emirate.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he entrusted the country’s treasury in the hands of women.

Hosting representatives of Nigerian women on a Sallah homage at the State House,Abuja he assured that he would give more recognition to women in his new cabinet.

“I think the biggest trust any leader will entrust, whether in a household, a town or a country is to give the treasury to the women. Since I came women are in charge of the treasury.

“So, I don’t think it is the number that matters, the fundamental thing is who hold the bag. Look at the treasury and look at the civil service. Even with this, you are still asking for more. In the spirit of Oliver Twist, we will watch out the numbers,” he said.

Leading the women, the Senior Special Assitant to the President on Administration, Dr. Hajo Sani, urged Buhari to consider more women in his cabinet.

“We know you have us at the back of your heart and you know we have the women that are capable, women that have the potentials and women that will have value to your administration,” she said.

Also, speaking a former deputy governor of Plateau state, Pauline Tallen prayed that God will continuously grant the president good health, day and night.

Speaking on behalf of the country’s civil servants, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, said “ this time as we move to the next level with you, we will definitely make you proud.”

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-i-entrusted-nigerian-treasury-with-women-buhari.html

There is confusion in the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as factions traded expulsion in the aftermath of the losses the party suffered at the Supreme Court.

The ex- Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s faction yesterday expelled the immediate past deputy governor, Ibrahim Wakkala, the senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, and member representing Kauran Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aminu Jaji, for alleged anti-party activities. The decision was contained in a statement issued, yesterday, by the state Publicity Secretary, Malam Shehu Isah, on behalf of the state chairman.

The statement revealed that the resolution to expel the three politicians was reached at a meeting of the State Executive Committee in Gusau, the state capital, on Sunday.“The provision of Article 21 (A) ii and (D) v of the party’s constitution was activated against the three members for violation of the constitutional provision and engaging in acts inimical to the interest of the party.

“Consequently, a resolution was passed expelling all of them from the All Progressives Congress,” the statement read in part.

The statement, which cited the provision of the party constitution which recommended that any member of the party who files an action in court against the party or any of its officials without first exhausting the avenues for redress, stands expelled, added that the constitution said no appeal against such expulsion shall be entertained until the withdrawal of the court case.

On the other hand, the faction of the APC loyal to Sen. Marafa also announced the expulsion of Yari and and the Deputy National Chairman, North, of APC, Lawali Shuaibu.

The Marafa faction said it took the decision to expel the former governor and Shuaibu at the end of an emergency meeting held in Gusau.

A statement jointly signed by the Factional Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Surajo Garba Mai Katako and the Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Bello Bakyasuwa, made available to Daily Trust in Abuja, said the expulsion was sequel to the electoral misfortune Yari and his co-travellers exposed the party to in Zamfara.

The Marafa faction recalled how the former governor frustrated efforts to conduct primaries last year, thus laying the foundation for the electoral misfortune that befell it in the state.

“After reviewing the outing of our party in the last general election and the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgement, we hereby dismiss the former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari and the Deputy National Chairman Sen Lawali Shuaibu from the APC.

“Following this development, we are urging them to immediately surrender all the belongings of the party in their possession including funds,” the statement said.

The crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the APC reached its climax recently when the Supreme Court sacked all the party’s elected officials and replaced them with the candidates who came second in all the contests.

The PDP became the major beneficiary of the court case instituted by the APC members.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/zamfara-confusion-as-factions-expel-yari-marafa-shuaibu.html

The National Examination Council (NECO) over the weekend scrapped the use of Scratch cards in is examination with the procurement of 8,000 biometric capturing machines worth N500 million.

Speaking in an interview with Journalists at NECO headquarter in Minna at the weekend, the Chairman of Governing Council Abubakar Sadiq said the scratched cards were eliminated because it became a source of financial leakage in NECO and also racketeering. He explained that the racketeers are hoarding cards and students find it difficult to get the cards.

“So we removed scratch card and now with biometric machines people can use their handset to register for the examination and whatever is realized goes straight into our Treasury Single Account (TSA) account, so it will also boast transparency.” He said they want to pass out the benefit of the reduction which the president has made to their own students otherwise they will be cheated.

According to him, the machines will capture every data from every student and school so on examination day, “our monitors will go to schools so all those who have registered will go through a process by placing their finger on the machine to ascertain if they are the candidate registered or not, with this it will be impossible for anyone to impersonate anyone.”

“We are sure this will deal with impersonation and any school or examination centre that refuses to use the machines will be cancelled,” he said.

He also said students will be given numbers at the point of registration to use to access their result.

Also speaking, the Acting Registrar, Abubakar Gana, said the biometric verification machines and the 20 Toyota Hilux vans were procured to tackle impersonation and ease movement of examination materials.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-neco-scrapped-use-of-scratch-cards-in-examination.html

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia North Senatorial District has told senator- elect, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, ( APC) that he can’t get away with what it termed “a stolen mandate”.

The PDP made their stand known during a solidarity visit to the incumbent Senator, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa of thier unflinching support in his bid to recover his “stolen mandate.”

Abia North Zonal Chairman of PDP , Hon Matthew Ibe gave the assurance when he led a delegation of the zonal leadership and other chieftains of the party on solidarity visit to the senator in his Arochukwu country home yesterday.

He said that Abia North PDP as one united family would stop at nothing until “the people’s mandate given to our candidate but forcefully stolen by APC is returned “.

The former lawmaker expressed shock that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued certificate of return to Kalu “even when he was never returned nor declared winner of the Abia North senatorial contest by the Returning officer”.

He urged INEC to withdraw Kalu’s certificate of return and organise re-run election in all the polling units and wards where votes were cancelled.

“This is the height of impunity and rascality for a man who was never returned in an election to be issued with the certificate of return.

“Kalu only scored the highest number of votes by fraudulently allocating figures to himself but still at that, the 10,000 votes margin of win remains a far cry from the over 38,000 total number of canceled votes.

“It is only a question of time and our candidate’s stolen mandate will be restored “, he said.

The PDP Zonal Chairman urged other successful candidates of the party including Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and his Deputy Ude Oko Chukwu not to abandon the senator but relentlessly sustain their support until his mandate is restored.

Responding, Ohuabunwa thanked the delegation for their solidarity , expressing faith that he would get justice at the tribunal.

He said the position of the law and INEC guideline on the principle of margin of win was very clear, and “unambiguously makes it illegal” for a candidate to be returned in an election if the margin of win is less than the number of canceled votes.

Ohuabunwa said “Kalu knows that what he has is a stolen mandate which he will soon surrender. He knows the truth but only thinks he can play smart but unfortunately for him we are resolute in reclaiming the people’s mandate”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/you-cant-get-away-with-a-stolen-mandate-pdp-tells-orji-uzor-kalu.html

Medicine after death

It will never happened in Nigeria my country

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has approved about N1.2bn for consultancy services on four projects.
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu and his Budget and National Planning counterparts, Udoma Udoma disclosed this at the end of the meeting.
Briefing reporters, Adamu said the council approved the extension of consultancy services on two priority ongoing projects of his ministry, at N202.6m.
For his part, Udoma said the council approved two consultancy services project, amounting to N977.7m for the National Social Investment Programme(NSIP).

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fec-approves-n1-2bn-for-consultancy-services-on-four-projects.html

The Plateau chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has passed a vote of no confidence on its Chairman, Mr Damishi Sango, and the Deputy Chairman, Mr Amos Gombi.

The party’s State Executive Council(SEC), in a meeting held in Jos in the early hours of Wednesday, resolved to sack the officials “to save the party’’.

The SEC, whose resolutions were signed by 16 members, appointed Mr Chris Hassan, Vice Chairman of the party in the northern senatorial zone, to take over its leadership as Acting State Chairman.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quotes the resolutions as indicating that the meeting, which was called to appraise “issues arising from the elections’’, resolved to sack the duo over alleged mismanagement of resources sent to the state for the presidential election.

“The resources were not accounted for by the chairman and his deputy. They refused to disclose the amount received from the Presidential Campaign Committee, opting to create a fraudulent unseen template used as `sharing formula’.

“That sharing formula is unknown to the state party structure; up till date, no disclosure has been made by the Chairman and/or the Deputy Chairman,’’ the party officials stated.

The SEC also accused the duo of failing to account for monies raised and saved by the party to help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Gombi is the Chairman of the party’s committee on the IDPs.

“No mention has been made of the funds. No one knows what happened to the funds. Everyone has been kept in the dark,’’ the officials fumed.

They also accused the suspended officials of refusing to account for the money meant for the Plateau State PDP Retreat, adding that no one was aware of how the funds were expended.

The SEC also decried the “arbitrary substitution’’ of the legitimate winner of the party’s ticket to contest the Wase House of Representatives seat, and accused the suspended duo of taking that action “without recourse to the state executive council’’.

“The suspended officials took the decision after some financial inducements. That decision cost the PDP the seat,’’ the SEC further claimed in the resolutions.

The SEC accused the duo of “highhandedness’’ that had plunged the PDP into massive confusion, and particularly deplored the “high disregard’’ for elders, critical stakeholders and members of the state executive council.

“The chairman and his deputy have consistently displayed utter disdain for everyone; they have no time for anyone’s advice, suggestion or decision. No one was relevant in their sight.’’

NAN reports that the state executive council also dissolved the state campaign council and directed its members to return party properties in their possession.

Reacting, Sango, the chairman, said that he was not aware of such development.

“Nobody has told me anything. I don’t know. No one has confronted me with any allegation.

“If they held a meeting, I am not aware of that meeting. I cannot comment. At my age, and with my experience, I cannot comment on something that I have not seen.

“There are enemies seeking to destroy the party. There are some people feeling aggrieved over one thing or the other. They want to destroy the party. But I will deal with them. I will deal with them,’’ he told NAN in a telephone interview. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/plateau-pdp-suspends-chairman-deputy-over-alleged-diversion-of-campaign-idps-funds.html

Senators will decide the voting pattern to be adopted in electing the Senate president during the inauguration of the 9th Assembly in May, Daily Trust has learnt.

Some senators-elect told Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja that they would not allow the 9th Senate to use the current “fraudulent” Senate Standing Rules in electing the presiding officers.

Prior to 2015, the election of presiding officers at the Senate had been through open ballot, where senators would be asked to divide themselves according to their preferred candidates.

However, on the morning of June 9, 2015, when the 8th Senate was to be inaugurated, a new Senate Rules surfaced, which provided that the elections of the Senate president and the deputy Senate president would be done via secret ballot.

Current Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu were elected using that Standing Rules.

After their emergence, the Federal Government filed a forgery case against Saraki, Ekweremadu and the then Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, among others.

But some senators-elect, including Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina), said the existing rule would not be used in the election of the presiding officers in June, noting that they would decide the pattern on that day.

“First of all, as senators, we’re not going to use any existing rule. We’re under no obligation to use either the existing rules or the one before 2015. We’ll decide on the procedure and the pattern to elect the Senate president on that day

“Once we ‎elect the Senate president, from there we’ll continue with other activities. The decision of the senators on that day is paramount. At any rate, we won’t do secret ballot. There’s nobody that will make us to use a fraudulent standing rules that is a subject of litigation.

“We have the right as members of the Senate to decide what we want. Once we have the majority supporting this, we’re good to go. If we see anything that we don’t agree with, we’ll kick against it. We won’t use the one they used in 2015 because of its fraudulent nature and the fact that there’s litigation on it,” he said.

‎Another senator-elect said: “We won’t support anything secret ballot on the election of the Senate president. The truth of the matter is that we are lawmakers that represent different people. We are not the electorate but representatives of the people.

“We should allow our constituents to know what we stand for on issues and not hiding under anything. In other democracies around the world such as America, whatever lawmakers vote for, it is known to everybody. Ours shouldn’t be different.”

Meanwhile, Lagos based constitutional lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that while the first sitting of the elected lawmakers shall be presided over by the Clerk of National Assembly, the established rule for electing officers of the two chambers is expected to be followed in electing leaders among them.

Falana in a telephone interview with Daily Trust correspondent in Lagos however said before the sitting of the lawmakers, there must be a proclamation by the president.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall proclaim the National Assembly. The Clerk will then preside over the first sitting of the lawmakers. He would be the one to swear them into office.

“Of course the National Assembly has its rule on how its leaders are to be elected and that is expected to be followed. And when I say they have their rule, I do not mean a forged rule,’’ Falana said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/leadership-senators-will-decide-voting-pattern-during-inauguration.html

Three students of the Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil have been confirmed dead while two others are injured, following a road accident.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Deputy Head of Information, Publication and Public Relations Unit of the university, Malam Abdullahi D. Abdullahi said the accident occurred at Tudun Gusau village in Takai local government area of Kano state, Friday.

Abdullahi said the five students, who were travelling in a Peugeot 206, tried to dodge a pot hole when the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle and ran into an incoming vehicle from the opposite direction.

He said, “Two students died on the spot while the third died at the hospital. The two injured students were admitted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

“One of the injured students, who suffered minor injury, has been treated and discharged while the other is still receiving treatment.”

He said the corpses of the deceased had been handed over to their respective families for befitting burial.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-auto-crash-claims-3-kano-university-students.html

The 2019 general elections might have come and gone, but the ‘sweet and sour’ tastes it left on both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Both parties recorded gains and losses. Daily Trust Saturday examines how the APC lost Bauchi, Adamawa, Benue, Imo, Sokoto and Oyo states to the PDP, while the ruling party dislodged the opposition party in Gombe and Kwara states.

For Ortom, PDP’s return turned out to be the ‘joker’

The victory of incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom did not come until after the conduct of a supplementary poll held on March 23.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-apc-pdp-shared-states.html