Saraki Loses As Appeal Court Clears Way For Corruption Trial

The Abuja division of the court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by senate president, Bukola Saraki challenging his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The appeal court dismissed all 5 issues raised by Saraki in the appeal. Two of the three panel of judges ruled that his appeal lacks merit. This implies that the Code of Conduct will still go ahead with Saraki's trial.

INEC Chairman: Buhari has shown he is sectional leader - Fayose

Read the press statement below..

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the appointment of yet another northerner, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a vindication of his position that “President Mohammadu Buhari is a sectional leader, who sees himself mainly as leader of the Hausa/Fulani, and not that of the entire people of Nigeria.” 

MASSOB faction condemns arrest of Radio Biafra Director

ABAKALIKI-THE faction of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB weekend called on the Federal government to immediately release the Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu who was arrested by the Department of State Security, DSS in Lagos state.

Director of pirate radio, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu

In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the National Director of Information, MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu threatened that any refusal by the federal government to ensure the release of Kanu would lead to a world wide demonstration, protest which would endanger the already battered image of Nigeria before the international communities.

The statement read in part: “MASSOB Faction condemned the cowardly arrest and detention of Radio Biafra Director but also accept the fact that it is part of non violence struggle; no agitation is complete without arrest, detention & prosecution.

“It shape the minds of the activist, drawing sympathy from the internal and external observers. It also shows that Nnamdi Kanu and Radio Biafra have become a factor of reckoning in Nigeria.

“The arrest & detention of Nnamdi Kanu by DSS will assist immensely in reviving the consciousness & sympathy for Biafra actualization in higher dimension which was temporary halted by Ralph Uwazuruike’s deviation & lust of wealth.

“This singular arrest will cause more diplomatic harm on Nigeria’s image than good. Before Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, he has succeeded in rooting the Biafra struggle in about 78 countries including Biafraland

“Through Radio Biafra, International tour & secret diplomatic build up. MASSOB warns Nigeria Govt to quickly release Nnamdi Kanu now or arraign him in a competent court of justice or face an eruption of Biafra world wide demonstration, protest which will endanger the already battered image of Nigeria before the international communities and cause more diplomatic harm to Nigeria”

Names in president Buhari's second ministerial list

The new ministerial nominees sent to the senate by President Buhari yesterday October 10th was read by Senate president Bukola Saraki this morning. They include;

Brigadier-general NM Dan Ali, Rtd

Prof. Isaac Adewole (prictured above) a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology and UI's Vice Chancellor

James Ocholi: APC governorship aspirant in Kogi state

Anthony Anwuka, a professor of education administration

Okechukwu Enelamah, the CEO of African Capital Alliance.

PDP Reps challenge Buhari to publish Jonathan’s handover notes; APC members oppose

The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to publish the handover notes of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the official  gazette of the federation.

The resolution,Tuesday, at resumption of plenary after a recess, followed a motion by Uzom Nkem-Abonta who observed that only officials of the presidency have access to the document at the moment.

Mr. Abonta however noted that “some extant laws may place restrictions on the publication of the document” even though it is a public document.

He stated, “Handover note would expectedly have captured the activities, projects, programmes achievements and constriants of thr last administration,  including counsel to the new administration on the way forward.”

Mr. Abonta said the publication would help the legislators, especially new members, and members of the public have authentic information about the state of the nation and monitor the activities of the government.

Without having the document, the legislators may not be able perform their functions “effectively”, he added.

The House therefore resolved that the President Buhari should “publish, in the official gazette of the federation, save for information restricted by law, the Handover Note and the accompanying documents of the Administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to enable interested Nigerians and other residents access it for information and record purposes”.

But before the resolution was reached through voice vote, some members, including All Progressives Congress duo of Femi Gbajabiamila and Pally Iriase, opposed the motion.

They argued that the motion was needless since there is Freedom of Information Act with which the document can be accessed.

As alternative, Mr. Gbajabiamila urged Mr. Abonta to  present a bill that would lead to promulgation of a “National Transition Act” that would inculcate all issues regarding transition and handing over.

But Aminu Shagari, T. J. Yusuf, and Leo Ogor supported the motion, emphasizing transparency.

“What we saying is that let the truth be told to Nigerians,” Mr. Ogor stated.

Ex Akwa Ibom gov, Akpabio announced as Senate Minority Leader

Immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio has been announced as the Senate Minority leader. His nomination is against the rules of the senate that exempts first time senators from becoming Senate Minority leaders. He was nominated by the South South Senators in the Senate. Senator Emmanuel Bwacha was named Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda becomes Minority Whip and Senator Bioudun Olujimi is Deputy Minority Whip.

Court determines suit between Nigeria, Biafra on Sept 22

The Supreme Coun­cil of Elders of In­digenous People of Biafra, has dissoci­ated itself from the brains behind Radio Biafra and their operations, which it said were inciting, bel­ligerent and full of hate speeches. We have no busi­ness with any group or individual not operating under our customary laws and in obedience to the laws of Nigeria”, It stated.

In a statement signed by its Deputy chairman, Dr Dozie Ikedife, the pro-Bi­afra group said that the pres­sure group did not believe in threat or wars, illegality, insults and abuse of indi­viduals or groups in pursuit of self-determination for in­digenous people anywhere.

“The leadership of the indigenous people of Biafra under the customary laws and in obedience to the laws of Nigeria do not subscribe to violence, rough or abu­sive language. We know that the law has created a wide window, indeed a door, for actualising self determina­tion for indigenous people not just of Biafra but for any other indigenous group.” Dr Ikedife said.

Meanwhile, September 22, 2015, has been fixed for the next hearing of the suit against Nigeria by the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra using its legal arm, Bilie Human Right Initia­tive at the Federal High Court, Owerri.

In suit no FHC/OW/ CS/192/2013, the Bilie Hu­man Rights Initiative rep­resenting the Indigenous People of Biafra, who are indigenes of the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria, parts of South South and the Middle Belt zones, as claimants and Federal Republic of Nige­ria, Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants, according to the originating summons, sought to en­force their right to self-de­termination pursuant to Ar­ticles 19 -25 of the African Charter on Human and Peo­ples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and to re­dress all wrongs occasioned on them by the defendants. As a result, the claimants are praying for the determi­nation by the court whether the Indigenous People of Bi­afra, who are the remnants that were not consumed in the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967 –1970, have the right of self-determination pursu­ant to Articles 19 –25 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The summons also sought the determination by the court whether the claimants who identified themselves as Biafrans by indigenous identity were committing any offence by doing so contrary to any provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nige­ria 1999 or contrary to any provision of the Criminal Code and whether it is a crime under any national or international law to mention the name of Biafra or for the remnants of the Indigenous People of Biafra who were not consumed by the war to maintain their indigenous identity as Biafrans with their native emblems and symbols as they do now even though they are Ni­gerians by citizenship and nationality laws; and if the answer is in the negative, whether the defendants are justified to arrest, shoot and kill the children of the claimants for identifying themselves as Biafrans.

SOURCE: sunnewsonline

PDP urges Buhari against cosmetic governance...says ‘Let your works speak for you’

Press statement from the PDP...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a responsible political party made a promise to President Muhammadu Buhari that it would not get involved in distracting or detracting him from delivering good governance to the Nigerian people. This has informed our restrained position on a number of issues that ordinarily we would have made comments on.

It’s time to move on, Atiku tells Tinubu, other APC leaders

A former Vice President and chieftain of APC, Atiku Abubakar, has urged leaders of the All Progressives Congress to shift from “extreme positions to a centrist one for the interest of democracy and the party, the new administration and the country at large”.

The former Vice President made the call Thursday against the backdrop of the APC NEC meeting in Abuja on Friday, 3 July.

A statement released by his media office in Abuja on Thursday, 2 July quoted the former Vice President as calling for the concentration of positive energies on building unity, cohesion and harmony among party leaders and other stakeholders.

House Crisis: APC lawmakers vow to ensure Speaker Dogara obeys party

Some members of the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives have vowed to ensure the position of the party on the choice of principal officers in the House, prevails.

The lawmakers made this known at a press conference after crisis erupted in the House Thursday.

Nasiru Zango Daura, a member representing Zango/Baure Federal constituency of Katsina State, spoke on behalf of the lawmakers.

Fracas erupted in the House following agitation by the lawmakers that the party’s nominees for the key leadership positions be upheld.

The National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, had in a letter to the Speaker, Takubu Dogara, nominated Femi Gbajabiamila as House Leader, Alhassan Doguma as Deputy House Leader, Mohammed Monguno as Chief Whip and Parry Iriase as Deputy Whip.

However, when the House resumed sitting Thursday, the Speaker called on the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Rules and Business, Orke-Jeff Immanuel, to move a motion to that effect that the House dissolve into Executive session.

Mr. Dogara had hardly finished speaking when Balarabe Salame, a member from Sokoto State raised a Point of Order.

This however set the pace for some of the lawmakers to move towards the mace apparently suspecting that there would be attempt to take it away.

Consequently the members struggled to seize the mace thereby forcing the Serjeant- at-Arms to smuggle it out of the chamber.

As members who wanted the party’s views on the matter respected chorused “APC”, others loyal to Mr. Dogara shouted “Dogara.”

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party members of the House were responding with “APC shame”.

Explaining the reason for rancorous session, Nasiru Daura, Katsina State, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers loyal to the APC lawmakers, said it was a reaction to Mr. Dogara’s disregard for the party and wishes of the majority of its members in the House.

He said majority of the APC lawmakers were i support of Mr. Gbajabiamila emerging the House Leader.

He said, “The action that occurred inside the chamber of the House of Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and unconstitutional action taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives, an action in his usual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of the majority members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus, the Party itself and the spirit of the Party.

“We are aware of a letter sent by our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dated 23rd June 2015 conveying the approval of the Party’s Principal Officers vis a vis the APC House Leader, the APC Chief Whip, the APC Deputy House Leader and the APC Deputy Chief Whip for the House of Representatives.

“This letter by the Party is in compliance with the expressed wish and mandate of the Majority Members of the All Progressives Congress APC Caucus in the House of Representatives.

“This action of the Party and the APC House Caucus is in compliance with the Nigerian Constitution, the House Rules and Parliamentary tradition, practices and precedents in Nigeria and all over the World,” said Mr.Daura flanked by scores of other APC lawmakers.

Continuing, he said, “But to our surprise and in breach of our privilege and rights as contained in the Constitution and extant House Rules, Mr. Speaker refused to read the letter from our party.

“The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are not Party Principal Officers but are House of Representatives Presiding Officers and by precedent and practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the Party Principal Officers are supposed to be the main advocates for their individual party positions.

“The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in the National Assembly.

“Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House Rules Appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on how Party Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each Party and Party’s Caucus members in the House.

“If I may ask, is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP House Caucus?”

PREMIUM TIMES reliably gathered that the lawmakers, who want the party’s view respected, had planned for a show down with the Speaker’s supporters.

The source, a lawmaker, said if Mr. Dogara had his way at the expense of the party, APC would become “opposition” in its own government.

“Of the 10 members that constitute the House leadership, 4 will be from PDP, should those that are not loyal to the party emerge, it means APC is an opposition. Of course, he is saying the party should take two of the four principal offices due to APC. Even at that it follows, APC has just 2 persons in House leadership, while PDP and Dogara have 8 because there is no difference between them,” the source said.

Monguno Forgoes Chief Whip Position

Meanwhile, Mr. Monguno, who had been selected by the APC to clinch the position of Chief Whip, has stepped down from the race.

A member of the House, Parry Iriase from Edo State, disclosed this on Thursday.

He said the action was taken “graciously” by Mr. Monguno, who hails from Borno State, to ensure unity in the caucus.

Mr. Iriase is expected to take the position of Chief Whip if the party’s directive prevails.

PDP caucus blast APC leadership and Reps

The Peoples Democratic Party members in the House of Representatives lambasted the APC over the events of Thursday.

Leo Ogor spoke on behalf of the PDP members.

“A very embarrassing and unpleasant action took place from the APC group, they decided to take laws into their hands, turned the house upside down and went as far as even carrying the mace which is the symbol of authority.

“Today became like a wasted day because motions that were supposed to have been taken that border on matters of national urgent importance that affect our constituencies. A host of other issues we were unable to take them due to unacceptable action that u saw on d floor of the house, Mr. Ogor said.

He appealed to the APC members to always respect rules and due in their actions however the situation.

“I want to appeal specifically to the leadership of APC that there clear processes in addressing issues, this approach will not solve any problem. They have crisis within their own party, they should be able to resolve it than bring it to the green chamber.

“I find what happened today very embarrassing and if this is the kind of leadership and change they are trying to bring to Nigerians, we are not going to accept this modality of change,” he added.

“It is in our collective interest that we respect te principles of democracy
In every democracy, the majority will always have their way and the minority will have their say. When elections were conducted, that election was very transparent and which Dogara emerged.

“As a speaker he is no more a speaker of APC he is a speaker of the house of representatives, he is guided by the 1999 constitution and our oath of allegiance stipulates very clearly that we will respect the constitution of the fed republic of Nigeria without fear or favour,” he further stated.

However, in a statement, the Ad hoc committee on House Media apologised to Nigerians for the rowdy session.

NASS crisis: APC Govs meet with Buhari, urge APC Senators to respect the wishes of the party

Following the lingering crises in the National Assembly over the appointment of principal officers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, APC Governors late Tuesday night had a closed door meeting with Pres. Buhari to discuss on ways to resolve the matter. At the end of the meeting, the Governors called on APC members in the National Assembly to respect the wishes of the party regarding appointment of principal officers. 

APC Senators defy party, nominate Ali Ndume as Majority leader

All Progressives Congress senators have nominated Ali Ndume as the Majority Leader of the Senate, in defiance of the party’s directive that Ahmed Lawan be given the role.

Mr. Lawan lost the senate presidency election to Bukola Saraki, despite being the party’s official candidate.

NASS Crisis: Saraki blocks moves to read APC’s letter

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a move by some All Progressives Congress Senators to read the letter from the APC leadership recommending some senators to occupy specific principal officers of the senate.

Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos East), who relied on Order 15 of the Senate Standing Order, urged that the President of the Senate should read on the floor of the chamber the letter from the party.

“Yesterday, most of the media houses carried a letter that was written by the chairman of our great party, the APC.

APC reacts to PDP's call for Fashola's administration to be probed

The Lagos state chapter of APC has reacted to the call by PDP members in the state asking the incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to probe the administration of former governor, Babatunde Fashola. APC reacted in a statement released by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe today June 24th. The statement in part reads

“Lagos PDP has lost it and is in a journey of self derision and ridicule. APC is not surprised that Lagos PDP continues to demonstrate traits that show it as a jesting group that has no meaningful thing to contribute to the growth and progress of Lagos.
We would have thought that Lagos PDP would, for once, be moved by moral imperatives to demand that President Muhammadu Buhari probe and punish the perpetrators of what is becoming the most horrifying economic crime done to Nigeria by the PDP mandarins especially in the past 16 years.

They are not, rather they are asking Governor Ambode to ‘probe’ the poster regime for productive and accountable governance in this republic. What a party? We want to let the lost and confused parodists in Lagos PDP know that Governor Ambode has hit the ground running just because he has a rich template of productive governance to continue with,” the party said.

Nigerian Senate Crisis: Saraki Blocks Ekweremadu’s Removal

Attempt by Senators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to begin the process of nullification of the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was swiftly nipped in the bud during Senate Plenary of Wednesday by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Senator Kabiru Marafa, one of the leading supporters of Lawan had raised a point of order where he observed that the election of Ekweremadu was in breach of the Senate standing rules during the Wednesday plenary.

All APC state chairmen vows to support says Buhari, says Odigie-Oyegun

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Wednesday met behind closed-doors with the chairmen of the 36 state chapters of the party.

The meeting which lasted for a little over four hours is the first of its kind since the party won the Presidential election on March 28.

After the meeting, the Chairmen of the state chapters of the party expressed support for the position taken by President Muhammadu Buhari and Odigie-Oyegun with respect to the emergence of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

PDP rejects call for Buhari's resignation

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has denounced a group that called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign, following the president’s remarks that at 72, there is a limit to what he could do.

The president made the comments while speaking to Nigerians living in South Africa.

The group, styled PDP Media Watchdog, said the president merely acknowledged what the PDP had long warned Nigerians about.

In its reaction, the PDP dissociated itself from the statement.

Read PDP statement, signed by spokesperson Olisa Metuh, below:

Nigerians take to Twitter to slam Dino Melaye for calling APC leaders to address wardrobe allowance report

Senator Dino Melaye earlier today reacted to the alleged N8.64 billion wardrobe allowance being given to National Assembly members. In his statement which he posted on twitter, Melaye called on APC leaders to 'take a stand on the bogus NASS allowance'.

Nigerians are now blasting him for calling on the same APC National leaders he disrespected by working with Saraka against the party during the National Assembly election. See their tweets after the cut..

Senator denies NASS members will be recieving N8.64bn wardrope allowance, says it's for miscelleanous expenses

A member of the National Assembly, Senator Ajayi Borrofice representing Ondo North has come out to deny reports that the National Assembly Members will be given N8.64bn as wardrobe allowance.

Speaking to ThisDay, Senator Borrofice said the controversial N8.64bn to be released to members of the National Assembly is for miscellaneous or regular expenses such as motor vehicle fueling and maintenance, wardrobe, domestic staff, personal assistant, constituency office, house maintenance, utilities and entertainment, among other perks, for the entire 469 lawmakers in the National Assembly.


Senator Borrifice said the miscellaneous allowance also includes cost of securing and equipping constituency offices in various local government areas which make up their constituencies and also includes monies to be used by lawmakers to organize town hall meetings in their various constituencies.

He said it was wrong for the public to believe they will be using N8.64 billion just for clothes.

According to him, the wardrobe allowance is the least significant to the assembly members. He stated that the miscellaneous allowance they will receive will be deducted in tranches from their salaries.

The report of the lawmakers collecting N8.64 billion as their wardrobe allowance surfaced yesterday June 16th with most Nigerians strongly condemning it.

APC Governors call for federal bailout over salary crisis

APC Governors met last night to meet over the salary crisis in some states. At the meeting, the governors called on the Federal government to a setup a bailout plan for the states that have not been able to pay civil servants their salaries for many months. Spokesperson of governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state blamed bad economic policies of the past government for the current financial crisis facing state governments at the moment