Nigerian authorities have commenced talks with their Republic of Benin counterparts on the possibilities of re-opening the all-important Segbana-Tasimiya border between the two sister countries in Kebbi State
A high powered Nigerian delegation led by the Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Tuga, on Tuesday, May 21, met with the Beniniouse delegation in Segbana to fast track the process of reopening the border posts which has been closed for sometimes now.
A statement issued on Wednesday, May 22, by the Nigerian Customs Service NCS Spokesman, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, which Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale, was part of the Nigerian delegation, noted that the re opening of the border will enhance regional integration and boost economic activities between the two countries.
According to the statement, talks between, the two ECOWAS member States centered largely on issues pertaining to the reopening of the border, logistics, security measures, and the expected economic gains from the reopening exercise.
Feasibility studies were also presented, outlining expected benefits such as increased trade as well as potential challenges.
The meeting equally deliberated on a possible timeline and necessary infrastructural facilities needed for a smooth operation.
The CG NCS at the meeting affirmed that engagement between the two countries has the potentials of impacting positively on their economic growth and development.
Adeniyi noted that the aim of the engagement is to improve the free flow of trade and commercial activities between Nigeria and Benin Republic, particularly through the Northern Border posts.
“To ensure closer working and economic relations between Nigeria and Benin Republic, over the last six months within this collaborative framework , we have been working with our colleagues from the Beninouse Customs Administration to ensure that we bring the economy together through easy border crossing with goods” the CGC stated .
“The Director General of the Benin Republic Customs Administration, Adidjatou Hassan, appreciated the move to reopen the border which, according to him, will strengthen trading activities between the citizens of the two countries.
“This development is expected to increase economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations .
“We are committed to sustaining our seamless collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service ,while enhancing security on our borders, ” Hassan stated .
The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs ,informed that the meeting was in response to the directives of president Bola Tinubu and his Benin Republic counterpart Patrice Talon to strengthen social and economic interaction ,as well as expand trade and commercial ties between the citizens of the two countries .
Other members of the Nigerian delegation to the meeting were the ke3bbi State Government, Nasir Idris, representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance Alhaji Ali Mohammed, and Alabo George, Director General, Border Communities Development Agency among others.
The two countries concluded with a formal statement of commitment as well as an agreement on a scheduled follow-up meeting in June this year.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Council is worried over the spate of harassment of journalists in the guise of making arrest by the Nigerian police.
While we are not averse to the right of citizens seeking redress over legitimate infringement on their right, we believe that constitutional means should be strictly adhered to in doing this.
A condemnable case in point is the commando like raiding of the home of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online).
The manner of arrest leaves much to be desired from a legitimate force of the State, the Nigeria Police which should have been civil instead of intimidating and forcefully whisking away Mr. Onuorah in a manner akin to kidnapping.
We condemn this total abuse of power laced with intimidation and demand the immediate release of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor of the Conclave newspaper, an online platform
The former Bureau Chief of the Guardian Newspaper, and Managing Director of the Authority Newspaper is a thoroughbred professional.
On this. we insist that where any citizen or organisation believe he has a case to answer, then the constitutional path should be activated and followed.
Let it be known that NUJ will never stop holding the government and its institutions accountable for the people.
The reinstatement of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano has opened a fresh twist in the state turbulent political situation.
The former emir was reinstated to his former position following a resolution by the state House of Assembly to dethrone the current Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Leadership reports.
The magazine reported that the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor was dethroned in March 2020 by the immediate past administration of Abdullahi Ganduje.
The former governor currently the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, cited political interference as the major reason for removing Sanusi from the throne.
The LEADERSHIP newspaper claimed in a report that the former emir was reinstated by the Assembly after reviewing the controversial 2019 chieftaincy law under which Lamido was sacked as Emir.
The report said the reinstatement of the ex-emir would be announced officially on Friday by the state the Governor Abba Yusuf-led government.
Quoting credible inside sources, the report stated: “So certainly with the passage of the Bill, Sanusi automatically stands reinstated. No need for confirmation, the thing to is wait for the Governor to assent to it.”
The then restructuring of the Kano Emirate is seen as a political manoeuvre to diminish the influence of then Emir Sanusi II, a vocal critic of the former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration. The creation of the new emirates fragmented the authority of the old Kano Emirate Council, diluting its power and influence.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader of the Kano State House of Assembly, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, who sponsored the Amendment Bill, shortly after Thursday’s session, revealed to journalists that, “the bill has been sent to the governor for assent, now there is no longer an active Emir in Kano in all the five Emirates; Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye. The law now provides the governor to call on the traditional kingmakers to choose a new king.”
Meanwhile, the magazine learned that there is a high security alert in the restive state as a result of this development.
The Source’s correspondents report that policemen and other security forces have now surrounded the ancient city of Kano to forestall any breach of security.
A former Commissioner for Information and Communication, Edo State, under Governor Godwin Obaseki, Adaze Emwanta, now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is not a registered voter in Edo State.
He, also, claimed that most of the campaign promises made by the Governor in 2020 to Edo people had become paper tigers in Government archives.
Emwanta who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, noted that the PDP candidate’s matter raises a moral question.
“He is not even arguing that the voter’s card was not forged. It is only a matter of time for the truth to come out.
“The case even raises a very big moral question. The moral question it raises is that you want people to vote for you in an election that you are not eligible to vote in.
“For me, that is a dramatic irony, because in law we say you cannot give what you don’t have. If you cannot vote in an election, why are you asking Edo electorate to vote for you?
“Only duly registered voters whose names appear in electoral units in Edo and not Lagos are eligible to vote in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
“For the purpose of emphasis and clarity, l make bold to say again that Mr. Asue Ighodalo is not a registered voter in Edo State.
“And I am challenging him now to produce evidence of his valid voters card that makes him an eligible voter in Edo State. Perhaps he is planning to use the proposed continuous voters registration exercise to correct the anomaly of his allegedly forged voter’s card.
“Time will tell. Any Nigerian can transfer his or her voter’s registration history from one geographical location to another, whether inter-state or intra-state.
“For Asue Ighodalo, as l earlier noted, from certified INEC records, it is only in Lagos that he is eligible to vote. Since this matter came up, the PDP candidate and his media hirelings have not said anything about it.
“I dare anyone to say Edo people should vote for him as a governorship candidate, he must provide evidence that he is a registered voter in Edo State.
“It is even more curious, because people are saying that the scheduled INEC Continuous Voters Registration exercise was prompted by some powerful individuals, who intend to manipulate the voters registers in some units across the state.
“Ideally, the exercise is not appropriately an opportunity for those who have discrepancies of a criminal nature in their voting history to avail themselves of, but mainly for the first time voters who were not yet 18 when the last registration exercise took place.
“But I think the governorship candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo should come out clean on this issue. If he is afraid to do so himself, his media men like the Rev should address a press conference to clear the air.
“It is without any atom of doubt that this forgery issue will be a major talking point during the campaigns. This is why Edo needs a proper home boy as their next governor.
“A home boy does not need a continuous voters registration exercise to prove his voting history in his local government of origin. Sadly the people who in 2020 sponsored the Edo nor be Lagos campaign mantra, are registered voters in Lagos.
“What a shame! My party the APC has a candidate whose voting history is as old as the democracy we enjoy in this present Republic. Instead of pursuing shadows, we are receiving more and more decampees from the PDP.
“A Former local government chairman and ALGON president Felix Abumere and immediate past Deputy Chief of Staff Government House Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusor just joined us.
“We are receiving two former Rt. Hon Speakers of Edo State House of Assembly during the period of the official flag off of our campaign. APC remains the party to beat in the forthcoming September Edo governorship election.”
Kano State has reverted to the previous singular Emirate system, with the passage by the State House of Assembly Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024
The bill effectively abolished the establishment of five new Emirates in the State by the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The bill, which scaled through its third reading, on Thursday, nullified the creation of the Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye Emirates alongside the historic Kano Emirate.
All offices created under the repealed law have been dissolved, and District Heads appointed or elevated under the previous legislation are to revert to their former positions.
The bill, titled the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency.
The original law, enacted under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019, was amended twice: first on October 14, 2020, and again on April 11, 2023.
Section 3(1) of the law had established the five distinct emirates, distributing jurisdiction over the 44 Local Government Areas in the State.
Following the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to designate the Emir of Kano as the Chairman of the Council. Section 12 of the law allowed the Governor to grade Emir’s offices as first, second, or third class with the Assembly ’s approval.
A Principal Officer of the Assembly, asserted the Assembly ’s authority, stating, “no Jupiter can stop the Assembly from amending the law.”
Angry reactions have followed the dismissal, by the Nigerian Army of a female soldier, Lance Cpl Jonah Comfort.
Jonah, 15NA/74/4422, was dismissed by the Army on May 17, 2024, on the allegation that she stole a gold wristwatch belonging to the wife of the Commander, 9th Brigade, Nigerian Army under whom she was working.
She, allegedly, stole the wristwatch worth N35m, and sold it to a “Mallam” for the sum of N5m. Subsequently, Jonah was arrested, tried, paraded, dismissed and handed over to the Police. Currently, she is in Police detention.
But the story has irked a number of people, including the dismissed soldier’s colleagues. They say Jonah was framed, and the truth hidden from the public so as to protect the Commander’s wife and son. They say that Jonah was a tea girl attached to the Commander’s office, who was “reduced to a domestic servant in his house.” They allege that the wristwatch was stolen by the Senior Army officer’s son, who Jonah innocently introduced to a buyer when the officer’s son approached her and asked if she knew of a buyer, without knowing that the boy stole his mother’s wristwatch.
They allege that the dismissed soldier only introduced the General’s son to a buyer and was not privy to their discussion and how much the wristwatch was sold. They emphasized that she, also, did not know he stole the wristwatch. They also allege that the true story is being covered so that questions will not be asked as to how the General’s wife, a full time housewife, was able to own a gold wristwatch which worth is N35m and which was auctioned, allegedly by his son for N5m. They are asking for a full investigation into the sordid affair, justice for Jonah and threatening to go to court if the truth is not made public.
One of those incensed by the dismissal of Jonah, Abudu Akinolola Olumayowa, a retired Combat Engineer, at a press conference he addressed condemned what he described as Jonah’s humiliation by the Army and said he wanted to set the record straight
Following is the full text of the Press Conference.
“It has come to my attention that a distorted and malicious narrative has been circulating regarding15NA/74/4422 Lance Cpl Jonah Comfort, a tea girl to 9brigade Commander.
“As a person familiar with the true series of events, I find it imperative to set the record straight and shed light on the actual course of events that transpired.
Contrary to the fabricated story,
“Lance Cpl Jonah Comfort was wrongfully accused, tried, and dismissed from the Nigerian Army for an alleged theft of a gold wristwatch belonging to the wife of 9brigade Commander.
“The truth is that Comfort merely acted as an intermediary between the Officer’s son and a buyer for the wristwatch.
“In reality, the Officer’s son, unbeknownst to her parents, sought to sell a wristwatch that belonged to her mother. Upon learning of Comfort’s acquaintance with a buyer, the daughter approached her, and Comfort, acting in good faith, connected the two parties. The son and the buyer independently negotiated and completed the transaction without any involvement from Comfort beyond the initial introduction.
“Tragically, instead of addressing the delinquent behavior of their son, the Officer and his wife chose to misuse their positions of authority to shift the blame onto Comfort.
“The wristwatch’s disappearance was deceitfully linked to Comfort, leading to her arrest, and ultimately, her unjust dismissal on May 17, 2024.
“Comfort’s family, friends, and colleagues are still utterly shocked and dismayed by this miscarriage of justice.
“Many firmly believe that “something must have gone wrong somewhere” for such a gross manipulation of the truth to occur.
“This egregious misuse of power not only harms Comfort’s reputation but undermines the integrity of the entire Nigerian Army
.
“In the interest of justice and fairness, I implore you to reconsider this case and launch an impartial investigation into the matter.
“It is crucial that Comfort’s name be cleared, and those responsible for the fabrication of this story be held accountable.
“Thank you for taking the time to consider this urgent matter. I trust that you will prioritize the truth and work towards ensuring that justice prevails.”
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Chukwuemeka Woke, a former chief of Staff to Nyesom Wike as the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA.
The appointment was contained in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy on Wednesday.
Recall that Woke served as former Governor Wike’s chief of staff for many years. He was recently appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA by the president.
His appointment into the ‘lucrative’ oil agency, according to those watching the political crisis in Rivers state between Wike, now FCT minister and Governor Simi Fubara has further proved the influence of the former governor in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Magnus Abe, a chieftain of the APC in the state recently described Wike as very powerful and one of the influential officials in Tinubu’s administration.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan while speaking on the crisis in the oil rich state also described Wike and Fubara, his former political ally as “young’ and “powerful”.
The FCT minister must have brought his influence to the table in ensuring that those close to him received government appointments.
Onanuga in the statement said Woke has been redeployed to NOSDRA while the President has appointed Dr Adedeji Ashiru to replace him in OORBDA.
Below is the statement titled “PRESIDENT TINUBU GIVES WOKE ANOTHER JOB, APPOINTS ASHIRU AS CEO OGUN-OSUN RIVER BASIN”
President Bola Tinubu has reassigned Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) as its director general.
Woke was initially given the job as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA).
To replace Woke as head of the OORBDA, President Tinubu has appointed Dr. Adedeji Ashiru.
Woke, besides being an engineer, is an environmental specialist and politician. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering. He served under the environmental, safety, and operations departments of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He was Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years.
Dr. Ashiru holds a Doctorate degree in Engineering from the Common Wealth University, UK, and has led a consortium of blue-chip companies, in addition to earning many stripes in his professional endeavour.
The Military High Command on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, said it cannot be distracted, nor perturbed by unsubstantiated accusations against the operational ethos of officers and men of the Nigerian Military.
This is even as it has challenged the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Umar Dikko Radda, to butress his allegation that the military is profiting from the ongoing banditry and other insurgent activities in some parts of the Northern Region.
The Source reports that the Governor, whose State is one of the epicentres of banditry, kidnappings, and other violent criminal activities in the Northern Region, had in an interview with the Channels Television attributed the festering insecurity in the region to the fact that it has become a lucrative industry for some people and security operatives, including the Military.
Governor Radda had insisted that the personal interests of some people ,including Military personnel supposedly leading the battle line against bandits and other criminal elements are part of the reasons the insecurity situation in the region has been difficult to halt.
But the Military Authorities have not only faulted the Governor’s allegation, but also described it as distractive and potentially capable of demoralising the troops currently engaged in the fight against insurgency in the Northern region.
Edward Buba, a major General, and spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters at a briefing in Abuja said the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not join issues with Governor Radda but rather will want him to come forward to substantiate his claims.
“In the light of the aforementioned statement by the Governor ,the armed forces of Nigeria elect not to join words with him ,but would encourage him to approach the military high command to substantiate his allegations.
“It is worthy of note to state that the AFN ,led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa ,has zero tolerance for indiscipline in the conduct of operations across the country .
“It is for this reason that there are standing court marshalls to treat any form of misbehaviour by troops ,especially those that portray the military negatively to the general public.
“Meanwhile, the Military remains unperturbed by such statements capable of demoralising the troops in theatres of operation. Rather we will continue on the trajectory of conducting operations as well as working assiduously in the fight against terrorism” the Defence spokesman stated.
The moral decadence among youths and abuse of drugs has prompted the Federal Government to prohibit the glamorizing of money ritüal scenes, smôking and other social vices in the Nigeria Movie Industry, Nollywood.
The Ban by the FG was disclosed by the Executive Director/CEO of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini.
Husseini said that the Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money ritüals and glamourising of vices in Nigerian films.
He made this disclosure at the National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday.
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, in partnership with NFVCB, organised the event in the South Eastern State.
Movie producers, Directors and Actors drawn from different parts of the country, as well as leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry were present at the event.
Husseini said that today, we are facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from all parents, guardians and stakeholders.
“When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed on the need to make a subsidiary legislation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies, he saw the need to include money ritüals.
“Others included in the regulation are ritüal killings and glamourising other crimes in order to further sanitise the film industry.
“Today, I am delighted to announce to you that the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004 has approved the regulation.
“The Minister has approved the Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024.
“We have also forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette,” he said.
Husseini said the sensitisation programme was to educate stakeholders on the danger inherent in consummation of smoking in Nigerian movies.
According to him, besides the health implications, glamourising smoking in films poses a negative influence on teens and young adults who constitute the largest segment of Nigeria movie viewers.
He said that the board was set to undertake detailed enlightenment programmes in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions.
“As you all know, the film industry occupies a central position in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is imperative that we continue to place the highest premium on the progress of the film industry.
“The NFVCB supports smoke-free movies and supports smoke-free Nollywood, and we therefore seek your collaboration to develop creative content that discourages smoking and promotes positive health messages.
“ After series of engagements, the NFVCB in collaboration with the CAPPA decided to do a ‘subsidiary regulations’ to cater for smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.
“The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and began implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate,” he said.
Days after accusing the immediate past Governor of the State, Professor Ben Ayade, of incurring huge debt for the State and declaring that the House under his leadership was poised to recover all assets of the State allegedly in possession of the former Governor, the Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Elvert Ayambem has lost his position fuelling speculations that his ouster was engineered by loyalists of the former Governor who dominate the House.
Government House sources suggest that Governor Bassey Otu got wind of the plot by some House members to remove the Speaker days before it was actualised but decided to play the ostrich.
For one, Ayambem was not the choice of both the Governor and his successor, Professor Ayade, for the office of the Speaker, hence his surprise emergence as Speaker on June 13, last year shocked both leaders.
Secondly, Governor Otu, still grateful to Professor Ayade for giving him the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC over and above his staunch allies, including the current Senator representing Cross River South in the Senate, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, has been very careful not to carry out actions suggestive of a probe of his benefactor’s administration hence the Governor was reportedly rankled when Rt. Hon Ayambem addressed a press conference in Abuja and hinted the House’s resolve to probe the former Governor.
The magazine was told that Governor Otu may have refrained from intervening to save Ayambem to demonstrate that he was not in cahoot with him in the probe quest.
Hon. Hilary Bisong: Tipped to take over
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja last week, the ousted Speaker had said: “The loans that the previous administration acquired have relatively placed us on edge right now. You can’t quantify it because it is much and it is heavy, which is relatively placing the House on an edge.
“We understand that the Governor is going through a lot because of the loans. That is our worries too. I wish the governor we have today came and met a sizable loan that he can repay, it would have helped a great deal. You know he is trying to finish the Airport, that International Cargo Airport in Obudu.
“There is one thing I like so much about the Governor. Do you know as much as most of these projects were done by the previous government, he picks those ones that he knows, these ones are realistic.
“He embarks on them. What is he projecting, continuity. And me too, I went and met him to say, Sir, it’s not every of these projects that were left behind by the former Governor, that you should give a listening ear to.
“And we discovered lately that almost all those ones that are viable were concessioned two days before leaving the office. And who are those people that these projects were concessioned to, you realize that it’s friends and family. But all of them are concessioned to one person. You bring this one, he would say the name of the company is this, this other one the name of the company is this.
“Meanwhile, you have 90 per cent ownership in those companies. I can tell you that in all of these projects you hear about concessioning, no dime was paid into Cross River State Government coffers. Not one dime. Prove me anywhere, not one dime was deposited into Cross River State account.
“Okay, look at Transcorp, Cross River State Government has 30 per cent shares in Transcorp (Metropolitan) Hotel and right now I think my members are on it. The last time they had a meeting with Transcorp, where they interfaced with the management of Transcorp, they could not account for a dime that was paid to Cross River State Government coffers.
“They could not, and now we are hearing they sold it outrightly. Okay if you have sold it outrightly, where is the position of Cross River State Government, the 30 per cent shared that Cross River State government had, was there any seeding off of a dime to its coffers at any time.
“Look at the Garment Factory, the Ogoja Rice Mill and all of that, all of those industries have been concessioned but there is no document anywhere that shows that a dime was deposited into Cross River State Government coffers. Not a dime”, he said.
“There is a whole lot we are doing to fix the problem. For the moment we are taking it gradually but let me give you an inside of it, we have taken down the total numbers of these infrastructures and industries that were concessioned in the previous administration.
“And we are taking them one after the other. At the end of the day, we will revoke all of that nonsense done that they call concession.
“Take it from me, we will revoke all. We will, because you cannot concession any state government infrastructure and don’t deposit a dime into the state government’s coffers. It is not done anywhere in the world.
“You will see faceless people telling you, I am the concessionaire, I don’t understand, when you trace it and go in-depth, you are alarmed with what you would see.
“People would say, ‘he is on vendetta’. No. No person is on any personal vendetta.”
In his 40s, Ayambem who represents Ikom 11 state constituency was early Wednesday impeached by 17 out 25 members of the House.
In an impeachment notice circulated to online news media by the 17 law makers who ousted him, the Speaker was removed on four grounds, bordering on financial misconduct, incompetence and wrong conduct of preliminary proceedings; non-compliance with the Cross River State Legislature Fund Management Law 2021, and total failure to convene a leadership meeting.
“We bring this all important Motion under matters of urgent public importance inline with Order 24 of the Rules of the Cross River State House of Assembly and pursuant to Section 92(2)(C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered.
“Having met the Constitutional requirements of two-third majority, we the under-listed members of the Cross River State House of Assembly hereby pass a vote- of-no- confidence on Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the House of Assembly and he is hereby REMOVED,” a part of the impeachment notice read.
Hon. Ayambem is also accused of misappropriation of the sum of N48,000,000.00 (Forty-Eight Million Naira) meant to pay Electricity bills for the House of Assembly complex and the House of Assembly Quarters.
Misappropriation of 2% of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) monthly for oversight functions of the House of Assembly in line with Section 18(a)(i) of the Cross River State Revenue Administration Law 2011 as amended to the tune of N404,683,855.10 (Four Hundred and Four Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira, Ten Kobo),Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437, 844.00 (Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and forty-five Naira) from Local Government deduction and 11 months deductions which he allegedly failed to disclose to members.
Meanwhile, though the 17 lawmakers were yet to name a new Speaker at press time, there are feelers that a ranking House member who is the former Governor’s loyalist, Hon. Hilary Bisong will succeed Ayambem. He was among the 17 members who signed the impeachment notice.
Hon. Bisong who represents Boki state constituency is the son of the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi.He lost to Hon. Anyamben in the contest for the Speakership last year.
