Home Blog Page 1746

‘Vote For Your Future’, Obi Charges Nigerians At Kwara Rally

By
The Source
-
0
Petrer Obi in Kwara

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has urged the people of Kwara state and indeed the rest of Nigerians to vote for their future on February 25, 2023.

Obi and his campaign train arrived in Ilorin, Kwara state capital on Monday to the warm embrace of a large crowd of  Obidient family singing to him that he is the best as he told the people that a new Nigeria is possible and in their hands.

He urged the people to vote for trustworthy persons, not people who have no trace of good records in the past where they were.

Addressing the crowd after paying a courtesy call on the paramount ruler of the ancient City of Ilorin, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji IbrahimKolapo Sulu Gambari Dan Bawa, Obi charged the people to reject deceit from those who will come with religious and ethnic sentiments because they used it all along to hold the country down.

Obi said that over the years successive governments have been producing insecurity and poverty and making Nigeria one of the poorest nations in the World.

He told the people that he and Datti are in the race to build a new and working Nigeria where the people will be United and live in harmony.

“Only Datti and I are saying vote for character, vote for competence, they come to you with sentiments of tribe and religion, when they come with those divisive sentiments tell them you have no job, and let them tell you how to get the job”

Obi said that Kwara state is among the states in the North he and Datti have mapped out for a great agricultural revolution in line with the consumption-to-production mantra of his manifesto if elected.

“They will come to you with money, to buy your votes but I urge you to collect their money and vote your conscience, vote for competence and capacity, vote for those who will make New Nigeria possible. Collect their money and vote for papa mama picken”

According to Obi, the voters should ask questions, what has umbrella done for us when we voted for them if not corrupt or is it the broom that brought poverty in the land, “this is the time to vote for human beings with the capacity and capabilities to deliver good governance and stabilize our country.

The Vice Presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmad also spoke in this line that he and Obi are coming to give Nigerians sincere leadership away from corruption and deceit.

The LP National Chairman Comrade Julius Abure told the people that their destiny is in their hands as the party has provided them the rescuers in Obi and Datti and it was left for them to vote them into office.

The high point of the rally was a minute silence in honor of the Kwara state Commissioner for Women Affairs who died recently.

Obi also commended the Kwara state government for providing the facility for the rally saying it’s in the spirit of a new Nigeria where people will live in peace and concord as brothers and sisters.

Ekweremadu Paid Rogue Kidney Donor £2,400 And Offer To Work In UK; Police  Says Victim Was A Trader

By
The Source
-
0
David Ukpo Nwamini and Ike Ekweremadu

By Gideon Njoku

The 21-year old boy who former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Dr Beatrice Ekweremadu, allegedly trafficked to the United Kingdom for the sole purpose of harvesting one of his kidneys, was a trader in Nigeria.

Their 25-year old daughter, Sonia, suffers from a kidney disease, and needed a transplant. Her parents  allegedly, picked the boy after medically testing a few others to get a match. The test, the prosecution said, was carried out in Nigeria before he was picked as a match for the donation.

Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested at the Heathrow Airport, London, in June, 2022, as the couple arrived from Istanbul, Turkey.

They were charged with a criminal trafficking for organ harvesting, a charge they deny. Charged along with them are Sonia, and a London-based Nigerian Medical Doctor, Obinna Obeta.

When the case came up on Monday, February 6, 2023, at Old Bailey Court, Prosecutor, Hugh Davies KC,  described the Ekweremadu family as “close, open and loving, with a direct interest in Sonia’s medical treatment.”

He, however, said it was criminal to offer one a reward for organ donation. This seems to be the main problem of the Ekweremadu’s.

Hugh said that the Ekweremadus deliberately went to financially vulnerable people for the solution to their daughter’s problem.

“He and his associates began the search for a donor among economically vulnerable people in Nigeria, with the right blood and genome types.

“There was an obvious risk that those providing organs for reward are likely to come from the poorest and most vulnerable  sections of society.”

Hugh said that when they got a match in the 21year old, he was offered an equivalent of £2,400, and an opportunity to live and work in London.

The prosecution, also, said that the false  impression was created that the alleged victim and Sonia are Cousins.

He said: “None of this would have been necessary if this was a straightforward, genuine, altruistic kidney donation. It was not. It was criminal. In the real world, altruistic donors are an exceptionally rare commodity.”

The Ekweremadus and Dr Obeta deny the allegations of plotting to exploit the alleged victim.

The former Deputy Senate President and Dr Obeta have been in custody since their arrest. They were denied bail. Mrs Ekweremadu was granted bail after two months in jail. Sonia, because of her health and treatment, was never locked up.

The case continues.

“Peter Obi Is My Leader, But I Will Not Vote For Him” – Senator Ekwunife

By
The Source
-
0
Uche Ekwunife and Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

Senator Uche Ekwunife, a political ally of Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, until they parted ways when Obi quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has given reasons why she will neither work for, nor vote Obi at the February 25, 2023.

Ekwunife is from Obi’s Anambra State.

She spoke on the heels of a report which, a couple of days ago, quoted her as saying she would vote Obi, and urged her followers to, also, vote Obi. She had, allegedly, asked them to vote PDP in all the other elections, except the Presidential election.

Ekwunife was alleged to have  said that while addressing her constituents due to the backlash she received when she earlier asked them not to vote Obi.

But in a statement she personally signed on Monday, the Senator debunked making an about-turn on her earlir stand on Obi. She said she never endorsed the Presidential ambition of the LP Candidate.

She, however, acknowledged Obi as her Leader, but said she would never vote for him. Aside from the fact, she said, that they belong to different parties, she said she would  never abandon her Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for Obi. Most important, Ekwunife noted that even though, Obi is a force to be reckoned with in the Presidential election, he would not win because he does not have the spread.

Her statement titled: My purported endorsement of Peter Obi reads:

“It has come to my notice that an Online Blog has been circulating articles claiming that I have endorsed tye Presidential Candidate of the LP,  Mr Peter Obi, in the forthcoming February poll.

“It further attributed statements that may translate as adopting Obi as my Candidate for the election. I want to state categorically that those statements never emanated  from me or my Campaign Council.

“I, also, want to state that Peter Obi is my leader and my elder brother from Anambra Central whom I respect and hold in high esteem. But our political aspiration has become divergent, hence, the need for me to focus on delivering our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Vice Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, who are of the PDP.

“May I restate that I am of the PDP, and we have candidates in all the elective positions across Nigeria, and I cannot at this point,  work against my Party or any of her candidates for whatever reason.

“Peter Obi Is no doubt, a force to reckon with in the Election, but will not be able to garner the required spread that will secure a win, unlike Atiku who has everything it takes to win the election with a wide margin.

“I urge you to key into Atiku’s  Presidential aspiration as a project to rescue Nigeria and get her on the path of greatness.”

Ekwunife’s statement has been described by many as undiplomatic. Said an Anambra PDP elder: “Uche is free to campaign for her Party’s Candidate. Nobody begrudges her that. But she crossed the line when she said Obi will not win because he would never be able to get the spread. That was undiplomatic. She should have skipped that bit.”

Imo: Gunmen Dare Governor Uzodinma, Strike At His Backyard

By
The Source
-
0

By Charles Igbo

Gunmen, on Monday, took their unexplainable battle to the backyard of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

They struck at a political rally organized by the All Progressives Congress, APC, at Omuma, Oru Local Government Area, the Governor’s community, and LGA.

The Governor is of the APC. Mercifully, he was not at the rally. Otherwise, with the number of Security men, and the caliber of weapons and other equipment that go with him, including armored vehicles, perhaps, Imo could have witnessed rivers of blood.

Eye witnesses said the rally had just started when the gunmen invaded the venue  in five hilux vans, bearing gas cylinders and sophisticated weapons.

As they screeched to a halt, they announced their presence with volleys of bullets which rent the air. Everybody ran helter-skelter to safety.

The gunmen then began a destruction of the chairs and tables and mounted canopies and loud speakers.

Miraculously, there was no fatality.

The insecurity in Imo State, thought to be political by not a few Imo people, has escalated in the past one month with killings, burning of private and public buildings and, properties, and at least, one beheading of an APC political chieftain.

There have been threats by gunmen that the General Elections will not hold in the South-east. As it is, a number of people are already scared.

On a number of times, Governor Uzodinma, who believes the insecurity in his State is political, had threatened to expose those behind it. He has not been able to do so.

There is no Police statement yet on the Omuma incident.

Ondo Police Command Moves To Abort Protest Over Naira, PMS Shortage

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Oyeyemi Oyediran - Ondo State Commisioner of Police

By Ayodele Oni

As tension hightens in Ondo state over possible mass protest against continued shortage of naira notes and petrol scarcity, the state commissioner of police, Oyeyemi Oyediran has warned against any action or inaction that can lead to breach of peace in the state.

Oyediran, on Monday met with stakeholders in the state to address the issues of scarcity/inability to access cash at financial institutions and hike in fuel price at various filling stations.

A statement by Funmilayo Odunlami Omisanya, police spokesperson disclosed that the commissioner told the parley  that the Command is aware of plans to embark on protest in the state as a way of showcasing their grievances.

The police boss urged the people not to, as relevant organizations were invited to the meeting to help shed more light on the current challenges faced by the people in the state.

One of the Bank managers present gave an insight to what led to the scarcity of cash, while an official of petroleum marketers also addressed stakeholders.

The CP urged the people not to embark on any form of Protest as it is not healthy, considering the current security situation of the state for it not to be hijacked by hoodlums or use as a means to perpetrate other heinous crime.

After the dialogue, it was suggested that an active taskforce be emplaced to monitor the activities of the relevant bodies to ensure the issues are resolved.

Present at the meeting are The Police Management Team, representatives of NANS/SUGs, Bank Managers, NUPENG, Akure youth coalition, DPR, Influencers/Activists.

Protests have been recorded in Ibadan, Oyo state and Benin city, Edo state with casualties recorded.

Obi Exposes Jittery Tinubu’s Multi Million Naira Fake News Plot

By
The Source
-
0

The Obi-Datti Media Office says it is aware of the new focus of the “faltering Presidential campaign of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the planned launch of a multi-million naira media campaign, dubbed “Killer Punch”, aimed at spreading lies about the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.”

In a statement signed by Diran Onifade, Head of Media, Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, it said:

“Having failed in all their plans to win the February 25 election, and seeing their campaign derailing on all fronts, Tinubu’s media handlers led by the  trio of Femi Fani-Kayode, Festus Keyamo, SAN and Adamu Garba are set to release a video they term “Killer Punch.”

Explaining, it said:

“Already, they have been releasing snippets of the documentary on social media, without getting any attention, as people already know about their desperation to drag down Obi, who they rightly know, is far ahead.

“These documentary of lies and falsehood, which they have fabricated, attempt to portray Mr Obi as a drug peddler, killer and sexual pervert among other innuendos in their fertile imagination.

“Already, the Obi-Datti Media Office is aware, that they are a product of a strategy session between Tinubu and selected members of his media team, where Tinubu reportedly accused his media handlers of not “punching to knock out” and not doing enough, to halt Obi’s unprecedented progress.

“He therefore demanded more wild propaganda from them, against his opponents, especially Obi, with the objective of throwing anything at the opponents to win, regardless of ethics or morality.

“We will continue to be amused over the desperation, to search for faults on the Presidential front runner, and their apparent frustration, of not finding any.

“The LP standard bearer has remained the most fact-checked, among the four top Presidential candidates, for the obvious reasons, that he is the only one running an issues-driven campaign, and therefore provoking intellectual conversations, and gaining more supporters, daily, nationwide.

“But as election day draws nearer, and the reality of their impending defeat heightens, their anger and frustration, are also on the rise.

“This instruction of a faltering Presidential candidate to his media team, to bring down the Labour Party flag bearer at all cost, is a clear indication of their hopelessness.

“We, at the Obi-Datti Media Campaign Office have all the details of their machinations, including some anti-Obi persons, already contacted for a role in the so called ‘Killer Punch’ documentary’, and also the release of N500m for this failed smear campaign.

“International media recently did a comprehensive check on the fake news generated on the LP flag bearer, which highlighted designs to cast aspersions on this new awakening , that beckons from Nigeria, and indeed Africa.

“Just a few weeks ago, in the South East, some hirelings had recorded a fake video, where some gunmen pretended to be punishing a man for wearing a Peter Obi T-shirt, while the image was actually that of a PDP candidate, Peter Mbah, but the doctored video was misrepresented to refer to Peter Obi.

“Another sponsored video is also going round, dishing out libelous and unsubstantiated lies against Obi’s clearly  outstanding eight-year  tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

“Clearly, these will not be the last of the despicable media lies and falsehood.

“Our mission this day, is to alert and warn discerning minds, especially those desirous to see a new Nigeria emerge through Peter Obi, to ignore and treat as thrash any doctored and faked media items on Obi.

“The Obi-Datti Media Office will continue to expose their deceptive actions which have roundly failed, since our candidate has demonstrated unequivocally that he is the best man for the job.

“In all presentations, assessments and polls, he has clearly outclassed his peers, in the required character, capacity, competence and capabilities, to provide a new direction of change and leadership, as desired by the people.

“We assure the Nigerian people and our supporters in Nigeria and globally, of our candidate’s unflinching focus on this month’s election and the impossibility of any distraction, regardless of all machinations.

“Finally, our candidate, his deputy and all in the Obidient Movement, are too busy in this rescue mission, to give attention to worthless lies and their equally cheap purveyors.

“The elections are just a few weeks away As Obi-Datti is growing by each second, let’s keep working hard, for the victory that will change our Country, for good.”

OPINION: Will The Igbo Be Peter Obi’s Undoing?

By
The Source
-
0
Peter Obi in Gombe

By Paul Hassan

At the beginning of this dispensation, Igbo politicians made a spectacle of themselves in the Nigerian senate. Within the span of four years, the senate had four Senate Presidents including Evans Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Pius Anyim.

You could argue that whoever wanted to oust any Igbo Senate President had more than willing hands among the Igbo to take him down. A generous view is to blame the republican nature of the Igbos as the major factor. They would call up history especially the fact that the Igbos were largely republican and did not create large kingdoms with chiefs ruling over very large territories. Despite the fact that the colonial authorities created warrant chiefs, majority of Igbos are still under small autonomous communities with no strong authority over Individuals and households. Any person could, arguably,  be king. No blue bloods.

This may have been extended to the governmental structures and they scored the first, in Nigeria’s Anambra State, where a sitting governor was actually kidnapped, forced to write a resignation letter. This was carried out by individuals in cahoots with police and other security agencies. At the moment there is the reign of terror in the South East where marauding gunmen kill at will, successfully incapacitating security agencies and imposing their will and rule. Markets are shut down and there are days citizens are forced to stay indoors.

The 2022 Primary Elections of the main political parties demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt the lack of love for fellow brother that Igbo politicians have for themselves.

In PDP, apart from Senator Pius Anyim, no serious candidate emerged and Anyim did not gather more than a paltry number of votes. All the other candidates who sought for the nomination of the ruling APC did not even get the votes of their local government delegates.

Governor Okowa, himself an Igbo man, who hosted the meeting of Southern Governors and read the communique in which all Southern Governors had vowed to support power shift to the South pitched his tent with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and not with Senator Anyim or fellow Ikwere brother, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

That this may be the historical moment for the Igbo to take their place in Nigeria’s politics and governance is underscored by a little walk back in history. Zik of Africa, Owelle of Onitsha Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was a front runner in Nigeria with his base in Lagos before, according to Igbo historians, he was hounded out. He made an unsuccessful attempt to become the Prime Minister of Nigeria. He failed but became the ceremonial President of Nigeria.

Then came Aguiyi Ironsi, who became Nigeria’s Military Head of State and was murdered by ambitious northern officers and soldiers. In the ensuing confusion and Civil War, Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu did not seek to lead Nigeria but sought to split up the country and carve a small territory where the Igbos would lead. That was not to be.

At the return to civilian rule in 1979, Zik made another attempt to rule but came third place in the presidential elections. Ojukwu also made a feeble attempt to contest presidential elections. Yes, of course, Governor Rochas Okorocha made repeated attempts to run for the Presidency. He, however, was seen more as a jokecandidate and obviously did not receive any serious support of his fellow Igbo politicians.

Now, Governor Peter Obi who first came into the national scene in 2019 as Atiku’s running mate, has emerged as a major mainstream Presidential Candidate. His nomination in 2019 caused a lot of unease among many Igbo politicians who saw him as an outsider reaping where he did not sow.

This time around he wisely left the PDP and has since become a major front runner believed by many to have a chance of winning. Without any fear of contradiction, since Nnamdi Azikiwe before independence, and Azikiwe in 1979, no Igbo politician has been able to garner the type of national following that Peter obi has. Arguably, Obi today has higher chances of becoming president than Dr Azikiwe had in 1978/79 campaign.

In this election Obi has many factors going for him. He is the youngest of the major candidates and is evidently the one with the least blemish.

Besides the fanatical support among young people, especially new voters, who see him as the hero/saviour they have been waiting for, he is regarded as more competent and is a person of character (In other words, he is honest and can be trusted). The efforts of some Anambra people to rubbish his record have not succeeded.

At least, since 1999 no politician of Igbo extraction has the name and face recognition, across the nation that Obi has. Some have argued that no Igbo person has been closer to Nigeria’s presidency than Peter Obi. No Igbo aspirant to the presidency of Nigeria has gathered as many prominent supporters across the county than Obi: President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Middle Belt Forum. Most of the major churches in Nigeria appear more comfortable with him. His challenge in the Muslim north is his ethnicity and religion.

When he entered the race, he was laughed at and analysts who were kind to him then said he would come a poor fourth position. He was dismissed as being a Facebook and Twitter candidate without structure.

Today, all polls assess him to be a front runner and with the possibility of coming first or second.

However, Peter Obi’s greatest undoing could be some among his Igbo brethren, who in this season when elections and electioneering are centered mainly on ethnic and religious factors have retreated into their republicanism and are hiding under the strange logic that they would not support him because, according to them, time is not ripe for Igbo Presidency! Strangely they argue that an Igbo person cannot win now.

Strangely enough, though not surprising, former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo who was installed by Governor Willie Obiano, who himself was imposed on Anambra by Peter Obi has argued several times that Peter Obi would not win and so, Igbo people should not support him!  This at least is a valid interpretation of his comments and explanations.

The silliness of the argument is too easy to see: Soludo himself contested against Obiano and lost! Elections are a contest: a winner will emerge and a loser will also emerge. The factors that do not favour Peter Obi now will not necessarily favour Soludo in the future. In fact the situation may be worse.

If election results were known before the contests take place, then there would have been no need for elections.

In anycase, as we draw closer to February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, it is becoming clear that no one can certainly presume to know who will win the elections

Igbos and Future Presidential Elections

It is very unlikely that the competitive advantage Peter Obi has over his main rivals would exist for another Igbo person in the near future. Presently Peter Obi has become popular on the Streets of the North Central, North East and even parts of the North West. In any case he does not need to get majority votes in those areas to win the Presidential elections. He needs to get only 25% from 24 states with majority votes to become President.

President Goodluck Johnathan in 2011 did not get 25% of the votes  of Borno, Yobe, Kano, Niger and Bauchi. He did excellently well in Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, South East, SouthSouth and Lagos and coasted to victory.

Those ambitious Igbo running down Peter Obi now, should Know that there may be no second chance in the near future for an Igbo politician to get the acceptance that Peter Obi has nationally. They need to be reminded also that should Peter Obi fail in his bid as a result of Delta, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States giving him a lukewarm average victory or even loss to PDP or APC in those states, the day of reckoning would keep a date with them. Peter Obi’s failure would be used as a valid reason in the future for rejecting prospective Igbo presidential candidates. The argument would be: Igbo people don’t vote Igbos. They would prefer an Okowa as Vice President, rather than his kinsman become President.

The place of the Igbo in the scheme of things is at this moment in their hands to make or mar.

Hassan, a political scientist, works in Abuja

Political Parties, CSOs, NGOs Applaud INEC Over Hitch Free Mock Accreditation Of BVAS

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
INEC Logo

By Akinwale Kasali

Political Parties, Civil Societies Organizations, Non Governmental organizations and Political Observers have showered encomiums on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for a hitch free mock accreditation exercise of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, BVAS, that took place in Lagos State over the weekend.

The Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 Polling Units across Six Local Government areas in Lagos State saw a huge turnout of NGOs, CSOs, Political Parties and electorates who came out to witness the exercise.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, who led the monitoring exercise was impressed with the hitch free exercise that was a success and the huge turnout.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise, he said that the functionality of BVAS in accrediting intending voters was another test that INEC was ready for the forthcoming elections.

Agbaje said: “We have been to six stations, two each in Surulere, Somolu and Ikeja LGAs.

“So far, the machines are working effectively and there is no challenge or problem, and people have confirmed this.

“The essence of this is to show our people that BVAS will work. If politicians will allow us to do our work, we will work effectively.

“We don’t want politicians to compromise our staff in bypassing BVAS. So far, we have not seen any problem. If the finger fails, the face works well for accreditation of all that turned out.

“What we need to know is that these machines can effectively accredit our voters and that has been tested in all the six stations we have visited, and I am more than satisfied that INEC is ready to go.

According to the REC, within one or two minutes, voters who turned our got accredited through BVAS.

Agbaje stressed that it would be difficult for the BVAS to be faulty because they were all new, as the Commission had backups to arrest unforeseen circumstances.

He urged political gladiators not to connive with any INEC staff to bypass the workings of BVAS and vote illegally.

Agbaje added that BVAS’ work was basically to accredit voters before they would be eligible to vote on election day.

“BVAS is to improve people’s confidence in what INEC is doing because this is just like a game changer. If compromised and there is over-voting in any polling unit, the whole vote in such unit will be cancelled.

“So, all of them must work together with INEC to be honest and to be sincere. If we are honest and sincere with ourselves, the system will give us good results.”

Explaining BVAS bypass, Agbaje said that some politicians could connive with INEC staff to smuggle printed ballot into the box without passing through accreditation.

He said that results of those places would be cancelled if noticed through over-voting.

Agbaje said that INEC would also put its house in order and not send to the field any staff that could embarrass the commission.

“Anyone caught conniving with politicians to bypass BVAS will face the consequences,” he said.

Stephen Aya, an observer from the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria in Ikeja, commended INEC’s efforts at making elections more credible, however, urging politicians to cooperate with the electoral body.

During the monitoring exercise, the INEC Team visited Polling Unit 035, Ward 2 located at Enitan Primary School, Aguda, and Polling Unit 019, Ward 7 located at Rabiatu Thompson Crescent Primary School, Shitta/Ogunlana in Surulere LGA.

The team also monitored the exercise at Polling Unit 040, Ward 5 located at Omo Alade Alafia Street, Mafowoku and Polling Unit 015, Ward 8 located at Ogatimirin Street, Igbobi-Fadeyi in Somolu LGA.

Agbaje’s team was also at Polling Unit 010, Ward 1 located at the front of 5, Abeokuta Street, Anifowose/Ikeja and Polling Unit 017, Ward 10 located at the Junction of Irewole/Joseph Street, Wasimi/Opebi/Allen in Ikeja LGA.

The mock accreditation exercise also took place in Ikorodu, Eti-Osa and Agege LGAs.

Budget: SERAP Drags Lawan, Gbajabiamila to Court

By
Uche Mbah
-
0

By Uche Mbah

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to Court over their humongous budgetary provisions for themselves. It accused the National Assembly of unlawfully budgeting N228.1bn for themselves, “including the N30.17bn severance payments and inauguration costs for members.”

The National Assembly proposed an increase of its 2023 budget from N169bn proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari to N228.1bn, an increase of about N59.1bn.

In a suit number filed Friday and numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/152/2023 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking the Court to direct and compel Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila to as a matter of urgency review with a view to reducing the “budget of N228.1bn the leadership and members of the National Assembly allocated for their own benefit.”Part of their prayer is for the Court to give“an order restraining and stopping Ms Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning from releasing to the National Assembly the budget of N228.1bn, until an impact assessment of the spending on access to public goods and services and the country’s debt crisis, is carried out.”

-“An order restraining and stopping Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila from demanding or collecting the National Assembly budget of N228.1bn, until an impact assessment of the spending on access to public goods and services and the country’s debt crisis, is carried out.”

According to SERAP, “It is a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for the members of the National Assembly to increase their own budget at a time when some 133 million Nigerians are living in poverty.

“The National Assembly budget of N228.1bn is higher than the statutory transfer to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), which is N103.3bn. “The increase is unreasonable, as it would substantially increase the cost of governance, and exacerbate the country’s debt crisis. It is unlawful, and unfair to the Nigerian people.

“Cutting the National Assembly budget would reduce the growing budget deficit, address the unsustainable debt burden, and serve the public interest.

“By increasing its own budget, the National Assembly has unjustifiably and disproportionately reduced the budget for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

“This is a travesty, especially given that Nigeria currently has over 20 million out-of-school children, and half of all poor people in the country are children.

“The budget should reflect national development priorities, and not serve as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers or provide them with severance payments or parting gifts.

N2. 9bn Fraud: Court Discharges Rochas Okorocha

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Rochas Okorocha

By Uche Mbah

An Abuja Federal High Court Monday, discharged and acquitted Senator Rochas Okorocha of N2.9 billion fraud charge.

Okorocha, a former Governor of Imo state, was dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo,  dismissed EFCC’s suit for contravening Section 105 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. This gives the Attorney General of the Federation the authority to recall a case.

“All that the law required of the respondent (EFCC) was for the respondent when directed by the HAGF, pursuant to any enactment, is to comply and not act as if it is not under the law or is exempted thereby”, he ruled.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the office of the HAGF is founded on the provisions of the constitution and is thereby preserved.

“The controversies and drama surrounding this trial proceeding is needless and it is time to stop it,” he said, noting that Malami’s order to EFCC to stay action on the case was binding. He also noted that the ruling of a Court of alternate jurisdiction in Port Harcourt restraining the EFCC from taking action has not yet been vacated.

“In other words, the intervention of the HAGF in any criminal proceedings ends the authority of the prosecuting agency in the matter unless otherwise directed by the HAGF.

“In the end, I find that non-compliance by the respondent with the directive of the HAGF as stated in Exhibit Okorocha 7 is fatal to this proceeding and has rendered it a nullity.

“The respondent is not empowered by any law to continue with this proceeding after the HAGF issued the directive in Exhibit Okorocha 7.

“With Exhibit Okorocha 7, it is only the HAGF that can decide whether or not to charge the defendants upon the case file being remitted to his office as directed,” he said.

“The fact that a person refuses to comply with the law does not change the law, neither does the law change to accommodate the act of non-compliance by any person.

“What happens when a person elects not to comply with the law is that the law turns its back on the person.

“When that happens, every action or decision taken by such person in the process of non-compliance becomes illegal and the court will set aside such act of non-compliance ex debito justitiae.

“This is so because there is no machination that can be used to salvage an illegal act,” he said.

The judge, therefore, struck out the charge.

“I, therefore, make an order striking out the charge which found this proceeding. The consequence is that the defendants are discharged,” Ekwo declared.

1...1,7451,7461,747...2,966Page 1,746 of 2,966