Tag Archives: Ekweremadu

Saraki, Ekweremadu at ‘war’ over President Buhari’s right to send troops to The Gambia

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The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Chukwuka Utazi have disagreed over the deployment of Nigerian troops to The Gambia without Senate approval.

 

Utazi, (PDP, Enugu North) relying on Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 5(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari erred by deploying troops outside the country without securing any permission from the Senate.

 

Also relying on Section 5(4)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Ekweremadu said the president could not deploy troops outside the country without any prior approval from the National Assembly.

 

But while responding, Saraki faulted Utazi’s claims and argued that Buhari was still acting within the confines of the law. He said the president could deploy troops, as long as the operation does not exceed seven days.

 

Quoting Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Saraki maintained that until the expiration of seven days, no one can fault the action of the president.

Ekweremadu will not defect to APC to remain Deputy Senate President – PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday condemned the call on Ike Ekweremadu to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to retain the position of Deputy Senate President.

The PDP made the condemnation in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye, on Thursday in Abuja.

The party said that its attention was drawn to a statement credited to Kabiru Marafa in which he advised Mr. Ekweremadu to defect to the APC in order to retain his position.

It described the call as unconstitutional, undemocratic, adding that the section of the 1999 Constitution which Mr. Marafa quoted as backing his advice to Ekweremadu was untrue.

Mr. Marafa was quoted as saying ‘I am using this medium to call on Ekweremadu to simply decamp. Section 68(G) of the 1999 Constitution captures this.’

“There is no section or clause of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) that provides that one must be a member of the ruling party before he could be elected into any position in the Senate or the House of Representatives,” Mr. Adeyeye said.

“Equally, it is very distasteful and uncharitable for any senator to stand on the floor of the hallowed chamber and ask his colleague to violate the Constitution by cross-carpeting from his own party to join the ruling party.

“It is Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not Senate of the APC,’’ the PDP said.

It added that it was laughable for Mr. Marafa to cite the internal issues in the PDP as a reason for Ekweremadu to defect to the APC.

“For the umpteenth time, let us reiterate that there is no faction in the PDP.

“A party is only factionalized when its organs are in disarray, but this is different in the PDP where all the organs are intact, behind the National Caretaker Committee under the chairmanship of Sen. Makarfi.

“A mere rebellion by a small interest group within the party cannot be referred to factionalisation of the party, ‘’ the statement said.

It cautioned that any PDP member using the current leadership disagreement caused by the “rebellious group’’ to defect to another party was doing so at his or her peril.

It said that Mr. Marafa or any other member of the APC had no power to make such demands on a member of the PDP.

“Let us remind Sen. Marafa that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu was elected as Deputy President of Senate by majority votes from both the PDP and APC senators.

“Any attempt to remove Sen. Ekweramadu for being a member of the opposition party and not because of a constitutional breach or incompetence is a call for anarchy.’’

The PDP recalled that the current situation in the Senate where the Senate President and his deputy were from different parties should not continue to appear strange to anybody in a democratic system.

“For instance, in the Second Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Edwin Umezuoke, was from opposition NPP while the Senate President was from the Ruling Party, the NPN.

“It is worthy of note that both of them worked harmoniously with the cooperation of the Executive in moving the country forward,’’ it recalled.

The party urged the National Assembly members to remain strong and united behind Ekweremadu with determination not to allow anybody to truncate the hard-earned democracy through undemocratic tendencies.

It also called on APC lawmakers in the National Assembly to work together with other lawmakers to protect and advance Nigeria’s democracy.

Ekweremadu opposes military action against Yahya Jammeh in Gambia

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Ike Ekweremadu, deputy president of the senate, has warned against military action in Gambia, following the refusal of President Yahaya Jammeh to step down after losing election.

Maintaining that such action could threaten the security of the entire sub-region, Ekweremadu urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as the international community to explore dialogue.

Ekweremadu, who is a former Speaker of ECOWAS parliament, also called for sanctions, in line with the traditions and relevant protocols of ECOWAS.

He advised that sanctions should be considered in the event that dialogue and judicial options fail.

“From Liberia to Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, among others, West Africa has seen so much bloodletting and political instability,” he said in a statement issued on his behalf by Uche Anichukwu, his spokesman.

“Heavy destruction of lives and property has been visited on the sub-region by insurgency and terrorism, which remain present danger to the peace and security of West Africa.

“Instructively, what normally started like child’s play often resulted in protracted, but avoidable political upheavals and fratricidal wars.”

The deputy president of the senate urged major stakeholders, particularly ECOWAS of heads of state and government, to tread with caution.

He called for respect of the laws of the country, which allowed for judicial intervention in electoral disputes.

“We must all acknowledge the fact that Gambia is a sovereign state,” he said.

“If her constitution and electoral laws allow for judicial role in resolving electoral disputes, then the Gambian constitutional courts must be allowed to count in resolving the political impasse.

“If the Gambian laws are preempted and her sovereignty breached, it could set a bad and crisis-triggering precedence.

“The sub-region must uphold the rule of law for the sake of the peace, stability and prosperity of Gambia.

“We must take all necessary steps as a sub-region to steer the West African nation and indeed the entire community away from any looming bloodshed and monumental destruction.”

Ekweremadu commended ECOWAS for the concern and commitment toward resolving the political situation in Gambia.

He also commended the efforts made by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the political situation in that country, and urged Gambian authorities to ensure the protection of the fundamental and political rights.

Senate forgery: Police submit fresh report, indict Saraki, Ekweremadu

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There are strong indications that the police have submitted to the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, another report on the investigations into the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

It was gathered that in the fresh report, the police indicted the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu.

It was gathered that the Special Investigation Panel, headed by the retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ali Amodu, explained that a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, could not have committed the alleged offence without the connivance of the two principal officers.

The SIP was set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to investigate high-profile cases.

The Federal Government had, on October 6, 2016, withdrawn the charges of criminal conspiracy relating to the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, filed against the Senate President and his deputy at an Abuja High Court.

The government, it was reported, had found out that the investigation was inconclusive and the evidence was not strong enough to sustain a diligent prosecution of the accused persons.

Following this discovery, the Ministry of Justice filed an application to amend the charges.

In the new charges, only Maikasuwa and a former deputy clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi, were listed as the accused persons.

Saraki and Ekweremadu were earlier charged alongside Maikasuwa and Efeturi for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Orders, which were used for the inauguration of the Eight Senate.

All of them pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Yusuf Halilu and were granted bail on June 10, 2016.

Following the amendment of the charges, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), directed the police to conduct fresh investigations into the case.

Saraki, Ekweremadu may face conspiracy charge again.

A top police operative, on Saturday, said the SIP had addressed the loopholes the AGF identified in the former report.

He said, “The police have concluded investigations into the case and submitted the report to the NPCC. This was done about a month ago.”

Giving an insight into the report, a top source at the Force Headquarters said, “Conspiracy is a very wide offence and Maikasuwa couldn’t have done what he did without the connivance of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

“There is no doubt about it; they were the beneficiaries and they have to be joined in the case.”

When asked if the panel made any recommendation for the prosecution of the beneficiaries of the forgery, he stated, “There is no need to make any recommendation to prosecute them because the investigation did not exonerate them.”

On the non-interrogation of Saraki and others by the former investigators, the source stated, “It is not totally out of point. It is for Saraki, Ekweremadu and others to defend themselves in court. The fact that they were not questioned did not mean they didn’t commit the offence as alleged. The circumstances were that the investigators could not reach them just like the way the House of Representatives leadership was dodging police summons on the budget padding probe.”

He added that the evidence and corrections made on the report had been sent to the AGF by the police.

He stated, “There were certain documents and evidence they asked us to fine-tune, which we did. We got all the necessary documents, including the Hansard, where publications were made and notices were given. We looked at the Hansard. Was there any amendment during the 7th Senate? There were no amendments; nothing was adopted during the 7th Senate. We got the papers and there was nothing like that.

“So, where did Ekweremadu and Maikasuwa derive their authority from when no amendment was done on the floor of the Senate?”

Another highly-placed source, who was familiar with the police probe, on Saturday said that the SIP was able to gather the necessary evidence about how the alleged forgery at the Senate was carried out.

The source said it was now up to the AGF and the NPCC to decide whether to re-arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu and others or not.

It was gathered that the detectives were able to verify the extent of amendment to the Senate Standing Orders 2011, the individuals who authorised it, and the official who ordered the printing of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

The source added, “The SIP, through painstaking efforts, was able to identify who distributed the printed copies of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, to senators-elect and it also obtained the complete Hansard of June 9 and 24, 2015, which indicated what transpired on the floor of the Senate as well as other relevant evidence. These were issues the former probe did not resolve.

“It is now up to the government to decide whether Saraki and Ekweremadu should be re-arraigned or only Maikasuwa and Efeturi would carry the can.”

I was gathered that the SIP had to bypass the Clerk, National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to get the necessary evidence and documents relating to the case.

When contacted on Saturday, the spokesperson for the AGF and the NPCC, Mr. Salisu Isah, said he was not aware of any fresh development in the case.

“Just give me some time to find out and revert to you,” he said.

Besides the AGF, who is the Chairman of the NPCC, the committee consists of 19 members, including the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun and Mr. Dipo Opeseyi.

When contacted on Saturday, Saraki decline to comment on the matter, while Ekweremadu said he was not aware of the new development in the forgery case.

The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said, “I have no comment on the matter,” when he was called on the telephone.

Ekweremadu, who spoke through the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said, “We are not aware of that” when he was told that the police had submitted a fresh report to the AGF-led committee.

Another aide to Ekweremadu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered why the police would file another report from a fresh investigation when the security agency had sworn to an affidavit that it had concluded its investigations into the case and presented it before a court.

US Election: Ekweremadu congratulates President-Elect Trump

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Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the President-Elect of the United States of America, USA, Mr. Donald Trump, on his victory in the US presidential election.

In his message, Ekweremadu, who described the election as “hard-fought”, said the two major contestants gave a good account of themselves, and commended the candidate of the Democratic Party, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, for calling to concede the presidency to her rival and congratulating him on his hard-worn victory.

He said: “Mr. Trump has rightly described the election as historic. But it is not only historic for the U.S, but also for the world. It is an important reminder to the entire world of the true meaning and essence of democracy as government of the people.

“I urge him to work for democracy, global peace and prosperity because the peace and prosperity of America is intrinsic in that of the entire world.

“In particular, I urge better bilateral deals for Nigeria by the incoming Donald Trump presidency. I have no doubt that the people of Nigeria and indeed the Peoples Democratic Party are willing and ready to work with the incoming U.S government for the good of both nations”.

Senator Ekweremadu also enjoined emerging democracies, including Nigeria, to emulate the democratic and transparent nature of the U.S election, noting that the will of the people and respect for democratic principles must be allowed at all times.

“We have many lessons to learn from the American presidential election. It was highly democratic, transparent, peaceful, and free of intimidation, willful manipulations, contrived security scares; and it was absolutely conclusive, even though the ruling party was losing, and eventually lost”, Ekweremadu stressed.

Saraki in his message said: “On this day, I wish to extend my sincerest congratulatory remarks to U.S. President-Elect Donald J. Trump, on his remarkable victory in yesterday’s national election in the United States.

“Mr. Trump persevered through a very challenging Republican primary election cycle, where he defeated sixteen (16) professional and well-organized candidates. While many career politicians tried to write off Mr. Trump’s candidacy as a long shot, he stuck to his positions and controlled the daily media messaging like no other candidate in the history of American Presidential campaigns.

“Additionally, I must commend Mr. Trump for his gracious and courteous acceptance of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s phone call to concede the election. He recognizes that Secretary Clinton ran a courageous contest and was perhaps the most qualified candidate for President in decades. Having worked with Mrs. Clinton as a champion of the Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves, I can personally attest to her hard work and dedication to the less fortunate in our society. Secretary Clinton would have been a tremendous leader and we will all miss her dedication and commitment to public service.

“I look forward to working with President-Elect Trump to continue the strong U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to address our mutual interest in defeating global terror networks, rooting out corruption and strengthening the institutions of governance.

“Mr. Trump’s years of being a private sector leader can be invaluable to Nigeria as we work to restructure and diversify our economy. It is important for the private sector here to have a larger role in expanding our economic base, creating jobs and fostering entrepreneurship. In these areas, I am sure he will be able to serve as a strong partner.

“In closing, it is my hope and prayer that the United States can move beyond this election and heal the divisions that divide that great nation. Mr. Trump has an opportunity to be a unifying force and I believe his humble acceptance speech was a great beginning.?”

Ekweremadu agrees to stand surety for Metuh over alleged N400m fraud

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Embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who is facing trial over alleged N400million fraud, on Monday, prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to allow the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to stand surety for him.

Metuh is answering to a seven-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Destra Investment Limited.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants had prior to the 2015 presidential election, received N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, without executing any contract.

It said the fund which was released to Metuh and his firm by the erstwhile NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd,? ?was part of about $2.1billion earmarked for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in the North East.

Meanwhile, at the resumed sitting on Monday, Metuh, through his lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, notified the court of his intention to use Ekweremadu as one of his sureties.

He made the application on a day his former surety, Dr. Olugbumi Usim-Wilson, also applied to withdraw his services.

Just In: FG set to press fresh charges on Saraki, Ekweremadu individually.

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In what appears as pyrrhic victory for Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, the forgery case against them, which the Federal Government surreptitiously withdrew last week, is to be filed afresh by the same government.

However, according to findings by Vanguard, the government will charge the two Senate leaders individually as opposed to the previous one where they were jointly docked.

A top Justice Ministry official told Vanguard last night that the case was primarily withdrawn because the Nigeria Police Force, handling the case, was yet to conclude its investigation.

In fact, as the source pointed out, the NPF is yet to interrogate Saraki and Ekweremadu and other officials of the National Assembly said to have masterminded the forgery of the Senate
Rules used in conducting the inauguration of the 8th NASS.

“You can see that under the Criminal Justice Act, the statement of the accused persons and all the witnesses are expected to be filed and it would have been wrong to have pressed ahead with the case when the police are yet to conclude their investigations,” the MoJ official pointed out.

“The federal government considered it appropriate to withdraw the case and conclude the investigation and attach both the statements by the accused and the witnesses before filing fresh charges against the suspects.

“We want to strengthen our position and present a solid case against the suspects as required under the Criminal Justice Administration Act,” the official told Vanguard.

However when contacted, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, confirmed that a fresh charge would only be pressed against the suspects when the government was ready and declined to say.

“I will get back to you on the matter when we are ready,” Malami said.

The fresh determination by the government to file charges against the Senate gladiators, appears to have short lived their celebration of the initial abrogation of the charges filed against them.

The withdrawal of the charges had elicited nationwide commentary, fuelling speculations that the Presidency, fingered as the arrowhead of the case, had opted to make peace with the NASS leadership, which it fell out with as a result of their emergence last year.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu and other Nigerian leaders promptly lauded the move once it was announced.

But the optimism of the leaders appears to have been shortlived with the plan to slam the Senators with fresh charges.

BREAKING: FG withdraws forgery case against Saraki, Ekweremadu.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a motion to withdraw the charge of criminal conspiracy against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

An affidavit in support of the motion was filed before the High Court of Federal Capital Territory on Thursday by a litigation officer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Odubu Loveme.

Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk, Ben Efeturi, were first arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu on June 10, 2016 via charge No. CR/219/16.

They all pleaded not guilty on July 27, 2016.

In the motion filed Thursday, Mr. Loveme said counsel to the Federal Government on the matter, Aliyu Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on September 30 in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution told him that he had studied the case diary and “ had decided to amend the charge in the manner stated on the face of the motion paper”.

Mr. Loveme added that he has, consequently, filed an amended charge.

“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be correct to the best of my knowledge and information and in accordance with the Oaths Act Cap 01 laws of the Federation of Nigeria,” he said.

Based on the amended charge, only Messrs. Maikasuwa and Efeturi would face prosecution.

Count 1 of the charge against the two civil servants, is that of Criminal Conspiracy punishable under section 97 (1) Penal Code Act ( Northern States) Federation Provisions Act, 1960, Cap 345, laws of the Federation 1990 as amended.

It read that “ Salisu Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi, on or about the 9th day of June 2015 at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court agreed to do an illegal act, to wit to make the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended without the authority of the 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria which act was committed by yourselves and that you thereby committed the offence of criminal conspiracy.”

The two officials are accused of fraudulently amending the 2015 Senate Standing Orders without the authority of the 7th Senate “ with intention that the Senators elect of the 8th Senate would believe that the said Senate Standing Orders 2015 ( as amended) was made by the authority of the 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria.”

They are also accused of forging a document punishable under section 366 of the Penal Code Act ( Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, 1960, Cap 345, Laws of the Federation 1990 ( as amended).

The Nigerian Government also accused them of giving false information with the intention to mislead the public.

The Court had on September 28 adjourned the matter to Friday, October 7 for commencement of hearing.

Mr. Umar, in his written address in support of the motion to amend the charge on Thursday, stated that the sole issue for determination is “ whether the Court can permit the amendment of the charge in terms of the amended charge”.

He said the Court has the powers to permit the amendment based on the provisions of Section 216 (1) of the Administration o Criminal Justice Act.

The Section stated that “ A Court may permit an alteration or an amendment to a charge or framing of a new charge at any time before judgment is pronounced.”

He also quoted Section 216 (3) which states that “ Where a Defendant is arraigned for trial on an imperfect or erroneous charge ,the Court may permit or direct the framing of a new charge, or any amendment to, or the alteration of the original charge.”

Saraki, Ekeweremadu’s Alleged Forgery Trial Adjourned to Oct 7

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Senate president Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu’s alleged forgery case was adjourned to October 7 2016 by presiding judge, Justice Yusf Haliru following an a plea by the counsel to the Federal government and prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar, for more time to respond to a motion filed by the defendants.

Umar told the court during a hearing today:

“Just now I became aware of a motion by the first defendant and served on us on September 26. The motion is fundamental because it is asking your lordship to decline jurisdiction and quash the charges.

“It is a short notice?. I have not filed anything?. It is fundamental to fair hearing. Under the circumstances, I will ask for an adjournment to enable me to respond to the motion.”

Standing trial with Saraki and Ekweremadu is the former clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, alongside his former assistant, Benedict Efeturi.

More photos of the accused persons’ appearance in court today:

AGF Seeks Further Evidence To Prosecute Saraki, Ekweremadu

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Three months after it charged Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others with forging the Senate Standing Rules, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has declared the investigation into the alleged offence inconclusive.
The AGF, Abubakar Malami, is now desperately seeking fresh investigations that will enable him convict the accused persons, even though he has not withdrawn the pending charges against them.
To get the court to accept the charges, the AGF had told the court that investigations into the alleged forgery had been concluded.
In June, when the case was first filed in court and before the arraignment of Saraki and other co-accused persons, the federal government deposed to an affidavit, which was attached to the case file at the time, attesting that investigations into the matter had been concluded.
In the charge sheet dated June 10, 2016 and signed by D.E Kaswe Esq., Principal State Counsel on behalf of the AGF, and which was backed by an Affidavit of Completion of Investigation deposed to at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on the same date by Okara Neji Jonah, a litigation officer in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, attested that the police had concluded its investigations.
Okara swore that “the FCIID (Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department) has concluded investigation of the case and has forwarded the file to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation for Prosecution”.
Read More: thisdaylive

End Fulani Herdsmen Attacks Now – Ekweremadu Tells Buhari

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Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the endless attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in many parts of the country.

Ekweremadu’s advice is coming on the heels of another dawn attack by suspected herdsmen on Attakwu, Akagbe Ugwu community, Enugu State.

Exactly four months after the Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State was invaded by rampaging Fulani herdsmen who massacred innocent villagers on April 25, 2016, the cattlemen have struck another Enugu community killing one and injuring four others.

The deceased, Lazarus Nwafor, a Catholic seminarian was doing his apostolic work at Ndiagu Attakwu in Akabeugwu, Enugu West Local Government Area when the herdsmen invaded the bungalow he was staying at about 2:00am on Thursday morning and stabbed him to death.

An eye witness account has it that the previous day, the herdsmen left where they were staying in a nearby bush to graze their cattle in the neighbourhood which prompted an elderly woman to sound the native gong as a way of attracting villagers.

The action angered the herdsmen. They returned in the early hours of the next day to the family of Ogbo Nwarum, ripped open the stomach of the pregnant woman, stabbed the seminarian to death and left others with severe injury.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who visited the community, yesterday, condemned the attack warning that government cannot condone the destruction of lives and property in the state.

“I have already summoned a security meeting to determine the next line of action; I sympathise with you and assure you that the government of Enugu State will always be there for you and shall take care of all medical bills incurred.
“We will ensure security of every community in Enugu State and people found guilty of causing breach of peace will face the wrath of the law.

“I have already summoned a meeting of the Fulani Community and security agencies and I assure you that those who unleashed this attack on you will not go unpunished,” he said.

Ekweremadu said the incessant attacks on parts of the country by suspected herdsmen posed a grave threat to the peace, security, and economy of the country. He called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to put a full stop to the ugly incidents.

Also, the Chairman of the Nkanu West Local Government Caretaker Committee Afam Okereke said: “It is like a black morning. I got a call around 5.00am from the traditional ruler of the community. He said Fulani invaded. It shocked me because we had continued to embark on security meeting with them; their main coordinators are part of our security meeting and they had always promised to maintain peace and order.

“The last meeting we had, we agreed that they are going to submit the list of their members in all our communities, so that when we come we will know the number of Fulanis there, so that in case of any issue we know who to hold responsible. They promised to submit the list but as we speak, that list has not been submitted.

“A seminarian, who just finished his pastoral service and returned to the community yesterday. He is tenant in the community, the landlord, the wife and sister were also attacked. I am just coming from the hospital, Mother of Christ. The old woman was stabbed and her intestine laid on the floor. She has just been moved into the theatre, the sister also moved into the theatre. The man of the family, they used machete to cut his head, he doesn’t hear any more, same with the pregnant wife.”

Greg Ugwu, traditional ruler of Attakwu Akaegbu community described the incident as sad.

“We don’t have any problem with them before now. So I don’t know why they should come this morning to shatter our peace. It happened about 2am this morning,” he said.

Bishop Callistus Onaga, the Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese said: “We have been living with these people and all of a sudden, they assumed another effrontery, another change of attitude and boldness to now resort to killing human beings. If they cannot live with us together, let them quietly go away. This is our own land and we cannot park away from here. So, we are appealing to the Federal Government to look into this case because it will get to a time when there will be free reign of anger and rioting. We pray that this should be controlled.”

Meanwhile the Enugu State Commissioner of Police Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu has urged members of the Ndiagu Attakwu community, Akegbe Ugwu to be calm just as he sympathized with the family of the victims and the entire community over the alleged attack by suspected herdsmen.

The commissioner of police made the appeal when he visited the family and the community to assess the incident, as well as commiserate with the people of the community.

Ojukwu urged them not to panic as the state command in partnership with other relevant stakeholders and the state government have stepped into the incident.

The commissioner of police who also visited the injured persons at both Mother of Christ Hospital and Parklane Hospital Enugu respectively disclosed that full scale investigations have commenced into the incident.

Buhari Is Against Ekweremadu Because He’s Igbo – MASSOB

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The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB Tuesday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s grouse against the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is because the Senator is an Igbo man not because of the party affiliation.

 

According to the group, Buhari’s bias fight against corruption did not see major Igbo progressive leaders for rubbishing; hence he shifted his political muscle against Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, and the highest Igbo political office holder in his administration.

 

In a statement signed by the Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, called on Ndigbo to be weary President Mohammed Buhari’s antics against Ndigbo.

The statement read in part: “MASSOB have discovered the major reasons behind President Buhari’ s pathological and sentimental hatred against Ndigbo and Biafrans in general which is his perceived pathological envy against the entrepreneurship, economic prowesses, establishment, domineering and industrious nature of Igbo people.

 

“Buhari’s grouse against Ike Ekweremadu is because he’s Igbo man not PDP, if a non Igbo PDP senator replaces Ike Ekweremadu, Buhari, Tinubu and their likes will relax their nerves. MASSOB also reminds Ndigbo that this is the time of Onye Aghala Nwanne ya (Be your Brother’s keeper).

 

“President Buhari is always rattled and unsettled whenever he sees, hears or encountered the magnanimity of economical dominance and booming enterprising exploits of Ndigbo both in Nigeria and in Diaspora.”

Ekweremadu Writes Int’l Community, Says Buhari Wants To Silence Him

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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has written to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and governments of the United States and United Kingdom, alleging attempts by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.
Also copied in the letter were the United States Congress and European Union (EU) Parliament.

This is just as the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters tomorrow, where he is likely to face questions on his decision to prosecute Senate President Bukola Saraki,  Ekweremadu and four others for allegedly forging the Senate rules.

He is also likely to be grilled on the conflict of interest arising from his involvement in the same case a year ago, when he represented Saraki’s opponents in the Senate in his private capacity as a lawyer.

In the two-paged letter, titled “Re: Trumped up Charges Against the Presiding Officers of the Eighth Senate: Nigerian Democracy is in Grave Danger”, Ekweremadu insisted that Buhari’s government wants to silence him as the highest ranking opposition leader in the country by prosecuting him for alleged forgery.

Ekweremadu also attached to his letter, copies of the court summons and other relevant documents relating to the charge.
He urged the international community to go through the documents and determine if the trial was justifiable or one purely borne out of political vendetta.

Credit: Thisday

Forgery Charge: Saraki, Ekweremadu Plead Not Guilty

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The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were on Monday, docked before an Abuja High Court at Jabi over their alleged complicity in forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, 2015. The two lawmakers took turns and pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against them by the federal government.

They were arraigned alongside former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi. Shortly after the defendants entered their plea to the charge marked CR/219/16, the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, notified the court of FG’s counter-affidavit opposing release of the accused persons on bail. Diri told the court that the counter-affidavit which was filed Monday morning, was still pending before the court’s registry. He therefore persuaded trial Justice Yusuf Halilu to stand-down the matter for an hour to enable the registry to transmit the process to the court for hearing. Investigations revealed that FG, in its counter-affidavit, is seeking remand of both Saraki and Ekweremadu in custody.

Meantime, there is heavy security presence within perimeters of the court which shares boundary with the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, where Saraki is also answering to another 16-count charge bordering on his alleged false/anticipatory declaration of assets. Supporters of the embattled lawmakers thronged the court premises in their numbers to observe the proceeding.

Earlier, armed security operatives barred photo-journalists from gaining entrance into the court premises, a development that led to protest by the journalists. It took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the mobile police men to grant the camera men entry into the premises. Specifically, the four defendants were alleged to have masterminded the usage of a bogus Senate Standing Rules, for the July 9, 2015, election through which both Saraki and Ekweremadu took over the leadership of the Senate.

FG maintained that the defendants had by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act. The two-count charge which was okayed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, read: “That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about, the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired amongst yourselves to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of conspiracy, punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law.

“That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with fraudulent intent, forged the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended), causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when you knew that the said Order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law.”

Credit: Vanguard

Senate Forgery: FG To Arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu June 27

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The arraignment of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Order, 2015, will now take place on June 27.

Also to be arraigned are a former Clerk of the National Assembly Salisu Maikasuwa and the Deputy Clerk Benedict Efeturi.

Four of them were to be arraigned yesterday but the accused were not in court following claims that they had not been served the court summons.

Following the failure to arraign them, the judge of the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi Division, gave an order for substituted service following the claim of the bailiff that he had found it difficult to serve the accused persons.

Against this backdrop, the notice of arraignment was pasted on the notice board of the National Assembly yesterday.

According to the notice, the case, with charge number CV/21916, is between the federal government as “complainant applicant” and defendants listed in the following order: Salisu Maikasuwa; Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu.

The notice read in part: “By oral application dated 21st June, 2016 moved by D.E Kaswe, Principal State Counsel FMJ, in this case praying the court for an order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the complainant application to serve the criminal summons on the defendants by substituted means to wit by pasting it at the notice board of the National Assembly, Three Arms Zone and after hearing D.C. Kaswe with A.A. Kaltingo, Esq, counsel for the complainant/applicant moved the court orally for the above relief.”

Credit: Thisday

Senate Summons AGF Over Saraki, Ekweremadu’s Forgery Case

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The Senate on Tuesday, summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation, who is also the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, over the planned prosecution of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Order 2015.

The senate took the decision following a motion moved by the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, who relied on order 14 and 52, to demand the approval of his colleagues for his two prayers including  the invitation of the AGF and the genuineness of the rule book.

The senate therefore, approved the two prayers through voice votes while Ekweremadu who presided over the session, asked the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to summon Malami, within 48 hours and interrogate him on the issue.

Credit: Punch

EFCC Rejects Ekweremadu As Anti-corruption Ambassador, Disowns National Assembly Officer

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied decorating Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president, as its anti-corruption ambassador.

In a statement Wednesday, the commission said reports widely circulated in the media on Tuesday, quoting its National Assembly liaison officer as bestowing the award on Mr. Ekweremadu, was of no consequence as the officer acted on his own.

Read full statement:

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some reports in the print and online media, on April 20, 2016 claiming that the anti-graft agency has decorated the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as “Anti-Corruption Ambassador”.

According to a statement issued to the press by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, the purported decoration, was carried out by the EFCC National Assembly Liaison Officer, Suleiman Bakari, who was quoted to have said: “On behalf of my acting chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti- Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of the institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly”.

The EFCC totally dissociates itself from the purported action of Sulaiman Bakari as he acted entirely on his own. He clearly acted outside his brief as a liaison officer as the management of the Commission at no time mandated him to decorate Ekweremadu or any officer of the National Assembly as Anti- Corruption Ambassador.

The statutory mandate of the EFCC is the investigation and prosecution of all economic and financial crimes cases, which does not include the decoration of individuals as anti-corruption ambassadors.

The Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals. And those enamoured of titles, know the quarters to approach for such honours, not the EFCC.

Members of the public and stakeholders in the fight against corruption are enjoined to disregard the so-called decoration.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

Credit: PremiumTimes

Ekweremadu Fails In Bid To Stop Judgment

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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has failed in his bid to stop the delivery of judgment by the Federal High Court in a suit seeking to sack the Senate leadership.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, had in December 14 last year, reserved judgment after hearing parties in the suit, challenging the process that led to the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President of the Senate.

Plaintiffs in the suit, led by Senator Abu Ibrahim, are of the view that the Senate Standing Orders of 2015 on which Saraki, Ekweremadu and other principal officers of the Senate were elected was a product of forgery.

Credit: Nation

Ekweremadu Is The Best Man To Work With– Saraki

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The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has described his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as a man every Nigerian politician should look forward to working with and the type of leader that Nigerians would want to continue to serve them.

Saraki, who stated this at a civic reception in Mpu, the country home of Ekweremadu shortly after a special thanksgiving service where Ekweremadu rededicated himself to service to Nigeria and mankind said the deputy senate president is a man who has the interest of the country at heart.

Speaking on behalf of the Senate, Saraki said although he had known Ekweremadu in the 7th Senate, he was not too close to him as to get acquainted with him the way he now knew him in the 8th Senate.

He said, “For we politicians, it is always better for us to get close to know somebody because in our meets in the 7th Senate, me and him were far apart, but in this current Senate, I am the first person to tell a few people that Senator Ekweremadu is a perfect gentleman. You are a perfect gentleman and I repeat that many times and you are a good example for we politicians.

“He is the type of Nigerian that we will want to continue to serve because he only sees things for the good of Nigeria. I am grateful enough to be working with you and I will continue to assure you that we will continue to work closely for the interest of this great country”.

Credit: Leadership

How Ekweremadu Others Withdrew N8 Billion In Failed Constitution Amendment- Report

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Fresh details have emerged on how members of the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution withdrew N7.75 billion purportedly to amend Nigerian constitution.

A report by Premium Times had last week exposed how the federal lawmakers collected the money in tranches to purportedly alter the document between 2011 and 2015, but which former President Goodluck Jonathan refused to sign into law.

While the 49-member Senate Committee on Constitution Review led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, withdrew a total N4,500,000.00 for the exercise, the 53-member House of Representatives Committee headed by the former Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, spent N3,250,000,000.00.

The documents, exclusively obtained, also showed that the Committee withdrew money from its account few days before the 2015 general elections. The presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28.

While on March 2, it withdrew N83.33m, it withdrew the same amount 21 days later, precisely on March 23. Yet, on April 13, two days after the governorship election, it withdrew another N83.33m.

The fresh documents exclusively obtained which exposed bank transactions showed that the two committees transferred various sums of money from two National Assembly accounts – 321/212/606/1/1/0 and 321/212/606/1/1/3 domiciled in Guarantee Trust Bank to their own accounts in different banks.

While the House Committee transferred funds to its account in Zenith Bank, its counterpart in the Senate transferred monies to its three accounts domiciled in Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank) and United Bank for Africa.

According to the documents, the House Committee transferred to its Zenith Bank account N500m on December 16, 2011; N500m on May 17, 2012; N250m on August 6, 2013; and N250m on November 11, 2013; N250m on February 20, 2014; N250m on May 27, 2014; N250m on August 21, 2014; N166.5m on a date not specified; N83.5m on December 5, 2014; and N83.33 on March 2, 2015.

The committee, on different occasions, also withdrew huge amounts in cash, serially violating Nigerian money laundering law.

Part 1, Subsection 1 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 provides that “No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding- (a) N5,000,000.00 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b)N10,000,000.00 or its equivalent in the case of a body corporate.”

It withdrew N250m on October 29, 2012; N250m on May 8, 2013; N83.33m on March 23, 2015 and another N83.33m on April 13, 2015.

The Senate Committee, the documents revealed, transferred the sum of N125m on April 21, 2010 to Bank PHB; N250m on June 10, 2010 to Oceanic Bank; N125m on a date not specified; to Oceanic Bank and N250m on October 13, 2010 to Bank PHB. The transactions were made before the Committee was inaugurated in the 7th Assembly in 2011

It also transferred N250m on a date not specified to Oceanic Bank; N250m on February 9, 2011to Bank PHB; N500m on December 16, 2011 to Bank PHB; N250m on May 17, 2012 to Bank PHB; N250m on July 23, 2013 to Keystone Bank, N250m on November 5, 2013 to Keystone Bank; N250m on February 5, 2014 to Keystone; N250m on May 22, 2014 to Keystone; N250m on August 18, 2014 to Keystone; N166.6m on November 25, 2014 to Keystone; N83.4 on December 5, 2014 to Keystone; and N83.33m on February 27, 2015 to Keystone.

It further withdrew N250m on April 20, 2012; N250m on February 27, 2013; N250m on May 8, 2013; N83.33m on March 17, 2015; and N83.33 on a date not specified, in cash.

This again was a clear violation of Nigeria’s money laundering law.

Credit: PremiumTimes

APC Replies PDP On Ekweremadu’s Assassination Attempt Allegation

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All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted angrily to the allegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party was behind an alleged assassination attempt on deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The party described it as induced hallucination.

The PDP had, through its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, alleged that there was plot to exterminate Ekweremadu and other opposition leaders by the APC, adding that lives of key opposition members were in danger.

Reacting to the allegation, APC Acting National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, said it was unfortunate that the PDP resorted to cheap blackmail, adding that the party was yet to purge itself of ‘its cheap and manipulative strategies which only helped it to the doldrums that it is in today.”

He also pointed out that it was bemusing and canny of PDP to adopt such cheap and strange propaganda in its attempt to taint the change mantra the APC has sworn to betroth to the nation.

The APC further chided the opposition party for adopting its past known strategy for cheap political gains knowing full well that the APC, unlike the PDP, is known for adherence of the rule of law and respect for the sanctity of life.

Frank urged Nigerians to disregard PDP’s latest propaganda, adding that it was funny that an alleged assassination attempt would be carried out on the country’s number three citizen without any security report, with the police vehemently denying such occurrence even when the SSS and the police formed part of the deputy Senate President’s security detail.

Credit: Sun

APC Plotting To Kill Ekweremadu, Akpabio, Secondus, Others- PDP

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The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the governing All Progressives Congress of trying to assassinate the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

Reacting to the assassination attempt claim, the spokesperson for the PDP, Olisa Metuh told reporters Wednesday the alleged attempt on Mr. Ekweremadu’s life was an indication the era of political assassination had returned to Nigeria.

He said the PDP had earlier alerted the nation about threats to the lives of key and outspoken opposition leaders by the APC and its federal government.

“The PDP does not mince words in holding the APC responsible for the Tuesday attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President,” he said.

Mr. Metuh also said APC leaders had not hidden their bitterness and resentment towards Mr. Ekweremadu, whose offence, he said “is the privilege of being elected as Deputy Senate President, in line with the Standing Rules of the Senate and provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The PDP spokesperson also recalled that the party had informed Nigerians that key PDP leaders were being trailed and that the government should be held responsible should any of them suddenly become victim of ‘terror attacks’, unexplained accidents, kidnapped or suddenly killed by ‘armed robbers’.

Justifying his argument that the APC was responsible for the attempt on the life of the DSP, Mr. Metuh said it was shocking that “Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in furtherance of their plan to take over the office of the Deputy Senate President, went ahead at plenary today to occupy his seat and attempted to assume the duties associated with that office”.

Mr. Metuh said the PDP had information that beyond Mr. Ekweremadu, the APC had plans to assassinate other notable PDP leaders including the Acting BOT Chairman, Bello Haliru, Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus National Secretary, Adewale Oladipo and members of the National Working Committee, as well as Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, House Minority leader, Leo Ogoh among others.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Senator Oluremi Tinubu Causes Stir In Senate As She ‘Takes Over’ Ekweremadu’s Seat

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Seantor Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central and wife to the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed on Wednesday, November 18, raised dust in the Senate when she gracefully sat on the seat meant for deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, The Cable reports.

Senate

The 8th Senate

It took the reproof of the senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party for Tinubu to relocate back to her chair to second a motion for the approval of Lagos state development policy operation loan.

The rebuke came when the senator stood up to speak while still standing in the deputy Senate president corner.

The APC leader’s wife, however, returned back to Ekweremadu’s position, who was absent from plenary immediately after she seconded the motion.

It was learnt that sat in the chair meant for Bukola Saraki’s deputy to hold conversation with the leader of the Senate, Aliyu Ndume.

During plenary, the Senate approved the $200 million loan requested by Lagos state government from the World Bank after a debate on the report of its adhoc committee on local and foreign debts.

Senator Danjuwa Goje from Gombe state had initially urged the Senate not to approve the loan stating that it will leave the state with huge debt burden for future governments but later went ahead to give his support for the loan request.

Contributing on the loan request, Senator George Sekibo from Rivers state  urged the Senate to put proper check in place to monitor how the money is being handled.

In a related development, Professor Ajayi Boroffice, a senator representing Ondo-North, had warned a commercial bank against granting a N7 billion loan request for the Ondo state government.

He had advised that granting such loan few months to the expiration of the tenure of Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s does not make economic sense.

Source:Naij

Ekweremadu Escapes Assassination Attempt, Suspected Foreign Mercenary Sighted- Aide

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The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, escaped suspected assassination attempt, Tuesday.

The attempt, according to Uche Anichukwu, the dep?uty senate president’s spokesperson, occurred at about 10:00am between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to the Old Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Headquarters junction on his way to work.

The suspected assassins who Mr. Anichukwu said operated in a tinted white-coloured Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number, were reportedly chauffeured by a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, apparently a mercenary.

The spokesperson continued,”The vehicle, which was positioned by the Apo Bridge, on noticing that the Deputy President of the Senate’s convoy took the right turn to join the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway instead, made a turn. The occupants attempted to attack the convoy, but were blocked. The driver violently broke into the convoy and they made several frantic attempts to attack the Senator’s official car.

”When charged at by the security operatives attached to the Deputy President of the Senate, the Benz driver made a U-turn, and partially smashed an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane of the highway and escaped.

”The development has already been reported to the security agencies.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Senate Crisis: Lawan, Akume, Others Boycott Senate Plenary As Ekweremadu Presides

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The Senate yesterday witnessed another drama in the leadership contest between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress as Senator Ahmed Lawan, who contested the Senate Presidency seat against Senator Bukola Saraki at the inception, and his supporters boycotted the sitting, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu.
For the first time since he emerged Deputy Senate President in the 8th Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, presided over the plenary.

 

Unsatisfied that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwer­emadu, a member of the op­position Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presided over Wednesday’s plenary, Senator Ahmad Lawan and his supporters boycotted the sitting.

 

The Senate plenary, which usually begins shortly after 10:30am, was delayed up to 11:30am, following the ab­sence of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was away at Aso Rock to attend the swearing-in of ministers by President Muhammadu Bu­hari.

 

Senators, who had turned up for the day’s sitting were seen loitering the Senate lob­by with a few of them already seated at the chamber, appar­ently waiting for Saraki to pre­side at plenary.

 

In his stead, the mantle fell on Ekweremadu, who is also a presiding officer.

 

A section of the APC, which has majority members in the chamber, were not happy and showed their displeasure by boycotting the session.

 

Wednesday, November 11 was the first time Ekwerema­du would preside at plenary since his election on June 9.

 

Immediately the Deputy Senate President mounted the seat, Chairman of the Com­mittee on Defence, Sena­tor Lawan and his loyalists, among who were the former governor of Benue State and Senator representing Benue North West, George Akume, and Senator Sulei­man Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna Central, refused to go inside the chamber.

 

Senators Lawan, Akume and Hunkuyi stood at the Sen­ate lobby for over 15 minutes and discussed among them­selves while plenary was on. They were joined by a few of their colleagues later.

 

Thereafter, the Senators re­tired to their personal offices.

 

Hunkuyi later told reporters that their action was predicat­ed on their belief that Ekwer­emadu, “a product of illegality cannot preside at plenary.

 

“I, personally will never at­tend any sitting of the Senate that is being presided by Sena­tor Ekweremadu because he is a product of illegality,” he reiterated to newsmen.

 

Later, Hunkuyi, in an un­signed press statement, tagged :”The conspiracy against the APC finally consummated,” accused Saraki of handing over the Senate leadership to the opposition PDP.

 

In a swift reaction, Chair­man of the Committee on Me­dia and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullah, denied that any conspiracy of any nature against Senators.

 

Credit : Daily Sun

Ekweremadu Reminds Buhari Of His Promise To Pay Unemployed Nigerians N5,000 Monthly

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The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has reminded President Muhammadu Buhari of his campaign promises to Nigerians.
“The ruling APC government must fulfill their campaign promise of paying unemployed Nigerians a sum of 5000 Naira monthly,” he said on the floor of the Senate Chambers during moves to consider the third motion for the day: Urgent Need to curb the soaring rate of Unemployment in Nigeria.

According to Ekweramadu, “construction industries in Nigeria are no longer working and this is an impending revolution in our hands.”
Senator Urhoghide (Edo South), in his reaction, says employment in Nigeria is a national problem and must be tackled as such.

He, therefore, urged the federal government to lift the ban on employment in its agencies and parastatals.

 

Credit : Informationng

APC Accepts Gbajabiamila’s Emergence; Still Indifferent On Saraki, Ekweremadu

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed “relative satisfaction” with the choice of Femi Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

He, however, expressed indifference to the vote of confidence passed on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and other principal officers of the upper legislative chamber.

Mr. Gbajabiamila on Thursday emerged the House Leader. He had on June 9 contested the Speaker position but narrowly lost to Yakubu Dogara despite being the party’s choice for the seat.

The House however became factionalised with some queuing behind Mr. Gbajabiamila and others belonging to the Speaker’s group.

Though he initially pledged not to interfere in the choice of the leaders of the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday summoned the APC House members to a meeting in Aso Rock during which he gave them a marching order to resolve the lingering crisis in the lower chamber.

The president also directed the contending factions to meet with Mr. Odigie-Oyegun with a view to resolving the crisis.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Court Refuses To Stop Probe Of Ekweremadu, Others

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to stop the police from continuing investigation of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and others over alleged forgery of the Senate 2015 Standing Rules.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday refused an ex-parte application filed by Senator Prince Gilbert Emeka Nnaji which sought to restrain the police from proceeding with the investigation and making public the report of the inquiry.

Nnaji requested interim orders to restrain the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) pending the determination of his substantive suit.

Nnaji’s main suit is challenging the constitutionality of the investigation by the police in the context of the doctrine of separation of powers.
But in his ruling, the judge said he could not grant the prayer sought by the applicant at ex-parte stage when his court has the power to conduct a judicial review of the action complained about in the substantive suit.

He consequently adjourned to August 4 for the IGP and AGF to show cause why they should not be restrained in the investigation.

Read More: dailytrust

Insurgency Worsens Under Buhari – Ekweremadu

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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, avoided comments on his current ordeal concerning his alleged role in the amendments made to the Senate Rules during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Ekweremadu, who had yet to make public comments on his alleged involvement in the alterations imputed in the document which was used to conduct the election that led to his emergence as the DSP on June 9, however, expressed worry over the frightening spate of insurgency in the country.

He noted with dismay that the unfortunate development had attained a worrisome dimension since  President Muhammadu Buhari took over power on May 29, 2015.

He said, “I am worried about the insurgence of the Boko Haram activities in Nigeria.  Shortly before the inauguration of the present government, the country had almost rolled back Boko Haram and its activities in every part of Nigeria – from Adamawa to Borno to Yobe.

“I was hoping that when we come back in the 8th Assembly, that I will work with our colleagues from the North-East to develop a plan of action that will help to rehabilitate that part of Nigeria. I feel so concerned about the suffering of our people from the North-East of Nigeria.

“I had hoped that by now we would be tasking ourselves on how best to rebuild that part of Nigeria. Regrettably the actions of Boko Haram seems to have resurfaced now not only in Borno, they have carried out their activities also in Plateau, they have gone to Adamawa, Kaduna.

“I am worried that if nothing is done, the next target would be Abuja. Maybe they start going to South. It is important for us as those in government, whether Executive or Legislature, to come together to find solutions to these problems.”

He therefore appealed to neighbouring countries and the international community  to support the country to  roll back the activities of Boko Haram, stressing that  there was no way the nation could  achieve progress in the country when there were security problems.

He said the Buhari administration should, as a matter of urgency,  “deal with this security challenge no matter what it would cost us.”

He also called for a collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in order to deal with the scourge.

Ekweremadu said, “We must be on the same page on this matter. I believe that it is time for us to have meetings with the Executive as well as the security agencies in order to find out exactly what has happened – why the resurgence of these Boko Haram activities and what we can do as a people to ensure that this matter is dealt with decisively.”

He expressed sympathy with the Boko Haram victims and called for an immediate action to stop the menace.

APC’s Plot To Remove Ekweremadu Will Fail- PDP

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The Peoples Democratic Party asked the ruling All Progressives Congress to stop chasing shadows and concentrate on governance.

It also said the plot by the APC to remove the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, “is an enterprise in futility.”

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Jalo, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja.

He advised the APC to stop chasing shadows and concentrate on providing the services they promised to provide for Nigerians during campaign.

He said the PDP should not be blamed for the decision of the ruling APC, to call for a meeting outside of the National Assembly Complex on the morning of the inauguration.

Read More: punchng

National Assembly Not Party Secretariat, Ekweremadu Cautions APC

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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, warned the  All Progressives Congress, APC, not to misconstrue the National Assembly as its secretariat.

Senator Ekweremadu, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, was called up on a RayPower Radio morning programme, tagged: “Political Platform”, where he responded to questions on the alleged forgery/amendment of the Senate Standing Rule, 2011.

When told that some people, especially from the opposition APC felt that his principal took a seat that rightly belonged to the APC, Mr Anichukwu said the seat did not belong to any political party.
He said: “Going by Section 50 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, that Office doesn’t belong to anybody or party. It belongs to Nigerians. That is why APC lawmakers became Speakers in Plateau and Benue State Assemblies last June even when the APC was in minoity. By the way, are some people trying to tell Nigerians that if the PDP had won majority in the National Assembly, which is an independent arm of government, and head both chambers, then the President Buhari Administration would cease to function?
“Just as I said in a statement a few days ago, we will not be intimidated and will do everything democratically possible to protect the independence of the National Assembly.

He washed his hands off the allegation, saying at the time the said Senate Standing Rule/Order 2015 was made, he had ceased being the Deputy Senate President and so was no longer a principal officer to have contributed to the making of the document in question.

He said the making of a new Rule/Order for a new Senate or House was entirely the business of the National Assembly bureucracy, asking those striving to frame him up to look elsewhere.

He said: “Let me just explain here that every National Assembly, that is every Senate or House has its Standing Rule/Order as every Standing Rule/Order normally has a life span of four years. So, if you go to the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly now, you are likely to find Standing Rules/Orders of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and the current 2015.
“From the point of the valedictory session of the 7th Senate on 4th June, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Distinguished Senator David Mark and the rest of other members of the 7th Senate ceased to be senators until the 9th of June, when the 8th Senate was inaugurated; and as usually done, the new senators received new Standing Rule/Order 2015.
“The making of that 2015 edition of the Senate Rule/Order is the business of the bureaucracy of the National Assembly. What the 8th Senate can do, which its predecessors have sometimes done is to amend as suitable. And the process of the amendment is spelt out in the that document.

Credit: vanguardngr

Why We Invited Ekweremadu For Questioning- Police

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The Nigerian Police Force has given reasons for inviting the deputy president of the senate, Ike Ekweremadu, to its headquarters for questioning.

The police explained on its Facebook page that it received a petition from a senator who alleged unauthorized substitution of senate document.

It said in line with the policy of the police leadership on evidence gathering, the matter was referred to the Force CID in Abuja for investigation.

Following the investigation, a letter was subsequently sent to the clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate a meeting of some principal officers of the senate and the clerk with the police investigating team headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force CIID, the statement said.

The meeting, the police said, is expected to also hold at a time and location convenient for the parties involved.

The statement said the force has respect of democratic values, and therefore has no plans to arrest the deputy senate president.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party had on Sunday accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of plotting the arrest of Mr. Ekweremadu after failing to force him to resign from his position.

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We Have No Hand In Ekweremadu’s Police Invitation- APC

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it has nothing to do with the reported police invitation of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, over which the PDP has released an “outlandish” statement containing all sorts of imaginary claims.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said it neither wrote a petition to the police nor is it aware that any petition was written against the Deputy Senate President.

”However, if, as the PDP claims, the petition concerns alleged altering of the Senate’s Standing Rules on the process of electing Presiding Officers, that is a clear case of forgery which the police have a duty to investigate. Questioning the right of the police to carry out their duties in this regard amounts to intimidating the security agency.

”Forgery is a crime that is being regularly investigated by the police, and it beggars belief that such investigation will now be interpreted to mean that Nigeria is descending into dictatorship or that democracy and the enjoyment of personal freedoms are now endangered. These claims by the scaremongering PDP are farfetched and preposterous,” it said.

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APC Insists On Ekweremadu’s Removal

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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress on Monday insisted on removing the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, of the minority Peoples Democratic Party.
Punch learnt on Monday that the ruling APC was still miffed that Ekweremadu emerged as the deputy senate president and had vowed never to allow “a senator from a minority party take over the duties statutorily assigned for the majority party.”
A leader of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Ekweremadu as deputy senate president would hamper the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The APC leader told Punch
“As deputy senate leader, Ekweremadu is automatically the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. This is a sensitive position that, statutorily, should not be held by the minority.

“Ekweremadu and his PDP co-travellers will hamper the policies of the Buhari government. By the virtue of Senate rules, a member of the minority is not supposed to be the deputy senate leader; so, he is occupying the post illegally.
“We know the body language of some of these elements to anti-corruption. Nigerians know the stance of Buhari on corruption and insecurity. These elements occupying positions in the National Assembly must be removed. Otherwise, this administration is dead on arrival.”The President has refused to see Saraki and Dogara since they emerged as senate president and speaker respectively. Both Saraki and Dogara have done everything possible to see the President but he has shunned them because he is not happy about their conduct. You can see that the President has seen the Lawan group; this shows where his support lies,” the source added.

APC Cannot Remove Saraki, Ekweremadu- Senator

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A senator from Edo State, Clifford Ordia, has said that no amount of gang up by leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, would lead to the sack of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Mr. Ordia, who spoke against the backdrop of continuing bickering by leaders of the ruling party over the emergence of the Senate leaders, said Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu were divinely appointed to lead the Senate.

Mr. Ordia represents Edo Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He played a major role in the emergence of the Senate president and his deputy.

But following a statement by a former Kano State Governor and a serving Senator, Rabiu Kwakwanso, discrediting the election of the two senate leaders, the Edo lawmaker advised the APC to sheath their sword.

He reminded political leaders in the country that the era of imposition was over and warned those rooting for Mr. Saraki and Mr. Ekweremadu ouster to either accept their emergence or maintain their cool.

Speaking specifically in defence of Mr. Ekweremadu who has been severely attacked by APC leaders, Mr. Ordia said PDP senators will not fold their hands and allow him (Ekweremadu) to be removed.

“We will defend the mandate of Ekweremadu with every drop of energy we have,” Mr. Ordia said.

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Mark, Ekweremadu Leave NASS Premises Without Convoy, Aides

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Follwing the valedictory session marking end of the 7th Senate, outgoing Senate President, David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday evening left the premises of the National Assembly without the usual convoy of vehicles.

Also, the two principal officers of the Red Chamber were seen leaving the premises without their usual retinue of aides. Instead, among the several vehicles in their convoys, only a handful of three cars, believed to be their personal cars, followed them outside.

The siren blaring vehicles and motorbikes, usually in their convoys, which were missing as they drove out separately, caught the attention of not just some legislative staff but some of the National Assembly workers who watched as they were moving out, after the formal closing of the legislature.

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Buhari, APC Must Rescue Chibok Girls, Provide Uninterrupted Electricity, Others- Ekweremadu

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The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has tasked the Peoples Democratic Party National Assembly Members-elect on being a credible opposition. Mr. Ekweremadu said “being in opposition is not a life sentence for any party.”

He spoke at a retreat organised by the Forum of PDP National Assembly members-elect for its members in Port Harcourt on Monday. The retreat was themed, The Role of the Opposition in Facilitating Development and Good Governance.

In a press statement, Mr Ekweremadu said that being in opposition is an opportunity for soul-searching and self-reconstruction. “It is also for providing healthy, robust, vigilant, and responsible opposition, which is critical to democratic growth and good governance,” he said.

“The PDP lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly should not only hold the APC accountable in terms of their list of promises, but also in accordance with the timeline they gave in the course of the campaigns.

“They should be able to bring exchange rates down to one naira to one US dollar, bring back the Chibok Girls, eradicate terrorism and insurgency, stamp out corruption, create two million jobs every year, provide uninterrupted electricity supply, and fulfill other campaign promises or prepare to hand over power to the PDP in 2019…”

Credit: premiumtimesng