Tag Archives: Proceedings

My Trial Will Not Disturb Senate Proceedings– Saraki

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The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has said that his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal would not interrupt Senate proceedings, a statement said in Abuja on Monday.

The statement was issued by Mr. Saraki’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

It said the president of the Senate spoke following the announcement of the tribunal Chairman,  Danladi Umar, that proceedings at the trial would hold daily henceforth.

“It would be recalled that at the preliminary stage of the trial, senators had always accompanied the Senate president to the tribunal each time the case came up for hearing,” the statement said.

“But Saraki said now that the trial proper has commenced and the Senate is in session, he would not want the trial to affect legislative business.

“Saraki also said ‘I am the one on trial not the Senate. Even though I have been overwhelmed by the solidarity displayed by my colleagues, it is important that the work of the Senate is not unduly affected by this process.’’

It added that the legislative body would not be affected by the absence of any of the principal officers.

Credit: NAN

PDP Commences Committal Proceedings Against Amaechi, Army Chiefs, Others

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has asked a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to commit the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, to prison for deploying soldiers during the March 19 rerun elections in defiance of a court order.

Others included in the committal proceedings are the Commander of the 2 Army Brigade, Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak.

Reacting to the development, Amaechi, who said last night that he was unaware of the matter in court, as he had not been served the process, however, described the move by the PDP as “frivolous, ridiculous and laughable”, promising to meet the party in court.

The ruling party in the state and its chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, sought for the relief in a motion of notice filed by their solicitor, Kingsley Chuku, before the state High Court registry on March 22.

The motion was bought pursuant to Order XIV of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure), Rules 2009 under the jurisdiction of the state High Court.

The Rivers PDP and its chairman had earlier in a Suit No PHC/601/2016, filed before the state High Court by Mr. Chuku, secured a court injunction restraining Amaechi, the army and the federal government from deploying soldiers during the rerun elections.

Joined as respondents in the suit then were Amaechi (1st), Chief of Defence Staff (2nd), Chief of Army Staff (3rd), Brigadier General Steve Olabanji, Brigade Commander, 2nd Amphibious Brigade, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt (4th), INEC (5th), REC, Rivers State (6th), the Governor of Rivers State (7th) and the Government of Nigeria (8th).

Justice George Omereji of High Court 13 subsequently, in a judgment on March 16, granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents from deploying soldiers for the exercise, in line with the fundamental rights of the applicants.

Credit: Thisday

28 Senators Storm Out of Proceedings, Threaten Legal Action Against Saraki

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Twenty-eight Senators under the aegis of Senate Unity Forum, led by Barnabas Gemade, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on Wednesday walked out of senate proceedings and threatened to take legal action against Bukola Saraki.

PUNCH reports that the group staged the walk out after Saraki had administered oath of office and allegiance on 28 All Progressives Congress lawmakers, who were absent at the inauguration of the Eighth Senate. Senator Gemade and Marafa then raised a point of order demanding full integration of the SUF members who were absent from the formal inauguration on Tuesday.

After they were overruled, the 28 senators, including the APC choice candidate for the Senate Presidency, Ahmed Lawan, walked out an addressed a press conference.

Addressing the press on behalf of the group, Gemade said, ”Our right to participate in the election of the Senate President is a constitutional right which cannot be taken by any person or group of persons. The Clerk of the National Assembly (Salisu Maikasuwa), knowing full well that the quorum for election of the Senate President was not met, went ahead to conduct an election that shut the door against about 51 other senators. This will remain unacceptable until what would meet democratic parameters is done.

”The insinuations in some quarters that we boycotted the election is totally unfounded. As loyal party members, we would take all necessary political and legal means to strengthen our democracy and democratic process in line with the change that we promised our teeming supporters during our electioneering”

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