REVEALED: I Rejected Obasanjo’s N50million Bribe 10 Years Ago – Senator Na’Allah

The Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South), has taken former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to the cleaners, revealing on Tuesday how he rejected Obasanjo’s N50million bribe ten year ago.

The Senator speaking at the backdrop of Obasanjo’s repeated allegations days back that federal lawmakers were corrupt, however Na'Allah took a strong exception to that, he instead chose to describe the former President as the grand father of corruption.

According to him, “Obasanjo lacked the moral right to be making such allegations in view of his corruption laden antecedents while in power, one of which was the N50million bribe offered to each of the federal lawmakers during the 5th National Assembly for his failed 3rd term bid in office.”

His statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a purported statement attributed to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in which it was alleged that he made a sweeping statement to the effect that there are no men of integrity in the National Assembly.

“I am respectfully taking exception to the statement which I express the hope is not true. To start with it is not in my character to join issues with elder statement who have had the privilege of supretending over the affairs of our great country Nigeria.

“This exception has become necessary in view of the enormity of the alleged statement to my person and integrity. If former president Obasanjo can come out with one proven record of corruption against me as a person I promised to vacate my seat as a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.

“For the records I was the only member from Kebbi state who did not find it worthy at that time of collecting the sum of 50 million naira as an inducement to subvert the constitution and provide a constitutional framework for the third term Ambition of president Obasanjo. I find this statement if it is true to be reckless and terrifying.

“The implications of the statement is to say that the entire over 170 million Nigerians have not elected a single person with integrity among the 469 members of the national Assembly. This is definitely rhapsodic and does not comform to commonsense and reason”.

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Jonathan Rejected Efforts To Separate Office Of AGF From Minister Of Justice - Ekweremadu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate, said former President Goodluck Jonathan frustrated efforts to separate office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice by refusing to assent to the amendment that would have brought it about.

According to Ekweremadu, who disclosed this to journalists during a tour of the construction site of national headquarters of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abuja, he said it is necessary to separate both offices, if Nigerians still desire that justice delivery must be strengthened in the country.

Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice.

"It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.

"During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.

"Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.”

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Senate Calls On Security Agencies To Check Killings

The Senate following a Point of Order raised by Sen. Joshua Dariye (PDP-Plateau Central) at plenary over the recent killing of Mr. Lazarus Agaie, a first-class traditional ruler in Bokkos, Plateau, have called on security agencies in the country to take adequate steps to bring incessant killing of Nigerians across the country to an end.

Senator Dariye, relying on Order 42, said that the late traditional ruler was apprehended on his way from farm, adding that the rate at which innocent Nigerians were being killed was alarming, thereby calling for urgent steps by relevant stakeholders to stem the tide.

Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate in his remarks said, “We must put an end to this senseless killing of people returning from their farms.

“Security agencies must get the culprits of this dastardly act. Our hearts go to the government and people of Plateau State.”

The motion was unanimously adopted and the legislators observed a minute silence for the deceased monarch and others who died in the incident.

I Was Moved To Tears Last Time Saraki, Ekweremadu Went To Court– Ex-Senate President

Senator Adolphus Wabara, a ranking member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, and former Senate President, has revealed that he shed tears when he watched the last time one of his successors, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu reported to the court for the alleged forgery of Senate Rules trial instituted against them and two others by the federal government.

Wabara lamented about the treatment given to the Senate leadership yesterday when a delegation of the PDP BoT led by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, to pay a solidarity visit to the PDP Senate Caucus at the National Assembly Complex.

He stated that the presiding officers were allowed to go to court when the court was on vacation, lamenting that no one had the courtesy to inform the Senate President and his Deputy that there would be no sitting owing to the vacation.

In Wabara’s words, “The last time the two Presiding Officers went to court, as I watched on television, I was moved to tears. The court was on vacation, and no one had the courtesy of informing them before hand.

“The time they would have used to attend to the nation’s task, was wasted, going to court. It is high time the executive realized that the era of executive interference was over.”

“I speak as a victim of executive interference in the legislature. During our own time, there was not the kind of unity being exhibited by the Senators today. I want to commend and salute you all for that,” Wabara said.

I Will Not Apologise To Tinubu’s Wife Melaye Tells Senate

Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, who allegedly threatened to beat up and impregnate Mrs Tinubu during a closed-door executive session last Tuesday said he will not apologise to his colleague and wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The Kogi Senator claimed she called him a dog and a thug, which angered him to use abusive words on her.

And during today’s executive session at the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, Senator Dino while addressing his colleagues who asked him to apologise to Mrs Tinubu in a bid to douse the tension so far generated, refused saying, “great minds don’t dwell on issues; they act and move on.”

PETITION: Sen Tinubu Writes IGP, Demands Police Protection

Senator Remi Tinubu, the lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Senate, in a letter has petitioned the acting Inspector-General of Police, requesting for police protection over alleged threats to her life by Senator Dino Melaye.

The Senator in the letter said that her request became necessary following Senator Melaye's history in the House of Representatives where a brawl allegedly led by the latter resulted in the death of a lawmaker.

Signed by Senator Tinubu, the letter titled: Request for Police Protection reads: ‘’I am Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. During the proceedings of the Senate on Tuesday, July 14, 2016, I had cause to contribute to a matter of national importance. Apparently dissatisfied with my contributions Senator Dino Melaye threw caution to the winds, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person and wanted to assault me.

‘’It was the timely intervention of a number of colleagues which prevented Senator Melaye from unleashing a physical attack on me. However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without any provocation whatsoever.

‘’In view of Sen Melaye’s antecedent particularly in the House of Representatives where a brawl led by him led to the untimely death of a member, I have decided not to ignore his threat to my life. Therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good offices to provide me with adequate security.”

BREAKING: Saraki, Not Senate On Trial, Says Lawyer

Mr Remi Agwuezie, a Legal practitioner on Tuesday in an interview in Calabar, called on the Nigerian Senate to face the business of law making rather than dissipate energy on the trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Agwuezie said, "They should allow the Senate President to face his trial as an individual not as Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"We have 109 Senators and when one is facing trial others should continue to make laws for the country.

"Instead of causing confusion among their colleagues they should face the real business of law making, which is the main reason why they are there.

"They should stop making the trial a major issue, ‘’ he said.

``It is not the senate as an institution that is on trial but Saraki as an individual; so, the law should be allowed to run its full cause, while the senate as an institution moves on, ‘’ he said.

"We should learn to build strong institutions rather than strong individuals, ‘’ he said.

"The wrought has been on for too long; and Mr President must be commended and supported to rid the country of this mess, called corruption, ‘’ he said.

IMPEACHMENT THREAT: Buhari, Nnamani, Mark, Masari, others meet in Aso Rock

Some former leaders of the House of Assembly met with President Muhammedu Buhari at the President's office for a closed door meeting according to media reports.

Those seen include former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Ken Nnamani, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

While Nnamani and Masari arrived the same time, Mark arrived the President’s office together with Enang about one hour later.

It is still unclear if all of them met the President together, as Nnamani and Masari were said to have been driven out from the President’s office in a vehicle, according to reports.

Meanwhile, David Mark, who came out after about thirty minutes, walked through the corridor with one protocol officer and did not speak to journalists.

The meetings may not be unconnected with the current squabbles at the national assembly, including the alleged threat to impeach President Buhari as well as the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Oil Wells: 65% Ownership Or Nothing - Niger Delta lawmakers

Lawmakers from the Niger Delta region have called on the Federal Government to review the ownership structure of oil wells in the country to allow for 65 per cent ownership by the people of Niger Delta region as a means of facilitating development in the region.

The lawmakers also condemned the activities of herdsmen and called for the establishment of special task force drawn from the various security agencies and Neighbourhood Watch in each local government area to check their criminal and nefarious activities, and ensure justice.

The House members said, “The people of the Niger Delta region should possess at least 65 per cent of the oil wells contrary to the present ownership structure where less than 10 per cent of the oil blocks belong to our people.”

“There is an urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to put in place adequate machinery that would ensure direct payment of derivative oil funds into the hands of Niger Delta benefiting communities,” the principal officers and members of the Houses of Assembly in the region said.

“Legislators of the Houses of Assembly in the South-South and South East can no longer watch helplessly as our region drifts aimlessly while our people walk the razor edge under the strain of impoverishment, environmental degradation, insecurity and uncertainty on the one hand and the destruction of oil/gas installations and the attendant consequences including their impact on the eco-system and the economy on the other hand.”

“They must embrace dialogue and diplomacy and channel their grievances through various constituted platforms.”

Saraki, Dogara won’t benefit from immunity - Reps

The House of Represenatives explained that the proposed immunity was not to shield anybody, rather it was to stop unnecessary distractions of the presiding officers from the other arms of government, stating that the Senate President, his deputy, as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy, will not be beneficiaries of the proposed immunity for the presiding officers of the National Assembly in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, while addressing journalists yesterday said, “Even if the immunity is passed, the incumbent can’t enjoy it. We want to guard against distractions. The National Assembly is distracted now. It is for the future, so, there is nothing wrong for leaders to enjoy it.”

IMPEACHMENT THREAT: No plan to impeach PMB – SENATE

The Senate yesterday in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, rebuffed insinuations of a plot to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari, saying such suggestions were speculative.

He said: ”We expected the party to, at least, explore all the options open to it to verify that piece of fabrication which is only the figment of the imagination of the writers and their sponsors.

"It should be clear to the APC leadership that if there is any truth to that story, it should have been credited to a particular senator who was at the executive session.

“It is evident from our proceedings of yesterday (Wednesday) that the Senate itself was shocked that such a fabrication, which constitutes a breach of the privileges of the senators, was published and that was why we mandated our Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions to investigate the source and circumstances leading to the emergence of such a fabrication.

“We will like to assure the party that the Senate, as an institution, values the present democracy in our country and will not do anything that will undermine or weaken the system.”

SENATE, NDLEA, AGF REACH COMPROMISE ON KASHAMU'S EXTRADITION

Kashamu’s extradition: Senate, NDLEA, AGF reach compromise

Buruji Kashamu

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, will not be harassed, intimidated nor forcefully extradited to the United States- for now.

PRESIDENT BUHARI DEBUNKS CHANGING THE 2016 BUDGET

The fate of this year’s budget was yesterday hanging in the balance, with Senate President Bukola Saraki accusing Presidential Liasson Officer, Ita Enang of printing a different version of the document presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22 following the report received fom the ad hoc committee set up to investigate the matter.

But according to House Presidential Liasson Officer Sumaila Kawu, the Priesident has described the drama surrounding the document as “laughable."

The President cannot direct his agents to “steal” the document and has no reason to smuggle the document out of the Senate because he is well aware of other options he can explore to withdraw the document.

He also described the accusation directed at his Senate counterpart, Sen. Ita Enang as “unfair” because the former senator is an experienced lawmaker who once chaired Rules and Business Committees in the House and in the Senate.

Kawu said the missing budget rumour may have been strengthened by the locking away of the document in the Clerk of the National Assembly’s office.

"It is a suprise to us and Mr President in particular; it is laughable. We just laughed when we heard of it. Being a joint sitting , Mr President laid  one document on the floor; then it is for the Budget Office or National Planning Commission (NPC) to make copies.

In this case, once it was laid, the Clerk of the National Assembly locked the document in his office because of the time of the year; it was holiday period and the lawmakers were going on holiday. The confusion might have been as a result of that.

But our concern in this matter is why we were dragged into it.

Actually, as our job entails, we lobbied the National Assembly to take a second look at the oil benchmark because our projection was no longer in tune with the current reality.
We lobbied the National Assembly on the benchmark; it was not illegal or alien to legislature world over and it has nothing to do with stealing or smuggling it out of the Senate.

We, as the Executive, have to take account of the volatile nature of oil price. The National Assembly was aware of this, but notwithstanding we still have no reason to withdraw it.
Even if the document must be withdrawn, it must be done legally and there are laid down means of doing that, which the President can explore.
Buhari will be the last person to assign his agent to be involved in such illegality."

The presidential aide also said the sad development was not a matter of lack of communication between the Executive and legislature but an act of mischief by those behind it.
He defended Enang, saying:

"Enang is a hands-on legislator that knows the rules. He was Chairman of Rules and Business committees of the House and Senate, so he knows the rules.
This is the same lawmaker that tackled the then Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on different versions of Budget being implemented.
He is very much aware of what is at stake and couldn’t have involved himself in such an illegality."

On whether the budget may be withdrawn as a result of the crashing global oil price, Kawu said there was no plan for that.

"We will not withdraw the budget  because the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) has taken into consideration a situation like this. We are aware that for Saudi Arabia to raise her domestic oil price and the United States  exporting oil means there’s a problem. That was the reason why diversification of economy is a priority to this government, this budget wasn’t oil-dependent."

SARAKI COMMENTS ON MISSING 2016 BUDGET

The senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki has responded to the rumors that the 2016 budget is missing.

See tweets:

Meanwhile, during the Senate plenary yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media And Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said that no statement made by any Senator during the plenary can be interpreted to mean an admission that the 2016 budget is missing.

He said there is no budget missing and that the Senate will today (Thursday) distribute copies of the budget to all the Senators so as to arm them to properly contribute to the debate which will take place between Tuesday. January 19 to Thursday, January 21, 2015.