Why FG dropped forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu – Lawyer

The Federal Government has explained why the forgery charges it leveled against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others was withdrawn.

Saraki, 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 on charges bordering on forgery of the Senate rules, to which they all pleaded not guilty.

Reports however emerged yesterday that the government has decided to withdraw the charges leveled against the principal officers of the National Assembly.

Earpiece conspiracy theory sweeps internet - Hillary Clinton CHEAT during US presidential debate

Hillary Clinton was widely declared the winner of the first US presidential debatewith a confident, impressive performance against rival Donald Trump.

Following the clash on Monday, conspiracy theorists have set the internet ablaze with rumours that the Democratic nominee may have secretly had help.

Eagle-eyed observers claim to have spotted Clinton, 68, wearing what appears to be an hidden earpiece during the debate.

Footage from the 90-minute discussion at Hofstra University in New York also appears to show the outline of wires and a battery pack under Clinton's jacket.

Catholic Online website asked: "What is it for? Is it so a team can feed her answers? Is it an anti-seizure device? A hearing aid?"

Edo election: INEC begins collation of results – live updates

OREDO LG

APC: 37,612

PDP: 30,492

Total Valid Votes: 69,401

Rejected votes: 4,311

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ESAN SOUTH-EAST LGA 

APC: 9,554

PDP: 11,466

Total Valid Votes: 21,250

Rejected votes: 806

Number of registered voters: 66,695

Number of accredited voters: 22,522

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UHUNWOMNDE LG

APC: 10,911

PDPN: 8,667

Total valid votes: 19,971

Rejected votes: 1,759

Number of registered voters: 62,987

Number of accredited voters: 21,927

Recession: Senate Tables 14-Point Roadmap to Turn Around Economy

In a bid to find quick solutions to the economic recession in the country, the Senate yesterday commenced debate on the issue, with Senate President Bukola Saraki presenting a 14-point plan to the federal government on how to make the crisis the shortest ever in history.

The Senate’s road map out of the recession was contained in Saraki’s speech to welcome his colleagues back from their annual vacation.
Going by the importance attached to finding urgent solutions to the recession, the Senate plenary commenced at 10.10 a.m. after the presiding and principal officers of the Senate filed into the chamber.

The recommendations by Saraki, which will form the basis for an elaborate debate today by his colleagues include:
• The executive must immediately put in place leadership-level engagement platform with the private sector.
• Government must raise capital from asset sales and other sources to shore up foreign reserves.

• Consider tweaking the pension funds policy within international best practice safeguards to accommodate investment in infrastructure and mortgages.

EU to break up within a decade due to immigration: Trump

Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says the European Union (EU) will break up within a decade because of immigration and Europe will be “unrecognizable.

He made the remarks in an interview with The Times during a visit to hisTurnberry golf resort in Scotland on Monday, only days after people in the UK voted in a historic referendum to leave the EU.

The property tycoon also warned Scotland against a second independence referendum in the wake of Brexit, noting that Europe may not last that long.

“I think the EU

US activist accuses President of being partial in anti-corruption war

International Human Rights consultant, Jeffrey Smith has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari over his anti-corruption war.

Smith, who is the executive director of the Vanguard Africa Movement, made his comments via an article titled “Buhari is treading a perilous path in Nigeria” published by online news platform, Sahara Reporters.

Upon entering office in May 2015, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari faced the daunting tasks of living up to exceedingly high international expectations and meeting the needs of a nation that was clearly yearning for change.

Fresh Report Why Gov's Bank Account Freezed - Account Reportedly contained N1.2bn

A deposit of N500m was reportedly traced to the frozen bank account after the money was allegedly received from the ex-NSA office.

 



According to a report by Sahara Reporters, sources at anti-graft  commission revealed that Fayose's account was frozen in connection with over N1.2billion he allegedly got in 2014 from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki for his re-election campaign.

It was further reported that sources claimed Fayose received sums of money from the office of the NSA with which he bribed security officials and voters to get into the Ekiti governorship for the second time.

No more funding for medical trips abroad – Buhari tells government officials

The Federal Government said it has stopped providing resources to government officials to travel abroad for medical attention on cases that could be handled in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto, President Muhammadu Buhari, said his administration would not encourage expending hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad.

Buhari seeks World Bank’s help to revive economy

The Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Bank, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, held talks with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday on how the bank could help Nigeria overcome an economic crisis caused mainly by a sharp fall in crude prices that has eaten deep into its oil revenues.

The Federal Government is planning to borrow N1.8tn from abroad and at home to help fund the over N6tn budget for this year, which has been delayed by several months due to wrangling between the Presidency and the National Assembly.

Although Nigeria has held talks with the World Bank over a possible loan or credit facility in recent months, Indrawati did not address this when speaking to reporters after the meeting.

Militants attack Fulani herdsmen, threaten to cripple Nigeria’s economy

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has threatened to cripple Nigeria’s economy if President Buhari does not hold a Sovereign National Conference for Nigerians to choose whether they still want to stay together.

The militants also condemned the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen, and criticised Buhari for not calling them to order.

The NDA, in a press statement titled: NIGERIA IS A FAILED ENTITY listed their grievances saying:

“…Clear example is the present administration where Fulani herdsmen whom are the kinsmen of President Buhari are above the law despite the killing and atrocities they have committed against farmers in the south and middle belt but the president can give a shoot on sight directive to military against the peaceful protest of the Indigenous people of Biafra.

Saraki’s lawyer nails EFCC as witness admits ignoring vital exhibits.

The prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja has admitted that some of the exhibits he tendered before the tribunal were not investigated by him nor his team.

While under cross-examination by Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness, Micheal Wetkas, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, specifically admitted that he did not investigate the petitions in Exhibits 11, 12 and 13.

False Assets Declaration: Saraki arrives tribunal with just 4 Senators

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki just arrived the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in company of just four Senators.

The Senators are Shaaba Lafiagi – Kwara North; Senator Kabiru Gaya – Kano; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim – Kwara South and one other Senator yet to be identified.

Saraki is currently standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets and other criminal charges which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, claimed was carried out while he was the Governor of Kwara State.

Court strikes out Saraki’s application to halt trial

An Abuja Federal High Court has thrown out an application by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking to halt his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for an alleged false declaration of assets.

In his judgement on Friday, Judge Abdul Kafarati ruled that the code of Conduct tribunal (CCT) was a legally constituted body whose discharge of duties should not be interfered with by a court.

“This court cannot interfere with the proceedings before the tribunal; it cannot also interfere with the duties of the respondents which have been imposed on them by law,” he said.

Nigeria had no political will to save under Jonathan —Okonjo-Iweala

Erstwhile Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has blamed the country’s present economic situation on the zero political will of the immediate past government  to save for the rainy day.

peaking, yesterday, at the George Washington University, Washington D.C. Okonjo-Iweala said the Goodluck Jonathan administration differed seriously from the Olusegun Obasanjo administration under whose administration the Nigeria government saved $22 billion, which she said, helped to cushion the dryness that came the way of the country at the end of the last decade.

No going back on budget, says Senate

As Nigerians await resolution of the face off between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the 2016 budget, the Senate yesterday said that having passed the appropriation bill, it would not bend backward to introduce the Lagos- Calabar Rail project.

As Nigerians await resolution of the face off between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the 2016 budget, the Senate yesterday said that having passed the appropriation bill, it would not bend backward to introduce the Lagos- Calabar Rail project.

And if the rail project must be accommodated in the budget, President Muhammadu Buhari should submit a fresh proposal for it after assenting to the one it had just passed.

Presidency, National Assembly trade blame over missing details

Earlier reports had it that President Muhammadu Buhari was upset with the legislators for deleting the provision made for the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Railway.

The controversy surrounding the 2016 budget seems to be unending as the Presidency and the National Assembly are said to be in disagreement over some details which are missing from the document.

Earlier reports had it that President Muhammadu Buhari was upset with the legislators for deleting the provision made for the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Railway. Buhari is said to have summoned Senate President, Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogarato a meeting over this.

Alhaji Kawu Baraje APC chieftain slams party for non performance

Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s ally, Alhaji Kawu Barajehas criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC), over what he described as the party’s poor performance.

Punch reports that Baraje said Nigerians are not happy with the APC, and called on the Buhari led administration to address the sufferings of the people.

He also advised the party not to repeat the mistakes of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Baraje said “I belong to the group that is not very satisfied with the performance of the party; not only because the Senate President is having a very serious political issue, but because there are other cases and instances where we are not happy with the performance of our party.”

See photos from ex-governor’s burial in Bayelsa

Alamieyeseigha died on Saturday, October 10, 2015, after allegedly slipping into a coma on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

The funeral rites of late Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha have begun in the state.

Alamieyeseigha died on Saturday, October 10, 2015, after allegedly slipping into a coma on Thursday, 8.

The burial arrangements had earlier been announced by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah.

Kaduna: ‘True APC’ stakeholders fault El-Rufai over non conduct of LG polls

A group of stakeholders in the All Progres‎sives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State under the aegis of “True APC AKIDA” has described as undemocratic the failure of the state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to conduct elections into the 23 local government areas of the state.

‎A statement issued on Monday by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Murtala Abubakar, read, “We have noted that our Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, had chosen to appoint Caretaker Committee chairmen rather than facilitate the conduct of credible election in our local governments.

Saraki’s CCT trial: Chief Agabi absent in court

As Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki faces his substantive trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Tuesday, his lead Counsel and former Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi was surprisingly absent.

Chief Agabi and a team of 80 defence lawyers challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try Saraki through a motion he filed at the CCT, but lost the case in a ruling which was delivered by Justice Danladi Umar last week.