Encomium
CCT DISCHARGES AND ACQUITS SENATOR BUKOLA SARAKI
22 months after Senator Bukola Saraki was arraigned, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday discharged and acquitted him of the 18-count charge of false declaration of assets brought against him. Senate President Saraki who was arraigned in September 2015 by the federal government had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Before the tribunal’s judgment yesterday, the Senate President had filed a no case submission, asking it to dismiss the charges against him. In his judgment, the tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, held that the allegations proffered against Saraki by the federal government was bereft of probate value and manifestly unreliable to hold the charges against the defendant.The tribunal said the prosecution, at the close of the case, failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
ZENITH BANK COMPENSATES SLAIN COPS’ FAMILIES
The Imo State Police Command had promised prompt payment of the entitlements of the two policemen who lost their lives during the robbery attack on a Zenith Bank branch on Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State. The state Commissioner of Police, Chris said the police would not abandon the victims’ families. This is just as Zenith Bank said it would foot the bills for the treatment of Sergeant Otu Attang, who lost one of his eyes during the attack.
The company said it would also sponsor the education of the children of the late two cops, Sergeant Chukwudi Iboko and Sergeant Sunday. However, the incident gained public attention early June when footage of the bank’s Closed Circuit Television Camera, which captured the moments of the robbery, was released to the public.
OSINBAJO HITS NASS OVER ALTERATION TO BUDGET
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had said the National Assembly has no right to introduce new projects or modify those contained in an appropriation bill. He said the Executive was disappointed in the legislature for delaying the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill which he signed recently.
He was speaking at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja while flagging off the 2018 budget preparation process. The acting president finally said: “I am sure that we understand not just how to do it right, but to get it done in good time.
PDP CELEBRATES AS ADELEKE’S BROTHER EMERGES PDP CANDIDATE
The younger brother of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola, has emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Osun West Senatorial District bye-election. Adeleke, who had been cleared to contest for the primary on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, defected to PDP on Tuesday evening, June 13.
Adeleke was set to contest the primary in APC unopposed after his opponent, Sen. Mudashiru Husein, was disqualified on Sunday by the APC screening committee headed by Zamfara Assembly Speaker, Sanusi Rikiji.
The PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said the party would win the bye-election. According to him, there is no faction in PDP but only aggrieved members.
JONATHAN IS INCOMPETENT – OSHIOMHOLE
The former Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole has described ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as an incompetent leader. This is coming after the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said that the former President failed the Igbos.
According to reports, Oshiomhole said the most basic things were not done by Jonathan’s administration. He said: “If you follow my commentary two, three years into his government, it was clear that even the most basic things were not properly done. Competence that was expected was not there.”
FASHOLA TELLS NIGERIANS TO REPORT THOSE WHO STEAL ENERGY
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has called on the Federal Government to extend its ‘whistleblowing’ policy to the power sector to curb energy theft. Fashola made the appeal in Enugu at the 16th Power sector monthly meeting, sponsored by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
According to him, if nothing is done, those who pay for energy consumption will continue to bear the overall cost. The minister said that statistics revealed that only six million households consumed energy in the country, adding that, “if this is correct, it means that some people steal energy in the country, while only a few pay.” He called on Nigerians to be vigilant and report those who stole energy in their neighbourhood to law enforcement agencies.
SANUSI REVEALS REAL PROBLEMS WITH NIGERIA
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has strongly condemned groups that have resorted to ‘hate speech’ along ethnic lines.The Emir, while condemning ethnicity/tribalism, noted that Nigerians must stop thinking along ethnic lines and embrace the creation called Nigeria.
According to him, “My grandfather was an Emir also Fulani. My uncle and guardian was also the immediate late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon.” He said the language of the generation older than him was to use regions to refer to themselves, but that he is a Nigerian.
BUHARI IS OLDER THAN HE CLAIMS – RENO OMOKRI
Former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is lying about his age. Buhari’s official age is given as 74. But Omokri argues that it cannot be possible, as General Abdusalami Abubakar who turned 75 on Wednesday, was the president’s junior in the army.
He asked the President to resign if he was not healthy enough to continue, as Aso Rock is not a retirement home.
GOV. BELLO IS A COMPOUND FOOL – DINO MELAYE
The Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye has described his state governor, Governor Yahaya Bello as a compound fool under the influence of cheap drugs.
Governor Bello had on Wednesday described Senator Melaye as a social deviant in the Senate, saying that his constituents were in the process of recalling him, because “they have learnt from their bitter mistake”.
Melaye, a chieftain of the APC said the governor is only scared of people with “rising profiles”.
WHY NIGERIANS WANT TRUE FEDERALISM – WIKE
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says Nigerians are demanding true federalism to enable each region develop according to its capability. The governor spoke yesterday when he hosted the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr William Symington.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike explained that Rivers people, for instance, wanted true federalism because this will allow them properly manage their resources. The governor said all Nigerians deserve to be treated with equity, fairness and justice, adding that the right framework should be established to ensure that all the states excelled.
Wike further urged the American Government to set up a visa office in Port Harcourt to cater for the South-South and the South-East geo-political zones.
