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Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • Gbajabiamila’s aide shot newspaper vendor thrice, says family

    Gbajabiamila’s aide shot newspaper vendor thrice, says family

    The family of Ifeanyichukwu Okereke, a newspaper vendor shot dead on Thursday by a security aide to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has faulted the Speaker’s account of the incident.

    The family, in their November 20, 2020 letter signed by their lawyer, Chidiebere Nwachukwu of Nwachukwu Nwachukwu & Co, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, stated that the security aide shot Okereke three times and left him to bleed to death.

    In the letter titled, ‘Re: Gruesome public murder of Ifeanyichukwu Okereke (deceased) by the security guard of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (Speaker of the House of Representatives) on 19/11/2020’, the family demanded the arrest of the security operative within 48 hours.

    The lawyer, who stated that he was acting on behalf of Destiny Chukwu-Okere, a younger brother of the deceased, and the entire Chukwu-Okereke family, added that Ifeanyichukwu who was shot dead on Thursday was to celebrate his new baby’s naming ceremony on Friday.

    It was learnt that the shooting incident happened when Ifeanyichukwu and other street vendors selling newspapers on the Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the Speaker, who was said to be in the habit of giving out money anytime he passed them.

    The Department of State Services had on Friday declared that the security guard was one of its operatives and had been detained by the Service for questioning.

    Gbajabiamila has issued a statement expressing regrets over the tragedy and announcing the suspension of the officer involved.

    He said he was not aware of the incident until much later, adding that he was gutted by the killing.

    But the family of the deceased disputed Gbajabiamila’s account of the incident.

    The letter read in part, “That the deceased who is a fan and supporter of the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representative (Hon Speaker) on the fateful November 19, 2020, upon sighting the motorcade of the Hon Speaker together with other newspaper vendors around the said traffic light waved cheerfully in their usual manner in solidarity to the motorcade as the said motorcade was passing.

    “That the Hon Speaker upon sighting their enthusiasm and support, stopped his vehicle and gifted monies totalling about N9,000.00 to the said supporters led by the deceased.

    “That the deceased was about to continue his business when one of the security guards attached to the Hon Speaker opened fire on him and shot him publicly, thrice, two shots in the head and one on his arm at close range and left him to bleed to death on the road.

    “That the said motorcade drove off from the scene immediately after the incident without any remorse or offer for medical help to the victim.

    “That the representative of all our client was at the scene when the incident took place and that on seeing his elder brother struggle for his life, he rushed to help him and cried for more help. It took about 30 minutes before the DPO of the Police Station at the Federal Secretariat brought his official car to convey the victim to the National Hospital, where he died as a result of the gunshot injuries.

    “That our client and others were instructed to come back to the police station today being 20/11/20 after preliminary questioning.

    “That this morning they were referred to the FCT Command where they have made statements and were asked to leave as they will be contacted.

    “That till this moment, the security guard has yet to be arrested or prosecuted for a gruesome public murder of Ifeanyichukwu Okereke.

    “That the said Hon Speaker had gone ahead to release a statement claiming that his ‘convoy was obstructed’ before the incident. This is unfortunate and we shall never allow such brazen murder to be swept under the carpet.”

    It added that “the wife of the deceased is still expecting her husband home till this moment as the naming ceremony of their less than a one-month-old baby is set to be celebrated today being 20/11/2020.”

    Demanding the arrest of the security guard, the letter stated, “We seek your immediate, urgent and decisive intervention in this case as we bring justice not only for the Ifeanyichukwu Okereke; husband, father, brother and son but also for the state (Nigeria).

    “We, therefore, demand that if within the next 48 working hours, the culprit security guard attached to the Speaker of the House Representatives is not brought to book; we shall explore all possible legal remedies available to our client in order to bring justice to the deceased and his family

    Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila on Saturday visited Okereke’s family.

    Gbajabiamila was at Okereke’s family home in Kwata village in the Madalla/Suleja area of Niger State, in company with the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu, and his aides

  • Gbajabiamila speaks after his aide shoots vendor dead in Abuja (+Video)

    Gbajabiamila speaks after his aide shoots vendor dead in Abuja (+Video)

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reacted after a security aide attached to his convoy shot a newspapers vendor in Abuja.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, in the afternoon on Thursday.

    The victim identified as Ifeanyi Okereke was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he reportedly died.

    Gbajabiamila in a statement made available to newsmen personally signed by him narrated the incident he described as “horrible”.

    He said: “A horrible incident has taken place. This evening as I left the national assembly, I stopped as usual to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner. Many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.

    “Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.

    “Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.

    “I have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced.

    “In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.

    “My value for human life and my respect for all people – irrespective of social economic status – is what endeared me to these vendors and these are the reasons why I stop my convoy quite often to connect with them. For one of them to have been shot by my security detail is horrific and I cannot begin to imagine the grief and loss Ifeanyi’s family must feel on this sad day. No family should have to go through this.

    “I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors.”

  • Gbajabiamila pushes for redefinition of Federal Character

    Gbajabiamila pushes for redefinition of Federal Character

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called for the redefinition of the concept of Federal Character, as contained in the Nigerian constitution.

    Gbajabiamila made the suggestion Saturday at a national strategy retreat organised by the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly.

    He said the lawmakers should consider an amendment in the Constitution that will redefine Federal Character.

    At the moment, Federal Character within the context of appointments, infrastructure and the rest of it in the Constitution, is limited to states and ethnicity.

    “I think it is time that we expand the definition of Federal Character because the character of a Nation is not just based on your tribe.

    “It is based on religion, it is based on where you are from, it is based on your sex, it is based on your age.

    “So when you are talking about Federal Character you look at all those things and they are what make up the Federal Character.

    “You talk about so so percentage of women, percentage of youth, that is the true meaning of Federal character and I think that is what should be reflected in the constitution,” he said.

    Gbajabimila said that the youth would be given more representation in the Special Committee on Constitutional Reform in the House.

    He pledged to liaise with the Clerk, Mr Amos Ojo, to get a Secretariat for the YPF in the House.

  • Sanwo-Olu needs N1trn to rebuild Lagos – Gbajabiamila

    Sanwo-Olu needs N1trn to rebuild Lagos – Gbajabiamila

    It will cost not less than N1 trillion to rebuild Lagos State following last week’s massive destruction of public and private assets , according to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The state was the epicenter of looting, arson and destruction between Wednesday and Friday last week.

    It cuts across all areas of endeavor, including businesses, government and private. Even the judiciary was not spared as court rooms were razed.

    House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed the estimated cost during his visit to the governor at the Government House in Marina on Sunday.

    Gbajabiamila, who visited to sympathise with the state along with members of the House of Representatives from Lagos, said: “The governor was telling me just now that it was going to cost about a trillion naira to rebuild Lagos. That makes my heart heavy. And I asked the governor what’s the budget of Lagos State? What are you planning? And he told me that they’re planning a budget of about a trillion naira.”

    Among other public assets destroyed are 89 new buses of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) burnt down in Oyingbo and Berger where they were parked.

    Each of the buses, according to Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso costs about $200,000.

    The multi-million naira forensic and DNA centre, the Igbosere High Court, local government secretariat buildings, and hundreds of vehicles, other public buildings scattered across the state, street lights, among others are affected.

    Gbajabiamila visited Oba of Lagos Rilwanu Akiolu, whose palace was razed and looted as well as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader.

    “I came in from Abuja today, not just to stand in solidarity with him, but by extension the people of Lagos State. These have been very difficult few days. It has even been more difficult for me in the last hour. Driving in from the airport and sitting with the governor to watch the documentary here put together, that evidences of the carnage we all witnessed. It makes us all very sad.

    “This, certainly, is not the Lagos of our dream that we all talk about. And I know deep down, and I believe no matter how brave a face one puts to it, that even the protesters have their regrets that things went this far, because from my understanding and from what I’ve seen, both those who are pro-protest and those who are anti-protest, were all affected.

    “There’s very little I can say. But, I know that standing with me is a man of courage, a man of destiny. Because it’s very unusual for you to come into office, and within a year a few months, you witnessed two calamitous events: first, you were in the epicentre of COVID-19, which you dealt with to the admiration of all.

    “Whilst we were still grappling with that, you now became the epicentre of the protests. I want to encourage you to lift your head high, because you discharged your duties as a governor of a state that was troubled in the last few months, or close to one year,” he said.

    The Speaker said he did not wish the incident to take an ethnic dimension, having heard a lot of conspiracy theories about it.

    “Let us shut our ears to those things. Let us focus as one people, whether you’re Igbo, whether you’re from the North, whether you’re from the South. This is the mantra that we have in the House of Representatives because if you talk about nation-building, we say it is a joint task.

    “I want to also use this opportunity, in a way, to be grateful and commend our brothers and sisters from the North. I said this because if the North had been a part of this, I don’t know if we’ll all be standing here today. That’s why I commend our brothers and sisters from the North.

    “On Tuesday, we talked in the House about compensation. I want to reiterate that the House will do all it can to make sure that everybody that has suffered from police violence – whether you’re from the North, from the East, from the West, because everybody in Nigeria has suffered from police violence, not just those of us from the Southwest. That will be applicable to all, including policemen that lost their lives in these unfortunate incidents.

    “So, Your Excellency, we bring you good tidings and good wishes from Abuja. We stand with you. Whatever the House can do to help in rebuilding, not just Lagos State, but other states that have been affected as well from whatever part in Nigeria, the House will definitely join hands. Because we’re now in the situation of reconstruction.

    “I want to encourage our young men and women out there that you fought a good fight, and I’m sure deep down, you’re not happy with what you’ve seen. The government listened, the president listened, the House listened, the Senate listened, the governors listened, it is now time to take stock and make sure this never happens again”.

    He said the true situation of what happened in Lekki must be unravelled.

    “Your Excellency, the ground zero of what happened here is Lekki. That was what precipitated the violence and the carnage the following day. It is important to me, as I know it is important to you and to everybody, to know what exactly happened.

    “A judicial panel has been set up, and I hope those who say this is what happened will have the courage to go before the judicial panel and say this is what happened and give credible evidence. And if that was indeed what happened, then, the law must take its course. But, if that was not what happened, the law must also take its course. Either way, the law must take its course.

  • BREAKING: I won’t sign off 2021 budget without compensation for #EndSARS victims – Gbajabiamila

    BREAKING: I won’t sign off 2021 budget without compensation for #EndSARS victims – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has vowed not to sign off the 2021 budget without adequate provision for compensation of victims of police brutality and demand of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Speaker described protesting youths across the country as midwives of national rebirth, saying their agitation has brought about a historical moment in the country.

    Addressing his colleagues at Tuesday’s plenary, the Speaker said: “You (protesting youths) have moved a nation to action, and now you must join in doing the hard work of making real the vision of a more just, more prosperous, and more resilient nation.

    “We see your true cause. Please do not allow your righteous cause to be hijacked by those with base motives, who see in this moment an opportunity to pursue vendettas, to spread division, exploit the many existing fissures that exist in our society and bring our nation to its knees.

    “You have raised your voices and marched to demand a better Nigeria. From Abuja to Washington, to Calgary and London, your voices have been heard.

    ” Do not allow anybody to convince you that to withdraw from the streets now is to concede defeat.

    “This is the time to move your agitation from the chaos of the streets to the painstaking deliberations and strategic partnerships that birth policy and produce legislation.

    “It is time to mobilise your voices in support of specific policy interventions that will deliver on our shared objectives of national renewal and a country that reflects the best of us. I thank you, your country thanks you, and history will be kind to you.”

    The Speaker said the time has come for the nation to reconsider the system of funding education, stating the current one is a great disservice to the nation.

    Details shortly…

  • Lawan, Gbajabiamila laud Buhari, IGP for dissolving SARS

    Lawan, Gbajabiamila laud Buhari, IGP for dissolving SARS

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, have hailed the dissolution of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police.

    In a statement yesterday night in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Media, OlaAwoniyi , the President of the Senate said that it was a courageous decision to dissolve the police unit, and with this, him and his government have shown themselves as responsive to the feelings of the people.

    “I am applauding the President because it is a demonstration of good leadership to yield to the demand of the populace in difficult situations like this.”

    He also commended the Inspector-General of Police for the decision and challenged him to come up with measures for the transformation of the Nigeria Police into an effective law enforcement and crime fighting agency that is also a true and respected friend of the Nigerian people.

    The President of the Senate said that the measures should fully address all the issues that earned the dissolved SARS the odium of the Nigerian people, and in particular of the articulate Nigerian youths.

    Lawan said, “The expectation is that this situation offers us another opportunity to reform the operations of the entire Force.

    “I also reiterate my call for the prosecution of all security personnel whose extra judicial killings and other acts of misconduct brought us to this sorry pass.
    “I hope that the steps taken by the Inspector-General of Police will be followed with more comprehensive reform of the Police.”

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said action, he said, was a necessary response to outcries from multiple documented excesses of SARS operatives across the country.

    The Speaker commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to calls by Nigerians to disband the Police special unit.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker commended Nigerians, particularly millions of young people at home and abroad, who saw a wrong and sought to make it right.

    Gbajabiamila said the dissolution of SARS and the broader, ongoing reforms of the police that will follow are a testament to the passion and resilience of a generation of Nigerians determined not to accept or tolerate injustice in whatever form.

    The Speaker called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to take practical steps to support and enforce this policy pronouncement.

    He said: “These steps are necessary to assure the Nigerian people that the announced dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is sincere and well-intentioned, and not merely meant to quell the ongoing protests across the country.

    “The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) must also act to identify and punish those operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) involved in the most severe cases of abuse of rights, brutality and murder of Nigerian citizens.”

    Gbajabiamila noted with displeasure the manhandling of some of the protesters across the nation.

    “There is still a pressing need to have an independent system for monitoring police actions and holding police officers to proper account for failures to follow the law and the police code.

    “The House will continue its work to legislate lasting solutions to the problems of policing in Nigeria,” he said.

    He disclosed that as part of efforts at reforming the police, the House will meet with the national leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and select civil society organisations to begin joint efforts at developing a legislative proposal.

    “Whatever legislation emerges from this collaboration will be presented to the House within the 30-day timeline announced by Speaker Gbajabiamila at the special session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday 7th October 2020,” he said.

  • Budget presentation to be COVID-19 compliant, says Gbajabiamila

    Budget presentation to be COVID-19 compliant, says Gbajabiamila

    Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that the 2021 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly would be COVID-19 compliant.

    The Speaker said this on Wednesday in Abuja while reading a letter of the proposed budget presentation from the president to members at plenary.

    Buhari will on Oct. 8, present the 2021 appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly at 11.00 am with full compliance to COVID-19 protocol.

    Gbajabiamila said that members would be mandated to wear their face masks as part of compliance to COVID-19 protocol.

    The speaker said that an abridged version of the budget would be presented by the President so that everything could be done within one hour.

    He said that both the chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, and he would also present abridged versions of their speeches.

    This according to him is to reduce the time during the presentation as COVID-19 did not allow crowded environment.

    According to him, the budget presentation will not be the usual annual presentation; it will be abridged because of the need to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.
    He also said that there would be room for social distancing as members would be allowed to sit in the gallery.

    Gbajabiamila said that the presentation is expected to begin at 11.00 am.

  • Buhari’s 2021 budget presentation will be COVID-19 compliant – Gbajabiamila

    Buhari’s 2021 budget presentation will be COVID-19 compliant – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the 2021 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly would be COVID-19 compliant.

    The Speaker said this on Wednesday in Abuja while reading a letter of the proposed budget presentation from the president to members at plenary.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the president will on Thursday, Oct. 8, present the 2021 appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly at 11.00 am with full compliance to COVID-19 protocol.

    Gbajabiamila said that members would be mandated to wear their face masks as part of compliance to COVID-19 protocol.

    The speaker said that an abridged version of the budget would be presented by the President so that everything could be done within one hour.

    He said that both the chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, and he would also present abridged versions of their speeches.

    This according to him is to reduce the time during the presentation as COVID-19 did not allow crowded environment.

    According to him, the budget presentation will not be the usual annual presentation; it will be abridged because of the need to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.

    He also said that there would be room for social distancing as members would be allowed to sit in the gallery.
    Gbajabiamila said that the presentation is expected to begin at 11.00 am.

  • Reps ready to urgently overhaul SARS – Gbajabiamila

    Reps ready to urgently overhaul SARS – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday said the House will urgently look into the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, with a view to overhauling its operation.

    SARS has been in the eye of the storm as many Nigerians are calling for its ban.

    For days #EndSARS has been trending on twitter with thousands of Nigeria calling for outright disbandment.

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and others have also reacted and called for immediate overhaul of SARS, even as the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had taken drastic measures to curb SARS excesses.

    However, Gbajabiamila, on his twitter handle on Monday said last week, in his welcome speech on the House’s resumption from annual recess, he made it clear that one of its objectives was a total overhaul of the culture and practice of policing in Nigeria.

    He said the events of the past few days again emphasize the urgent need for this overhaul.

    He wrote: “Last week, in my welcome speech on our resumption from annual recess, I made clear our objective of a total overhaul of the culture and practice of policing in Nigeria.

    “The events of the past few days again emphasize the urgent need for this overhaul. The activities of SARS and other special intervention units of police is something the House must and will look into.

    “The police must work for Nigerians of good conscience, not against them.”

  • Lawan, Gbajabiamila vow to break PIB jinx, ensure passage

    Lawan, Gbajabiamila vow to break PIB jinx, ensure passage

    The leadership of the National Assembly said, on Monday, that the Assembly would break the jinx of not being able to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after several attempts.

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians that the time had come for the passage of the bill.

    They spoke at a meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari and some other top officials in the Petroleum sector.

    The meeting was to brief the National Assembly leaders on the focus of the PIB, which the Senate President confirmed, was forwarded to the Assembly about two weeks ago.

    “The bill has not been read at the floor of either of the two chambers of the National Assembly because the federal lawmakers are currently on recess but will resume session on Tuesday.

    “The PIB is said to be jinx actually for a long time; probably from 2007 to 2019.

    “It’s either the bill or bills were sponsored by the Executive and not passed by the Legislature as was the case in 2007, 2011 in the 6th and 7th Assembly,’’ Lawan said in his opening remarks.

    “In the 8th Assembly, the Legislature sponsored the bill, breaking it down to about three, it passed but there was no assent.

    “Now, the bill is an executive bill coming to the National Assembly and the two chambers promise that we will break that jinx.

    “We want to see an oil industry in Nigeria that is properly regulated, an oil industry that not only sustains the investment that we have but attract even more investment, an oil industry that is very competitive,’’ Lawan said.

    According to him, the 9th Assembly wants to work with oil industry stakeholders, have a very clear understanding of every provision so that, at the end of the day, “we will break that jinx together with you’’.

    He said the Assembly would provide the oil industry with a legislation that would make it more effective and efficient at the end of the day.’’

    The visit, the Senate President said, is the first meeting between the Petroleum Ministry and other agencies with the leadership of the National Assembly to discuss the essence and focus of the bill.

    “We are glad that the bill is now in the National Assembly even though not before the National Assembly.

    “I imagine that by tomorrow, when the communication to the House, communication to the Senate will be read, then it will be before the two chambers of the National Assembly,’’ Lawan said.

    On his part, Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that the 9th National Assembly would break the jinx and pass the bill speedily.

    “The bill has been long in the making for several years but I believe this is the session in which it will be passed.

    “We will pass this bill speedily, however, its passage will not sacrifice thoroughness.

    “We will not sacrifice thoroughness on the altar of speed because it will be in the nation’s best interest.

    “In the House of Representatives, we have assembled a crack team of legislators who are versed in the workings of the industry.

    “It is an Ad hoc committee drawn from the House Committees on oil, upstream, downstream, local content and gas.

    “So, there is a crack team that will be working with you as we are all trying to go to the same destination.

    “Talking about passing it speedily, unfortunately, it is coming at the time when it will be competing with the passage of the budget,’’ Gbajabiamila said.

    The Speaker described the bill as “the most important legislation that will come out from National Assembly in the lifetime of this government.

    “It is a most important piece of legislation because we all know what oil represents in terms of our economy.

    “Everyone has been waiting for the arrival of the PIB.

    “That is the legislations that is on the lips of every Nigerian, whether he knows anything about petroleum or not.

    “It is the most popular and most common bill.’’

    According to him, everybody talks about PIB because oil represents the life wire of our state.

    “That underscores the importance of this Bill,’’ the Speaker said.