Tag: impeachment

Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara after NASS impeachment threat

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday met face-to-face with Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

The trio met at the wedding reception of the daughter of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, held inside the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

This was their first meeting after some members of the National Assembly threatened to impeach Buhari over the withdrawal of $496 million from the Excess Crude Account for the purchase of fighter jets.

The lawmakers had last week moved that the process to impeach the president be commenced for authorising the purchase of the military aircraft from the United States without appropriation by the legislature.

Also at Saturday’s event were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun; a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as well as the governors of Adamawa, Kaduna and Ogun States, among others.

Addressing State House newsmen after the event, the SGF described the wedding of his daughter, Amanda and her husband, Telema, from Rivers State, as a symbol of national unity.

“I am married to somebody from a different state all together. I come from Adamawa State, while my wife comes from Osun State. So, Amanda is not the first. It is a marriage of unity. Whenever I hear people talking about Nigeria breaking up, I just laugh. The foundations are deep. I have a brother-in-law who is Igbo, I have a brother-in-law who is Urobo. So, our home has always been a small Nigeria whenever we congregate,” he said.

Mustapha said he felt very happy and thrilled about the event, noting that “It’s a pride of a father that at one point in time you’ll be giving out your children in marriage or receiving brides into your home. And that is what has precisely happened to us today as a family.”

The SGF advised the couple to respect each other, remain friends and make God the centrepeace of their home.

“‘If they have doubts about things happening around them, let them go back to the author of marriage Himself, which is God. So, my advice to them is let them remain together through thick and thin. They should not take each other for granted,” Mustapha added.

April 29, 2018
Senate sets in motion Buhari’s impeachment

Nigerian Senate on Thursday referred to its judiciary committee for legal advise the motion for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari moved by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

TheNewsGuru reports President Buhari purportedly approved the sum of $496 million for the purchase of super Tucano fighter jets without consent of the National Assembly.

Senator Urhoghide, representing Edo South senatorial district, therefore, moved the motion for the invocation of Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution, which deals with impeachment of the President for voiding due process.

Senator Urhoghide citing Orders 15, 42 & 52, said the matter should be forwarded to the appropriate committee.

“The President’s request is wrong, it’s a violation of our process, proceedings and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“It’s a violation of Section 80 subsection 1, 2, 3, 4. The procedure of the expenditure is wrong. There ought to be an appropriation before such an expenditure.

“I hereby request that the SP, Bukola Saraki should invoke Section 18 of the Constitution,” the Senator said.

“I rise to second this motion with Section 80 subsection 2 and 3. We are still on the appropriation bill, we have not finished it, Service chiefs were appointed without the approval of the Senate.

“This Tucano helicopters are to be brought in 2020, why include it now in appropriation. This is an impeachable offense,” Senator Chukwuka Utazi, representing Enugu North constituency said.

In reaction, Senator Shehu Sani said, “We are not ignorant of the security challenges that is going on in the country and how it affects the stability of our country. I appreciate the efforts of the FG to bring an end to the killings in Nigeria but this is no reason to breach the Constitution”.

“This is a gross violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is very clear to us that we are failing as a government and as a nation. We should be calling for refund and exercise due process,” he added.

In his submission, Senator Sam Anyanwu said, “We should look into this as it is obvious that there is a breach of Constitution”.

“I rise on Section 83 subsection 1 and 2. I suggest we forward this matter to the Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters,” Senator Bala Na’allah said.

“Distinguished Colleagues, I think we have taken contributions from everyone. I also think that the contribution of the Leader addresses two issues and we must take note of them:

“One, the concerns we have, as Senator @ShehuSani said, all of us agree that there is definitely security concerns in our country. At the same time, we all agree that from what has been presented to us definitely there is a breach of Constitution.

“The question is what are the circumstances surrounding the breach of Constitution and whether those circumstances justify the breach of Constitution.

“I am sure you will all remember that in August 2017, when I got the message from the U.S. Ambassador, that the Senate Committee at the Congress of the United States wanted to visit us because they had received a request from President Trump to approve for payment of the Tucano but they needed Congress approval. Congress wanted to come to Nigeria to speak with their counterparts.

“I led the team with members of the House of Representatives and members here in the Senate and we met with the members of Congress on this issue. We were aware at that time of the issues.

“Between September and February with all due respect, there was ample time for the Executive to have carried us along on this issue. There are arguments for and against and those arguments are valid.

“The suggestion of the Leader, that we should send it to the Judiciary Committee to: 1. Advise whether truly the constitution has been breached; 2. Whether the circumstances justify the breach in any way.

“What do we do going forward in trying to appropriate because the funds have already been spent. Do we go under what the Leader has come under or we start the whole process of appropriating.

“It was after we agreed in September that the US Congress went back to give approval to the Executive to go ahead to sell the Tucano to Nigeria. If you will all agree, we should refer the matter to the Judiciary Committee and give them a short period of time. By Wednesday next week they should present their report to us,” Saraki concluded.

April 26, 2018
Babachir, Oke: Buhari should be impeached for disobeying the Constitution – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over his handling of the corruption cases involving the former Secretary to the Government, Babachir Lawal, and former National Intelligence Agency, boss, Ayodele Oke.

The party, while calling for the prosecution of the duo, said Messrs. Lawal and Oke were being treated under “a different set of laws.”

It further stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and not the Presidency should have investigated the allegations of corruption levelled against the two dismissed officials.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that Lawal and Oke, who have been on suspension for months, were relieved of their duties on Monday by President Buhari after intensified public outcry.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the appointment of Boss Mustapha as the new SGF. He (Buhari) however yet to announce a new DG for the NIA.

The PDP in a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, said it was not pleased with the action.

The opposition party said the act is ‘‘an insult to the collective intelligence of the people who waited patiently for the President’s reaction to the humongous act of corruption by two of his principal aides.’’

Its statement read in part:

“First and foremost, we had disagreed with the President last year when he decided to set up the panel headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the matter because we thought that was the wrong course of action to take.

“Ordinarily, cases of corruption or alleged cases of misappropriation of funds are supposed to be referred to institutions that are saddled with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute such matters which is the ICPC and the EFCC if there is any prima facie case against them.

“But it appears not all animals are equal under the Buhari APC administration. Some people are treated with kid gloves while others particularly those in opposition are subjected to all manner of harrowing experiences.”

It said the president’s actions were ‘impeachable.’

“This is an impeachable offence. So, the President cannot just sack Ayo Oke and Babachir Lawal and expect us to be clapping for him.

“We believe that we are operating under a democracy and a constitution that governs our affairs. To have subjected these people to different sets of rule and treatment is totally unacceptable.

“Nigerians are the same under the law and Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke should not be tried by the Presidency while others are hounded by the EFCC and ICPC.

“These actions of Mr. President are therefore a breach of his oath of office which he swore to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to be fair and just to all Nigerians without any discrimination whatsoever.”

“The action of the President is a gross violation of his constitutional oath and therefore constitutes a veritable ground for impeachment .Using and applying different laws to different people in the country is a direct assault on the constitution and the rule of law.

“Consequently, we call on the National Assembly to begin processes to impeach the President for breach of the Constitution and fragrance disobedient to the laws of Nigeria.

“We totally reject these actions and the law should follow its full course on the issues of these officers. In other words, their case should be referred to the EFCC for proper investigation and trial, more so when the President has not told us what the report of the findings was.

“Nigerians are entitled to know the findings of the panel headed by the Vice President. The report should be made public since it is the people’s money that is involved.

“The President has by his actions taken Nigeria to the level of a banana republic. We are not in a banana republic, this is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Three successive governments of the PDP did not act in the manner President Buhari is acting.”

“There is no doubt that the sudden sack of the SGF and the DG of NIA is just a consequence of the backlash on the Abdulrasheed Maina saga. Up till now there’s no answer to the pertinent questions we have asked on the Maina saga.”

“The government cares less about the feelings and opinions of Nigerians. This kind of arrogance is unprecedented in the history of this county. We again call for the arrest and investigation of the two Ministers involved in the return of Maina into the Civil Service, that is, the Minister of Interior, Bello Dambazau and Abubakar Mallami, the Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice.”

October 31, 2017
Impeached Delta Speaker, Monday Igbuya suspended for three months

The impeached Speaker of the Delta State Assembly, Rt.Hon. Monday Ovwigho Igbuya has been suspended for three months.

Also suspended indefinitely is the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Tim Owhefere.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that Igbuya was impeached Monday morning over alleged financial high handedness and misappropriation of funds.

The member representing Isoko South and the member representing Warri South-West in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Johnson Erijo moved and seconded the motion for the impeachment of the Speaker this morning.

TheNewsGuru.com that Igbuya was immediately replaced with the lawmaker representing, Okpe constituency, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori as the new Speaker.

May 11, 2017
We share same umbilical cord with Fayose, he can’t be impeached – Speaker

The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kolawole Oluwawole has said the legislature and executive arm of government in Ekiti State enjoy a smooth relationship and such cannot be destroyed by those desperately working and calling for the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

those fighting for the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose, are chasing shadows.

Oluwawole, said this on Wednesday in Ekiti.

The Speaker was reacting to calls by Coalition for Good Governance and Anti-Corruption for Fayose’s removal from office.

Oluwawole said: “Unfortunately, they are speaking from Abuja and not from Ekiti, thus they have no jurisdiction to cry more than the bereaved in the first instance about government and governance in Ekiti State.

“The EKHA would have ignored these marauders, but they need to be aware of the following facts. The Office of the Governor of Ekiti State is established in Part 2, Section 176 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended for a period of four years herein called the term of office and Section 180 (1) listed all intraneous conditions that can make an occupant to cease to hold the office as a governor.

“Also, Section 189(1) of the same constitution listed the extraneous conditions of removing the governor of a state through the House of Assembly.

“Nowhere was it stated that some drunkards can gather after a binge night out and ask for the removal of a sitting and performing governor with executive powers as conferred by Section 176 (2) of the constitution.

“The EKHA is saddled with the responsibility of oversight functions, particularly with powers on matters of evidence against any political office holder in Ekiti state inclusive of the governor as enshrined in Section 129 of the Nigerian constitution as amended.

“These functions, we have carried out without fear or favour and with so much vigour in the overall interest of the people of Ekiti State. Nowhere and no time in Ekiti State will the legislature and the executive be at loggerheads because we remain indivisible, inseparable and closely bounded, sharing the same umbilical cord with the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Ayodele Fayose,” the Speaker explained.

January 5, 2017
South Korea president for impeachment Dec. 9

South Korean lawmakers have put forward a historic bill to impeach scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye early Saturday, after the opposition bloc heralded a vote on the motion on Dec. 9.

A parliamentary official told Xinhua on the phone that the bill was handed in to the relevant office at about 4:10 a.m. local time (1910 GMT).

It marks the second impeachment proposal since the country’s constitutional government was launched about seven decades ago. The latest was in 2004 for late President Roh Moo-hyun.

The impeachment motion was filed with the National Assembly by 171 opposition and independent legislators. The ruling Saenuri Party, which has 128 lawmakers, refrained from taking part in the proposal.

The assembly’s speaker Chung Se-kyun of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party failed to join the move for political neutrality rules, but he reportedly plans to participate in the vote.

Three main opposition parties, including the Minjoo Party, People’s Party and the Justice Party, have agreed to vote on the impeachment on Dec. 9 when the regular session ends.

The impeachment motion states that President Park comprehensively and gravely violated laws and the constitution in her office for nearly four years. Park took office in February 2013.

It says Park’s breach of laws and constitution was threatening enough to justify the expulsion of the president and that Park betrayed legitimacy and trust granted by the general public.

The constitutional violations, according to the impeachment bill, include the president’s permission of her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil and other associates of Choi to meddle in state affairs and influence the appointment of government officials behind the scenes.

Also included in the breach of the constitution is the government’s initial bungling of rescue operations in one of the country’s most devastating maritime disasters on April 16, 2014 when a passenger ferry Sewol sank in waters off southwestern South Korea.

Controversy arose over the whereabouts of the president for seven hours right after the ferry tragedy occurred. The impeachment bill says President Park failed to recognize what was happening during the “golden time” for rescue.

Park’s inappropriate response to the disaster has been denounced for contributing the most to the death of over 300 passengers, mostly high school students on a class trip to the southern resort island of Jeju.

The infraction of laws referred to by the impeachment motion is the bribery. Park’s decades-long friend has been charged with extorting tens of millions of U.S. dollars from large conglomerates to set up two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi.

Prosecutors branded President Park as a criminal accomplice to Choi in multiple charges including abuse of power and extortion. The prosecution office was investigating whether Choi used her relationship with the president to grant business favours in return for donations.

The headquarters of Samsung Group was raided by prosecutors on suspicion that the country’s largest family-run conglomerate bribed Choi in exchange for support from the national pension fund in last year’s controversial merger of two subsidiaries of the group to create a de-facto holding company.

The offices of Lotte and SK, two of the country’s top five chaebols, were also searched on charges of offering kickbacks to Choi in return for getting licenses for lucrative duty-free shop operation.

December 3, 2016