Tag: impeachment

Alleged N40m Adeleke’s Christmas gift: No plan to impeach Osun Speaker – Aide

Mr. Kunle Alabi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye, says there is no impeachment plot against his principal over alleged misappropriation of fund.

Alabi spoke against the backdrop of the report in a section of the media about an intense plot by some aggrieved lawmakers to remove Owoeye over an alleged N40 million Christmas gift to them by Gov. Ademola Adeleke.

Speaking in an interview with NAN on Friday in Osogbo, he described the allegation as baseless and a mere fabrication.

According to him, there is no rift between the speaker and his colleagues as being falsely reported.

“The relationship between the speaker and other lawmakers remains cordial contrary to unfounded reports in some quarters that the assembly is in crisis.

“All the allegations raised against Owoeye were mere speculations.

“The speaker has been transparent and fair on every affair relating to the welfare and activities of the house.

“As far as Osun Assembly is concerned, we are one, irrespective of the change in government.

“Money matter cannot create any division among the lawmakers.

“Whatever the assembly got were its legitimate earnings,” Alabi said.

Some of the lawmakers accused Owoeye of misappropriating the governor’s largesse.

They reportedly alleged that the speaker gave each of the 26 lawmakers N250,000 and a bag of rice only, hence the alleged plot to remove him.

January 21, 2023
Peru impeaches President, swears in Boluarte as new president

Peru’s president Pedro Castillo, on Wednesday was impeached following a day of political drama in his last-ditch bid to cling to power by dissolving Congress.

Following Castillo’s attempt to shut down the legislature by decree, an illegal move, lawmakers moved ahead with a previously planned impeachment trial, with 101 votes in favour of removing him, six against removing him and 10 abstentions.

The vote on Wednesday led to the swearing in of Vice President Dina Boluarte, a woman, as president and will stay in power till 2026

The result by the legislature makes her the first woman to lead Peru. She called for a political truce after months of instability, including two prior impeachment attempts, and said a new cabinet inclusive of all political factions should be formed.

She then criticized Castillo’s move to dissolve Congress as an “attempted coup.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department welcomed Boluarte’s appointment in a statement, adding that the United States would “support Peru under the unity government President Boluarte pledged to form.”

The Peruvian public ministry said on Wednesday evening that Castillo had been detained and accused of the crimes of “rebellion” and “conspiracy” for breaking the constitutional order.

Photos of Castillo leaving a police station trended on social media amid reports he would be moved to a police-run prison.

Earlier on Wednesday, Castillo said he would temporarily shut down Congress, launch a “government of exception,” and call for new legislative elections.

The statement caused resignations by his ministers amid angry accusations from both opposition politicians and his allies that he was attempting a coup. The police and armed forces warned him that the route he had taken to try to dissolve Congress was unconstitutional and the police said they had “intervened” to fulfill their duties.

Peru has gone through years of political turmoil, with multiple leaders accused of corruption, frequent impeachment attempts, and presidential terms cut short.

December 8, 2022
Impeached Ekiti speaker, Aribisogan heads to court for redress

Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, who was impeached by Ekiti state lawmakers has revealed that he would be heading to court to seek redress against his illegal removal by some members of the legislative body in the week.

According to the impeached speaker, due process was not followed in his removal.

He said “The purported impeachment of Mr Speaker and suspension of seven members are illegal, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect. The actions are not legally sustainable and will definitely be quashed at a court of competent jurisdiction.”

TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Aribisogan was impeached six days after he emerged owing to the death of former speaker, Funminiyi Afuye.

Aribisogan also accused the police for illegal occupation of the Assembly complex for six days thereby aiding his illegal removal.

He said, “We are going to court; there is no doubt about that. We are still consulting with our lawyers. It cannot be later than this week. Any moment from now, we are filing our papers in court.

“We had filed an action against the police at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on Monday. It is about the illegal occupation of Ekiti State House of Assembly for six days; we have sued the police for that. The police illegally sealed the Assembly for six days. They have to explain to us with credible evidence.”

But the police, who said they were acting on an intelligence report of purported invasion of the House, sealed the Assembly complex since November 16.

Recall that 17 lawmakers on Monday sat at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu, and impeached Aribisogan, accusing him of sabotaging the passage of the 2022 Supplementary Budget Bill.

November 23, 2022
Why Ekiti Assembly Speaker was impeached after 6 days in office

The new Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, was on Monday impeached, barely six days after his election.

Aribisogan was also suspended as a member along with his six loyalists indefinitely and without salary and other emoluments.

Aribisogan was immediately replaced with the House’s Chief Whip, Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba (APC-Emure Constituency), who earlier lost the election to Aribisogan on Nov. 15.

Adelugba was elected as the new Speaker by 17 lawmakers present at an emergency plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu, amidst tight security around the Assembly complex.

Jamiu had earlier dissolved all the existing principal positions, put in place by Aribisogan and appointed Johnson Oyekola Bode-Adeoye, as the new Leader of Government Business.

At the plenary on the terms of punishment to be placed on Aribisogan and six others, the deputy speaker explained that the impeached speaker and six others were suspended without pay with immediate effect.

He said that they have also been barred from 1.5 kilometres radius of the premises of the House.

Jamiu, however, directed the axed lawmakers to handover properties of government in their possession to the Clerk of the House with immediate effect.

According to him, anyone wishing to be reabsorbed, must write a letter of apology to the leadership of the House.

Shortly after the election of the first female speaker in Ekiti, the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance were subsequently administered on Adelugba.

She became the first female Speaker in the history of the Assembly since return to democracy in 1999, and in the 26-year-old history of the state.

The new Speaker thanked her colleagues for counting her worthy to be elected as the speaker, promising not to take their trust and confidence reposed in her for granted.

She later adjourned the House’s sitting sine die (indefinitely).

Before the adjournment, six lawmakers were suspended for allegedly compromising the process of the election that produced Aribisogan as the Speaker on Nov. 15.

They were also accused of unpatriotic and unparliamentary conduct, capable of threatening the peace of the state.

Aribisogan and the six erring lawmakers were also barred from the vicinity of the House of Assembly Complex.

Their acts, according to members present, contravened the provisions of the House Standing Rules and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The affected lawmakers alongside the impeached Speaker are: Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti-West I); Tope Ogunleye (Ilejemeje); Ajibade Adeyemi (Moba I); Adekemi Balogun (Ado-Ekiti I); Yemi Ayokunle (Ekiti South-West I) and Adegoke Olajide (Efon-Alaaye).

In his reactions, the impeached Speaker dismissed as effortless and irresponsible, his purported ouster from office.

Aribisogan attributed his ordeal to the handiwork of a former governor in the state.

November 21, 2022
See what it will take to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari

Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, a network of young Nigerians promoting good governance and citizen engagement in the country has reeled out the process of what it will take to impeach a sitting President in Nigeria.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports EiE Nigeria as saying impeaching the President of Nigeria, a position currently occupied by Mr Muhammadu Buhari, will take almost five (5) months from start to finish.

Recall that some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were reported to have expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

EiE Nigeria via Twitter disclosed that the first action to impeach the president begins with a Notice of Allegation which is sent to the President within 7 days, adding that the President is given the opportunity to respond.

“Within 14 days of the notice, there has to be a motion for investigation. If the motion fails to reach two-thirds majority, the process stops immediately. If not, the motion is passed, the Senate President will within 7 days request the Chief Justice of Nigeria to appoint a panel to investigate the allegations. The President shall have the right to defend himself before the panel.

“At least two-thirds of the members of @nassnigeria must support the resolution adopted. Upon adoption, the President is removed from office,” EiE Nigeria tweeted.

ALSO READ || How Lawan blocked impeachment move against Buhari

See the process to impeach the president as released by EiE Nigeria below:

August 3, 2022
Soyinka backs lawmakers to impeach president Buhari

Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Femi Soyinka, has stated his position on the six weeks ultimatum given to President Buhari to find a solution to incessant attacks and terrorism bedeviling the country or face impeachment.

Soyinka made his position on the matter known when he spoke at an interactive session during the 50th anniversary of the Abeokuta club on Tuesday.

The session, which had a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, the Registrar of the Joint Administration and Matriculation Board, and Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, among others, had as its theme: “Good governance or misgovernance: The contract called democracy.”

Recall that some Senators and members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had last week handed down the ultimatum over lingering insecurity in Nigeria.

Soyinka, who was the session’s moderator, insisted that Buhari should be impeached because he had breached the contract of democracy.

Soyinka said, “Democracy indicates a contract, that is why the candidate puts on a manifesto. Based on that manifesto, the candidate is either accepted or rejected.

“Very often, the grounds for breach of contract, I think we all agree, is misgovernance, and one of the ways of breaking this kind of contract we know even before the duration of a contract is known as impeachment.

“The reason we will go by some legislators to impeach the President who is the head of government. One cleric has gone even further. He believes that the impeachment should take place not in the legislative home, but the bush with the kidnappers and he appealed to the kidnappers to quicken the process by impeaching the President and taking him away and some of his aides and one or two governors.

“Many of us in this country, including governors, including chairmen of local governments, what comprehension they have of this process called a democracy because what these governors are telling us is that after a failure has occupied a seat of government for eight years, that failure should give us another failure for another eight years.”

August 3, 2022
Impeachment: APC senator declares support to remove president Buhari

One of the All Progressive Congress ( APC) senators, who is representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Ishaku Elisha Abbo, has shown support to opposition senators in their move to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senator Abbo said he’s in full support of the move to remove the president of the country while answering interview questions on Channels TV.

Abbo cited insecurity and other fundamental issues bedeviling the country as reasons for showing support.

“The Nigerian leader has failed in his fundamental responsibility to secure the lives and property of the people.”

Recall that on Wednesday, Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), and some of the opposition walked out of a Senate plenary session.

The senators walked out over the refusal of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan to discuss Buhari’s impeachment and a notice served to the president.

The Senators gave Buhari six weeks to resolve the insecurity crisis in the country or they would be forced to impeach him.

July 30, 2022
Presidency hails Lawan for blocking impeachment move against Buhari

The Presidency has described the refusal by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday to entertain the motion to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari as quite appropriate and correct.

The Presidency frowned at the threats by some opposition members of the Senate to begin impeachment proceedings against President Buhari over the nation’s security challenges.

Some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were reported to have expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in a statement on Wednesday night described the impeachment attempt as ridiculous.

The statement read in part: ”The performative and babyish antics of those senators staging a walk out notwithstanding, Senate President Ahmad Lawan’s refusal on Wednesday to entertain the ridiculous motion to impeach our President was quite appropriate and correct.

”Rather than making a mockery out of voters by trying to imitate what they see in America, the opposition would be well advised that their time would be better spent tackling the pressing issues Nigerians face, such as the current global cost of living crisis.

”Their continued failure to do so goes some way to explaining why they remain in opposition.

”In contrast, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to the emerging security threats, including those left behind by the PDP in the South-South, the Northeast and throughout the federation.

”In the last 24 hours, two more Chibok girls were freed, in addition to the three brought home last week.

”These kinds of headline grabbing stunts for which the opposition is now well known serve no one, least of all their constituents.

”We would respectfully remind them that it is those same constituents that they were elected to serve, and are paid to do so with public money.”

The presidential aide, however, expressed the readiness of the All Progressives Congress led administration to partner with all well-meaning citizens including members of the opposition to address the security challenges across the country.

He said: ”We would welcome their collaboration in our efforts to solve the problems Nigerians face on a daily basis. No one is asking them to waste their time attempting to impeach a democratically elected President at the end of his second term – certainly not their constituents.

”They should ask themselves: do they want to be in government or do they want to be in the headlines? If they want to be in government they should start acting like it and stop undermining Nigerian voters.”

July 28, 2022
Insecurity: No need to impeach President Buhari – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as unnecessary the threat by some legislators to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari over security challenges across the country.

Mohammed, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday in Abuja, said there was no need for such ultimatum, as government was doing all it could to address the security challenges in the country.

Some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were reported to have expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

However, the minister, who lauded the senators for their patriotism and concern, said:

“I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility,” he said.

According to him, the federal government is working round the clock, 24 hours, to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

The minister also described the reported threat by terrorists to kidnap the president as laughable and a mere propaganda.

“As to those who have issued threats to Mr President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable,” he said.

Mohammed also said that the council approved a memo by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, for a standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.

He said: “You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.

“This is what the council considered and approved today. And basically is that anybody from Cameroon who is seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convinced the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle, before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.

“Also they are cases of some of them who have come even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times, to join the separatist movement in Cameroon.

“So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum.

“So, all we have done today is to establish the standard procedure to ensure that those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually not insurgents themselves that have come to destabilise Nigeria or people who will c

July 27, 2022
UPDATE: How Lawan blocked impeachment move against Buhari

President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday during plenary tactically blocked a move by Senators to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda during the plenary protested the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

Senator Aduda disclosed that during a closed-door session of the Senate on Wednesday, issues, as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it, were discussed.

Aduda also disclosed that at the closed-door session, the Senate agreed that going to come back to plenary, the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country would be discussed, and after which, the Senate will give an ultimatum to President Buhari that he resolves the security issues, otherwise the Senate gives an impeachment notice.

However, returning to the plenary, rising under a point of order not cited, Aduda requested the chamber to give a six-week ultimatum to Buhari to address the issue of insecurity or face impeachment.

Aduda in his words: “Mr. President, you may wish to recall that during the closed session we discussed the issues as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it.

“[And] we had also discussed that we are going to come back to plenary to discuss the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country, after which we give an ultimatum to the President that he resolves this issue, otherwise we give an impeachment notice”.

In blocking the move, the Senate President, while delivering a ruling on Aduda’s point of order, faulted the lawmaker for failing to put forward his request in accordance with the upper chamber’s rules which regulates its proceedings.

“Minority Leader, when you are going to come under a point of order, first, you are supposed to cite the order. Secondly, you are supposed to discuss with me what you are going to raise on the floor. You did not. Thirdly, we have already passed that stage. So, at this moment, I really don’t know what the point of order is, as such it falls flat on its face,” Senator Lawan said in his ruling.

After silencing Aduda, Senators of opposition parties in the Senate walked out of the plenary.

Meanwhile, the Senate President has told security agencies in the country to be alert and do more to stop the heightening spate of insecurity across States, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) perpetrated by terrorists.

This was even as he charged political leaders to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring the protection of lives of citizens.

Lawan, while addressing lawmakers shortly before the upper chamber adjourned for its annual recess, bemoaned the incessant killing and maiming of Nigerians by terrorists.

He assured that the National Assembly would provide the needed support to the military to ensure the restoration of security to affected parts of the country.

He said, “I am particularly concerned like all of us here, through our various interactions, including a very important closed session we had today.

“We (Federal Government) have to be alert and alive to our responsibility, particularly to secure and protect the lives of our citizen.

“The security situation has been a very difficult and challenging one, but, recently, there has been an increase of attacks, killings and maiming of our citizens.

“As part of this administration, we will always provide the kind of support at our military and other security agencies require.

“We have done that before through appropriation and approval of supplementary budget of 2022, where over N900 billion was given as additional funding to our security agencies.

“We know that it may not be enough, but that is significant, and we expect our security agencies to do far better than they are doing at the moment.

“As political leaders, we must have it in mind that we are responsible to the citizens.”

The Senate President informed lawmakers that they might be called upon during recess to attend to national emergencies should the need arise.

July 27, 2022