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Tag: Lawmaker

  • BREAKING: Oyo lawmaker dies at College Hospital in Ibadan

    BREAKING: Oyo lawmaker dies at College Hospital in Ibadan

    The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed the death of its member, Mr Olusegun Popoola.

    Mr Sunkanmi Babalola, Deputy Majority Leader made this known via telephone, saying Popoola, who was representing Ibadan South-East II constituency, died at the University College Hospital Ibadan, on Tuesday night.

    “His death is a shocking and devastating one. We lost a rare gem who was committed to making life better for his people. I’m yet to recover from the shock.

    “He was a very resourceful man who was ready to give his all, I’m speechless and short of words for this loss,” he added.

    The Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, in his condolence message described the demise of the lawmaker as a rude shock.

    According to him, Popoola aged 45, was until his death the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    “The news of the death of one of the most active, vibrant and resourceful lawmakers in the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly came to me and everyone in the House as a rude shock.

    “We are deeply saddened and grieved by this painful and untimely exit of one of us. This is unbearable.

    “He was a patriotic, selfless and hardworking lawmaker who gave his best for the service of Oyo State House of Assembly, his constituents and indeed the entire people of Oyo State,” he  said.

    Ogundoyin said that the incident was a bitter pill to swallow for everyone in the Assembly.

    “I have been visiting him in the hospital and he has been showing signs of recovery. Little did I know that I was seeing him for the last time few days ago when I went in company of some lawmakers,” he said.

    He described the deceased as a peace loving and easy-going gentleman who was admired by all.

    “We just lost a bridge builder, a man of peace and a gentleman par-excellent. He will be sorely missed by everyone of us.

    “The dedicated and selfless nature of Popoola as well as his quality representation in the House as a member of the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly earned him the return ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan South-East 2 State Constituency.

    “Unfortunately, Popoola has bid the world goodbye at such a very tender age,” he stated.

    The speaker said the Popoola had written his name in gold in the Assembly as one who contributed immensely to lawmaking and legislative activities.

    “We started the 9th Assembly together but alas he ended the race less than a year to the finish line.

    “My condolences to his entire family, his wife and children, and to the good people of Ibadan South-East State Constituency.

    “We are however happy that he has not died in vain. His humanitarian and political legacies lives on. I also condole with the Oyo State Government and the entire PDP family in the state on this irreplaceable loss,” Ogundoyin said.

  • 15m ransom: Gunmen behead former Anambra lawmaker, Nelson Achukwu

    After receiving a 15 million naira ransom, the abductors of a former lawmaker in Anambra State, Hon. Nelson Emeka Achukwu, has been killed and beheaded.

     

    This was confirmed by the state’s Command, as the beheading of the lawmaker occurred barely one month after Okechukwu Okoye, a serving lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency at the State Assembly was kidnapped and later found beheaded.

     

    Okoye was kidnapped along with his aide on May 15, 2022, and was later found dead with his head cut off and dropped at the Nnobi area.

    But confirming the recent incident on Tuesday, the command’s spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, said Achukwu’s remains were found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor communities.

    The PPRO said “the victim was abducted at about 10:15pm in his house on June 9, 2022 and efforts were being made to rescue him before this unfortunate development. His body was found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor.

    “We are still not relenting on our investigation as we will ensure that the culprits will face the full wrath of the law.”

    The former lawmaker was reportedly kidnapped in his home in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, despite being physically challenged.

    His decapitated body was later found at the bank of Ulasi River and was quickly buried by the family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 evening as the body was already decomposing.

    According to a family source, they could not believe that Achukwu would be killed after they paid the N15million ransom requested by his abductors.

    The victim, the owner of Nelly Oil & Gas filling station, located along Onuselogu road, Utuh, had earlier been abducted and released a few months ago.

    Later Achukwu was said to have told his family members that his captors had accused him of providing information to the military but got released when they found out the allegations were false.

    As at the time of filing this report the reason for his second kidnap and murder is unknown.

  • Court convicts ex-lawmaker of forgery

    Court convicts ex-lawmaker of forgery

    Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT High Court on Monday convicted a former lawmaker Chuma Nzeribe of forgery.

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned Nzeribe on four counts of false pretence, impersonation, forgery and cheating.

    The EFCC alleged that the lawmaker forged the documents of plot 1306, Cadestral zone, Maitama District belonging to Ishaya Baba.

    Delivering judgment, Halilu held that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    ” I hereby convict the said Chuma Nzeribe having found him guilty as charged.

    “From the abundant evidence before me, it has been established that the defendant forged the title document to the said land 1306 Maitama which rightfully now belongs to Ishaya Baba.

    ” By the powers confined in me therefore, pursuant to section 11 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Act, 78 of penal code, 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which dwelt on the issue of restitution.

    ” I hereby so restitute to the said land owner to take his land forthwith without any delay since is the rightful owner.

    ” With respect to the issue of sentencing, I shall defer the sentence of the said convict to a date in this life when I am sure the long arms of the law will catch up with him.

    “Then, the EFCC, IGP will arrest him and bring him before me for me to be able to do the needful by sentencing him accordingly.

    ” In the main time, sentencing in this situation is thereby deferred” he held.

    EFCC had alleged that the defendant was in possession of statutory right of occupancy bearing the name of Ramatu Alhassan with reference Number MFCT/LA/FCT 1302 dated 18/06/03.

    The anti graft agency said this is contrary to Section 6, 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

    EFCC alleged also that being a false document is contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act.

    EFCC also alleged that the defendant cheated by impersonation, representing himself to Alhassan.

    This, EFCC said was contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 324 of the same Act.

  • Anambra abducted lawmaker beheaded

    Anambra abducted lawmaker beheaded

    Anambra abducted lawmaker representing Aguata II Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon Okechukwu Okoye, has been beheaded by his kidnappers.

     

    Okoye’s head was found at Nnobi in Idemili South local government area where it was hanged.

     

    His body was not there with indications strong the killers made away with it.

     

    The lawmaker was kidnapped last week, alongside his aide, Cyril Chiegboka.

     

    Both Okoye and Chiegboka were kidnapped in his Toyota Sienna car, while on the road, by the heartless and barbaric murderers on 15th May.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the police later recovered the car and deployed operatives to rescue the lawmaker.

     

    Soludo offered hope of rescuing his lawmaker while presenting Anambra’s revised budget to lawmakers on Friday.

    Anambra
    Late Hon Okechukwu Okoye

     

    Anambra Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed that the lawmaker has been killed.

     

    He said: “His head was found along Nnobi road today (Saturday). There is no suspect in custody yet.”

     

    Meanwhile, Anambra State governor,
    Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has condemned the gruesome murder Of Okoye.

     

    In a statement signed by Governor Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor pledges 10 million naira reward for any valuable information to track the killers.

     

    Gov Soludo condoles with his kinsmen of Isuofia, noting that it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia two years ago that are once again on the prowl. But they can never cow down Isuofia and Anambra state.

     

    Governor Soludo, still in shock over the barbaric acts against his two kinsmen, vowed that the perpetrators as well as all criminals operating in Anambra must be decisively brought to book.

     

    Governor Soludo assured that Anambra will soon be a hell for such criminals, Gov Soludo assured.

     

    He wishes to reassure Ndi Anambra of government’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to go all out against the criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.

     

    “Anambra will win against the forces of darkness”, Gov Soludo assured, urging Ndi Anambra to brace up for the all out war against the criminals.

  • Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    An Anambra lawmaker, Dr. Timothy Ifedioranma (APC-Njikoka – I) has advised Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for the Southeast, describing it the path of justice, equity and fair.

     

    Ifedioranma told newsmen in Awka, on Friday, that Southeast has not had its turn of being the president of this country and it has sacrificed by supporting the North, the Southwest and the South-South.

     

    He said, “Both Tinubu and Vice-President Osinbajo are citizens of this country and they are qualified to contest and occupy that position in this election.

     

    “But I urge them as elder statesmen to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness by giving up that position for a South easterner to emerge.

     

    “When it was the turn of the Southwest after the annulment of the 1993 election and the death of Chief MKO Abiola, we supported them.

     

    In his words: “They had their fair share of being the president for eight years and vice-president for another eight years. Why is it a problem for them to support the Southeast?”

     

    The lawmaker urged political parties to give their tickets to the Southeast and allow the electorate to decide the best candidate to occupy the position of the president.

     

    Ifedioranma said that electing an Igbo as president in 2023 would quell the agitations for separation in the country.

     

    “Our people are angry that they are being marginalized and treated as second-class citizens in a nation to which we belong and are part.

     

    “When there were agitations in the South-South, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was thrown up as vice-president and the agitations stopped.

     

    “When the military annulled Chief MKO Abiola’s election in 1993 and he died in incarceration, it became clear that there was the need to make amends and pacify the Southwest, and we all supported it by electing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

     

    “For fairness, equity and justice, we need to deal with the structural problem by throwing up an Igbo man and all these agitations, demand for separation and insecurity will stop, and peace will be restored to Nigeria,’’ Ifedioranma stressed.

     

    Tinubu and Osinbajo, who are both of Southwest extraction, already declared their interests to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.

  • BREAKING: Imo Assembly lawmaker seat declared vacant for dumping APC

    BREAKING: Imo Assembly lawmaker seat declared vacant for dumping APC

    The Imo State House of Assembly, Speaker, Kennedy Ibe, has declared the seat of Nkwerre vacant after a lawmaker representing the area, Obinna Okwara, dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last month.

    The two-term lawmaker representing Nkwerre State Constituency in the House of Assembly, dumped the ruling APC last month to the PDP, a move the Governor Hope Uzdimma’s camp in the Assembly feared could inspire others to take a similar route.

    The move to suspend Okwara and declare the Nkwerre seat vacant, was to appease an enraged Uzodimma, hence the decision to suspend the lawmaker and pronounce the Nkwerre seat in the Assembly is vacant.

    It was also gathered that the decision to declare the Nkwerre seat vacant was a desperate attempt to discourage other APC lawmakers who have been sitting on the fence, from defecting to the PDP or other political parties.

    An online newspaper, Nigeria Watchdog, reported that there is presently a plot to suspend more lawmakers including Hon Solomon Anukam, who represents Owerri Municipal Council in the Imo State House Assembly.

    Anukam was said to have incurred the wrath of the leadership of the house and some of his colleagues for reportedly saying at a recent function that the only Governor he knows is Chief Emeka Ihedioha.

  • Current contributory pension scheme unpalatable for police retirees – Lawmaker

    Current contributory pension scheme unpalatable for police retirees – Lawmaker

    Rep. Francis Waive (APC-Delta) says operating under the current pension scheme has been unpalatable and regrettable for the retirees of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The lawmaker made this known on the sidelines of the a public hearing of the Bill For An Act To Amend The Pension Reform Act, 2014 To Provide For The Exemption Of The Nigeria Police Force From The Contributory Pension Scheme in Abuja

    He called for the exemption of the Nigeria Police Force from the contributory pension scheme.

    The lawmaker who sponsored the Bill argued that the police be exempted from the scheme just like the armed Forces and the Department of State Services (DSS).

    “For example, the highest retirement benefit of a Deputy Superintendent of Police under this obnoxious pension scheme is N2.5m and that of Assistant Superintendent of Police is N1.5m.

    ”While their equivalent in Army (captain) and DSS are paid N12.8m and N10.3m respectively,” he said

    According to him, upon retirement, the monthly take-home of a retired DSP is just N31,600 while that of a Captain an equivalent in the Army is N180,000.

    “While for a Police Inspector is N15,000, a warrant Officer, the Army equivalent to a Police Inspector takes home N120,000. What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.

    ”Exempting the police from the obnoxious Contributory Pension Scheme could just be the magic to motivate officers and men of the force to go the extra mile,” he said.

  • Zamfara Lawmaker, Na’iddah dies at 68

    Zamfara Lawmaker, Na’iddah dies at 68

    A Zamfara State House of Assembly, member, Alhaji Ibrahim Na’iddah (APC, Gusau 2 Constituency) has died at 68.

    This was contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by, Mustafa Jafaru-Kaura.

    Mustafa, Director-General, Press Affairs and Public Relations of the assembly confirmed his death.

    The lawmaker died in the early hours of Saturday at the Federal Medical Center, Gusau, following a protracted illness.

    “The remains of the lawmaker was finally laid to rest at the Gusau Central Cemetery along Gangaren Kwata area in Gusau, the state capital.

    “His funeral prayer was performed at the Central Jumu’at Mosque Kanwuri area in Gusau metropolis.

    “The funeral prayer was attended by the Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasiru Magarya, his Deputy, Musa Bawa,

    ‘All members of the state House of Assembly and other government functionaries in the state also attended” he said.

    Condoling the family of the deceased, the Speaker prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the soul of the deceased Aljannatul Firdausi.

    He also urged the family to consider death as destined by Allah,” he added.

  • Why we suspended 3 lawmakers, declared a seat vacant – Imo Speaker

    Why we suspended 3 lawmakers, declared a seat vacant – Imo Speaker

    The Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, Mr Kennedy Ibeh, says three lawmakers suspended on Thursday abandoned state assignments for personal businesses prior to their suspension.

    “The suspension is to serve as a deterrent for dereliction of duty by members who take the business of the parliament for granted,’’ the speaker stated in Owerri on Friday.

    Members of the house sent on suspension are Mr Arthur Egwim (APC-Ideato North), Mrs Ngozi Obiefule (APC-Isu) and Mr Obinna Okwara (APC-Nkwerre).

    Ibeh explained that the trio absented themselves from the plenary session specifically arranged to expedite a perusal of the state’s 2022 budget estimates.

    “The suspended members acted dishonourably by disregarding the resolution of the house to which they themselves gave nod and willingly committed themselves.

    “Owing to the importance of the 2022 Appropriation Bill presented to the house on Dec. 17 by Gov. Hope Uzodinma, the house unanimously decided to interface with Ministries Departments and Parastatals within three days,’’ he stated.

    The speaker added that the decision was to allow for expeditious passage of the bill which required full participation and intelligent contributions by all members.

    Ibeh stated that unfortunately, in utter disregard to the sacredness of the all- important state assignment, the suspended members abandoned the assignment and pursued their private businesses

    “Mr Speaker and other house members who kept to the commitment were seen leaving the office between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. within the period of budget consideration.

    “This was not to the exclusion of the assembly staff that had to make extra sacrifices to keep late to ensure that the budget was delivered in record time.

    “It is therefore frivolous and spurious for any of the affected members to bandy around the falsehood that he was suspended for attending burial ceremony.

    “This claim becomes so spurious especially as not all the members who attended the said funeral were affected by the suspension,’’ he stated.

    The house also declared the seat of Ngor-Okpala constituency vacant.

    This followed the fact that Mr Tochi Okereke, who represents the constituency, absented himself from proceedings for more than one-third of the number of times the house sat since its inauguration in 2019.

    He explained that the declaration of the seat as vacant was purely constitutional.

    “Following a motion moved by the member representing Ideato South, the house went into full debate on the merits of the motion calling for the declaration of the seat vacant owing to absenteeism,’’ he added.

    The speaker stressed that leadership of the assembly had made it clear that it would put the interest of Imo people first before any other interest.

  • Remains of Kaduna lawmaker killed by bandits laid to rest in Zaria

    Remains of Kaduna lawmaker killed by bandits laid to rest in Zaria

    The remains of late Rilwanu Gadagau, a member of the Kaduna House of Assembly, who was shot dead by gunmen along the Kaduna-Zaria Highway, have been laid to rest in Zaria.

    Malam Muhammad-Sani Gummi, Chief Imam, Kongo Central Mosque led the funeral prayers in Zaria on Wednesday.

    The funeral was attended by Gov. Nasir el-Rufai, Speaker Kaduna state House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Zailani, and other top government functionaries.

    The speaker was represented by the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Mohammed Dan-Asabe.

    Recall that Late Gadagau, who represented Giwa Constituency of Kaduna, was reportedly shot dead on Monday night by bandits during attack on travelers along the road.