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Tag: Lawmaker

  • COVID-19 hits Cross River as lawmaker allegedly dies of virus complications

    COVID-19 hits Cross River as lawmaker allegedly dies of virus complications

    Nigeria’s lone COVID-19 free state, Cross River may have recorded its first COVID-19 related death since the pandemic began early this year.

    According to reports, Godwin Akwaji, the lawmaker representing Obudu constituency at the house of assembly, has died after showing symptoms of COVID-19.

    He died at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) isolation centre around 12:30 pm on Thursday.

    Akwaji, who was said to be diabetic, exhibited fatigue, fever, cough, breathlessness, classic symptoms of the virus.

    TheCable, quoting Akwaji’s family source, reported that Akwaji was treated for malaria and pneumonia with no improvement.

    It also reported that some persons who visited the lawmaker at the hospital are already showing symptoms of COVID-19.

    Cross River is the only state where any case of COVID-19 has not been confirmed in the country.

    It may be joining the leaderboard if NCDC verifies the cause of Akwaji’s death.

    In April, the commissioner of health, Betta Edu claimed that some officials of the NCDC were offering bribes to people in the state to claim they have symptoms of COVID-19.

  • Ex-Bauchi lawmaker writes Buhari, says over 100 people died from COVID-19 in Azare town in one week

    Ex-Bauchi lawmaker writes Buhari, says over 100 people died from COVID-19 in Azare town in one week

    A former member of House of Representatives, Ibrahim Mohammed Baba, has raised alarm that about 100 persons may have died from COVID-19 related illnesses in Azare, Bauchi state in the past one week.

    He said this in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari published on Saturday.

    Baba, who represented Katagum Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives said the ravaging pandemic has killed about 100 people in the town so far, a situation he said, has resulted into panic and confusion.

    He noted that the proximity of Azare to Bauchi, Kano and some major cities in Jigawa State made the people of the town susceptible to the virus.

    The letter reads: “Your Excellency, I write to draw your kind attention to the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in Azare town and environs in Bauchi State, which has already resulted in over 100 fatalities in the last one week and this has thrown the entire area into great mourning, panic and confusion.

    “The centrality and proximity of Azare to Bauchi, Kano and some major cities of Jigawa State make the town’s large population susceptible to the virus due to the already existing large cases of the disease in those areas.

    “Consequently therefore, I wish to appeal to your Excellency to direct the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control and the Presidential Task force on COVID-19 to urgently reach out to Azare town with all the necessary facilities and palliatives to assist the communities there.

    “And to help in this expected effort, may I draw your attention to the fact that at the Opthamology unit and laboratory have already been built and equipped by the Central Bank of Nigeria at the Azare Federal Medical Centre since 2013 but have not been commissioned and put to use up till now. This facility can be repurposed to a COVID-19 test and treatment centre provided the right equipment are added, including ventilators.

    “As a matter of life and death, I have the utmost trust in your sense of patriotism and commitment to the well-being of Nigerians that you will assist the beleaguered people of Azare town and environs to overcome this harrowing situation.”

    Azare, the second biggest town in Bauchi State lost one of its prominent sons on Thursday.

    He was Justice Dahiru Saleh, a former federal judge, who annulled the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

    Although he was over 80 years old, the retired judge was believed to have died from COVID-19 complications.

  • BREAKING: Nasarawa lawmaker dies of COVID-19

    A member representing Nasarawa central in the Nasarawa House of Assembly, Mr. Sule Adamu, has died of coronavirus.

    Governor Abdullahi Sule state disclosed this on Sunday while in a chat with newsmen.

    He said the House of Assembly would be shut down and all the lawmakers will be quarantined to contain the spread of the virus in the state.

    Details shortly…

  • Boko Haram: Lawmaker lauds army over recent victories

    A federal lawmaker from Ondo State, Tajudeen Adefisoye, has ranked the Nigerian Army high following recent successes against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

    At 36, Adefisoye is one of the country’s youngest parliamentarians in history, representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.

    The lawmaker believes with sustained intensity, the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole would surely cleanse the Northeast of fleeing terrorists scampering for safety.

    Adefisoye, who is also the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Nigerian Army, expressed optimism that the rate the troops under the leadership of Lieutenant General T.Y Buratai are going, the terrorists would be history sooner rather than later.

    “If the current onslaught by men and officers of the Nigerian military can be sustained, I am upbeat that the war will be convincingly won sooner rather than later,” he said.

    The Nigerian Army’s quest to flush out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists have gathered serious momentum since the COAS relocated to the Theatre of Operations.

    In the last week, the troops have neutralized and wreaked havoc on the radical Islamic fighters.

    More than 150 were killed in Buni Gari after the Army foiled an attempted attack.

    A few days after, 13 fell prey, when 159 Battalion in Sector 2 in conjunction with the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole intercepted and engaged some elements of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who attempted to attack Geidam town, of Yobe State following a heavy exchange of fire.

  • BREAKING: Nine Imo lawmakers defect to APC

    BREAKING: Nine Imo lawmakers defect to APC

    Nine lawmakers of the Imo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, defected to the All Progressives Congress from Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Action Action.

    The lawmakers who defected are Authur Egwim (Ideato North) from AA to APC; Chyna Iwuanyanwu(Nwangele), PDP; Chidiebere Ogbunikpa(Okigwe), PDP; Obinna Okwara(Nkwerre), AA; and Paul Emeziem (Onuimo) also from PDP to APC.

    Others are Ekene Nnodimele (Orsu) from APGA to APC, Johnson Duru (Ideato South), AA; Ngozi Obiefule (Isu) AA; and Heclus Okorocha (Ohaji/Egbema) from PDP to APC.

    The plenary is currently ongoing.

  • Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s wife

    Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s wife

    Police have confirmed the abduction of a housewife in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa.

    A security source said the woman is the wife of a Jigawa State Assembly member representing Miga constituency, Haruna Dangyatun.

    SP Abdu Jinjiri, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said the victim, Hajiya Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by three gunmen on Saturday about 4 a.m. at Dangyatum village.

    “Today at about 4 a.m., a housewife named Zahra’u Haruna, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Dangyatum village in Miga local government area.

    “Three unknown men came to the residence of the victim with guns and cutlasses and took her to unknown destination.

    “But the police are already giving the suspects a hot chase,” Jinjiri told NAN.

  • APC suspends another lawmaker-elect in Edo

    APC suspends another lawmaker-elect in Edo

    The lawmaker-elect for Oredo West Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Chris Okaeben, has been suspended by the All Progressives Congress in Oredo Local Government Area.
    Hon Okaeben was last week issued a 48-hour ultimatum to apologize to Governor Godwin Obaseki for misconduct but he replied that he did nothing wrong.
    Okaeben is one of the 12 members-elect that are insisting that the inauguration of the 7th Edo Assembly was illegal.
    He was suspended for allegedly violating provisions of Article 21 of the APC constitution which stipulates disciplinary actions for erring members.
    The suspension of Okaeben was announced on Friday at an enlarged meeting of Oredo APC members in Oredo Local Government Area of the state after adopting recommendation of a 5-man panel set up in July 1, to investigate Okaeben’s alleged misconduct.
    Chairman of APC in Oredo LGA, Mr. Godwin Alabi, who read the report of the panel to members of the party, said Okaeben failed to honour several invitations extended to him to ascertain his grievances against the party.
    Alabi thanked the committee members for their objectivity saying the party has complied with the recommendation of the panel which includes the suspension of Chris Okaeben, who was elected to represent Oredo West Constituency in the state assembly.
    “Following his utterances, the APC in the council area asked him to apologise but he refused to comply with the party’s directive, rather he threatened the life of the chairman of the party in the council area, Godwin Alabi.”
    Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Hon. Jenkins Osunde, said the party’s attention should now be focused on supporting Governor Godwin Obaseki to deliver the dividends of democracy to Edo people.

  • Defection: Saraki, Dogara, 52 other lawmakers know fate May 17

    Defection: Saraki, Dogara, 52 other lawmakers know fate May 17

    The Federal High Court Abuja, has fixed May 17 to deliver judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and 52 other lawmakers.

    Justice Okon Abang fixed the date on Monday after taking arguments from all parties involved in the matter.

    An advocacy group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, (LEDAP) dragged the lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they were no longer members of the National Assembly having defected to other political parties before the expiration of their tenure.

    The defendants comprise 17 Senators, 37 members of the House of Representatives, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the clerks to both houses.

    At the resumed hearing, Mr Mahmud Magaji, SAN, counsel to Saraki and the other senators insisted that the plaintiff had no locus standi to institute the suit since it was not a political party, politician, constituent of the lawmakers or an executive member of either of the political parties.

    He concluded that they were meddlesome interlopers who instituted the suit to annoy the defendants, Nigerians and their constituents who voted them to represent them.

    “Allowing this suit will amount to slapping Nigerians and I urge the court to resist the temptation and dismiss the suit.”

    Mr Josh Amupitan, SAN, counsel to Dogara and the other members of the House of Representatives, for his part, urged the court to discountenance the argument of the plaintiff that it had locus standi because it was a registered organisation.

    “They claim that they are a registered NGO and that since this is an issue of public interest litigation, they have the locus.

    “We have referred the court to our address where we said that public interest litigations in Nigeria are limited to statutory cases.

    “The Supreme Court only allows the expansion of locus standi because of the provisions of criminal procedure act which recognises the rights of a private prosecutor.

    “Public interest litigation is limited to cases of fundamental rights especially where the exercise of such rights has been vested on public officers or public institutions like INEC, the senate president or the speaker.”

    Amupitan added that the plaintiff had failed to provide any document before the court to back its claim that there was a defection.

    He urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff was a stranger and an interloper in the matter.

    Arguing on behalf of the plaintiff, Mr Jubrin Okutepa,SAN,maintained that his client had the requisite locus standi to appear in court.

    On the argument that his client had not been able to prove the defection, let alone division, Okutepa said that facts admitted, need no further proof.

    “Since they themselves have admitted that they defected, the allegation that we have not proved defection is a moot point and not a life issue.

    “The defendants themselves put up a defence of division.”

    Okutepa urged the court to grant the reliefs of the plaintiff and resist the temptation to accept the submission of the defendants which he said appeared attractive but was a dangerous omen for the Nigerian society.

    Justice Abang in a short ruling noted that the court had on April 11, suspended delivering judgment in the suit, even though the judgement was ready, because of an application from the defendants to be heard.

    “They have been heard and the matter will be determined on its merit.”

    He adjourned the matter until May 17 for judgement.

    LEDAP, in their suit filed on Sept. 14, 2018, prayed the court for an interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

    This was with regards as to whether any member of the National Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the assembly.

    The group was also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers were no longer entitled to receive any remunerations due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection be refunded to the Federal Government.

    LEDAP in the suit, also prayed the presiding members of the National Assembly to declare vacant, the seats of the defectors.

  • Drama as Ekiti Assembly suspends PDP lawmaker for ‘interrupting’ speaker

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Tuesday banned former Deputy Speaker and Peoples Democratic Party member, Segun Adewumi (Ekiti West Constituency 1) for six weeks for alleged undue interruption of the Speaker, Adeniran Alagbada.

    The suspension followed verbal exchange between the Speaker and the former deputy Speaker at the plenary, prompting the Speaker to exercise his powers with which he banned him in accordance with Section 17 of the House Standing Order.

    Following the suspension, the Speaker said Adewumi would be prevented from participating in any plenary session, but
    could only be involved in off-plenary activities of the House.

    Alagbada said: “I am still the presiding officer of this House and it constitutes an infraction for any member to interrupt me when I preside, except you have an observation to make.

    “But with what transpired today, it seems Hon. Adewumi did not make any observation, but only wanted to stall this proceeding and he is hereby banned for six weeks.”

    Other lawmakers, in their submissions, agreed with the action, saying the Speaker did not circumvent the Constitution and standing order in arriving at the punitive measure against Adewumi.

    The Assembly, however, passed a bill to repeal Ekiti State Official Logo Amendment Law No. 28 of 2014; while the bill to re-enact Ekiti State Government Official Logo Law 2011 was passed by the Assembly.

    The lawmakers also considered Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency Bill 2019 and fixed another legislative day for further legislative processes.

    However, the screening and confirmation of some political appointees earlier fixed for Tuesday was shifted on the request of the Executive.

  • Family sues UCH, demands N200m damages for allegedly leaking ‘gory pictures’ of late lawmaker

    Family sues UCH, demands N200m damages for allegedly leaking ‘gory pictures’ of late lawmaker

    The family of the late lawmaker, Temitope Olatoye (aka Sugar) has petitioned the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for the alleged sharing of the deceased’s ‘horrific’ photographs on social media without its approval.

    It is seeking N200 million damages.

    In the petition by C. C. Amedu of Ikeh Sunday Chambers, Ibadan, the Olatoye family accused the hospital of allowing the gory photographs of the late lawmaker in his dying hours at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital to be circulated on social media, thereby causing members of his family a lot of grief.

    The petition was also sent to the Minister of Health and the Ibadan chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

    Although the family acknowledged that doctors and other workers attending to the late Sugar declared in the presence of Sugar’s family that taking photographs of patients was prohibited, they were surprised to see such photographs circulating on online newspapers and social media hours later.

    They insisted that the ICU of a hospital is a restricted area, hence only members of staff of the hospital had access to the dying Olatoye.

    They reminded the UCH management of the Hippocratic oath, ethics and international best practices in the medical profession, which protect the rights of a dying patient to die in peace and dignity, which also mandates doctors to maintain respect for human life, avoid using their privileges as doctors to violate human rights, which also mandates them to practise the profession with conscience and dignity.

    In spite of the ethics, the Olatoyes said it was disheartening that UCH staff allegedly allowed the taking, circulation and publication of the dehumanising photographs of the deceased, which have since been trending online.

    The petition reads in part: “A cursory assessment of the attached photographs revealed that the deceased, as at the time the photographs were taken, was still at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital in a pool of blood. Therefore, it is reasonable and unarguable to believe that only your staff could access the unit at the material time.

    “The above conduct of your staff suggested that instead of your personnel on duty to have acted in their full professional capacity, focusing on taking care of the deceased, which might have probably saved his life, they were busy taking his pictures, which perhaps for the purpose of selling same to social media operators as it can be seen trending online.”

    They posited that the trending online photographs have been serving as a painful reminder to Sugar’s gruesome murder, adding that they also subjected members of the family to “a lasting unimaginable depression, mental and psychological torture.”