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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Speaker Dogara mourns slain Oyo lawmaker, Sugar

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has commiserated with the family of slain Oyo lawmaker, Olatoye Temitope, who was shot at a polling unit during Saturday’s elections in the state.

    Mr Olatoye, the lawmaker representing Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency of the state, died following gunshot injuries he received.

    The deceased was shot in the eye by political thugs at a collation centre in Elesu, Lagelu Local Government Area and later confirmed dead by the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan.

    In a message on his Twitter handle @YakubDogara on Saturday night, Mr Dogora described the killing as shocking, primitive and wicked.

    “I received with shock, the sad and distressing news of the assassination of my brother and colleague, Hon. Olatoye Temitope Sugar, in Oyo State today. The murder of Hon Sugar in election violence today is primitive, wicked, inhumane, barbaric and highly condemnable,” Mr Dogora said.

  • Adamawa lawmaker slumped, died at political gathering

    Adamawa lawmaker slumped, died at political gathering

    A member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Kwanate (APC, Nassarawo-Binyeri), slumped and died Wednesday after attending an election campaign rally.

    The legislator was said to have collapsed at a political meeting.

    This was five days after the member representing Mubi South in the house, Abdurrahman Abubakar ,died in Yola.

    The Public Relations Officer of the house, Yahaya Daji , yesterday confirmed Kwanate’s death to newsmen.

    He said the lawmaker was rushed to a hospital in Yola where he later died.

    He said Kwanate had been battling an undisclosed health problem before his death.

    He described the deceased as a hardworking legislator who enjoyed a cordial relationship with his colleagues and the staff of the house.

  • Adamawa Assembly loses second lawmaker in one week

    Adamawa Assembly loses second lawmaker in one week

    Adamawa House of Assembly member, Adamu Kwanate (APC- Nasarawo/Binyeri) is dead.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Kwanate died on Wednesday, four days after another lawmaker, Abubakar Abdurahman (ADC-Mubi South) passed away after a long illness.

    Kwanate who is seeking reelection in the upcoming election on Saturday, was said to have collapsed during a campaign engagement in his constituency and was rushed to a hospital in Yola, where he died.

    Mohammed Daji, Information Officer of the state assembly, who confirmed the death of the lawmaker to NAN, said: “I just got the shocking news of his death, but I am yet to get details of what happened.”

  • Court sacks lawmaker over certification forgery, orders his arrest

    A Referral High Court sitting in Jos, on Tuesday sacked a Plateau Lawmaker, Mr Ibrahim Baba-Hassan over certificate forgery.

    Delivering judgment in a case filed by another lawmaker, Abdu Sale, Justice Musa Kurya held that Baba-Hassan was not in the first qualified to contest the 2015 APC House Assemby primaries Jos North-North constituency of Plateau.

    Saleh had in his suit filed through his Counsel, Mr David Ibeawuchi, told court that the lawmaker’s Diploma certificate in Business Administration allegedly obtained from University of Jos, which was presented to INEC for the 2015 election, was forged.

    Mr Monday DamJan, Registrar, University of Jos, testified against the lawmaker, who was defended by Mr Solomon Umoh (SAN).

    But Kurya in his judgment, found the evidence of the Registrar of the University to be uncontroverted, direct and positive and described him as “a witness of truth.’

    The Judge said that he also found that Diploma certificate paraded by Baba-Hassan which he presented to the INEC in 2011 and 2015 was forged which was why he (lawmaker) conspicuously expunged it from the 2019 form he submitted to INEC.

    “Several controvervies in the evidence of Hon. Ibrahim Baba- Hassan especially the purported Bachelor of Management Science degree with Second Class Lower division he presented through his counsel, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN) but in the semblance of the University Convocation booklet which he tendered it was indicated as Third Class.

    “Although this did not relate to the claim of the plaintiff, which bothered on forgery of Diploma Certificate, Ibrahim Baba-Hassan did not state which one of the conflicting B. Sc degree the court is to believe, ” the Judge stated.

    The Judge also condemned the report of the Police Investigation tendered and descibed it as “very wrong” and “unreliable evidence” to counter the oral testimony of the Registrar.

    According to him, “you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. It will fall.”

    The Judge also described the conduct of Baba-Hassan as unbecoming of a lawmaker and that he was not a witness of truth.

    He however ordered the DSS, ICPC and law enforcement agencies to take note of his judgment which found thelawmaker guilty of forgery and to act appropriately.

    Kurya granted all the reliefs sought by Saleh and made a consequential order directing Baba-Hassan to return all the salaries, entitlements and emoluments received by him and Ordered that 2 million naira be paid as costs to the plaintiff.

    Part of the reliefs which the plaintiff sought was an Order disqualiying Baba-Hassan as the candidate of the APC, and an Order directing the INEC to recognize forthwith the name of the Plaintiff as the legitimate candidate of the APC for the 2015 elections into the State House of Assembly for Jos North-North constituency in Plateau State.

    He futher disqualified Baba-Hassan as the candidate of the APC, and an Ordered INEC to recognize forthwith the name of Saleh as the legitimate candidate of the APC for the 2015 elections into the State House of Assembly for Jos North-North constituency in Plateau.

  • Punish any Nigerian official who manipulates 2019 election, US lawmaker tells Trump

    American congressman, Christopher Smith, who is also the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, has urged President Donald Trump to use his sanctioning authority to hold accountable any (Nigerian) official who subverts the 2019 electoral process or foment violence against citizens.

    He issued a statement concerning the 2019 general elections, zeroing in on the North East violence which he believes is ‘largely attributable to Fulani extremists.’

    Smith, who represents New Jersey’s Fourth District at the American Congress, wrote via his official website https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401629.

    He states: “I am very concerned by the current trajectory in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy and economy, and President Muhammadu Buhari’s apparent crackdown on non-violent protests and harassment of opposition leaders, such as freezing the assets of opposition vice presidential candidate Peter Obi and the raiding of the home of two sons of opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    “I call upon the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that elections will be free and fair, and for the Commission to remain impartial.

    “I further call upon President Buhari to use his authority to end the violence perpetrated by Fulani extremists, particularly in the Middle Belt region, and question why he has failed to do so.

    “I also urge the Trump Administration to monitor the evolving situation closely, and not to hesitate to use its sanctioning authority to hold accountable any officials who subvert the electoral process or foment violence against citizens.”

    Smith chaired a hearing on Nigeria on December 13, 2018, entitled “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Election.”

    It may be recalled that the Buhari administration denied the allegation of freezing Peter Obi’s assets, while it also said that it was the home of the son of a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, that was searched by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and not that of Atiku Abubakar’s two sons as alleged.

     

  • NEMA funds: Reps collating signatures to impeach Osinbajo – Lawmaker

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma,‎representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Edo State, has alleged that some members ‎are collating signatures with the aim of impeaching Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Agbonayinma made the allegation while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker said, “Some political gladiators and media houses” were ‎sponsoring fake news against Osinbajo.

    “The reason is because of the NEMA investigation,” he said.

    Agbonayinma,‎ however, failed to name‎ those behind the campaign against the Vice-President, saying they include disgruntled members of the All Progressives Congress.

    The House had probed the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency in the North-East, during which it indicted Osinbajo and the Director-General of the agency.

  • TRENDING: ‘I’m a hunter, allow me lead war against Boko Haram’ – Lawmaker, Kazaure begs Buhari [video]

    A member of the house of representatives from Jigawa state, Gudaji Kazaure has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint him to lead the delegation of hunters to battle Boko Haram in Sambisa forest.

    In a video trending online, the lawmaker said as a hunter, he knows how to get “those idiots” in Sambisa.

    “Let the president appoint me; I will delegate a team to go inside the bush with myself to finish those idiots,” he said.

    “I am a hunter. I know all these bushes. I am a professional hunter. I can delegate a team of hunters.

    “Let the government give us Army and Police, we will go inside that bush. I will lead it. Even if it is tomorrow, I will lead.”

    Kazaure is known for making comical statements.

    Below is the video:

  • JUST IN: APGA suspends lawmaker who spearheaded speaker’s impeachment

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has suspended the factional Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Ikem Uzoezie, for alleged anti-party activities.

    Others also suspended were Messrs Hartford Oseke and Victor Okoye.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Norbert Obi, stated this at a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Awka on Thursday.

    Obi said that after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the impeachment of the Speaker of the House, Rita Maduagwu on Tuesday, it had become expedient to suspend the key player in the saga “to save the party from self-destruction.”

    Uzoezie had led 19 other members of the House on Tuesday to impeach Maduagwu and assumed the speakership of the House.

    But the APGA state chairman of the party, at the press conference, said “the party would not condone such internal wrangling.”

    His statement read in part: “Recall that on Tuesday, 13th November 2018, some Honorable members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Anambra State House of Assembly, during their plenary session, attempted to impeach the Hon Speaker of
    the House, Rt Hon Barr Rita Maduagwu, following a motion moved by the Hon member representing Agutata II Constituency, Hon. Ikem Uzoezie, which was seconded by the Hon member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Hon. Onyebuchi Offor.

    “It is the position of the party in Anambra State that the attempted impeachment was not necessary.

    “Granted the fact that we had problems during the just-concluded party primaries in the state, this is not enough to pull the party down, more so when the party has inaugurated a reconciliation committee to look into the grievances of the aggrieved aspirants and members of the party.

    “Every right thinking Igbo man knows that APGA is not only a party but a movement for the actualization of Igbo agenda in the Nigerian polity. It will amount to shooting oneself in the leg for any Igbo man to pursue the destruction of APGA.”

    The state chairman enjoined aggrieved members of the party to sheathe their swords, adding that failure to do so would amount to “setting our house on fire because of a rat.”

    He added, “It is therefore the wish of the party that all members of APGA behind this unfortunate plot should retrace their steps in the interest of the party.

    “We assure them that whatever is their grievances, they should be addressed to the satisfaction of all since this is a family affair.

    “Be that as it may, the three ring leaders of the attempted impeachment saga, namely, Hon Ikem Uzoezie, Barr Hartford Oseke and Hon Victor Okoye are hereby suspended from the party pending the time they will appear before the disciplinary committee of the party for further action.”

  • Court sacks lawmaker who defected from PDP to APC

    A federal high court in Uyo on Wednesday declared vacant the seat of a lawmaker in Akwa Ibom State who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The affected lawmaker, Idongesit Ituen, represented Itu State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    The suit was filed by Ituen in September this year to pre-empt the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, from declaring his seat vacant.

    Apart from the speaker, other defendants in the suit were the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the commissioner of police, Akwa Ibom state.

    Luke had filed a counterclaim, seeking for “a declaration that having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress before the expiration of the tenure of four years for which he was elected to serve, Hon. Idongesit Ntuen has lost his seat in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    “An order of court directing Hon Idongesit Ituen to vacate the Itu State Constituency seat in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly with immediate effect.

    “An order of court restraining the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or any other person acting on his behalf (including the staff of the House of Assembly) from further recognising Hon. Idongesit Ituen as a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    “An order of court directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seat of Itu State Constituency at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.”

    The court presided over by F. O. Riman, dismissed the main suit and granted all the reliefs in the counterclaim.

  • Ekiti lawmaker shot by unidentified gunmen

    Some unidentified gunmen on Friday shot a member of the Ekiti House of Assembly, Mr Michael Adedeji, at a close range at Ado Ekiti while driving to Akure, Ondo State.
    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Adedeji who was said to have survived by the whiskers was initially rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) for treatment.
    He was later transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI), when his condition became critical.
    Confirming the incident, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Segun Adewumi, said in Ado Ekiti that Adedeji, who represents Ekiti Southwest Constituency II, was shot on the head.
    He said the lawmaker was immediately rushed to the EKSUTH where he was admitted at the Accident and Emergency unit for intensive medicare.
    The deputy speaker, a PDP member, disclosed that the victim was accosted and shot by the gunmen while reversing his car in a bid to escape.
    “When he was accosted on the way, the lawmaker wanted to flee the scene by putting his car on reverse gear, but these evil men opened fire on his vehicle and the bullets hit him on the head.
    “He was immediately taken to hospital in Ado Ekiti where he received emergency treatment,” he said.
    When NAN got to the Accident and Emergency Unit of EKSUTH at about 12 noon it was learnt the lawmaker had been referred to the federal teaching hospital in Ido Ekiti.
    Adedeji who had a problem with former Gov. Ayo Fayose, participated actively in the removal of the former Speaker, Kola Oluwawole and subsequent election of Mr Adeniran Alagbada of APC as new Speaker.
    He narrowly escaped being suspended by the house under the former speaker, but was made tender an open apology to the former governor at the house plenary.
    The Police Public Relations Officer,(PPRO) in the state, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu , said he would react to the incident as soon as it was brought to the notice of the state Police Command.
    NAN