TheNewsGuru

Tag: Reps

  • BREAKING: Reps invite ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over controversial Malabu oil deal

    The House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee has resolved to invite ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged diversion of $1 billion.

    The committee is investigating the alleged corruption, malpractices, breach of due process in the award of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, Rep.

    Rasak Atunwa, Chairman of the Committee disclosed this while interacting with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja on the outcome of the investigation the committee conducted so far.

    According to him, the invitation of the former President will determine the next steps to be taken by the committee.

    “The committee noted that it had conducted extensive investigation into the OPL 245 saga and that it is drawing to a close.

    “However, the committee is of the view that in the interest of thoroughness, natural justice and fair play, it is imperative that evidence should be taken from former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “In arriving at this decision, the committee took account of the following facts:

    ”Jonathan was the President at the material time the ministers brokered the so-called resolution agreement that led to the allegation of $1 billion diversion of funds.

    “Jonathan’s name features in the proceedings initiated by the Public Prosecutor of Milan in Italy,” he said.

    “A UK Court judgement in relation to an application to return part of the money being restrained castigated the Jonathan administration as not having acted in the best interest of Nigeria in relation to the deal.

    “The Attorney-General of the Federation at the material time, Mohammed Bello Adoke, who, of course, has been charged in relation to the case by the EFCC, has recently instituted proceedings in court.

    ‘’He pleaded that all his actions were as instructed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, the committee has decided to request that former President Goodluck Jonathan give evidence to the committee, as to his role in the matter.

    “The secretariat will write, him asking for his response and submissions.”

    While responding to questions, he said that the former president was at liberty to make a written submission to the committee or otherwise.

    He also said that the former president’s response would determine the next line of action to be taken by the Adhoc Committee.

    “The proper thing is that the committee has taken a decision that he must give evidence.

    “Section 89 of the Constitution requires that we ask for the evidence; we’ve asked him for evidence and he must give evidence, we have asked him to give his response and submission.

    “A matter entirely for him is, he may desire to send us a written submission, and we consider every written submission. We take it one step at a time.

    “The normal proceeding for a committee hearing investigating such matter is to take a written submission and whatever comes out of that will have to be decided at the committee level.’’

  • Reps sponsoring Bill to decongest prisons – Gbajabiamila

    Reps sponsoring Bill to decongest prisons – Gbajabiamila

    The leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos-APC), on Wednesday, said a Bill proposing community service as alternative to prison term for miscellaneous offenders in the country was underway.

    Gbajabiamila told newsmen in Abuja that when presented and passed, the emerging law would check congestion prisons across the country.

    He expressed concern over the state of prisons in the country, saying that no fewer than 100 inmates, who currently slept in one prison cell, could breed more criminals in the society.

    According to him, a congested prison has attendant consequences apart from the epidemic that may ensue.

    “This is apart from the people who may be in there for a period of two months to six months because the alternative was to pay a fine of N20, 000 which they didn’t have.

    “They are not criminals but petty offenders involved in misdemeanours like wondering or trading illegally on the streets or hawking,’’ the lawmaker said.

    He said that the situation in the prisons had the potential of producing more criminals.

    According to him, by the time the inmates come out, they are hardened.

    “So, the issue is for us to come up with a bill for community services for people like that rather than making prison term an alternative. All over the world they don’t do that for such offences.

    “I am actually happy that the community service Bill is in the process and will be coming for a second reading very soon so that we can decongest our prisons,’’ Gbajabiamila said.

    He explained that the bill would seek the removal of prison issues from the jurisdiction of the Federal Government to the states for improved services.

    “The ultimate goal for me is for us to remove the issue of prison from the exclusive list and send it down to the states.

    “If each state has about three or five prisons we are talking about over 100 prisons across the country and that will help to reduce congestion.

    “It should be a state matter because these people are tried for state offences mostly,’’ Gbajabiamila said.

     

     

    NAN

  • 2017 Budget: Reps summon Fashola over alleged projects insertion

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), over his allegation that the National Assembly inserted projects in the 2017 budget.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister had last month raised the alarm over the insertion of projects outside the purview of his ministry in the 2017 Appropriation Act by the National Assembly.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly had however refuted the allegation while insisting the minister was bent on pitching them (the lawmakers) against Nigerians.

    The minister is expected to appear before members of an Ad hoc Committee of the House on a date to be determined by the committee.

    The summon followed the unanimous adoption of a motion under matter of privilege moved by Rep. Sadiq Ibrahim (Adamawa-APC) and seconded by Rep. Aliyu Madaki (Kano-APC).

    Relying on Order 6 Rule 1 and Rule 4 of the House Standing Order, Ibrahim said that Fashola’s claims breached the privileges of the lawmakers.

    The allegation had caused ripples in the public domain as the minister accused the legislators of altering the allocations for critical projects under his ministry in the budget.

    He had said that the insertion in the ministry’s budget was made in favour of scores of boreholes and primary health care centres in the legislators’ constituencies.

    While condemning the allegation, Ibrahim said that the minister’s comments were capable of inciting Nigerians against the lawmakers.

    “By this singular act, the minister has breached the privilege of the House.

    “Freedom of speech is a constitutional right and everybody has a right to enjoy it; however, Fashola has spoken on an issue agreed upon between the executive and the legislature and laid to rest.

    “Fashola abandoned the official channel of communication to the National Assembly and decided to go to the media to make his assertions.

    “The budget is an Act and the minister is making a pronouncement on an Act.

    “There is need for Fashola to appear before an ad hoc committee to be set up by this House to give answers to his comments.

    “It is an attack on all of us and capable of causing friction between the executive and the legislative arm of government,’’ Ibrahim added.

    Contributing to the motion, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers-PDP) said that though the image of the House was at stake, “I will appeal to the House to hold its gunpowder since the matter is investigative in nature’’.

    “It is right to invite Fashola to come and throw more light not only to this House but to Nigerians on the veracity of his claims,’’ Chinda said.

    Also, the Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (Kano-APC), said that Fashola’s assertion was capable of truncating democracy in the country.

    According to Ado-Doguwa, each component of the three arms of government has specific functions to perform and we must defend our mandate.

    “Not only that the minister’s action breached our privileges individually and collectively as an institution, it has also undermined a budget worked upon by the National Assembly and assented to by the Acting President,’’ he said.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, referred the motion to a 14-member ad hoc committee to be chaired by Madaki.

  • Reps to honour Anthony Joshua, seven Nigerians who won UK Parliamentary seats

    Federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives just before adjourning plenary for the Sallah break on June 15 resolved to honour some Nigerians in the United Kingdom for making the country proud with their political and sporting exploits in recent time.

    The lawmakers who also sent ‎collective congratulatory messages to the newly elected UK parliamentarians.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos), titled; ‘Congratulatory Message to Some Notable Nigerians in the diaspora’.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the seven Nigerians who made it to the UK parliament are: Chuka Umunna, Bim Afolami, Fiona Onasanya, Chi Onwurah, Kate Osamor, Kemi Badenock and Helen Grant, as well as Anthony Joshua who also won a boxing heavy weight match against Vlademir Klichko of Ukraine.

    Speaking on the exploits of the Nigerians at plenary, Rita Orji mentioned one of the compatriots as Oluwayemi Jenkins who she said has Nigerian heritage and has worked for various government departments in the United Kingdom ranging from the Customs and Excise, UK Border Agency and Immigration Enforcement at both strategic and operational levels.

    “She was awarded the Home Office Advisor of the year in 2014 and was named in the Queen’s Honors list as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her work in securing the borders of the United Kingdom.

    “She is the immediate past President of the Association of British-Nigeria Law Enforcement (ABLE) Officers, a position she held from 2008-2016 during which she worked assiduously to change the negativity towards Nigeria and Nigerians in the United Kingdom

    “She raised awareness and facilitated best practices between British and Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers and has continued to work with the Nigerian High Commission and Nigerians in Diaspora to raise awareness on issues of Immigration.

  • Comments on 2017 Budget: Reps attack Fashola, says ‘your attempt to paint us irresponsible will not work’

    Comments on 2017 Budget: Reps attack Fashola, says ‘your attempt to paint us irresponsible will not work’

    The House of Representatives on Saturday attacked the with Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola over his utterances on the recently signed 2017 Appropriation Act.

    The House noted that the minister’s statement was capable of setting the Legislature against the Executive and also cause chaos in the already tensed atmosphere.

    The lawmaker, however, warned the minister to guard his utterances and stop painting the Parliament in a bad light over the 2017 budget.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the lower chamber is reacting after the Minister raised the alarm over the insertion of projects outside the purview of his ministry in the 2017 Appropriation Act by the National Assembly.

     

    The House in a statement issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Abdulrazak Namdas disclosed that “we need to restate that the National Assembly leadership entered into certain understandings with the Executive arm on the 2017 Budget in good faith. It is a clear breach of these understandings for the Executive to make public statements calculated to undermine and distort them”.

    According to him, “Nigerians deserve a total concentration of all government officials, arms of government and MDA’s to grow the economy as we exit the recession. We in the House of Representatives are so passionately committed”.

    The House spokesman while clarifying some of the allegation raised by the minister, “Mr Fashola claimed that the National Assembly included many projects that were not agreed on during the Budget defence before the Committees; that the Budget Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was reduced from N31 billion to N10 billion; that 2nd Niger Bridge budget was reduced from N15b to N10bn(actually N12bn to N7bn); that about N3 billion or so was removed from Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Road; that the Budget for Mambila Power Project was also cut”.

    He, however, maintained that “it is very misleading and calculated mischief to simply say that N5 billion was taken

    from the Budget for 2nd Niger Bridge. The truth is that in the 2016 Budget, N12 billion was appropriated for the 2nd Niger Bridge and not a Kobo was spent by the Ministry. Not a Kobo. The money was returned. The Ministry could not provide the Committees of the National Assembly with evidence of an agreement on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) or a contract for the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    “The National Assembly, in its wisdom decided to fund other projects from the South East leaving N7 billion for the 2nd Niger Bridge that may yet be unspent. The projects include – N2.5 billion extra for Enugu/Onitsha Road, N1 billion more for 9th Mile/Nsukka/Makurdi Road; additional N500m for Oturkpa- Makurdi to take care of evacuation of agricultural produce up to Maiduguri; N1 billion more for Ikot Ekpene-Aba-Owerri Road etc. These are strategic Roads in the South-East and North Central parts of Nigeria that had inadequate allocations.

    “The National Assembly had to intervene to fund some other critical roads that were totally neglected in the Executive Budget proposal. Example is the Abuja- Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road that had Zero allocation from the President’s proposal and no contract even in spite of due process certification. N5 billion was provided in the 2016 Budget. It was not utilised. In 2017 Budget, the National Assembly again provided N3 billion for this very critical road that connects many states and where incidents of kidnapping are rife because of bad roads, as we believe that all parts of Nigeria deserve attention or would the Minister also claim that this road has no design?”, the statement posited.

    On the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Hon Namdas claimed that “leadership meetings of both the Executive and Legislature were held where it was clarified that alternative funding exists for the Road through PPP arrangement and the concessionaires had enough money to fund the project. That informed the decision to move some funds to other areas of need and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing is fully aware of this but chose to ignore it. Why spend government money if there is a clear existing funding framework in place and so many ongoing road projects are unfunded?

    “On the Mambila Power Project, the Minister proposed a whopping N17 Billion for only Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). N17 Billion Naira! The National Assembly felt that N17 Billion for EIA was misplaced and patently unjustifiable! The Minister himself even wrote to the National Assembly to move some funds from this sub-heads to others!

    “On a general note, we need to remind the Honourable Minister that the Budget of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is NOT his PERSONAL BUDGET; it is part of the Budget of the Federation. The National Assembly and others are also stakeholders in this country, imbued with patriotism to fix Nigeria’s problems. There are certain matters which the National Assembly Committees discover during oversight activities that are corrected during the budget process. There are so many omissions which the National Assembly makes effort to correct on behalf of Nigerians. Even the Ministries also disown allocations contained in their budgets! Should the National Assembly keep quiet and moot and allow infractions patently exposed in the Executive proposals?

    “We think that the Constitution did not design the National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” as eloquently stated by His Excellency Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker, House of Representatives.

    “Also contained in the budget of the FMWP&H is an omnibus allocation of N20 Billion. The details were not provided by the Minister. The National Assembly would be irresponsible to appropriate funds that are not tied to specific projects. Mr Fashola pushed hard to have the lump sum of N20 billion approved for him without specifying which project it will be spent on. He wanted the details to be left only to him to decide at his discretion. The National Assembly refused to do this and incurred the wrath of the almighty Minister.

    “He claimed that the National Assembly cannot increase the 2017 Budget. He conveniently forgot that the MTEF had a $2 increase per Barrel that was not applied or part of the 2017 Appropriation Bill proposed by Mr President. How was this to be applied? If applied would that not amount to an increase? Did the Executive not propose new projects and increases in the budget figures of about N41.7 Billion after Mr President presented the Budget?

    “It is true that Fashola is a SAN, an eminent lawyer and former Governor, but does that warrant his repeated insults hauled at the National Assembly? He claims that certain matters are State or even Local Government matters. He mentions Primary Health Care as an example. If one may ask why has he not led the effort to abolish the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, a federal government agency? As a Senior Lawyer, he should be aware of what is called CONCURENT LIST, and the provisions of S.4(4)(a) and S.4(5) of the Constitution.

    “Mr Fashola should be told that his Ministry includes Housing and Urban Development that traditionally takes care of other small projects like water in Housing Estates and so on and should not be surprised if he sees such projects in his Ministry. Some of the projects are designed in furtherance of meeting the SDG goals. It is certainly disingenuous for him to pretend that some urban development projects found in his Ministry’s Budget were meant for Roads and Power!

    “We need to remind Mr Fashola that the National Assembly is a national institution made up of members from all geo-political zones, they represent all tendencies, interests and ethnic nationalities. It has a responsibility also to ensure balance in the distribution of Road Projects and other developmental facilities. It cannot watch our national patrimony unfairly skewed to one region or a few regions to the detriment of other states and geo-political zones. The proposal from Mr. President on the 2017 Budget of the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing did not pass this test! This partly informed the intervention of National Assembly so that every region can be carried along in project allocation”, the statement stated.

  • Reps to investigate NDPC over alleged $1.5bn national revenue loss

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate alleged infractions in the operations of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and the loss of 1.5 billion dollars national revenue.

    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Ahmed Abu (Niger-APC) at plenary on Wednesday.

    Earlier, Abu had said that NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), currently owned and operated several oil and gas fields and infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

    Apart from creating additional source of revenue for the country, Abu said that NPDC was established to also develop Nigeria’s local capacity in the industry for sustainable development and profitability.

    He, however, disclosed that allegations of unethical and questionable actions in the company appeared to be hindering the attainment of its objectives.

    According to him, 29 years after the establishment of NPDC, it still appears to lack the capacity to compete favourably in the oil and gas industry.

    “NPDC is reported to be consistently ceding its core activities to third party private entities without due procurement process in Strategic Alliance Agreements that involve the provision of funds by those entities to carry out exploration.’’

    He also said that the giving out its operational rights to private ventures had resulted in the company’s inability to reconcile the revenue generated and amount of crude lifted, leading to speculations of loss of over 1.5 billion dollars revenue.

    Abu said that there were allegations that most of those third-party entities were newly registered companies with little or no technical experience, financial capability to carry out the duties and to meet the terms of Strategic Alliance Agreements.

    He alleged that the private entities were owned by cronies of members of the management of NPDC and other interested parties, adding that the firms had access to the company’s funds obtained from government’s appropriation.

    Abu added that there were reports that claimed that the nation was losing billions of Naira daily from the outrageously inflated recurring expenditure on the operations of the NPDC.

    He, therefore, called for the probe of the company’s activities, including financial transactions.

    In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, referred the matter to the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) for further action.

     

     

    NAN

  • June 12: Confer GCFR on MKO Abiola, Reps urge FG

    June 12: Confer GCFR on MKO Abiola, Reps urge FG

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to immortalise the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

    The House also resolved that late Abiola be conferred with posthumous Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), in recognition of his sacrifice and contributions to the unity and development of Nigeria and Africa.

    This emanated from the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance, sponsored by Rep. Sanni Zoro (Jigawa-APC).

    Moving the motion, Zoro said that a vacuum was created following the death of Abiola.

    “It is worthy to remember him always as a Nigerian who touched lives more than any other person in his life time.

    “Abiola also contributed in ensuring religious harmony by building bridges between faith organisations in the country,’’ he added.

    Zorro argued that apart from being acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election by polling eight million out of the 14 million votes cast.

    Abiola contributed immensely to the political development of the country.

    “It will not be a novelty to bestow the GCFR on someone who is not a president of the country.

    “Former President Shehu Shagari bestowed the same honour on late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1983.

    “I believe that we should immortalise MKO Abiola by conferring on him this highest honor in the country,’’ he said.

    Contributing, Rep. Anayo Nnebe (Anambra-PDP) urged the Federal Government to declare June 12 of every year as Democracy Day in the country.

    According to him, it was a day that Nigeria witnessed the most credible election.

    “June 12, 1993 election had more significance for the country’s democracy compared to May 29, which is currently being celebrated as Democracy Day.

    “The annulment of June 12 is an act of irresponsibility and recklessness by the then military regime.

    “I want to add that June 12, should be declared a national holiday to reflect issues that transpired; It should be seen as a national issue and not regional one,’’ Nnebe stated.

    Similarly, a member representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos, Rep. Wale Raji, urged the Federal Government to declare the result of the annulled election by announcing late Abiola the posthumous President-elect.

    Ruling on the motion, The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara referred the matter to the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure enforcement of the resolution.

     

     

    NAN

  • Reps summon service chiefs, defence minister, IGP, over incessant kidnappings, killings

    Worried by the incessant cases of indiscriminate killings and kidnappings in the country, the House of Representatives on Thursday summoned service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris,to explain what they have been doing to curtail the ugly trend.

    The service chiefs summoned included the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

    They will appear before the House in company with the Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd.) and the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello-Dambazau (retd.), on Tuesday, next week.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the summons extends to the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) and the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura.

    The House passed a resolution on the summons after debating a motion on rising kidnapping incidents in the country, particularly along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway and in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.

    The motion was moved by the House Minority Whip, Mr. Yakubu Barde.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a member of the House from Kano State, Mr. Garba Umar-Durbunde, was on Tuesday last week abducted and held for almost 48 hours.

    He was set free after reportedly coughing out N10m to his abductors.

    Barde narrated another recent incident involving “one Mrs. Sara Amos, her son, Jesse, and a family member, Mr. Isaac Michael,” who were kidnapped on June 2.

    He disclosed that in their bid to escape, the kidnappers killed “a member of the local vigilance team named Yakubu Adamu.”

    Barde added that the kidnappers had made a ransom demand of N20m.

    The House noted, “The activities of the kidnappers are becoming nightmarish for the people who can no longer go to their farms freely, with the obvious consequences of shortage of food that will result in hunger and untold hardship.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that on May 25, six students of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, were kidnapped by gunmen.

    The six students are Peter Jonah; Isiaq Rahmon; Adebayo George; Judah Agbausi; Pelumi Phillips; and Farouq Yusuf.

    The House had passed a similar resolution, asking the IGP to secure the release of the students but they have yet to be set free.

    The IGP has however said rescue mission was ongoing to secure the release of the abducted students.

  • Reps reject bill to establish South East Development Commission

    The House of Representatives has rejected a bill seeking to establish South East Development Commission.

    The house rejected the second reading of the bill after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    Leading the debate during plenary, Rep. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra-PDP) said that the bill would seek to tackle poverty and ecological problems confronting the region.
    He said that the bill also sought to receive and manage fund from the federation account for the development and rehabilitation of roads and other infrastructure in the region.

    The House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP), said the bill will address most of the issues affecting the region.

    “This country cannot continue with the situation where we come to Abuja every month to share money. I think every zone deserves such commission because it will make everybody look inward. This nation needs to be restructured, we cannot continue the way we are going,” Ogor said.

    Rep. Sani Abdul (Bauchi-APC), said that the agitation to create the commission was as a result of government’s inability to address the socio-economic challenges in the country.

    “We should look at it holistically in order not to have problems.We are worried, however, because the timing of the bill with the agitation for Biafra is suspicious,” Abdul said.

    However, some lawmakers while opposing the bill, said the timing was not appropriate.

    Rep. Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP) said that some of the South-East states were already captured in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) “and the creation of a South East Commission will be too much”.

    Rep. Sani Zorro (Adamawa-APC) said not much consultation was done to ensure the success of the bill.

    “I won’t be comfortable that at the end of the day we leave here with acrimony.

    “In view of the debate we have had so far, I am of the view that the sponsors and supporters of this bill should make further consultations,’’ Zorro said.

  • Ganduje condemns kidnap of Reps member, Durbunde

    Ganduje condemns kidnap of Reps member, Durbunde

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has condemned the kidnapping of a member of the House of Representatives, representing Takai/Sumaila Federal Constituency, Hon. Garba Umar Durbunde.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Hon. Durbunde was kidnapped by unknown men at Jere, along Abuja Road at about 5pm on his way back to Abuja.

    The Kano State Commissioner for Information , Mallam Garba Mohammed in a statement said Governor Ganduje, expressed shocked about the incident which occurred when Muslims were observing the Ramadan.

    “Governor Ganduje, who was shocked by the news of the sad and unfortunate event, condemned it in the strongest term as an act of wickedness perpetrated by evil and cold-hearted elements.

    He therefore called on the police force and other security agencies to intensify effort to rescue the kidnapped lawmaker, while also advising members of the public to be vigilante and security conscious at all times.

    The Commissioner urged the police and other security agencies to do all they could to rescue the lawmaker.

    Alhaji Garba Durbunde, member representing Takai/Sumaila federal constituency in the House of Representatives, was reportedly kidnapped by unknown persons along the Jere-Abuja Road, Kaduna State on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker was said to be on his way to Kano when the incident occurred at about 5.00pm on Tuesday.