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  • Court strikes out Saraki’s suits against EFCC, ICPC, others

    Court strikes out Saraki’s suits against EFCC, ICPC, others

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out two separate suits filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, struck out the suits for lack of diligent prosecution.

    Upon resumed hearing in the matters, neither Saraki’s lawyer nor defendants’ counsel were in court for the proceeding.

    Justice Ekwo, therefore, held that he found that the cases were not diligently prosecuted.

    He consequently struck them out for lack of diligent prosecution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki, the applicant, had filed the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019 at the FHC.

    In the suits, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General of Police and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

    The ex-senate president had filed the suits following the EFCC’s decision in 2019 to probe Saraki’s earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

    The anti-graft commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

    However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed the two separate suits before Justice Taiwo Taiwo (rtd ) to challenge the action of the EFCC.

    Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge then, ruled on an ex-parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

    The judge ordered the anti-corruption agency (4th respondent) and the other five respondents to the suits to stay action on the probe pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.

    The order was granted after Sunday Onubi, Saraki’s lawyer, moved the application, on May 14, 2019.

    The court had directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe.

    But the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and the matter be transferred to another court.

    Justice Taiwo sent back the case file to the chief judge and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere for adjudication.

    When the matter came up on July 14, 2021, before Justice Chikere, EFCC Counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, complained that Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency “from performing its duty for about two years now.”

    The lawyer, who stated that Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he is invited, urged the court to vacate the order.

    But the suits were reassigned to Justice Ekwo following the retirement of Chikere.

  • Presidential election: Bukola Saraki reveals PDP only challenge

    Presidential election: Bukola Saraki reveals PDP only challenge

    Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has revealed that Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP) is his party’s only challenge in the South-East.

    He disclosed this while appearing on Arise TV Morning Show on Monday.

    Recall that Saraki, Nyesom Wike, Udom Emmanuel, Ayo Fayose, Bala Mohammed, among others, lost the PDP 2023 presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar.

    “South-South is a strong PDP area. We will do very well in South-South, South-East, the challenge we have there, of course, is Labour,” Saraki said.

    “But we will still do well in the South-East and take our 25 per cent. We will do well in North Central, we will do well in North-West and North-East.

    “We need four zones. By the time you have four zones, you will win the election.

    “The four zones that we will win are North-west, North-east, South-south and North-central, and we will take our 25 per cent more than 24 states. There is no doubt about that,” he added.

  • 60th Birthday: From Saudi, Saraki appreciates well-wishers

    60th Birthday: From Saudi, Saraki appreciates well-wishers

    Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has expressed appreciation to family members, friends, associates, and supporters who played one role or another in giving him a befitting birthday celebration despite his absence from the country.

    In a statement personally signed by him from Saudi Arabia where he is on lesser Hajj (Umrah), Saraki expressed gratitude to almighty Allah for preserving him for the past six decades and giving him strength, good health, and the grace to have good people around him.

    “More importantly, I give glory to Almighty Allah (SWT) for giving me the grace of having family members, friends, associates, supporters, and well-wishers who celebrated my birthday, even in my absence and beyond what I could have ever organised on my own.

    “My gratitude goes to all my people who organised prayers, those who organised empowerment workshops for youths, those who sponsored the donation of gifts to the less privileged, those who paid for newspaper and social media advertisements as well as those who issued press statements to congratulate me.

    “Let me specifically mention former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, incumbent and former state governors, serving and past members of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives, politicians, members of the business community, family members, friends, aides, and organizations like the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBA) for their contributions to the celebration of the birthday. I also thank members of the diplomatic community who have sent congratulatory messages.

    “I appreciate you all and pray for Allah’s blessing on every one of us. It is my prayer that God should heal our dear country and make it a safe place to work, live and relax”, he stated.

  • Your courageous leadership made 8th Assembly most productive- Dogara hails Saraki @60

    Your courageous leadership made 8th Assembly most productive- Dogara hails Saraki @60

    Former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, demonstrated great leadership and courage which resulted in the unprecedented performance of the 8th Assembly, Hon Yakubu Dogara, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said.

    In a message celebrating Saraki on the occasion of his 60th birthday anniversary, Hon Dogara commended Saraki’s partnership in steering the affairs of the 8th Assembly saying, ”
    Yours have been 60 years of meritorious service to our fatherland as examplified by your consistent display of unwavering commitment to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria and particularly, the independence of the legislature.

    “In the four years you held sway as President of the Senate, you demonstrated great courage and patriotism in steering the affairs of the Senate. Your partnership was a legendary epic which by popular consensus made the 8th NASS the most productive in Nigeria’s history.

    “As you step into the sexagenarian club today, I wish to join your teeming well-wishers in praying to Almighty God to grant you more wisdom and sound health to continue to serve the nation in the years ahead.”

    Both Saraki and Dogara were elected Senate President and Speaker on June 6, 2015 after they rebelled the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC’s) endorsement of other candidates.

    At the expiration of their tenure in June 2019, the two Chambers passed bills and resolutions that surpasses those of previous Assemblies.

  • Offa Robbery: Witness narrates how suspects were tortured to implicate Saraki

    Offa Robbery: Witness narrates how suspects were tortured to implicate Saraki

    A witness, Shamaudeen Bada has told Kwara State High Court how men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the IGP led by DCP Abba Kyari tortured them to implicate former Senate President, Bukola Saraki in April 5, 2018, Offa robbery incident.

    Bada who is a former Vice Chairman of Irepodun local government area of Kwara State recounted his experience on Thursday during the resumed trial of the suspects in the robbery at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

    Five suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, and two others were charged to court by the police for criminal conspiracy to rob the banks, murder of nine policemen and other citizens, and illegal possession of firearms.

    When families of the suspects threatened the police with a court case, the IRT operatives said they were taking instructions directly from the Inspector General of Police, IGP and that there was no court from Kwara that can stop their operations, the witness narrated.

    During cross-examination at the resumed trial, he said while in detention, the IRT operatives promised them they would be freed if they name Saraki as their sponsor. He however said, Ayo Akinrinbosun was shot in the leg when he declined to indict Saraki.

    “After he was shot, I became very nervous, depressed and my health started deteriorating. DCP Abba Kyari brought some nurses to treat me. Before I was eventually released, the police officers gave me conditions before I was released that I must not grant any press interview, I must not go to court, and that I should quit politics,” he said.

    The witness also disclosed that the police officers directly told him, “You these Kwara boys, we will show you shege. We will take Kwara from your leader, Saraki.”

    According to the witness, their arrest was politically motivated due to the failure of Alhaji Lai Muhammed’s camp at the APC Ward Congress against the Saraki’s structure. To deal with the Saraki camp, they needed to tag it with something to nail them hence Offa Robbery became their option which was a month after the Robbery saga.

    The prosecuting counsel was unable to conclude his cross-examination of the witness due to the fact that a particular document was not brought before the Court. Hence, they sought for an adjournment to obtain the said document and the case was subsequently adjourned to the 16th,17th, and 18th of January, 2023 for the continuation of cross-examination by the prosecution team.

  • Photos: Fmr Senate President, Saraki, Davido, PDP guber candidate, Adeleke others celebrating

    Photos: Fmr Senate President, Saraki, Davido, PDP guber candidate, Adeleke others celebrating

    Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Senator Ademola Adeleke, his nephew music maestro others celebrating victory ahead of Saturday guber polls in Osun.

    See photos below:

    PIC 1: International Music Superstar, David “Davido” Adeleke; Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke; and former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in Osogbo today ahead of the PDP Mega Rally.

    PIC 2: Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke thanking former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for his support in Osogbo today before the PDP Mega Rally.

    PIC 3: International Music Superstar, David “Davido” Adeleke; Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke; former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and Davido’s entourage in Osogbo today ahead of the PDP Mega Rally.

  • Saraki’s suit against EFCC, ICPC, others suffers setback

    Saraki’s suit against EFCC, ICPC, others suffers setback

    Hearing in a suit filed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others could not proceed on Monday due to the presiding judge’s absence.

    Though the two separate suits were on number five and six on the day’s cause list, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja was said to be on another official engagement.

    The matters were consequently fixed for Oct. 5 for further mention.

    The court had, on May 12, fixed today (July 27) for the suits.

    Justice Ekwo had adjourned the matter to enable parties file and exchange their processes in the suit.

    The development followed non-appearance of counsel for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respondents in the case.

    While Saraki is the applicant, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and State Security Service (SSS) are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    Others are EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as 4th to 6th respondents respectively.

    According to reports EFCC had, in 2019, said it would probe Saraki’s earnings between 2003 and 2011 when he was governor of Kwara.

    The commission was reported to have seized some of his houses in the Ikoyi area of Lagos then.

    However, Saraki, on May 10, 2019, filed two separate suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/507/19 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/19 respectively before Justice Taiwo Taiwo to challenge the action of the EFCC.

    Justice Taiwo, who was the presiding judge, ruled on an ex parte application filed along with the substantive suits.

    The judge ordered the anti-corruption agency (4th respondent) and the other five respondents to the suits to stay action on the probe pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the applicant.

    The order was granted after Sunday Onubi, Saraki’s lawyer, moved the application, on May 14, 2019.
    The court had directed the parties to maintain the status quo by suspending the probe.

    But the EFCC later applied that the judge should recuse himself and the matter be transferred to another court.

    Justice Taiwo sent back the case file to the chief judge and the matter was reassigned to Justice Anwuli Chikere for adjudication.

    When the matter came up on July 14, 2021 before Justice Chikere, EFCC Counsel, Chile Okoronkwo, complained that Taiwo’s order had hindered the agency “from performing its duty for about two years now.”

    The lawyer, who stated that Saraki continued to hinge on the order of the court any time he is invited, urged the court to vacate the order.

    But the suits were reassigned to Justice Ekwo following the retirement of Chikere.

    NAN

  • Photos: Fmr Senate President, Saraki, wife, others at Otunba Ojora 90th birthday bash

    Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Lisa of Ife and Commander of Niger (CON) turned 90 today. His children, Barrister Toyin and Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as well as Prince Yinka Ojora joined their mum, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora in hosting a few friends and family members inside the nonagenarian’s sitting room in Ikoyi. Below are few of the faces present at the event.

    PIC 1: Members of the Saraki and Ojora families, including former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; his wife, Barrister Toyin Ojora-Saraki; and wife of the celebrant, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, at the 90th Birthday Celebration of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

    PIC 2: Members of the Saraki and Ojora families, including former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; his wife, Barrister Toyin Ojora-Saraki; and wife of the celebrant, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, at the 90th Birthday Celebration of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

    PIC 3: CEO of the Chagoury Group, Ronald Chagoury; Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Earl Osaro Onaiwu; and Prince Dillis Nwokedi, at the 90th Birthday Celebration of Otunba Adekunle Ojora, in Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Muslim-Muslim ticket: I still stand by my earlier decision, Nigeria is bigger than Tinubu’s ambition – Saraki

    Muslim-Muslim ticket: I still stand by my earlier decision, Nigeria is bigger than Tinubu’s ambition – Saraki

    Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has stated that when he opposed the plan to foist a Muslim-Muslim presidency on Nigeria in 2014 he acted in the national interest and believed Nigeria was bigger than anybody’s ambition, including that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Saraki, in a statement signed by the head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in response to the speech by Tinubu in Abeokuta yesterday claiming that Saraki and others opposed his desire to be running mate to President Mohammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections, noted that he will oppose any plan that causes a religious crisis in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

    “When I and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 stood against having a Muslim-Muslim ticket, it was not a decision targeted at any individual or group but one taken in the national interest.

    “Asiwaju knows this and he is just being mischievous by presenting this decision as something aimed at stopping his ambition.

    “Let me make it clear that the decision to oppose the plans by some people to make APC present a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015 was in the national interest and I will take the same stand today, tomorrow, and any other day. My stance is based on the fact that such a ticket is not good for the unity of the country and will further accentuate one of our fault lines.

    “Even Asiwaju Tinubu knows that I am a man who does not shy away from standing for what is right. He knows that I don’t follow the crowd and I take a stand based on my conviction of what is good for the country and what is not good for her. It is also obvious that I have paid prices for this stand.

    “The opposition to a Muslim- Muslim ticket was not targeted at Tinubu or any other person. It was a decision that even all party leaders know helped the victory of the party and also worked for the unity of the country. That decision is not about self but national and collective interests. It is a decision which served the purpose of the people of Nigeria and I have no regret supporting it”, Saraki stated.

    While expressing surprise that Tinubu refused to move on and still sulked over what happened in 2014, the former Governor of Kwara State added that the APC presidential aspirant had become so fixated on the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue of 2014 that he worked so hard to stop the emergence of Saraki as Senate President in a move he considered as retaliatory.

    Saraki also stated that after he was elected Senate President, Tinubu maintained an adversarial position against the eighth National Assembly, initiated covert and overt measures aimed at undermining the federal legislature, and set the executive against the legislature.

    “Despite calling himself a democrat, he continued to support every effort to frustrate the eighth National Assembly and thwart its efforts to provide good representation to Nigeria. He was the architect of several moves that set the Presidency on a collision course with the National Assembly. At a time, he would twist issues and make false claims in his quarterly press statements aimed at making the National Assembly under my leadership look bad. Now, Nigerians know the truth. We can only urge Senator Tinubu to look at the bigger picture on all matters and stop viewing all issues within the prism of his ambition and personal interest”, Saraki stated.

  • PDP: Battle of the titans as Atiku takes on Tambuwal, Wike, Saraki, others

    PDP: Battle of the titans as Atiku takes on Tambuwal, Wike, Saraki, others

    In a matter of hours the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will brace the tape as the first political party to pick its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) in this analysis will take a peep at the four major contestants in a battle that would showcase a veteran presidential aspirant, Abubakar Atiku, a former number two citizen of Nigeria, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto state and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State and President of the Senate in the 8th Senate, Nyesom Wike, a former Minister of Education, former ALGON chairman and serving Governor of Rivers State.

    Others include, former Senate President and SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Ohuanbuwa, former Group Managing Director of Neimeth Nigeria Plc, Isa Hayautudeen a former banker and a host of others.

    The battle to clinch the PDP ticket may not be an easy one because the major contestants are all political gladiators with intimidating credentials and can never be pushovers.

    Abubakar Atiku: The former vice president had it all wrapped up in 2007 but his political career developed a k-leg because of his frosty relationship with his boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo the Ota oracle who ensured his deputy’s political career was permanently nailed in a coffin.

    This will be his fourth attempt trying to rule Nigeria making him a veteran presidential aspirant in the mould of serving President Muhammadu Buhari who tried and eventually got it on a platter but turned out to be a collosal failure after seven years in office.

    His chance at the presidential primary is still clouded as his chances of clinching it is heavily dependent on the invisible forces that garnered support for him from the blues in 2019 in Port Harcourt.

    Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a lawyer, this maverick politician is known to brace the odds and manage to clinch positions like he did in 2011. But the ghost of 2011 is busy hunting him as his chances are a dark big cloud that may take him no where.

    Bukola Saraki, a medical doctor turned politician is capable of turning the tables if the slightest opportunity emerges but presidential primaries are not a child’s play.

    If he gets his act right with the support of his geo-political zone, the north central and contacts he built in the far north as Senate President, this medical doctor may have a good showing at the primaries.

    Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, a lawyer, a grassroots politician who has never lost any political battle all his political career has repeatedly begged his party’s leadership to give him its presidential ticket for his loyalty to PDP since 1998.

    He says it without mincing words that he has the magical wand to wrestle power from the ruling party if tested.

    He started his consultations since March and had toured all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria trying to gather support.

    Among the major contestants, he is the only aspirant that has vowed to support any aspirant that emerges while others that had prostituted with the party remained taciturn.

    He’s a major force to contend with in the Primaries today.

    Anyim Pius Anyim, the hope of the south east has one of the tallest credentials in government corridors as a one time Senate President, SGF at the federal level.

    A gentleman with the touch of civility but his chances are equally clouded in doubts.

    Other aspirants will mark register on Saturday but the turning point is that it’s too close to clearly point at who may emerge PDP presidential flag bearer provided there’s no horse trading and betrayals.