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Tag: saraki

  • Saraki’s Chief of Staff tenders resignation

    Saraki’s Chief of Staff tenders resignation

    Senator Isa Galaudu, the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has tendered his resignation.

    This was revealed in a statement signed and made available to TheNewsGuru.com by Saraki’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Olaniyonu stated that Galaudu first mentioned his decision to step down in November 2016 for personal reasons and that both Mr. Saraki and the chief of staff agreed on his final exit at the end of January.

    He quoted Mr. Saraki as thanking the outgoing the outgoing chief of staff “for his commitment and dedication to duty”.

    Mr. Saraki then asked Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola, to act in that position pending the appointment of a substantive chief of staff.

     

  • If emergence of mega party will move Nigeria forward, I support it – Saraki

    If emergence of mega party will move Nigeria forward, I support it – Saraki

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said he is not against the emergence of a mega party in Nigeria as long as it is aimed at moving the country forward.

    Saraki said this while speaking on a monitored television programme.

    In His words:“If the mega party will see us pushing Nigeria’s economy forward, I don’t have problem. Like I have said to many people, my focus now is on the economy.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Saraki’s comment is coming at a time when the proposed formation of a mega party to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is pressing home.

    Admitting that his party, APC made some mistakes on assumption of power, Saraki said: “It’s been tough. There are many things we should have done differently; we didn’t manage the success well in the early stage. But it’s a learning curve.

    “Here is a party that hasn’t been in power for so many years. But we are making progress. I mean look at the budget process. Compare now to last year, you will see that the process is better, and it’s going to get better as we go on.”

    He also assured that the upper legislative chambers would not delay in the passage of the 2017 budget.

    “We are going to put everything in place, we will back in the 21st, hopefully by then reports will start coming in, plus or minus three weeks by the time we come back.

    “The national assembly will open up its budget in 2017, yes in my own time,” he said.

  • Saraki distances self from plot to remove Osinbajo, take over presidency

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has debunked reports that he contracted some governors to pressure acting President Yemi Osinbajo to resign.

    The report stated that Saraki was looking to take over as President once Osinbajo reign.
    But the Senate President in a statement said such reports were baseless, empty and unintelligent.

    He said, “My attention has been drawn to a speculation on some online media about supposed meeting of some Governors who held Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to ransom and sought for Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to take over the Presidency.

    “My first initial reaction was to ignore this empty rumour but after being inundated with calls from across the country and abroad, it became necessary for me to make clarifications from our own end.

    “It is a good thing that the Presidency had dismissed the speculation and showed that there is no substance to it.

    “However, I feel it should be known that those behind this baseless, empty and unintelligent mischief are those who do not love this country.

    “Such suggestions as contained in the speculation can only bring ill-will, disunity and crisis to the country and I therefore advise the sponsors to desist immediately. More importantly, these trouble makers should refrain from linking Senator Saraki’s name to their evil plot.”

  • Saraki, Mimiko, others for Nigerian Youth Parliament maiden lecture

    As part of efforts to build human capacities through the education and enlightenment of Nigerian youths, the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Today, hold it’s first Nigerian Youth Parliament Press Dinner and Lecture.

    According to a statement by the Speaker of the parliament, Ayodele Obe, the lecture which will be delivered by Blogger, Linda Ikeji, is expected to “critically address the Roles and Importance of the Fast Emerging Social Media in Socio-Political, Economic Development and Good Governance in Nigeria, while the Press Dinner is organised to celebrate the Press Corp Members of the National Assembly for a National Coverage in the Year 2016.

    The event is billed to hold at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, on Saturday 21st January, 2017, to be chaired by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, while Governor Olusegun Mimiko is the personality of the Day and Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung is the Chief Host, the statement reads.

  • Saraki Trial: Bank manager denies knowledge of document submitted by EFCC

    Saraki Trial: Bank manager denies knowledge of document submitted by EFCC

    The head of fund transfer unit of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Nwachukwu Amazu on Wednesday denied knowledge of the documents his bank sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    ‎ ‎Nwachukwu, who is the second prosecution witness in the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), had on Tuesday testified that the accused person operated foreign bank accounts.

    He gave this testimony while being led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel.

    However, upon cross-examination by Paul Usoro, counsel to Saraki, the witness admitted that there was no evidence that the said accounts were the senate president’s.

    ‎However, when asked on Wednesday him to explain why he could not confirm the identities of the accounts, Nwachukwu said the documents confirming the transfer of funds were destroyed in an inferno, and that he did not see them prior to that time.

    When asked further how he got the documents sent to the EFCC, the witness said he was not the “officer responsible for the documents that were forwarded to EFCC”, and that he has “no knowledge of that “.

    The tribunal however adjourned the case to February 8 for continuation of trial.

     

     

  • Senate Leadership: I have rested grievances against Saraki, others – Lawan

    Senator Ahmed Lawan has said his installment on Tuesday as the Senate Leader of the 8th senate has made him rest grievances against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and senate in general.

    Citing Order 43 of Senate Rules on Thursday, Lawan noted that he had been on the opposition in the lower and upper Chambers in the last 16 years, stressing that he had suffered more than any of his colleagues.

    “I wish to use this opportunity to thank APC caucus for having me and I want to say that I am of the APC in the Senate, but the leader of all Senators,” he said.

    “I have Rested all grievances against this 8th Senate, particularly the Senate President so that together we can move this institution forward,” he added.

    He tasked Senators on quality bills that would sail smoothly on the floor of the Senate, adding that he will knock on offices and even going to residences of his colleagues to ensure they do the right things.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki urged the new Senate leader to be committed to his words, while commending the immediate past Leader for his contribution in the last one year.

    Recall that the Senate President on Tuesday announced the removal of Ali Ndume and replaced him with Ahmed Lawan.

  • Saraki orders audit of National Assembly staff

    Saraki orders audit of National Assembly staff

     

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has ordered for a comprehensive audit of staff in the employment of the National Assembly.

    Saraki made this known in a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori tagged “Carrying out a comprehensive human resource audit in the National Assembly”.

    In the letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu, he explained that it was important to conduct the audit, to verify the skills, efficiency and motivation of the staff.

    The letter reads: “We have made commendable strides in our continuous endeavor to attain the goals set out in the legislative agenda of the 8th National Assembly. We however must continue to deploy clear strategies that meet the challenges facing this institution and capitalize on the strengths that we possess.

    “Even the best strategy will ultimately fail without the right people in the right places to execute it. Thus, it has become apparent that at this juncture one of the true challenges of the National Assembly is human capital.

    “I hereby convey the decision of the President of the Senate that you carry out comprehensive Human Resource audit. You should kindly therefore engage the services of a reputable consulting firm with adequate Human Resources expertise to carry out a complete review and produce a report verifying the skills, efficiency and motivation of the employees of the National Assembly.

    “Expected outcome of this engagement is a detailed assessment of the nominal roll, succession plan and furthermore to identify possible vacancies, duplications, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, limitations, and developmental needs of the existing organizational structure of the National Assembly.

    “The President of the Senate expects the assessment to be completed within 90 days and progress reports be submitted regularly until completion.”

  • CCT adjourns Saraki’s trial to Jan. 17

    CCT adjourns Saraki’s trial to Jan. 17

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT has adjourned the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki to Jan. 17, to enable the prosecution to present more witnesses.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned the matter following request for more time by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs.

    Umar said the tribunal was doing all it can to work by the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), on the matter.

    “We are bound by the ACJA; we are trying to be lenient with all the parties. This matter is hereby adjourned to Jan. 17 for continuation of hearing,

    Jacobs had said some of the prosecution witnesses were in Lagos and that time was needed to enable him to produce them.

    Defence counsel led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), had prayed the court to grant leave for possible re-examination of a witness, Michael Wetkass.

    Agabi said there were perceived ambiguities in some of the evidences given by the witness during his examination and cross-examination.

    Mr Paul Usoro, a defence counsel informed the court that the essence of the re-examination was to clarify some of the ambiguities before the tribunal.

    “One of the charges says 3.4 million dollars was transferred but your evidence in chief says otherwise’’, Usoro said.

    Wetkass had told the tribunal that he did not investigate Saraki personally and that his business record was also not investigated by him.

    Wetkass also told the tribunal that he was part of the investigative team and that the total amount transferred by Saraki to his foreign account through America Expresss Bank was 3.5 million dollars.

     

     

    NAN

  • Saraki’s trial will no longer hold from day-to-day – CCT Judge

    Saraki’s trial will no longer hold from day-to-day – CCT Judge

    The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, on Wednesday declared that the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki will not take place from day-to-day as was the tradition last year.

    Umar made the declaration at the tribunal in Abuja, while adjourning the trial till January 17.

    The adjournment was at the instance of the counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Jacobs, who prayed for time to allow him present some of his witnesses.

    Jacobs informed the tribunal that some of his witnesses were still in Lagos and would need some time for them to arrive Abuja.

    ‎The prosecution urged the tribunal to give a ruling that the trial would be from day-to-day.

    Granting his request for adjournment till next week, Umar, however, ruled that the trial shall not proceed on a day-to-day basis.

    “I’m‎ going to adjourn this matter to next week, but it cannot go on from day to day. We have other cases,” Umar said.

    Saraki is currently standing trial on a 16-count charge of false assets declaration during his time as the governor of Kwara State.

    Earlier, counsel to the Senate President, Kanu Agabi had urged Umar to end the trial in 2017.

  • Saraki, Melaye behind my removal as Senate Majority Leader – Ndume

    Ousted leader of the senate, Senator Ali Ndume has accused Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye as being behind his removal as the Senate Majority Leader.

    Ndume stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday. He stated that his removal was because he insisted that the Senate did not follow due process, in rejecting the nomination of Acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

    “What I said was that for us (Senate) to claim to have a rejected a nominee sent to us by the president, we have to follow the right procedure, and observe our rules,” he said.

    “The nominee should have been called into the chamber and presented before senators who will then openly vote on whether to accept or reject his or her nomination.

    “In the case of Magu, that was not done. We only had a closed-door session and when we emerged the Senate spokesperson claimed that he had been rejected. I had to set the record straight by saying we never rejected the nominee. This is because you don’t accept or reject a nominee at a closed session.

    “Our votes and proceedings are there as evidence of my claims”, he added.

    Ndume said he heard rumours of the plot to remove him, but did not take them seriously.

    “I was surprised that such a simple and harmless clarification could rattle and anger some of my colleagues,” he said.

    “The other day, somebody mentioned to me that the Senate President had commissioned Dino Melaye to collect signatures to remove me. I didn’t pay much attention to the information because I actually thought it was a joke or a rumour.

    “I didn’t feel that disagreeing with colleagues, and sharing my understanding of what transpired at our closed session was an offence, grievous enough to cause my removal”, he added.