Appeal Court throws out Saraki's case

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging his arraignment and trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, October 30, the court threw out all five issues raised by the Senate President before it.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal delivered the judgment in the appeal seeking to dismiss the 13-count criminal charge pending against the Senate President, Olubukola Saraki, at the CCT.
Saraki had challenged the legal propriety of the 13-count charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The appellate court had earlier adjourned its verdict on the matter indefinitely, a situation that forced the Danladi Umar-led Tribunal to defer hearing on the case against Saraki till November 5, to await the outcome of the appeal.
The Tribunal took the decision to suspend full-blown hearing on the criminal case after the Moore Adumein panel of the Appeal Court, on October 21, postponed its judgment without adducing any reason.
More later…
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[Photos] MC Henz spotted in a club with Iyanya, Uti Nwachukwu, others

MC Henz on the dance floor

Omo see celebrity hang out...
MC Henz was spotted last week in a club with Iyanya, Uti Nwachukwu and other hot celebrities in an undisclosed club in lagos, eye witnesses said they spent hundreds of thousands on drinks.
below are some of the pics taken at the club

Iyanya and MC Henz

Uti Nwachukwu and MC Henz
 

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Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal By PDP Challenging Okorocha’s Election

The Supreme Court has dismissed appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 election in Imo State, Mister Emeka Ihedioha, challenging the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice John Fabiyi, held that Ihedioha’s appeal lacked merit.
The Apex Court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Owerri to the effect that Ihedioha’s failure to properly serve Okorocha, his party, the All Progressives Congress, and other parties in the suit had robbed the Appeal Court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Supreme Court also held that failure to indicate the addresses of other respondents on the processes of the appeal was injurious to the case.
The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, had appealed against the ruling of the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed his petition ‎on the grounds that it was incompetence and contravenes the electoral act.
He appealed to the Court of Appeal which also on ‎September 3, 2015 dismissed the appeal against the ruling of the tribunal
The judgment of the Supreme Court lays to rest contention about the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.
Source: Channels TV
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Senate defers confirmation of Amaechi and others

From Fred Itua, Abuja
THE Senate yesterday concluded the three-week-old confirmation screening of the 36 min­isters-designate sent to it last month by President Muhammadu Buhari. Again, it failed to confirm nominees that were grilled last week, as well as the last 11 that were screened on Monday and yesterday.
Senate President Bukola Saraki did not give reasons for the repeated delay of the confirma­tion of the ministers-designate, but it is hoped that the Senate may confirm the nominees to­morrow, after which the names would be for­warded to Buhari.
Members of the opposition Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) yesterday met after plenary at the Senate Hearing Room One.
Although there was no official statement from the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, as at Press time, it was, however, gathered that the lawmakers met to restrategise on how to counter plans by All Progressives Congress (APC) Sena­tors to confirm former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as minister.
The PDP Senators had last week refused to participate in screening Amaechi. They had ob­jected to Saraki’s refusal to allow lawmakers debate the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Amaechi.
It is unclear whether APC Senators were also meeting.
Meanwhile, the last batch of nominees that were screened yesterday include Dr. Okechuk­wu Eyinna Enelamah (Abia), Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwuka (Imo), Mr. Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa), Mr. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) and Ms Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto).
The exercise which commenced at about 11.40am, followed the submission of the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Pub­lic Petitions on a petition from Sokoto women against Ms Abubakar. The petition was, how­ever, withdrawn after which the nominee was given a nod to be screened alongside with other ministers-designate.
Thereafter, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, moved a motion that the chamber dissolved into a committee of the whole. He was seconded by Akpabio.
The Senate adjourned at about 3.23pm till to­day, October 29.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday queried the planned review of the contract for the con­struction of the second runway for the Nnam­di Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It is es­timated at N63.5 billion. The chamber described the plan to splend such amount as an attempt to ‘steal and rape Nigerians of the country’s com­mon patrimony.
It therefore, urged the Federal Government to ensure that due process and diligence are fol­lowed in the award of contracts for the planned construction.
Its resolution was sequel to a motion by Sena­tor Dino Melaye, (APC, Kogi West), entitled, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Second Runway Contract.”
The Senate, while calling on the government to drastically reduce what it termed, the unreal­istic cost, said the government must monitor the contract award process, even as it stressed the need for the immediate construction of the sec­ond runway at the airport.
Earlier in his presentation of the motion, Sena­tor Melaye noted that the exercise was cancelled by the last administration after allegation of over-inflation of contracts was established.
Source: Sun News
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Petrol queues may soon reappear across the country

 

By Adewale Sanyaolu
Petrol queues may soon reappear across the country as 70 per cent of the oil marketers have suspended fuel importation over the inability of the Federal Government to settle about N291 billion subsidy arrears.
The development may have been responsible for the pockets of fuel queues that resurfaced in major parts of Lagos two weeks ago.
The latest move to suspend fuel imports was disclosed by the former Minister of Interior and Managing Director of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Iheanacho, at the opening of the 2015 Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL Africa) Downstream Expo in Lagos yesterday.
The Integrated Oil boss regretted that the inability of government to settle the subsidy claims when due leads to distortion in business plan, thus fuelling a regime of apathy and uncertainty.
He said despite an arrangement that subsidy would be settled within 45 days, payment lingered for as long as six months, a situation that has led to cut in credit line usually extended to importers by financial institutions.
Under the current situation, he said fuel scarcity would be a recurring decimal as long as government fails to meet the payment timeline of 45 days.
As a way out of the doldrum, the former minister canvassed deregulation of the downstream sector, for investors to see a profit incentive, to encourage massive investment.
“The subsidy we currently maintain in this country is for those who can afford it. Let government go ahead and remove the subsidy. There is a need to restructure the downstream sector,” he advised.
Recall that the Executive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore, had in June raised the alarm over the inability of the Federal Government to offset about N291 billion subsidy claims.
But the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as part of measures to douse the tension occasioned by non-payment of subsidy claims, had two weeks ago assured that it would explore new financing mechanisms to offset outstanding debts on subsidy claims, which the Federal Government owes petroleum marketers in the country.
Its Managing Director, Mr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, had said this during a meeting with MOMAN and the Depot and Petroleum Products Association (DAPPMA), explaining that these are parts of the extant measures it was taking to ensure that supply of petroleum products in the country is sustained even into the forthcoming yuletide.
He equally promised to, in the interim, arrange a meeting with the relevant creditors (bankers) to ease off pressure on marketers and extend the credit lines.
The NNPC boss noted that several financing mechanisms were being explored to offset the commitment to oil marketers, hinting at the possibility of exploring a monthly payment option.
“In future, we may explore some creative means to prevent backlogs,” he said.
Source: Sun News

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Amaechi, others know fate today... Amaechi may face setback

From FRED ITUA, Abuja
After three weeks of drama and interplay, the Senate will today round off the much-publicised confirmation of the 36 ministerial nominees sent to it about a month ago by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Already, the Upper Legistative Chamber two weeks ago confirmed 18 of the 36 ministers-designate, barely one week after the commencement of the screening. Other nominees some of whose screening was delayed because of petitions against their nominations, will either get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ verdict when the Senate considers them for confirmation today.
Former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was screened last week after two weeks of delay, may face fresh setback today if members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decide to move against his confirmation.
The nominee from Sokoto State, Ms Aisha Abubakar, whose screening has repeatedly been deferred because of petitions written against her by some of her constituents, may be confirmed alongside other ministers-designate if the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is considered.
Meanwhile, the Red Chamber, yesterday resumed the screening of more ministerial nominees. They include Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole (Osun), Hon. Bawa Bwari (Niger), Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu), Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali (Zamfara), and Pastor Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River).
The screening commenced at about 11.38am, following a motion moved by the Senate Leader Ali Ndume. He moved: “That the Senate do resume screening of the following nominees for appointment as Ministers of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in accordance with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The Senate thereafter dissolved into committee of the whole. Prof. Adewole was the first to enter the chamber for the day’s screening.
The erstwhile Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), got the first shocker when Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu alleged that he was favourably disposed to abortions in the country. He was also bombarded with questions relating to his field of medicine.
Bwari, a former member of the House of Representatives, was the next nominee to take the stand. As a former lawmaker, he was not grilled, unlike Prof. Adewole, who almost spent two hours. He was only questioned by Senate President Bukola Saraki after which he took a bow and left the chamber.
Onyeama, who spent several years abroad before returning to Nigeria, promised to rely on his rich wealth of experience to salvage any sector that will be entrusted into his care by President Buhari.
Ahmed, who is a former staff of the defunct NITEL, was asked how she will tackle issues in the telecommunications sector. Like her counterparts, she promised to adopt modern approach in dealing with the issues.
Ali, a retired Major-General, was grilled on how he will tackle Boko Haram menace. He said as a former General, he will devise new techniques that would end the insurgency.
The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, raised a Point of Order. He interjected the nominee from Cross River State, Pastor Uguru, while making his opening remarks. Akpabio accused the nominee of hypocrisy, adding that as a former member of PDP, who served in various capacities, it was wrong for him to castigate the party.
Akpabio insisted that the nominee must apologize before he could address the Senate.
The Senate President, at this point, intervened. He politely told Akpabio to observe some decorum. The nominee who was apparently remorseful, tendered an apology. “I am sorry,” he said.
Lending his support to the nominee, Senate Leader Ndume said: “The issue of public declaration of assets is covered by the Constitution. The Constitution says that the person can declare his or her assets before confirmation or 30 days after such person assumes office.”
The remaining nominees expected to be screened today include Professor Anthony Anwuka (Imo), Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto), Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) and Okechuku Enelamah (Abia).
Sitting was adjourned at about 4.20 till today, October 28 for the final screening of the remaining nominees.
Source: Sun News

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