News

We’ve enough votes to remove president –Reps

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2022

House of Reps

•Impeachment threats self-serving -Kachikwu

Twenty-four hours after some senators served an impeachment notice on President Muhammadu Buhari over worsening insecurity, their counterparts in the House of Representatives, have also joined the fray.

Senators from the various opposition parties and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Wednesday after storming out of plenary told newsmen that they were giving President Buhari six weeks to address the problem of insecurity across the country or face impeachment.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate met with their House of Representatives counter parts, yesterday, at the Senate Hearing room for a joint action.

Briefing newsmen, Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, said they were on the same page with their Senate counterparts as Abuja in particular and Nigeria generally, were no longer safe.

He said both chambers had given the Presidency all the required legislative supports to fight insecurity in the last six years without any tangible result to show for such interventions.

He said: “The nation has been awashed with what happened yesterday (Wednesday) in the Senate where our colleagues had to walk out in protest as to the state of the nation as regards to the issue of insecurity in the nation.

“Concurrently, even though we did not do it exactly the way they did it, we also drew the House’s attention as to what is happening in Nigeria, most importantly in FCT. In FCT, just few weeks back, Kuje Prison was invaded. Few days back, the law school on Bwari road, some very, very important Nigerians in the armed forces were butchered by insurgents….

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“We think that it is high time the insecurity of this nation is addressed. And of course, we also have the issue of oil theft which has risen now making it difficult for us to earn income from oil revenue. And these and many others are the reasons we are joining our colleagues in the Senate to ask Mr. President to address the insecurity of this nation within six and eight weeks. Otherwise, we will find the constitutional means to ensure that we serve him an impeachment notice.”

Earlier at the briefing, Senate Minority Leader, Philip Tanimu Aduda, said the move to make President Buhari shape up or ship out, as far as the problem of insecurity is concerned, is not restricted to federal lawmakers in the minority parties but also those in the ruling party.

“Our actions yesterday were spontaneous from the issues that were raised on the floor of the Senate. I am sure that members of the Press must have interacted with our various colleagues to know that this issue is not just about the PDP caucus but it is a bipartisan issue.

“We all agreed that the security architecture is failing and there is need to salvage it immediately and we also agreed that we must issue an impeachment notice to the President if the situation keeps deteriorating because the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives of the citizens,” he said.

However, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has described the impeachment threats as self-serving.

Kachikwu, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, yesterday, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to resign before calling for the president’s resignation.

He said his position has become imperative because the National Assembly is complicit in the failure of government in the country which has resulted in the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Kachikwu said: “I was very amused to hear some senators and members of the House of Representatives call for the president’s impeachment.

“This is a self-serving call. The same people who have refused to do their jobs in the last three years have just woken up to realise that the president should be impeached. What has happened that is different from what has been happening since president Buhari was sworn-in seven years ago for the first term and three years ago for the second term? Are the attacks today any different? Are the deaths less or more meaningful?

“Is there any life worth more than the other? Are they reacting now because Abuja is threatened?

“The National Assembly is complicit in the failure of this government so they should ask their leadership to resign before calling on President Buhari to resign.”

He lamented that the checks and balances enshrined in the nation’s Constitution “never envisaged that Nigerians would be saddled with a spineless and self-serving legislature.

“Yes, Buhari has failed and should resign or be impeached but he failed because the legislature failed in their duties. The entire leadership of the National Assembly should also resign or be impeached. This is the double-edged sword called doctrine of collective responsibility.”

Sun

News

Gov Ododo didn’t stop EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello – Kogi Govt

Published

3 mins ago

April 20, 2024

Trends Admin

Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Governor Usman Ododo

Gov Ododo didn’t stop EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello – Kogi Govt

The Kogi State government says Governor Usman Ododo did not facilitate the escape of his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from security operatives who wanted to arrest him

On Wednesday, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had laid a siege to Bello’s Abuja residence in order to apprehend him.

Ododo arrived at the scene and hours after he drove out only to be reported later that the former governor had found his way to Kogi, sparking speculation that his successor whisked him away.

Governor Ododo came under a barrage of criticism for his alleged involvement in the whole incident.

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But speaking in an interview with Channels TV, Fanwo, who also worked under Bello, said Ododo didn’t aid the escape of his former principal from security agencies.

He noted that the incumbent governor is committed to upholding the laws of the country, including respecting its legal processes.

“Governor Ododo did not assist in Bello’s departure from his residence; the EFCC’s claims are misinformation aimed at furthering their objectives. Bello is not evading anyone; the existing court injunction protects his fundamental rights,” he said.

Fanwo stated that the anti-graft agency’s claims are baseless and product of an planned disinformation campaign.

He argued further that the ex-governor is not a fugitive, referring a state high court injunction that protects Bello from harassment by the anti-graft agency.

The commissioner therefore criticized the commission ‘s allegations even as he questioned the agency’s certainty about Bello’s whereabouts.

He said Governor Ododo remained a law-abiding leader who respects the rule of law and the Constitution of the country

Gov Ododo didn’t stop EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello – Kogi Govt

News

Police close in on Yahaya Bello, arrest his ADC, security details

Published

21 mins ago

April 20, 2024

Trends Admin

Police close in on Yahaya Bello, arrest his ADC, security details

The Nigerian Police have detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp (ADC) to embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Punch reported on Saturday.

The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached to 48-year-old Bello, and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Their arrests and detention followed a Thursday night order by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.

Senior police sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not have authorisation to comment publicly on the matter, noted that the officers were arrested on the suspicion that they aided and abetted Bello’s escape from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who had gone to effect his arrest at his Abuja home on Wednesday.

“The ADC and the other police details attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained.

“They were arrested on the order of the IG, on the suspicion that they aided and abetted the former governor’s escape from the EFCC on Wednesday,” one of the sources told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Friday.

Another source said, “Yahaya Bello’s female ADC and other police officers attached to him were brought to the command this morning, and they’ve been detained for aiding and abetting (the governor’s escape).”

Egbetokun had, on Thursday night, ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to Bello.

The order for the withdrawal was contained in a police wireless message sighted by our correspondent on Friday morning.

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The document read, “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL.

“DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X Nigeria police have ordered the withdrawal of all men.

“Police attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please above for your information and strict compliance.”

Also, the Federal Government had on Thursday night placed Bello on a watch list.

In a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Thursday night, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, revealed that Bello was placed on a watchlist for conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering.

The Assistant Comptroller General signed the document and copied the Nigeria Customs Service, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Director of the National Internet Agency.

The document read, “I am directed to inform you that the above-named person has been placed on a watch list. Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V 1/279 dated April 18, 2024.

“If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation, or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.

“Please, accept as always the Comptroller-General’s warmest regards and esteem.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier declared Bello wanted for laundering the sum of N80,246,470,088.88.

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The development was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday, with a snapshot of the embattled ex-governor attached.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).

“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission.”

Bello had, on Thursday, failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja following his arraignment by the EFCC.

The embattled former governor was arraigned in absentia before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering.

It was earlier reported how the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Wednesday helped Bello, who is his predecessor, escape arrest by operatives of the EFCC.

PUNCH correspondent who was at the ex-governor’s residence on Wednesday observed Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at about 2:30 pm.

At exactly 4:20 pm, Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.

About 10 minutes after the governor and former governor left, the EFCC operatives laying siege to Bello’s home retreated from the scene.

Twenty minutes after the EFCC operatives left, the policemen, DSS operatives, Counter Terrorism Unit personnel, and other security agents guarding Bello’s house also drove off.

In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale said, “Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.”

The EFCC further noted that the commission’s attempt to execute a warrant of arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

He added, “The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024. It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, Yahaya Bello’s media office accused the EFCC of persecution, while accusing the anti-graft agency of filing the same charges in three different courts.

Police close in on Yahaya Bello, arrest his ADC, security details

(PUNCH)

News

Miyetti Allah, Southwest farmers sign MoU on peaceful coexistence

Published

30 mins ago

April 20, 2024

Trends Admin

Miyetti Allah, Southwest farmers sign MoU on peaceful coexistence

Cattle breeders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and farmers from the Southwest Commodity Farmers Organisation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster peaceful coexistence in the zone.

During a day-long session in Ibadan, the two parties signed the peace pact.

According to Olusegun Dasaolu, the coordinator of the South West Farmers Organisation, the MoU is an agreement between Miyetti Allah herders and farmers to work together to boost food production and assure sustainability in the South West and throughout Nigeria.

Dasaolu noted that the accord also entrusted both sides with identifying genuine herders and farmers and developing long-term solutions to the issues they face in the region.

Dasaolu said: “What the memorandum of understanding with cattle breeders translates to is that the farmers in the Southwest and the herders have agreed to work together for the unity of farmers and the progress of agriculture so that conflicts will be resolved amicably.

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“And from this moment, the first step we are going to take is to identify the genuine herders in the Southwest and who are the genuine farmers, and we have agreed to connect better.

“This is going to go a long way in solving the food crisis in the sense that farmers will now feel secure enough to go back to their farms, so agricultural production will increase, and this is going to greatly assist in the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”

Speaking, Othman Ngelzarma, National Chairman of Miyetti Allah, stated that the event provided an opportunity to define a course for safeguarding the security of both farmers and herders in the region.

He believed that if farmers and herders in the Southwest banded together, they could successfully detect and handle any problems within the region’s pastoralist communities.

Abimbola Akeredolu, Southwest Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, urged for the continuous use of technological solutions in agriculture to help farmers and increase food production.