Displaying items by tag: NASS

Deputy Police Commissioner Abba Kyari, Nigeria most highly respected Police office was indicted for indicted by the United States for money laundering charges.

Kyari was accused of accepting bribes from Ramon Abbas also known as Hushpuppi who posed as real estate developer in Dubai and posted photos of his lavish lifestyle on Instagram.

Kyari in a rejoinder denied the allegations.

Kayode Ajulo Esq described the allegations linking the "super cop" as unfortunate.

He expressed his opinion as a guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati on City 105.1

According to him, It is unfortunate that this is happening to Nigeria and the personality involved and the expectations of Nigeria.

He said, “When I heard of the news and the knowledge of the personality involved, I shed for Nigeria.”

Recall that Kyari and his team came to prominence after the successful arrest of some notorious criminals across the country.

At that time, Kyari was the commander of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

The House of Representatives on 11^th June 2020, during plenary session on Thursday, honoured a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kyari, for his hard work and outstanding performance over the years in the Nigeria Police Force.

A highlight of his notable arrests was that of notorious kidnap kingpins, Chukwudi Onwuamadike (also known as Evans) and Bala Hamisu (aka Wadume).

Others are killers of the late Chief of Defence staff, Alex Badeh, and kidnappers of President Muhammadu Buhari ADC’s father-in-law.

According to Ajulo, such an honour by the National Assembly is the highest that a Police officer can get during service.

Two crucial questions Ajulo raise, “1. When are we going to get it right?

“2. Why can’t we have someone that we can celebrate?”

He said that when he checked Kyari’s indictment, all he can deduce from it is his abuse of office.

However, Ajulo opines that Kyari’s extradition will not be automatic.

Consequently, Ajulo raised some questions; “Whether by the aggregate of facts and evidence presented to court by the United States special prosecutor

“Is there any probable offence for which Abba Kyari might be charged?”

Senator James Manager, Senator representing Delta South district, was seen in a picture on social media kneeling down before the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

Chief Ibori was governor of Delta State in 1999 - 2007 and he is described as the bridge builder in Delta State.

Senator manager confirmed that the picture was taken on Wednesday when Manager paid Ibori a courtesy visit.

The lawmaker has being in in the National Assembly since 2003, according to Punch, the lawmaker revealed that kneeling down before some you esteem in Urhobo culture, is a mark of respect.

Manager said, “Senator went to visit him on Wednesday. Ibori is a senior, a king and an elder to him, being his former boss.

“Whenever you go to pay homage to an Urhobo elder or someone you hold in high esteem, you kneel down.

“It is a sign of appreciation for people to show who the person is to you. Things are just being twisted on social media.

“It is a personal relationship. You don’t expect the senator to stand up to address Ibori.

“Senator came to pay homage to him because he had not seen Ibori in a long time and he took drinks.

The Public Communication and business strategy consultant, Dr Okechukwu Ikechukwu has said that the disposition of the National Assembly will open a new vista of controversies that will call things up between now and 2023.

Dr Okechukwu said this on Saturday, as a guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati.

Recall ahead of the 2019 general election the President refuse to assent to the electoral act amendment bill three times.

On the 16^th of July, Day 2 of the big issue about the electoral act amendment bill, Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, led the PDP caucus out of the chamber on Thursday afternoon.

Elumelu raised an objection on the decision to consider clause 52 alongside other clauses despite the fact that a decision had not be arrived at.

He argued that the opposition lawmakers would not sit and watch as their concerns were being ignored.

Dr Okey reacting to the melodrama characterized around the electoral amendment bill, described it as power-politics.

According to him, he listed three perspectives to it. Namely:

1. The reputation of the National Assembly
2. The electoral act as part of the crisis of the political leadership
3. The decision of the National Assembly and the impact.

He said, “The Primary issue on the table is that if anybody at any point was in doubt whether the Representatives are actually representing Nigerians, the conduct of the Senators cleared that doubt.

“Did the Senators consult their constituents, in order words, those who sent them to National Assembly, and can they therefore be said that they are saying what the people who sent them to say? The answer is no.

“The processes leading up to that decision, did it and does it suggest that there was some backroom scheming going on? The answer is yes.”

Dr Okechukwu opines that the disposition of the lawmakers on the electoral act amendment bill discredits the leadership of the National Assembly and also reveals that the lawmakers are primarily committed to whatever agreements they make in Abuja pertaining their political survival rather than the Nigerian States.

When fielded questions about the logic behind the vote by those who voted for or against, he said, “I believe that this decision of the National Assembly has only thrown open a new vista of perception and controversies that are likely to call a lot of things between now and 2023. Both for the ruling party and the political elite generally.

“The outcome of that voting, that decision of that bill is not attributed to any particular party it, cut across party lines.

“It tells you that there are some interests other than national interest, other than electoral purity, other than national service that is behind the content and form of the bill they passed.”

Dr okechukwu said that he shares the same view with persons saying that within the purview of section 78 of the 1999 constitution that what the national assembly is proposing is unconstitutional and illegal.

The National Assembly has approved a N4.87bn budget for the National Intelligence Agency to track, intercept and monitor calls and messages on mobile devices, including Thuraya and WhatsApp.

The amount is part of the N895.8bn supplementary budget submitted by the President Muhammadu Buhari , last month and approved by both chambers of the federal parliament last week after increasing it by about N87bn.

The budget according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, is meant to procure equipment for the military and to fight further spread of COVID-19.

Details of the supplementary budget obtained by our correspondent revealed that the NIA would spend N2,938,650,000 on the Thuraya interception solution, while the WhatsApp interception solution would gulp N1, 931,700,000.

Apart from this, the NIA got additional N129m to enable its personnel embark on foreign training.

The Defence Intelligence Agency, on its part, got a capital vote of N16.8bn to provide infrastructure, cyber intelligence centre/laboratory, independent lawful intercept platform (voice and advanced data monitoring) and tactical mobile geological platform.

Out of the N33.6bn approved for the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs as recurrent expenditure, the sum of N200m has been set aside to fumigate 19 police training institutes across the country.

The human right lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) stated categorically that he will not be surprised if the Lawan-led Senate, confirms Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Senior Special Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, Lauretta Onochie's nomination has elicited public criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and civil society organizations on the grounds that she is an alleged card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and is not proper to be appointed as an election officer.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Ozekhome said the senate might clear Onochie despite widespread criticism.

He stated that by confirming Onochie, the Ahmad Lawan-led Senate would only be reinforcing itself as “arguably the worst in Nigeria’s legislative history since the golden days of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr Nwafor Orizu and the 8th National Assembly.”

He stated that Onochie’s nomination for INEC job was faulty, because of her affiliation with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawyer pointed out that the 62-year old female politician is a diehard devotee of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Have they ever read the constitution? Do they know the meaning of the word ‘independent’ attached to our electoral umpire?” Ozekhome asked.

“What would you expect from such a rapidly partisan woman other than outright and unbridled rigging of any elections she presides over, or is involved in?

“She is simply a direct participant and beneficiary in any such elections.

“No one has been known to fail himself or herself in an examination in which such a person is both invigilator, marker, examiner and marks awarder.”

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris has expressed shock and sadness over the death of his colleague, Haruna Maitala.

Maitala died in a ghastly motor accident alongside his son and aides on his way to Jos from Abuja.

Until his death, Haruna Mataila represented Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives.

Ahmed Idris in a condolence message politician Haruna Maitala was a hardworking, dedicated and honest politician who died when his services were needed the most.

“I am deeply saddened as I join the people of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and the entire Plateau State to mourn the loss of our brother and colleague, Hon. Haruna Maitala.

“We have lost one of our illustrious sons, a loving father, a man of peace filled with wisdom and honesty.

“We cannot question the Almighty Allah over what has happened, so I urge members of his family and his constituents to take heart and consider the death of Hon. Maitala as part of Allah’s Decree”

“I also pray to Allah to forgive all his sins while on earth and grant the departed souls Jannatul Firdaus,” he said.