‘$200,000 Per Senator’ — Ndume Alleges Senate President Aspirants Luring Colleagues With Money
AdminAli Ndume, the Senator representing Borno South and Director-General of the Godswill Akpabio campaign organization, has voiced his concerns about the encroachment of money politics in the race for the presidency of the 10th Senate.
The outspoken senator said the race was being overshadowed by the influence of money rather than merit, experience, and vision for the future of the legislative body.
Speaking during an Arise TV interview on Tuesday, Ndume however absolved Akpabio of aspirants’ reliance on money in wooing other senators-elect to for vote them.
“The unfortunate thing happening these days is that most of the people that are talking about the leadership (aspirants), one of them was on your programme, (are running the race based on money.
“But in our camp, it’s not about money, it’s about convincing our colleagues that we need to have somebody from South-South as the Senate President, coupled with the fact that the president-elect has him (Akpabio) as his preferred candidate.
“So, it is not about money on our side. It is the other candidates that are talking about money. The only qualification that they are displaying is the amount of money that they tell senators-elect that they can give them.
“People are talking about figures. Nobody has approached me about money but definitely money is going around. Some are talking about 10, 20, 30, 40 and even more than that. Some are even boasting that they’re going to give every Senator up to $200,000. Honestly, that is very unfortunate,” Ndume said.
When asked if Akpabio was not also luring lawmakers-elect to back his candidacy, Ndueme said “if we’re talking about the money politics, then we would not be campaigning, we will not be going round, talking to stakeholders and talking to our colleagues and making them understand that money should not be the major determinant.
“The important consideration as I stated is supposed to be about capacity and capability and most importantly, equity and fairness.”
THE WHISTLER reports that the election of principal officers will take place after the expected inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, 2023.
The battle for the number three citizen position appears to be between Akpabio from the South-South, Orji Uzor Kalu from the South East and Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari from the North West region — all members of the ruling APC.
While the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and APC’s National Working Committee were reported to have endorsed Akpabio’s candidacy, Kalu and Yari have insisted on pursing their separate ambitions for the seat.
‘You’ll Lose Trillions Of Dollars’ – AfDB Warns African Leaders Against Selling Lithium, Platinum, Others Used For Powering Electric Cars
AdminAs the global community increases demand for Africa’s lithium, platinum, cobalt and other resources for powering green energy, the African Development Bank has warned leaders in Nigeria and other countries in the continent against making the mistake of selling the resources at give-away prices..
The AfDB wants the continent’s leaders to rather establish plants in their countries, a move that would enable them to become net exporters of lithium batteries and other resulting end products.
The Banks’s president, Akinwunmi Adesina gave the warning on Tuesday at the AfDB annual meeting in Egypt, with the theme: ‘Mobilizing Private Sector Financing for Climate and Green Growth in Africa.’
He said African countries which account for only three per cent of global emissions now suffer the consequence of climate change and the push for energy transition disproportionately.
Adesina said, “As the world moves to the transition to electric cars and vehicles, Africa stands to attract billions of dollars in private investments for greening global transport system. That is because Africa has 80 per cent of the global deposit of platinum, 50 per cent of the global deposit of cobalt, 40 per cent of nickel and substantial deposits of lithium.
“Africa must not make the same mistakes of the past. Africa must set itself up to manufacture lithium-ion batteries and tap into the future market of electric vehicles. By some projections, estimates will run into several trillions of dollars in future.
“I must say here that the cost of establishing a lithium-ion factory in Africa is three times less expensive than in China and three times less expensive than in the United States.”
The AfDB boss decried that the continent is being devastated by climate change, adding that the continent losses $7bn to $15bn yearly and it is expected to rise to $50bn by 2030.
According to him, finding the resources to tackle climate change has become increasingly difficult for African countries.
Adesina lamented that the continent has not fully recovered from the effects Covid-19 pandemic and it is currently faced with rising inflation.
He said Africa’s cumulative climate financing needs are estimated at $2.7trn between 2020 and 2030.
Adesina revealed that climate adaptation costs are estimated between $249bn to $407bn between 2020 and 2030.
The AfDB president stated further that Africa receives only 3 per cent of global climate financing of which 14 per cent is from the private sector, adding that this is among the lowest in the world.
He said, “Before us is full of challenges of climate change no doubt, but it also has and holds massive opportunities for green growth for our economies. Mobilising a lot more private financing for climate change and green growth, governance and development partners should take five approaches.
“First, establish national development plans for green transition for their economies; second subsidise green industries to spur growth and raise demand, profitability and sustainability.
“Third, multilateral and bilateral institutions should provide guarantee at scale to help de-risk investments by the private sector.
“Fourth, support should be provided for the reparation and development of bankable projects that can provide high-risk-adjusted returns to the private sector. And sixth, existing public infrastructure should be transferred to the private sector.”
The Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday read out its pre-hearing report on petitions challenging the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election.
At the sitting, the panel directed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to prove his case against Tinubu within 3 weeks beginning from May 30, 2023, a day after the latter must have been sworn-in into office.
Conclusion of the pre-hearing sessions will pave the way for main hearing of all cases challenging the 2023 presidential election.
There are three petitioners before the tribunal namely, Peter Obi and Labour party, Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic party; as well as the Allied Peoples Movement.
Recall that Obi’s legal team led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN had sought for seven weeks to present witnesses, citing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s delay in cooperating and availing them with materials used for the election.
On the Petition of Labour Party and Peter Obi against INEC, Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and the APC, the five-man panel of the court chaired by Justice Haruna Tsammani brought down Obi’s request for 7 weeks to 3 weeks.
The Tribunal took the decision since the parties failed to agree on what issues to be streamlined by the court.
INEC was given five days (21 June to June 29) to bring witnesses while APC were given five days to present witnesses.
The court also ordered that every other evidence from parties must be brought in and concluded by July while parties will adopt their final address in August.
Furthermore, despite the opposition by lawyers representing Tinubu and APC, the tribunal consolidated the petitions of Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Allied Peoples Movement into one petition since they are all challenging the outcome of the election.
Speaking to newsmen after the court’s directive, Obi’s lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu, said the important thing was that the court has a discretion to determine the weeks parties should use to call witnesses.
“What we have to do is to do case management, Livy said adding that what INEC is doing to them by not making electoral documents available “is very unfortunate.”
“INEC is playing pranks, we wrote letters to INEC saying we want to pay the fees required,” Uzoukwu said debunking INEC’s claim that LP refused to pay requisite fees.
He alleged that INEC was holding on to electoral materials for manipulation purposes, adding that when the hearing begins, he would subpoena the Commission to produce the electoral materials.
For the Allied Peoples Movement, the tribunal ordered that they have one day to call their witness (one) while hearing commences on May 30.
For Atiku Abubakar, the Tribunal ordered his lawyers to produce his 100 witnesses within 3 weeks (May 30 – Jun 20), while INEC, Tinubu, APC has 5 days to bring in their defence.
The court repeated its order on consolidation, saying all petitions should be collapsed into one.
Regarding the consolidated petition, the Tribunal held that in order to save time, there shall be no need for oral examination of witnesses but that those witnesses will just adopt their written statement except for experts who would be required to speak on evidence.
… Says Nigeria Will Become Net Exporter Of Crude Products In August
Africa’s richest man and the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said that 650,00,00 barrels per day refinery will begin the export of crude oil products by the end of August 2023.
The billionaire however recounted how the revocation of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refinery license won under Olusegun Obasanjo by the Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s government back in 2007 motivated him to spend over $18.5bn to build the world’s largest single-train refinery.
The Forbes billionaire narrated this at the commissioning of his 650,000 barrels per day refinery in Lagos.
Bluestar, a consortium led by Dangote had bought controlling stakes in the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries in the last days of the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The consortium paid a total of $721 million for the refinery 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) Port Harcourt refinery and the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery.
But Yar’Adua refunded Dangote after revoking the license.
Dangote said, “Initially we thought to enter into the industry by acquiring the brownfield refineries under the Federal Government privatisation programmes in 2007. Regrettably, the outcome of the exercise was reversed and our payment was returned. This motivated us to rethink our market entry strategy and business model.
“We subsequently committed to entering the market boldly with a vision to invest in a greenfield refinery that will transform the industry in Nigerian and Africa as a whole and that was why we went for the biggest refinery ever built in the world.
“We have built the refinery with the capacity of 650,000 barrels per day of crude oil plus 900,000 metric tonnes of polypropylene in a single train which is the largest built ever.
“We have selected the best plant and equipment and the latest technology from across the world. our cluster location and offshore loading and offloading facility with the capacity to receive all our crude oil supplies and evacuate up to 75 per cent of our liquid product- giving us direct access to the rest of Africa and the global market for export. In addition, 80 per cent of our production can also be discharged through trucks to go around Nigeria.
“Our huge investment of over $18.5bn in this industry has been prompted by our desire to support and contribute our quota to the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to transform our economy and properly position our country as a leading nation in Africa. “
The Kano-born businessman also said that he would replicate his successes in cement and fertilizer manufacturing.
He said, “It is our firm commitment that we will replicate in this sector, what we have actually achieved in the cement and fertilizer market where Nigeria will transit from being the largest importer of crude products to a net exporter by the end of August this year.
“We intend to ensure that our plants run at the highest capacity utilisation and the highest efficiency to enable us to export competitively to other markets, especially in the ECOWAS and the wider region in which 53 countries out of 55 are dependent on imports to meet their petroleum products demand.
“This is a clear opportunity for Nigeria given the African Union’s commitment to the creation of the African common market through the recently established AfCFTA regime.
“Beyond the availability of high-quality fuel for our transportation sector, the refinery will also make available for our industries the vital materials for a wide range of manufacturers in the plastics, pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, construction and many other industries.
“Second, both the refinery’s operations and ancillary businesses will generate massive job opportunities. The downstream value chain will equally provide far more absorptive capacity for labour in hundreds of thousands.
“Third, once our plants are fully commissioned and it is onstream, we expect that at least 40 per cent of the capacity will be available for export and this will result in significant foreign exchange earnings into the country.”
The Labour Party has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, presided over by Justice M N Yunusa, which declared all the votes cast for LP candidates in Kano and Abia States as wasted votes.
Recall that one Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim had sued the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), seeking reliefs targeted at nullifying the votes of LP candidates at the 2023 poll.
The applicant also urged the high court to set aside the Certificate of Return issued to all LP candidates and direct INEC to return the first runner up in all places LP won.
Justice M N Yunusa had declared all LP votes in Kano and Abia states as “wasted votes” citing the party’s failure to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before the commencement of their primaries.
“The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have candidate in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election; this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted vote,” the Judge ruled but declined to order issuance of Certificate of Return to anyone in Abia state adding that “the parties that participated in Abia state are not parties before this court.”
But in an appeal entered by LP counsel, Umeh Kalu SAN on May 22, the appellant urged the court to set aside the judgment of the trial court.
Listing the grounds of his appeal, Kalu held that “trial court erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it entertained the suit which was bereft of any course of action.”
He argued that Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution vested exclusive jurisdiction on Election Tribunals to entertain complaints on the participation of candidates and votes garnered by candidates at the general election.
He further contended that the 1999 Constitution limited the time to challenge a political party primaries to 14 days after the outcome had been declared.
The first professor of Geology in Africa, Jamiu Mosobalaje Oyawoye, has died at 95.
The nonagenarian reportedly died Monday evening in what has been ascribed to age-related illness at his home in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
He will be buried by 4pm today, our correspondent gathered Monday night.
The late Baba Adini of Kwara State was married to two wives and blessed with 10 children.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described his death as a huge national loss.
“He is one of the greatest Nigerians of all time and a pride of the state. His death is the end of a great era in academic accomplishments, dedication to community service, and statesmanship,” the governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
He condoled with the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II; the Olofa-In-Council and the Muslim community in Kwara State.
On his part, the Emir of Ilọrin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari described the deceased as a God fearing scholar who lived his life with full commitment and dedication to the propagation of Islam.
“The Doyen of Geology in Africa was a kind-hearted and loving man of integrity and father to all and sundry,” he said in a condolence message issued by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona.
Amid encomiums from eminent personalities, including President Muhammadu Buhari and presidents of five other African countries, founder and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday expressed optimism that the newly commissioned 650,000pbd refinery would employ over 100,000 Nigerian youths and generate over $21 billion in revenue.
According to him, this will save the country huge forex that would have been spent on fuel importation.
He also disclosed that the first products from the refinery would hit the market towards the end of July this year, adding that the refinery currently has over 33,000 employees.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Refinery by President Buhari at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Dangote said its products “will be in the market before the end of July.’’
He said: “Beyond today’s ceremony, our first goal is to ramp up production of the various products to ensure that within this year, we’re able to fully satisfy our nation’s demand for higher quality products.”
According to him, the accomplishment is to enable Nigeria to eliminate what he described as the tragedy of import dependency and stop “once and for all” toxic, sub-standard petroleum products from being dumped in Nigeria’s market.
“Beyond this, we intend to ensure that our plants are run at the highest capacity of utilisation and the highest efficiency to enable us to export competitively to other markets, especially in the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and wider regions in which 53 countries of 55 are dependent on imports to meet their petroleum products’ demand,” he added.
The billionaire businessman said the project was the realisation of a “clear opportunity” for Nigeria, citing the African Union’s commitment to the creation of an African common market through the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
The facility is expected to produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), diesel (Automotive Gas Oil), aviation jet fuel and Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), among other refined products.
Dangote Refinery, a game changer — BUHARI
Also speaking on the occasion attended by Presidents of Ghana, Togo, Niger, Senegal and a representative of the President of Chad, President Buhari, who commended Alhaji Dangote’s leadership in executing the plant, urged other entrepreneurs to emulate his example in driving economic growth and realizing Nigeria’s economic potential.
He stressed the need for African countries to come together, integrate their economies, eliminate trade barriers, and rally their populations to achieve Agenda 2063 for the continent’s prosperity.
He said: “I urge and encourage our other great entrepreneurs to emulate this iconic Nigerian industrialist and join the government in accelerating our growth in order to realize our country’s globally recognized economic potential.
“When I travel around Africa and meet and engage my brother Heads of State (and I am delighted some of the Excellencies are here) I often sense a quiet expectation that our country is blessed with resources and human capacity to lead Africa’s rise to economic prosperity and the attainment of Agenda 2063 – ‘The Africa We All Want.’
“But to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, Africa must come together, we must integrate our economies, eliminate barriers to trade and energize our youthful population to scale up our productive capacity.
“We must create necessary conditions for our private sector to grow and partner with the public sector to accelerate economic growth across the continent. We must not allow outside powers to use some of our leaders to destabilize our economic and political trajectory.”
President Buhari acknowledged the visionary investments made by the Dangote Group, under the leadership of Alhaji Dangote, in transforming Nigeria’s economy through its involvement in critical industries such as cement and fertilizer.
He noted that investment in these sectors had played a crucial role in shifting Nigeria from heavy import dependence to becoming a net exporter.
He also acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy had faced significant challenges over the years, including deficits in economic infrastructure, insurgency, and external crises, such as the global financial crisis, oil price collapses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The consequence of these challenges constitutes a severe strain on our economy, limiting the government’s ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to huge borrowings.
“Our government, therefore, took the decision to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure but also in all critical sectors.
“We recognize that without the active participation of the private sector and a strong commitment to a public-private partnership, our economy would continue to remain severely challenged and our economic growth impeded,’’ Buhari said.
In their respective goodwill messages, Presidents of Ghana, Senegal, Niger, Benin Republic and Chad expressed satisfaction that the Dangote Refinery would serve the West African region.
They added that their countries would be beneficiaries, saying the Dangote Refinery is an African company for Africa by an African entrepreneur.
Refinery presents many benefits to Nigeria — Emefiele
Also speaking, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, noted that the take-off of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical factories comes with numerous economic benefits to Nigeria.
He said: Your Excellencies, we have it on good authority that the Dangote Group has paid down some portion of the commercial loans, even before the commissioning of this facility. As of today, the total outstanding stands at $2.7 billion.
‘’This reflects the astute creditworthiness and commercial capability of the Group and its Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Your Excellencies, please permit me at this juncture to appreciate all the participating local Nigerian banks, who did not only partner with the project through effective financing but were keenly aware of the importance of the project to our nation.
“They provided immense support and exceptional understanding, even when interest payments and principal repayment had fallen due. Mr President, I must thank you for your astute vision to ensure that Nigeria produces what we consume and that we consume what we produce.
“This refinery and petrochemical project is a testament to your vision for Nigeria. It shows that, regardless of what the world thinks, Nigeria can be self-sufficient in all products that we consume and at the same time export our excess output to the rest of the world. Please permit me to recall the events leading to Nigeria’s eviction from the JP Morgan index in 2017, following their pessimism on Nigeria’s economic outlook and our ability to take charge of our fortunes.
“At that time, we had explained the ongoing efforts to diversify our economic base, through import substitution and export promotion strategies, to sustainably attain self-sufficiency. They were very sceptical, saying Nigeria typically crafts brilliant policies that could engender diversification but lacks the ability to fully implement them.
“Even when we insisted that, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, ongoing efforts will be actively implemented to diversify the economy and make the country globally competitive, they still doubted us.
“Aside from enumerating our strategic efforts in agriculture and other critical sectors, a sterling project that we highlighted to our foreign investor community was this gigantic Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical project.
‘’Your Excellencies, they doubted our willpower to succeed with this project. In hindsight, I could appreciate their scepticism because they do not understand how a single individual could build a refinery capable of serving an entire nation and continent.
‘’To them, projects of this magnitude are usually only undertaken by sovereigns, not individuals. But like Nelson Mandela once famously said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
“Today, it is with extreme delight that I say that President Mandela’s quote has come true for us. The impossible has today become possible. I am glad that we never doubted ourselves.
Nigeria to cease importing petroleum products
“Under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership, this seemingly unattainable project has berthed and, correspondingly, under the incoming administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria will cease importing petroleum products, fertilizer and petrochemicals that drained over US$26 billion in FOREX in 2022.
“In the first instance, this refinery will have an enormous impact on job creation by generating thousands of direct jobs and millions of indirect jobs, with over 135,000 permanent jobs.
‘’I understand that so far, there are nearly 4,000 Nigerian personnel on site, excluding employment by the various contractors and sub-contractors at the project site.
“I am also proud to state that the project will generate up to 12,000 megawatts, MW of electricity. In addition, the refinery and the other ancillary projects will have significant multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy by supporting a diverse range of sectoral value chains.
“For instance, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that the project could spur ‘further growth and development across its value-chain, including cosmetics, plastics, and textiles, while strengthening value addition in agribusiness, including the sugar backward integration projects that plan to create a strong localised supply in the sugar industry, benefiting local suppliers across the sugar value-chain.
‘’More importantly, this project avails Nigeria with significant savings both in terms of foreign exchange and in easing the fiscal burden on the Federal Government.
“Available data at the Central Bank of Nigeria as of 2014, shows that at least 30 per cent of the foreign exchange required to meet Nigeria’s import needs went into the importation of refined petroleum products.
‘’It is instructive to note, distinguished guests, that according to the balance of payments statistics, the cost (including freight) of petroleum products imports into Nigeria doubled over a five-year period from about US$8.4 billion in 2017 to US$16.2 billion (indicating an annual average of US$11.1 billion), before rising further to US$23.3 billion by end-2022.
“At this rate, the average annual cost of petroleum products imports to Nigeria could reach US$30 billion by 2027 if we continued to rely on petroleum imports.
‘’These figures suggest that the refinery could engender foreign exchange savings to the country, of between US$25 billion and US$30 billion.’’
Our investment in Dangote Refinery strategic — Kyari
In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, stated that the refinery offered opportunities for efficiency and healthy competition.
He explained that NNPC will continue to support production in the sector as opposed to importation, describing Dangote Refinery as a new deal that will surely provide domestic security in the industry. He also stated that NNPC investment in Dangote Refinery is strategic and in good order to ensure a regular supply of petroleum products in Nigeria.
Similarly, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended Dangote for siting the refinery in Lagos, adding that “the project provides enormous opportunities for Nigerian youths.”
He said: “In Lagos, we will continue to provide opportunities to investors. Other investors should emulate Dangote. We need to replicate the likes of Dangote in Nigeria.”
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has stated that Dangote Refinery is bigger that all the achievement President Muhammadu Buhari made in the past eight years.
He took to this social media page to make the claim.
Recall that the Dangote Refinery is being commissioned today. It's Africa’s largest refinery with a staggery 650,000 Barrels Per Day output.
The new Refinery which is owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote can meet 100% of the Nigerian requirement for all refined products (Gasoline, 53 million litres per day; Diesel, 34 million litres per day; Kerosene, 10 million litres per day, and Aviation Jet, 2 million litres per day) and also have a surplus of each of these products for export.
Taking to his Instagram account to praise Dangote’s latest feat, Omokri argued that if all of Buhari’s achievements should be put together in the last eight years in power it will not measure up to the refinery.
He wrote, “If you take General Buhari’s so-called achievements of the last eight years, as released by his media aides last week, and add them all up together, then multiply them by 20, they will still be less significant to Nigeria and Nigerians than the $19 billion Dangote Refinery.
“For eight years, Nigeria endured Buhari. For the next eight years, we will enjoy Dangote. May God grant us less Buharis and more Dangotes. In Yeshua’s Name.”
With Ahmed Lawan, the outgoing Senate President, entering the campaign, there will likely be a three-horse competition for the Senate presidency in the upcoming 10th National Assembly.
According to Vanguard that Lawan had chosen to upset the system in order to relaunch himself.
Recall that Lawan unsuccessfully campaigned for president on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform with President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
After a protracted court struggle to secure the senatorial ticket, he was later scheduled to run for Senate.
As a result of his arrival, the Senate will now be divided into 3 groups of 6 lawmakers each.
The Senators Godswill Akpabio/Jubrin Barau ticket and the Senators Orji Uzor Kalu/Abdulaziz Yari ticket are the two other groups besides Lawan.
Akpabio/Barau ticket was the one sanctioned by the APC while that of Orji Kalu/Yari ticket had risen up in protest, asking for equity, justice and fairness to other geopolitical zones of the country.
Vanguard reliably gathered that the Senator representing Yobe North has already set up a camp for the race.
A reliable source from the national assembly which confided in Vanguard yesterday said that Lawan is pairing up with Senator Osita Isunaso from Imo West senatorial zone of Imo State to actualize his ambition.
The president of 9th Senate is equally working with other senators and stakeholders.
Some of the stakeholders included Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from Anambra State, Senator Sani Musa from Niger State, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Chief Emeka Offor.
Vanguard also gathered that the stakeholders were locked up in a nocturnal meeting that ended early hours of Monday morning where an appreciable milestone on the deal was reached.
The source pointed out that Lawan’s ambition drove him to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport on Saturday to welcome the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his return to the country from Europe, a development that is rarity for a sitting senate president.
“I can tell you for a fact that the Senate President is running. He has chosen to pair up with Senator Osita Isunaso from Imo State to realize his ambition. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator Sani Musa, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Chief Emeka Offor are all in his camp to help him actualize the objective”.
Vanguard however learnt that Lawan can barely gather 15 signatures to square up with Akpabio/Barau ticket which, it was learnt, has about 39 members at the moment despite his endorsement by the APC.
For the House of Representatives, the race has gathered momentum.
Vanguard’s investigations indicated that two of the G7 aspirants, the outgoing deputy speaker, Hon. Idris Wase and the chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara are now backing down despite the pressure on them to step down for APC’s preferred candidate for the speakership position, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Vanguard sources said the duo would run to the end of the race no matter the amount of pressure on them to step down.
Wase had last week at the official declaration of Aminu Jaji for speaker in Abuja said that the G7 would not allow one man to put up the leadership of the 10th House.
It was not however certain who the “one man” was.
“I want to throw a challenge to our colleagues. Are we going to allow such thing to happen to us? One person to own the institution? One person to own Nigeria? One person to put a leadership for us?
“Consultation is part of democracy. And we need to at every point in time to engage people. I think the arrogance is becoming too much. For the second time, get to a national television and speak the way, if at all he said that.
“I think we have every reason to rise to the occasion to defend democracy. And ensure that we have credible leaders that will lead us. I never thought that anybody who believes in the scripture, whether Christian or Muslim will be that arrogant.
“I want to beg our leader that we do not allow one person to give an impression that there is no democracy in this country. Internationally, world over, leaderships are chosen through consultation.
“I want to believe what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Our party anointed somebody fot presidential candidate, Nigerians said no, it is Asiwaju we want. And eventually he emerged . And I want to believe the shenanigans done by my brother for very special reasons known to him wil not stand the test of time. This group by the Grace of God will produce the speaker”, Wase had said.
On Saturday also, the G7 met with the Greater Minority Group of the minority caucus, vowing to produce the next speaker of the House.
A statement from one of the G7 members and frontline contestant, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi campaign office later stated the group had chosen a candidate amongst themselves, informing they will be unveiled publically at a later date.
“The G7 met with Greater Minority and agreed on consensus candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker but we will not mention the names yet. We reached the agreement based on the best choice of people that will be acceptable to the majority of all parties involved.
“We have formed this alliance to resist all attempts by external forces to impose leadership on the 10th House of Representatives. Be rest assured that the next leadership of the House will emerge from us,” the statement stated.
Meanwhile, the Greater Majority of the minority caucus has said it has not endorsed any of the aspirants for speakership.
At a meeting of the minority caucus yesterday in Abuja, the convener, Hon. Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) told the members that there were to consult their respective governors and party leaders before taking a position.
He said: “Let me quickly say that if we must do the right thing, if we must actually represent our people, we need to be guided and to be guided, we mean that we need to interact with our leaders in our constituencies, we need to interact with our colleagues from the various States, we need to interact with our party stakeholders and all that in arriving at a decision that will be well for us.
“Your conveners and other leaders have not either on your behalf or for you adopted anybody for the office of presiding officers. That will only take place when that agreement is reached by all of us. That decision will be our collective decision. But I am even saying before we get to that decision, we are going to ensure that take for example, I come from Bayelsa State, I should be able to speak with my governors, party leaders so that whatever I key into is with the understanding that my state leaders are on the same page with and that’s what we expect of all of us to do. So, that we don’t ambush Mr. A or Mr. B.
“So, I wan to assure you that we will lead ourselves to arrive at a collective decision and in doing that, we have also resolved to have State coordinators who are going to meet at their different State levels, eventually also have zonal coordinators who will also work at the zonal level in collating decision that they will finally come up with after due consultation. And that’s why we have invited all of us to this meeting so that we all know who and who will coordinate our States and also who will coordinate our zones so that we give the responsibility back to you, interact, consult and then chose the direction to go.
“In all the interactions we have made, our leaders have authoritatively told us that they have not given mandate to their members-elect to identify with Mr. A or Mr. B. The only mandate and directive they gave to our people is to network, interact and give them the feedback. And at the appropriate time, decisions will be made, agreements will be reached, alliances formed and then as minorities, we will be doing some sort of agreement as to what direction to go. So, as I stand here, I have not been given any mandate by my party ot governor as to what to do.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday implored judges across the federation to shun all forms of bias and do justice in all cases before them, saying it was the only way to restore confidence in the judiciary.
The CJN, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the Biennial Conference of the National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria, NAWJN, stressed that the judiciary, being the last hope of the common man, judges must strive to interpret the law at all times without affection and ill-will.
“The Judiciary is saddled with the responsibility of upholding the Rule of Law by interpreting, construing and applying the relevant laws.
“As women judges in the 21st Century, I encourage you to interpret the law at all times without bias, affection and ill-will.
“The Judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man and we as Judicial Officers must strive to preserve the confidence reposed in us by society,” the CJN said.
He said the objective of the conference was to reinforce the capacity of women judges in the judiciary “who are vital stakeholders in the fight against numerous injustices in the polity”.
According to him, “it is safe to say that certain vices in society have a greater impact on women and the girl-child and this forum allows for discourse along these lines.
“I must mention that violent crimes against the female gender include sexual slavery and human trafficking, rape and female genital mutilation which still persists despite efforts to eradicate same. “
“As such, the forum avails us the opportunity to discuss salient issues arising from policy formation and recent legislations that have the potential of having impact on women in the society.”
“As we are all aware, trafficking in persons has become a cankerworm, which has eaten deep into the different spheres of our society. It is an issue which largely affects women and as such, the on-going fight against human trafficking therefore remains a task that all stakeholders must close ranks to tackle, as it is the desire of most Nigerians that this hydra-headed monster be curbed.
“Towards this end; and in light of the foregoing, your conference has been designed to acquaint delegates with emerging developments on combating human trafficking as well as other key issues.
“It is my conviction that this forum will serve as an avenue to enlighten distinguished delegates on global best practices in confronting challenges arising from this special area of the law,” the CJN stated. “
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THE Presidential Election Petitions Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, rejected a request to allow its day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the February 25, 2023, presidential election to be televised live.
Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel dismissed the application brought by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, as lacking in merit.
The court held that no regulatory framework or policy direction permitted it to grant such an application, adding that allowing cameras in the courtroom is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.
“The court can only be guided and act in accordance with the practice directions and procedures approved by the President of the Court of Appeal. We cannot permit a situation that may lead to the dramatisation of our proceedings,” Justice Tsammani held.
Besides, the court held that the request was not part of any relief in the petitions before it, saying it was merely hinged on a sentimental claim that it would benefit the electorate.
It maintained that the petitioners failed to establish how televising the proceedings would advance their case, adding that such live broadcast would not add any utilitarian value to the determination of the petitions.
More so, it noted that such a live broadcast must be planned and budgeted for.
While assuring the parties that it would secure their right to a fair hearing as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the court held that it found no reason to grant the application which it described as “novel and unprecedented.”
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the election, initially made the request for live coverage, and Obi, subsequently, threw his weight behind the request.
The duo, through their lead lawyers, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, and Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, maintained that the petitions they lodged to query the declaration of the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the election, was “a matter of monumental national concern and public interest.
They argued that the case involved the interest of citizens and the electorate in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who they said participated in the presidential poll.
Atiku and the PDP insisted that their case against Tinubu was a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, and applied for;
“An order, directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of media practitioners and their equipment into the courtroom.
“With the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this honourable court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the Rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
“Televising court proceedings is not alien to this Honourable Court, and will enhance public confidence”, the petitioners added.
APC, Tinubu disagree
However, in separate processes they filed before the court, Tinubu, APC and INEC, sought the dismissal of the application which they described as frivolous and unmeritorious.
Tinubu accused both Atiku and Obi of trying to ridicule the judiciary by attempting to reduce the proceedings of the court to a soapbox and a movie theatre.
“Televising of election tribunal proceedings (live) will only cause unnecessary tension, violence and unrest among the public, which may lead to breach of peace”, APC argued through its lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Tinubu, in a counter-affidavit he filed alongside the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, accused Atiku of deliberately attempting to expose the judiciary to public opprobrium.
According to them, the court “is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for public entertainment” adding that “Atiku’s request had no bearing with the petition and was only aimed at dissipating the judicious time of the court.
Besides, they argued that the application was at best, “academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.
On its part, APC, through its team of lawyers led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, told the court that contrary to Atiku’s claim, the presidential election “is not the subject matter of any national concern”, insisting that the election was “well managed by INEC with a turnout of voters in their millions.”
It argued that the proceedings of the court were already being adequately covered by the media.
“There is nothing unique or peculiar in the electoral dispute that emanated from the outcome of the 25th February 2023 election that is different from the earlier five presidential elections in the country since the Advent of the Fourth Republic and if anything, the February 25, 2023 election referred to, has the least litigation since 1999,” APC added.
It further argued that live broadcasts “will subject the proceedings of the court to unnecessary sensationalism and undue social media trial, which distracts from the kernel of the serious business before the court”.
INEC equally opposed live broadcasts of the proceedings.
Why we oppose the move to consolidate Atiku, Obi’s petitions-Tinubu, APC
In like manner, Tinubu and the APC opposed the move to consolidate the three petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the election.
Tinubu and the APC, who are respondents in all the cases, maintained that merging all the petitions would adversely affect their ability to effectively defend all the issues the petitioners raised against their victory.
They, therefore, prayed to the PEPC to hear and determine the three petitions separately.
The President-elect and his party took the position on a day the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it was in support of the proposal to consolidate all the petitions.
However, the commission, through its lawyer, Mr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, said it would leave the issue to the discretion of the court.
Similarly, Atiku Abubakar threw his weight behind the merger of the petitions by the court.
Lead counsel for Atiku and the PDP, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, pointed out that consolidation of the petitions would guarantee expeditious determination of the legal issues surrounding the poll and would not “make any of the petitions to lose its character or separate reliefs it seeks.
“The main purpose for consolidation is to save time and cost.”
On his part, Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, who led the legal team of Mr Peter Obi, said his clients would leave the issue to the discretion of the court.
“This court has the discretion to decide whether or not to consolidate. But that discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously. Our conclusion is that taking into account the totality of the parties before this court, as well as issues arising from the petitions, whatever the court directs, that is what we will do having regards to the circumstance,” Kalu submitted.
While opposing the consolidation plan, Tinubu, through his team of lawyers, led by Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, cited four legal authorities he said the court must consider, and jettison the idea, which he said would defeat the essence of justice.
“My lords, the issue of justice should be a restraint on the power of this court to exercise its discretion in granting the order for consolidation,” Tinubu pleaded, stressing that the petitioners did not only raise various issues against him but are equally seeking different reliefs.
The court had on its last adjourned date expressed its intention to consolidate all the petitions before it, noting that it was empowered by Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, to merge the petitions and determine them together.
It, therefore, gave counsel for all the petitioners the permission to consult their clients and report back to it with the outcome of the meeting, which they did, yesterday.
Consequently, at the resumed proceedings yesterday, Tinubu’s lawyer argued that the provision of the Electoral Act the court referred to was not absolute.
He said: “My lords, when the exercise of power is subject to the limitation of some conditions, then it cannot be said that the exercise is mandatory. There are issues raised in one petition that are not there in others. The issues vary. The same goes for evidential issues that are based on pleadings that have been exchanged by parties in this case.
“We want to make it clear at this stage that it will be absolutely difficult for us to consent to consolidation of the petitions. I most humbly urge your lordships not to grant the consolidation.”
Earlier, counsel for the APC, Mr. Charles Edosomwam, SAN, argued that consolidating the petitions would be against the interest of justice.
Tribunal asks Obi to reduce seven weeks of demand
Earlier before the court adjourned till Tuesday (today) to present its pre-hearing report on the petitions, the Justice Tsammani-led panel urged Obi and the LP to reduce the seven weeks they earlier demanded for the presentation of their case against Tinubu.
Noting that the 180 days statutorily allowed for the determination of the electoral dispute would elapse on September 16, the court said it would be difficult for it to conclude the hearing and deliver judgment within two days, should Obi and the LP spend seven weeks to present their proposed 50 witnesses.
Responding, counsel for the petitioners, Prof. Kalu, SAN, said he would persuade his clients to reduce the period to six weeks, even as he blamed the INEC for not furnishing them with the sensitive electoral materials they requested for.
We’ve only one witness against Tinubu, APM tells the court
Apart from the PDP and LP, the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, equally lodged a petition to challenge the outcome of the presidential election.
APM said it would produce only one witness to establish its claim that Tinubu was not the valid winner of the 2023 presidential election. “The APM, through its lawyer, Mr. S. Abubakar, told the PEPC it had enough documentary evidence to prove its petition against the President-elect.“Mr. Abubakar told the court that some of the parties in the petition met last Saturday and agreed on some of the modalities that would be adopted during the hearing of its case, including the time to be allocated for the examination-in-chief of witnesses. “Whereas the parties agreed to give 20 minutes for the testimony of star witnesses, they would be cross-examined for 25 minutes, while five minutes would be for re-examination.“
…Recovers 60,000 Australian Dollars
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) in partnership with South Australian Police have successfully apprehended one Ogenevowero Emefeke, a 37-year-old resident of Guida Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He was arrested for pulling-off an elaborate fraudulent scheme on an Australian National and recovered the sum of sixty thousand Australian Dollars (60.000.00 AUD) from the suspect.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said the arrest followed coming on the heels of actionable intelligence made available by the South Australian Police Department (SAPOL).
“The suspect, in a written statement during Police interview, freely admitted to having committed the fraud and several others dating back to 2021.
“In unmasking his modus operandi, investigation reveals that the suspect and his cohorts usually adopt pseudo identities of renown International celebrities, carefully select their victims through different social media platforms, lure them into an attack popularly known as “Romance Scam”.
“After gaining their trust, they subsequently play on their (victims) emotion to swindle them of their resources.
“Investigation further revealed that the victims are usually vulnerable men and women in desperate search for emotional comfort and fame”.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba while applauding the new wave of anti-cybercrime achievements recorded by NPF-NCCC under the constructive leadership of the Director National Cybercrime Center, DCP Ifeanyi Henry Uche, via collaborations with international anti-cybercrime agencies, charged the Center to sustain the drive.
“In the same vein, the IGP urges members of the Public to exercise restraint in engaging in Businesses and Relationships with individuals whose real identities have not been physically verified.
“While the processes to repatriate the recovered fund to the victim through the Australian Consulate is being perfected, the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
“All complaints or information bordering on cybercime can be sent to the NPF NCCC through its e-reporting portal – https://incb.npf.gov.ng/ or @NPF_NCCC across all social media platforms, and via mobile on 09168343711.”
The minority caucus of the incoming 10th House of Representatives has reiterated that it has not endorsed any aspirant for the position of Speaker of the House in the next Assembly.
The caucus also known as ‘greater majority’ going by its collective number of 182 member-elect across minority parties however said it is awaiting the inputs of their states governors and party leaders before it make decision of who to support for the position.
Convener of the group, Fredrick Agbedi (PDP) who disclosed this at a meeting in Abuja on Monday said it has appointed state and zonal coordinators who will consult and report back before the members will know the direction to follow.
This is just as the caucus last weekend said it has not endorsed any aspirant for the position of Speaker as reported by some media organisations.
The the minority parties, comprising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP); New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Africa Democratic Congress (ADC); Young People’s Party (YPP); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said this in a statement signed by the Caucus Secretary, Ali Isa.
Isa Isa had said the caucus merely met with Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the House and Tajudeen Abbas, the All Progressives Congress (APC) anointed speakership candidate who also engaged the group and made his own presentation to solicit the support of its members to work with him just like the other aspirants did.
In the same vein, Agbedi said: “Your conveners and other leaders have not either on your behalf or for you adopted anybody for the office of presiding officers. That will only take place when that agreement is reached by all of us. That decision will be our collective decision.
“But I am even saying before we get to that decision, we are going to ensure that take for example, I come from Bayelsa State, I should be able to speak with my governor, party leaders so that whatever I key into is with the understanding that my state leaders are on the same page with and that’s what we expect of all of us to do. So, that we don’t ambush Mr. A or Mr. B.
“So, I wan to assure you that we will lead ourselves to arrive at a collective decision and in doing that, we have also resolved to have State coordinators who are going to meet at their different State levels, eventually also have zonal coordinators who will also work at the zonal level in collating decision that they will finally come up with after due consultation.
“And that’s why we have invited all of us to this meeting so that we all know who and who will coordinate our States and also who will coordinate our zones so that we give the responsibility back to you, interact, consult and then chose the direction to go.
“In all the interactions we have made, our leaders have authoritatively told us that they have not given mandate to their members-elect to identify with Mr. A or Mr. B. The only mandate and directive they gave to our people is to network, interact and give them the feedback.
“And at the appropriate time, decisions will be made, agreements will be reached, alliances formed and then as minorities, we will be doing some sort of agreement as to what direction to go. So, as I stand here, I have not been given any mandate by my party or governor as to what to do.”
He said as part of their consultations with major stakeholders on the issue of the House leadership, the caucus had met with the PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum; the presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi, that of NNPP, Rabiu Kwakwaso, amongst others.
The lawmaker also disclosed that members of the minority caucus will be having a retreat in Akwa-Ibom state for which participants are expected to arrive next week Wednesday.
[authorityngr]
Equities trading at the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) opened the week on a positive note, extending gains from the previous session as the All-Share Index (ASI) closed 0.35 per cent stronger to close at 52,369.13 basis points.
On Monday, gains in telecommunication heavyweight MTN Nigeria Communication, alongside Zenith Bank and Guaranty Trust Holding Company and GTCO buoyed the markets performance as these high cap stocks appreciated by 0.87 per cent, 1.73 per cent and 2.07 per cent, respectively.
Accordingly, the Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date return settled at -0.1 per cent and +2.2 per cent, respectively.
Owing to the bullish trading session, equities investors gained N98.66 billion cumulatively as the market capitalisation gained settled at N28.52 trillion by the end of the day’s trading activities.
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was also positive, as 31 tickers gained relative to 15 losers. On the performance board, Ikeja Hotels and Academy Press topped the gainers’ list as they appreciated in value by 9.9 per cent and 9.8 per cent, respectively; while NCR and Sovereign Insurance recorded the most significant losses of the day after their respective share prices dipped by 9.7 per cent and 8.9 per cent.
Performance was also bullish across sub-sector gauges tracked as four of the five sub-sector gauges tracked closed in the green zone; the NGX Banking, the NGX Insurance, NGX Consumer Goods, and NGX Industrial indices rose by 0.89 per cent, 1.34 percent, 0.39 per cent, and 0.01 per cent, respectively. However, the NGX Oil/Gas index fell by 0.64 per cent.
However, activities at the local bourse on Monday was tepid as analysis of market activities showed that trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 50.79 per cent.
A total of 315.70 million shares valued at N4.03 billion were exchanged in 5,847 deals. Zenith Bank led the volume and value charts with 53.43 million units traded in deals worth N1.38 billion.
[Tribune]