Welcome to Victor Eke's blog: SENATE

Senators back EFCC’s retention of 2% recovered loots

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPsH8-lHwCBQDMF_rDXHEKzsYuOl2bGm2c59NRIgAF_cc7I62xEObAaiuPJAaEuu_NEI7ufFE4rHy6FWbYmOU9bqPPVuliCNMkjs2c9s8pEItIkktVK34ghlY4ndzexUjdqWfzF5i4jzW/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPsH8-lHwCBQDMF_rDXHEKzsYuOl2bGm2c59NRIgAF_cc7I62xEObAaiuPJAaEuu_NEI7ufFE4rHy6FWbYmOU9bqPPVuliCNMkjs2c9s8pEItIkktVK34ghlY4ndzexUjdqWfzF5i4jzW/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;"/></a>To buoy President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade, the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, has commenced a nationwide visit to agencies handling graft-related cases. 
 
Committee chairman, Chukwuka Utazi, who led other members to Enugu State, yesterday, said the purpose of the unannounced visits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) across the country, was to identify areas that needed improvement. 
 
The committee also revealed that the Senate, in a proposed amendment bill of the EFCC Act, would empower the anti-graft agency to keep two per cent of whatever it gets from recovered loots. 
“We will pass the bill next week. We have made provisions for the EFCC to auction seized assets… Going forward, EFCC will keep two per cent of whatever it recovers for operational cost.” 
 
Utazi praised Enugu EFCC staff’s diligence, despite poor working conditions. 
“I want to appreciate your fight against corruption. We would have progressed more than this if there was no corruption. We have to supervise you so that you will be efficient. That is the only way you can do your job well…” 
EFCC coordinator in charge of the South East, Mr. Johnson Babalola, commended the lawmakers for backing the commission on retention of a certain percentage of revovered loots.</div>

Senators back EFCC’s retention of 2% recovered loots

To buoy President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade, the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, has commenced a nationwide visit to agenci...

Saraki to appear in court daily

<div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p7c4CwgfIf3B8XJe0BeGDWINnubZyQhRpNqGGXK3jkrjM8UHImiT-ily0R_XbWi-W0PHUlVyJVBE4uHWwJQCzLPoaZbc1yfbNVQECYRvmE9H6nvQ11PNpjLdvhe7PL85FfCZHnwO5qC_/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p7c4CwgfIf3B8XJe0BeGDWINnubZyQhRpNqGGXK3jkrjM8UHImiT-ily0R_XbWi-W0PHUlVyJVBE4uHWwJQCzLPoaZbc1yfbNVQECYRvmE9H6nvQ11PNpjLdvhe7PL85FfCZHnwO5qC_/ cursor: pointer;" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px; max-width: 320px " width="280" /></a></div><div class="blogaway-section">THE Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday ordered daily hearing in the ongoing 13-count criminal charge against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. 
 Tribunal chairman Danladi Umar made the order provisions of sections 376 and 315 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015. 
 This is even as Senators loyal to Saraki came under knocks from the tribunal which frowned at their continued presence at the trials at the expense of their constitutional duties at the hallowed chambers of the senate. 
 Mr. Umar, specifically declared that the Senate was not on trial before the tribunal and therefore senators have no reason being in court daily saying it would be in the interest of the nation that the Senators stay back to discharge their constitutional duty. 
 He spoke after counsel to the Senate President, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) had requested for an adjournment to enable Senators sit. 
 Umar explained that it is the personality of the accused, who happened to be the Senate President, that was on trial and not the entire Senate. 
 Earlier, in opposing to Agabi’s request, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had said it was shameful and disgraceful that the Senators were in court, as according to him, they were not parties and as such, not needed to be in court. 
 Saraki reacts 
 But Saraki said his trial will not disturb the activities of the Senate. 
 At the preliminary stage of the trial, senators had always accompanied the Senate President to the tribunal each time the case came up for hearing. But Saraki said now that the trial proper has commenced and the Senate is in session, he would not want the trial to affect legislative business. 
 “I am the one on trial not the Senate. Even though I have been overwhelmed by the solidarity displayed by my colleagues, it is important that the work of the Senate is not unduly affected by this process, “ he said. 
 The Senate President affirms that the legislative body being an institution, would not be affected by the absence of any of the principal. 
 APC Senators strategise 
 However, worried that the Senate presidency seat maybe snatched by lawmakers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following a recent statement by the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, Senators from the two warring camps in the Red Chamber – Like Minds and Unity Forum – last night, held a strategic meeting in Abuja. 
 The meeting convened at the instance of a former governor from one of the North-west states, Daily Sun gathered, was to brainstorm on how to counter plans by the PDP to produce the next Senate President. 
 A member of Unity Forum who was at the meeting told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the emergency meeting became necessary, following two major events that happened last weekend and yesterday. 
 “Last weekend, our party chairman, Oyegun said the PDP can take over the Senate. We cannot allow that. That is an open invitation to the opposition. We know how we laboured for this change government and we will not allow the PDP to take over. That was why one of our respected leaders summoned this meeting. 
 “We are scheduling a meeting with the leadership of the party (APC) and other stakeholders this week to brainstorm on the way forward,” the Senator revealed. 
 He did not reveal the identity of lawmakers who were in attendance. 
 Meanwhile, there are apprehensions that there could be a stormy session today, if the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu presides. Some lawmakers like Ahmad Lawan, Kabir Marafa and others who have vowed never to recognize Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, may stage a walkout. 
 There are also fears that today’s session could be cut short in order to enable Senators loyal to Saraki accompany him to the Tribunal. 
 Witness’s account 
 When trial resumed yesterday, the Prosecution witness (PWI) Mr. Michael Wetkas continued with his evidence in chief disclosing how Saraki rakes in over N131 million annually as rent from some of his undeclared assets. 
 He told the tribunal in the witness box how Saraki bought properties from the Presidential Implementation Committee on Sale of Government properties using his personal names and names of companies including the property at No. 15 Mcdonald, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he disclosed, was bought from the Committee in the name of one of Saraki’s companies, Tiny Tee Limited. 
 Wetkas said that in the Assets Declaration Form filled by the defendant, he had declared property at No. 15a and 15b, McDonald, Ikoyi, as his own. 
 “When we wrote to the Presidential Committee to verify the property, they responded that from their records, the property is No. 15, McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos and another one, Block 15, Plot 1 to 4, MacDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos. These are the properties they have in respect to Mcdonald, Ikoyi.” 
 On how Tiny Tee paid for the property, the witness said that 75 per cent payment of that property, which amounted to N123,750,000 was paid through the account of Skyview Property Limited domiciled in Access Bank, the then Intercontinental Bank. 
 Concerning the property at No. 17, Mcdonald, Ikoyi, the Prosecution tendered drafts totalling N256, 300,000, which he told the Tribunal were payments for a property at No. 17, McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos. 
 According to him, there was a draft for N12, 815,000 as payment of the property. 
 “There was another draft for the total of N24,090,000 broken down into two. The sum of N20 million was from Zenith Bank account of Carlisle Property and Investment Limited while N4,090,000 was from Carlisle Property and Investment Limited account with GTB. Both were part payments of the said property at No. 17, Mcdonald, Ikoyi, Lagos. There was also another draft for N180,675,000 dated April 3, 2007 from Saraki’s personal account with GTB, also part payment for the property at 17, Mcdonald, Ikoyi. 
 “Another draft for N36,135,000 dated January 10, 2007 and cleared in the name of Carlisle Limited account with GTB, was also part payment for the property at No.17 Mcdonald 
 Another draft for N12,045,000, dated January 10, 2007 was also drawn from the account of Carlisle Property Limited with GTB being part payment for No. 17, Mcdonald, Ikoyi.” 
 The drafts, which were payable to the Presidential Implementation Committee for the Sale of Government Houses, were admitted in evidence and tendered as exhibits. 
 So far, about 43 exhibits have been tendered including cheques, bank statements, bank drafts and letters of Identification. There were also bank opening mandates.</div>

Saraki to appear in court daily

THE Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday ordered daily hearing in the ongoing 13-count criminal charge against the Senate President, Dr...

State Governments Owe $3.3bn Foreign Debts – Shehu Sani.

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNpG8aFYe7m0J_67lcWXyYloOLqq5GsbKwTiLnd_ZUp3V4PWWx_L_trTbWvsVmdzMKgzAtmhEQho2Rvz85yAPVhRlB2Du0k6vg-H9bwpNdzIVe3rnpLnpWpehjLFwsnNDSDAWII9QHxWu/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNpG8aFYe7m0J_67lcWXyYloOLqq5GsbKwTiLnd_ZUp3V4PWWx_L_trTbWvsVmdzMKgzAtmhEQho2Rvz85yAPVhRlB2Du0k6vg-H9bwpNdzIVe3rnpLnpWpehjLFwsnNDSDAWII9QHxWu/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;"/></a>Shehu Sani 
 
 
 
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, has raised the alarm that the state governments owe $3,271,960,461 foreign debts. 
 
Sani said in a statement on Saturday that most of the debts were loans collected to provide infrastructure or to create investment opportunities and that many of them might take up to 50 years to service. 
 
He alleged that most of the foreign and domestic loans collected by the states were, however, spent on personal luxuries or wasted in maintaining local political empire or even used to finance white elephant projects and unrealistic political campaign promises. 
 
He expressed the fear that states in the country could end up failing if they kept on borrowing at the current pace, without adequate plans and enough resources to service them. 
 
Sani, who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, restated his opposition to the plans by the governors of the northern states to obtain huge loans from the Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank, insisting that the money might end up again in private pockets. 
 
He said, “The Northern Governors had through their Chairman, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, reacted to my opposition to their move to secure loan from the Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia. 
 
“They insisted I am wrong and they are right. I wish to respond to them. The current foreign debt profile of Nigerian States stands at $3,271,960,461.03. Most of these debts were loans collected in the name of infrastructure or investment. 
 
“There is no tangible infrastructure development in the North commensurate with amount of loans collected by the state governments in the last two decades. 
 
“Most states are incapable of servicing their debt in the next 50 years. Taking cognisance of the current state of our economy, we have been plunged into a debt trap, which our grandchildren will not even be able to pay. 
 
“There is no single export-based investment or industry in the North that is currently in operation towards generating and attracting $1m monthly of foreign exchange.”</div>

State Governments Owe $3.3bn Foreign Debts – Shehu Sani.

Shehu Sani The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, has raised the alarm that the state gove...

Senator Chris Ngige reportedly slumped at the National Assembly today.

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc1hVjtAGpoe5Ebms6jmMJ24Nm96Ga4yZHkeCSxth5gJZp0dv9VC0lTDhhfko2MMEzldYurrYHR9vziE524ElFxAcXYY694ZEjTlHNgB-OURSQnsvHM0i60gH0ss1on_Q21u1uO6CefqG/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc1hVjtAGpoe5Ebms6jmMJ24Nm96Ga4yZHkeCSxth5gJZp0dv9VC0lTDhhfko2MMEzldYurrYHR9vziE524ElFxAcXYY694ZEjTlHNgB-OURSQnsvHM0i60gH0ss1on_Q21u1uO6CefqG/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;"/></a>Emerging reports suggests that Nigeria’s minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige collapsed today at the National Assembly. 
 
 
Daily Post reports that the minister collapsed while defending his ministry’s budget before the House of Representatives’ Committee on labour. 
 
Sources disclose that he was immediately rushed to a hospital. 
 
 
More details to follow shortly. 
 
 
 
 
Source; Naija.com</div>

Senator Chris Ngige reportedly slumped at the National Assembly today.

Emerging reports suggests that Nigeria’s minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige collapsed today at the National Assembly...

Senate To Pass 2016 Budget On February 25

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU939pAdlJjOCqFUD-d8XBGUQbth9717pcrYPxlYMnsrZBKhrY5ZnwWLaTRrFwqs_Q1Y8yDzQKEKcXDilUaI232ZEbdEzjjEqiiGROkkVBQk7geTXa_eQHLcm4JPZihzUCIdcHPkSVE52l/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU939pAdlJjOCqFUD-d8XBGUQbth9717pcrYPxlYMnsrZBKhrY5ZnwWLaTRrFwqs_Q1Y8yDzQKEKcXDilUaI232ZEbdEzjjEqiiGROkkVBQk7geTXa_eQHLcm4JPZihzUCIdcHPkSVE52l/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;"/></a> 
CHAIRMAN of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Danjuma Goje, said yesterday the Upper Legistative Chamber would pass the 2016 national budget on February 25. 
 
The Senate concluded week-long debate on the budget yesterday. It suspended plenary to allow the standing committees of the Red Chamber fine-tune the document while summoning the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to come forward and defend their estimates. They have two weeks to do so. 
 
Briefing reporters after plenary, Senator Goje re-echoed the earlier position of the Senate leadership to pass the budget on February 25. 
 
“The Senate has just concluded the debate on the general principles of the 2016 budget and has been referred to Appropriation Committee for necessary action,” Goje said, adding that, “the committee will send circulars to all other committees which are seen as sub-committees.” 
 
Goje said: “The committees are expected to commence public hearing on the budget from various departments and agencies immediately. Two weeks from tomorrow (today) will be devoted for budget defence. That is till February 11. 
 
“The next process will be concluded on February 18 and that will be handled by the Appropriation Committee. We are expected to lay our committee report of the budget on Wednesday, February 24, 2016. The Senate will pass it on Thursday, February 25, 2016. 
 
“This will give the Federal Government 10-month period to implement the budget. We want a departure from the past where implementation is delayed. This is a government of change and we want to do things differently. 
 
“Plenary will be suspended for two weeks to allow for committees to meet with the various government agencies,” he said. 
 
According to a breakdown of the timetable, the meeting of sub-committees on Appropriation with MDAs will take place from today, January 28 till February 11. 
 
Meanwhile, the Presidency has hailed the smooth consideration of the 2016 budget and its passage for Second Reading. 
 
Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, told correspondents that President Muhammadu Buhari was pleased with the bipartisan consideration of the budget.</div>

Senate To Pass 2016 Budget On February 25

CHAIRMAN of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Danjuma Goje, said yesterday the Upper Legistative Chamber would pass the 2016 nati...