NIGERIAN SENATE DEMANDS REMOVAL OF MALAMI, DAMBAZAU OVER MAINA SAGA
Members of the Nigerian Senate during the plenary session on Tuesday, resolved to carry out an investigation and advised the president to sack the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Interior over the Maina saga.
The Senate has mandated President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly and bring those behind the reinstatement of the former chairman of Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, to book.
The Senate specifically mentioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, demanding for their immediate removal.
Senators who took their turns to condemn the recall of Maina, said President Buhari’s government has been hijacked by powerful forces who do not want the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government to succeed.
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DAVID MARK BREAKS SILENCE, SPEAKS IN SENATE for first time in 2YRS SINCE INAUGURATION
Immediate-past President of the Senate, David Mark, on Tuesday, spoke on the floor for the first time in two years and four months.
This is the first time he is speaking on the floor of the Senate since the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on the 9th of June, 2017.
Mark spoke, when his only bill sponsored in two years, was read for the second time. Its titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Health Science, Utukpo and other related matters connected thereto, 2017.”
Unlike other bills read on the floor, Mark only read an abridged version of it. Many lawmakers wanted to speak on the issue, but were restricted by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided.
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SARAKI’S FIRST DAUGHTER SET TO OGUN PRINCE, OLATUNDE OLUKOYA ON OCTOBER 28 IN LAGOS
The city of Lagos is set to stand still as Senate President Bukola Saraki and his darling wife, Toyin are set to marry off their daughter, Oluwatosin, to her fiancé, Adeniyi Olatunde Olukoya, the son of Omooba Tokunbo Olusanya in Lagos come October 28th.
While her father wanted a glamorous destination wedding, 25-year-old Tosin reportedly kicked, preferring to have it in Nigeria and Saraki is certainly leaving no stone unturned to host a super wedding ceremony for her.
Tosin is the first of the four children of Bukola and Toyin.
Tosin’s mother, Toyin, is the daughter of boardroom guru and businessman of note, Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Ojuolape Ojora. For the past six decades, the Ojoras have been a looming and respected fixture on Nigeria’s high society. And they are not retired from attending or throwing parties that remain indelible.
However, not a few people have been jostling to lay their hands on a copy of the invite. But unfortunately, it would be easier to embark on a round-trip through the Bermuda triangle than to get the invitation card. That is how scarce and exclusive the wedding party would be.
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SENATOR ISA MISAU LIED ON SPECIAL TRANSFER, PROMOTION, MARRIAGE
There seems to be no end to the feud between Senator Isa Hamma Misau and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over alleged bribe-for-posting and transfers, and marriages between senior and junior officers.
The police authorities, who took up Misau on the allegations he levelled against the IGP before the Senate last week, said that the lawmaker lied on all the issues he raised.
They said that the Senator had once requested for special transfer for one of his friend who is a serving police officer, one of the crimes he accused the IGP of committing.
Misau had accused the IGP of giving special promotion to one Asta to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DPS) before he got married to her.
Bu the Police authorities told our correspondent that the allegation is false.
Last week, Senator Misau accused Idris of giving special promotion to female officers and his cronies without due process.
“The IG is openly having two relationships with policewomen who he gave special promotion. One of them is Amina and one of them is DSP Asta which the IGP on 15th of last month got married to that DSP woman. Under the Police Act and regulation, you cannot marry a serving policewoman unless that woman retires, “Misau told the Senate plenary.
Investigation revealed that the said officer (Asta) is a pilot and was promoted alongside her 30 colleagues on April 28, 2017.
It was gathered that plans had been concluded to promote 26 engineers, who are also under the category of officers with special qualification.
The entry point of all officers such as engineers, doctors, pilots is DSP on level 10/2 but had not been followed over the years.
Records at the Force Headquarters, which revealed that Amina who was mentioned by Senator Misau in his allegations receiving special promotion from the IGP did not benefit from the exercise.
The records showed that Amina is currently an Inspector and had been working in the Kano State Command before Idris was posted there as Commissioner of Police (CP).
According to the records, Amina was promoted before Idris became IGP contrary to the claim by Misau that she was elevated by the police boss.
Responding to questions from our correspondent, a senior police who sought anonymity because he was not competent to speak for the Force, accused Misau of displaying ignorance on the issue of marriage between officers.
The source disclosed that marriage between serving officers in the Force is not allowed between a senior and junior officer but that senior officers can marry each other.
While accusing Misau of embarking on a vendetta mission against the IGP, he disclosed that a serving Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) is currently married to a Police Sergeant.
“Why is Misau not saying anything about the DIG or is he not aware of it? Let Misau tell Nigerians his real grouse with IGP Idris,” he said.
On postings and transfers, a letter written by Senator Misau and addressed to the IGP on May 8, 2017, requesting for the transfer of a DSP (names withheld) from Abuja to any command close to Rivers or Lagos State.
The letter which was personally signed by Senator Misau was titled: “Compassionate appeal for the transfer of (names withheld) from DFA, FHQ, Abuja to any command close to Rivers or Lagos State.”
The letter read in part: “I write to compassionately appeal for the transfer of the above named officer to any command close to Rivers or Lagos State.
“The officer who is an old acquaintance of mine from Rivers State with family that reside in Lagos, has barely a few months to retire from the service.
“…I would appreciate your kind gesture in this regard, please.
“While thanking you for the kind consideration, please accept the assurance of my highest regards.”
Our findings indicated that on May25, 2017, the transfer was approved for the officer.
It was also learnt that special promotion had been practiced in the Nigeria Police for many years before Idris assumed office.
Records at the Force Headquarters showed that former IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, carried out special promotions.
In one of the promotions by Arase, an officer was promoted above 114 of his senior colleagues and given Acting Commissioner of Police (CP). He was confirmed four days after as Commissioner of Police.
Also, a onetime Commissioner of Police (CP) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (names withheld) under the previous IGPs a few years ago, was promoted above 300 of his senior colleagues.
Records also revealed that during the time of other former IGPs including Sunday Ehindero, there were special promotions which were enmeshed in controversy and were reversed.
“The issue of posting raised by Misau does not hold water because it is done by the Police Service Commission (PSC). Moreover, every IGP uses his discretion because he knows the officers who have the capacity to deliver on any given assignment at a particular time.
“Some of the officers that got the recent special promotion risked their lives and performed excellently in the fight against kidnappers and armed robbers such as those involved in the arrest of notorious kidnapper, Evans,” another source at the Force Headquarters, said.
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87-YEAR-OLD FORMER SENATOR WEDS HIS YOUNG BRIDE IN PORT-HARCOURT
A Nigerian lawyer and former senator who is 87 years today wedded his young wife in Rivers state before family and friends.
A second republic lawmaker and President of Bori State Movement, Sen. Cyrus Nunieh, 87 has finally gotten married to his young bride, Miss Ijeoma in Rivers state.
The wedding reception took place at the Hotel Presidential in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital. Cyrus Nunieh, is said to be the first lawyer in Ogoni land.
Witnessing this unique wedding between Miss Ijeoma and Sen. Cyrus Nunieh, at age 93, the first ogoni lawyer.