A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are trading accusations over the inconclusive Zamfara State assembly byelection.

The PDP in Zamfara State had alleged intimidation, harassment and rigging by the All Progressive Congress during the election.

In a press conference on Sunday, the Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani, said the APC hired thugs to disrupt the election when they learnt that they will lose the election.

In his submission, the Chairman of PDP committee for the byelection in the state, Senator Lawal Hassan Daniya, said despite cancellation of elections in 14 polling units, PDP won the polls.

“It is noteworthy that all the wards cancelled are our stronghold where the votes tally were all won by the PDP.

“But the Independent National Electoral Commission has cancelled them and declared the elections inconclusive.

“We always believe in our ability to deliver to our people because this is a period selected by God Almighty to deliver the people from the shackles of misrule perpetuated for several years by the All Progressive Congress on the people of Zamfara state.

“It is important for the general public to know, however, that the APC, in its desperate attempt to win the polls, employed thugs to disrupt the peaceful procedure of elections in several wards where some of our supporters were harassed and molested,” he said.

In his own part, Yari accused the PDP’s administration and some of the security personnel deployed during the election of aiding and abetting massive rigging.

He said what happened on Saturday was a joke not an election and it had never happened in the history of elections in northern Nigeria, adding that people were not allowed to exercise their constitutional right.

“For instance, in Yargeda ward with 12 polling units, elections in 8 polling units didn’t take place and the results from these polling centres were collated and PDP was declared winner in all.

“Ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters to the full glare of some compromised security operatives was the order of the day and they are trying to call this sham an election.

“They invited thugs from all nook and cranny of the country to rig election for them when they learnt that they have no majority of the electorates.

“We said earlier that we would follow due process in this election because we have people on our side,” Yari fumed.

* Vendors register customers without ID
* The act compromises nat’l security – Experts
* NCC, telcos deny wrongdoing even as shoddy deals persist


Improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards have flooded Nigerian streets and markets as they are freely sold to willing buyers, Daily Trust reports.

With just N200 or less, customers who want the SIM cards for legitimate purposes or those with criminal intent get them from vendors selling by the roadside, in vans or wheel borrows.

This is against a ministerial directive one year ago for the blocking of all improperly registered SIM cards to stem insecurity and other crimes.

Mobile telecommunication providers were also asked to ensure all SIM cards were properly registered but findings revealed that shoddy deals remained prevalent across the country.

A lot of irregularities persist amidst insistence by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) the regulatory body and the telecommunications companies that the right process is being followed.

Experts say it would be difficult for security operatives to contain acts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other sundry crimes when those perpetrating them have unlimited access to SIM cards.

On September 12, 2019, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, directed that all SIM cards not properly registered be blocked until they are fully registered.

Officials said the aim was to ensure that the over 184 million registered SIM cards/mobile lines across Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) networks had valid data that were traceable and not anonymous.

Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as at March 2020, showed that the number of improperly-registered SIM cards had dropped from 9.2m to 2.2m.
A sim card registration official attending to customers at the Farm Centre, GSM Market in Kano

This is just as the regulatory agency insists it has provisions that prescribe a controlled environment where SIM cards must be registered and not with roadside agents.

The NCC also said it was harmonising data on the national ID card with SIM card details and the international passport to ensure a seamless identification of SIM card owners.

Similarly, the telecommunications companies, MTN, Airtel and 9mobile, all said they accord utmost priority to SIM card registration and that they ensure that they work with only persons/ entities licensed by the NCC in registration activities.

Daily Trust reports that the Senate has directed its committees on communications and legislative compliance to summon Pantami over the country’s growing insecurity.

The resolution of the upper legislative chamber followed a motion sponsored by the Senate’s Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha.

While moving his motion, the Taraba South senator lamented that relevant authorities were allowing people to use communications services without taking their information – valid identification and biometrics.

Daily Trust investigation found out that SIM cards purchased by the roadside from alleged accredited vendors of the telecommunications companies are being described as “recycled lines” by customers who bought them. Our correspondents saw many infractions after surveying mobile phone and SIM card vending hubs on the streets of Abuja city centre and some neighbourhoods; as well as in Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos states.

At the offices of Glo and MTN in Wuse 2 in Abuja and those of 9Mobile and Airtel within the same axis, vendors were seen discouraging people from going into the main telecoms offices, saying they could do the same job of issuing and registering SIM cards for them.

Many unsuspecting customers get lines through the process and later discover that it is either not well registered or the line belonged to someone else.

Musa Usman said he bought a SIM card for his brother by proxy, an act that is against the rule.

“I was asked to provide an ID card, but I told the vendor that it was for my brother and he registered it after I parted with extra N200. However, he told me that they were not allowed to register by proxy,” Usman said.

Glory Akor complained of how she kept receiving calls from strange people through her newly ‘registered’ MTN and Airtel lines, claiming the lines belonged to people they knew.

“I became disturbed when someone from the South kept calling through the Airtel line and addressing me as ‘Bolaji’ whom he claimed owned the SIM card. I was accused of stealing the line and I had to drop it,” she said.

Mr Sunday Okoh, a resident of Mararaba town in Nasarawa State, said he bought a ‘new SIM card’ and registered it at a vending hub along the Abuja – Keffi expressway.

“After paying N200, the SIM card vendor purportedly took my biometric data and captured my face with a camera. He said the line had been registered and I left.

* Results show APC remains chosen party – Buhari

The candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday declared winners of most of the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill 15 vacant parliamentary seats.

The opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had faulted the outcome of the by-elections. INEC had on Saturday conducted by-elections in 11 states to fill vacant parliamentary seats in both National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

APC wins Lagos East, Kosofe

INEC declared Mr Tokunbo Abiru, the candidate of the APC the winner of Saturday’s by-election for Lagos East Senatorial district.

The INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Ademola Oremosu of the University of Lagos, declared the result at the collation centre at INEC Office in Somolu.

Prof. Oremosu said that Abiru polled a total of 89, 204 votes to defeat his closest rival, Babatunde Gbadamosi of the PDP, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, who scored 11,257 votes.

Also, the APC candidate Femi Saheed also won the election for Kosofe 2 constituency with 12,494 votes to 2,068 recorded by PDP’s Ademola Alebiosu, according to the Collation Officer, Prof. Iyinola Oni.

Gbadamosi of the PDP had kicked against the outcome of the elections, alleging it was manipulated in favour of the ruling party but the APC faulted his claim.

Abiru in his victory speech said the outcome of the elections reflects the popularity of the APC.

The PDP in Lagos State yesterday described Saturday’s Senatorial and House of Assembly by-elections in the state as a charade.

The party accused INEC of allocating votes to the APC. PDP’s Chairman, Engineer Adedeji Doherty, however insisted that Lagos State would be rescued from the APC and its leadership despite the setback recorded during the by-elections.

But the APC in its reaction through its spokesman Seye Oladejo said the election was “a referendum on the spineless and ineffectual opposition that the PDP has been providing in Lagos State for over two decades.”

Reacting to the outcome of the poll, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said APC’s victory with wide margin in the by-elections was a sound testament to the confidence the people of Lagos State have in the party.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the APC for its victory in the various by-elections conducted nationwide.

Atule wins Ibaji constituency

In Kogi, INEC has declared Mr Egbunu Atule of the APC as the winner of the Ibaji state constituency by-election held on Saturday.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, who announced the results of the election on Sunday at Onyadega, headquarters of Ibaji local government area, said that Atule polled 8,515 to emerge winner. Ajayi said that Mr Daniel Enefola of the PDP came second in the election by scoring 4,565 votes.

Daduut wins Plateau South

In Jos, the Plateau State capital, INEC yesterday declared Prof. Nora Daduut of the APC as the winner of the Plateau South senatorial by-election.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacuum created by the death of Sen. Ignatius Longjan which occurred on Feb. 9. INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Idris Amali, announced that Daduut polled 83,151 votes to defeat her closest challenger, Mr George Daika of the PDP who scored 70,838 votes; a margin of 12,313 votes.

Reacting to his party’s victory, the Plateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, has congratulated Prof. Nora Dadu’ut for making history as the first female Senator-elect in Plateau State.

APC wins Imo North without candidate

The ruling party also won the Imo North Senatorial District. Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Mr Hakeem Adikum, said that the APC polled a total of 36, 811 votes, while PDP came second with 31,903 votes.

However, the commission did not return a candidate from the party. Speaking, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, said that the commission was unable to return a candidate from the APC as winner. This, he said, was as a result of what he described as “several court orders” for and against the two major contenders, Frank Ibezim and Ifeanyi Araraume.

Bala Mohammed fails to deliver Das to PDP

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State at the weekend failed to deliver Das State Constituency to the PDP. The candidate of the APC, Bala Ali Lukshi won the by-election held on Saturday in Dass local government area of Bauchi State.

Declaring the results Saturday, the Returning Officers, Professor Ahmed Muhammad announced that Lukshi of the APC scored 12,299 to defeat Lawal Bala Wundi of the PDP, who polled 11,062.

Reacting, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, enjoined members and supporters of his party to accept defeat with dignity and sportsmanship.

The governor in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mukhtar Gidado, described the loss of the PDP as a will of God.

PDP wins in Cross River

The PDP was yesterday declared winner of the two by-elections conducted in Cross River State by INEC. The candidate of the PDP, Dr Stephen Odey, was yesterday declared winner of the Cross River North Senatorial by-election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Ameh Akoh of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi, who announced the result, said Odey scored 129,207 votes to defeat eight other candidates.

Akoh said the candidate of the APC, Mr Joe Agi (SAN) scored 19,165 votes to emerge second while the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Mr Gregory Agam, came third with 388 votes.

The senatorial by-election followed the death of Sen. Rose Oko.

The PDP’s candidate, Mrs Maria Akwaji, also won the Obudu State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly. Akwaji polled a total of 32,166 votes to defeat her closest rival, Mr Abor Adaji, of the APC who scored 3,546 votes.

Dickson wins Bayelsa West senatorial by-election

A former governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson of the PDP was yesterday declared winner of Bayelsa West Senatorial District by-election.

According to the result announced by the returning officer, Dickson polled a total of 115,257 votes to defeat his closest rival, Peremobowei Ebebi of the APC who polled a total of 17,500 votes.

PDP leads as INEC declares Bakura by- election inconclusive

INEC has declared Saturday’s state assembly constituency by- election held in Bakura local government area of Zamfara state inconclusive.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Ibrahim Magawata said the decision followed the cancellation of results of 14 polling units in Bakura ward with 11,429 votes.

Magawata announced that the candidate of the APC, Alhaji Bello Dankande Gamji scored 16,464 votes while Alhaji Ibrahim Tudu of the PDP got 18,645 votes.

Meanwhile, two INEC adhoc staff were declared missing during the by-election. In its reaction, the PDP has asked the Returning Officer in the Bakura Constituency by-election in Zamfara State, Prof. Ibrahim Magatawa to step aside.

The Returning Officer had declared the last Saturday’s by-election in the constituency inconclusive and ordered a rerun while the PDP was in early lead.

The PDP in a statement on Sunday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said to make such a declaration in an election “already won by the PDP is to enable the APC gain upper hand over the PDP.”

Results show APC remains chosen party – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the results from the Saturday by-elections across the country showed that the ruling APC remained the chosen party of Nigerians.

President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, welcomed the by-elections results with a promise that the APC would not fail the nation

The president, who congratulated the successful candidates, said that he was particularly “very pleased” with the election outcomes.

He urged the party to uphold the spirit of hard work, unity, progress, cooperation which he said formed the bedrock of the victories.

Buhari said: “Results coming from the states of the long list of by-elections show definitely that our party, the All Progressives Congress, remains the chosen party of Nigerians.”

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, has warned that they would not tolerate “unpatriotic elements” that want to take actions that will jeopardize national security, saying that that the service would ensure that the unity and corporate existence of the country remained sacrosanct.

The DG, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the graduation ceremony for participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course at the National Institute for Security Studies, called on individuals and groups to join hands with security and other law enforcement agencies to enthrone peace and order in the country.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that a total of 50 participants drawn from the security and intelligence sector, para-military, and other agencies graduated from the 10-month course, which commenced at the NISS on February 10.

Among the graduands, who were awarded fellow, security institute, were two participants from Ghana, and The Gambia.

Bichi enjoined the graduands to bring the knowledge acquired during the period of their study to bear on their various places of work, in a bid to enhance security and public safety.

He reminded those criticising the security agencies over the insecurity across the nation that it was difficult to enter places of worship or relaxation centres without apprehension of what may likely happen, a few years ago.

“We must not let selfish people with greedy interest destroy our collective heritage.

“We must not allow unpatriotic elements to bring our country down. So, let us unite individually and collectively to address our challenges, and build a better nation for ourselves, our children and their generation.

“We all have contributions to make in ensuring that Nigeria becomes safe, peaceful and developed”, he said.

* Zero budgetary allocation in 5 years

A visit to the 45-year-old Port Harcourt zoo shows that the once bubbling zoo which housed varieties of animals in the 80s and 90s can now boast of only six hungry looking animals and 10 birds. Infrastructural facilities are also in a state of disrepair.

The Port Harcourt zoo, which was first opened to the public in 1975, has become a shadow of itself given its dilapidated structures, dirty environment and empty cages.

The zoo has since become a parking lot for numerous customers who go to the Slaughter Market to transact one business or the other. Staff of the zoo have taken advantage of its spacious premises to make quick money from motorists who park their vehicles there for a token.

A first visitor to the zoo, located directly opposite the popular Slaughter Market, is greeted by the rustic and filthy cages. The poor drainage system in the zoo makes the compound vulnerable to erosion. The premises is always flooded after a little rainfall.

A lot of cages are empty, worn out and rusty, while the environment is filthy and unkempt. A greater part of the compound has been overtaken by weeds, a situation that exposes it to invasion of dangerous reptiles.

The once bubbling Port Harcourt zoo, which was a great attraction and tourist site for kids who grew up in the Garden city in the 80s and early 90s, now boasts of two hungry looking gorillas, two monkeys and two crocodiles. There are 10 birds comprising of two geese, one ostrich, two eagles, two turtles and three peacocks.

The only surviving lion in the zoo, according to the zoo guide, was moved out in April because of poor feeding while the huge python died in February.

The tour guide said the lion was moved out of the zoo during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Port Harcourt as a result of the inability of the zoo officials to feed it.

Directly opposite a makeshift store which houses a mini restaurant is a house were two embalmed lions were kept.

The two lions, according to the zoo official, were killed and embalmed because they attacked and killed one of their caregivers several years ago.

“They are displayed in that building as a monument for posterity. We now use it as a tourist attraction for visitors,” stated another official of the zoo.

The official attributed the poor state of the zoo to negligence by successive administrations in the state.

A resident of Port Harcourt, Gloria Uwachukwu, who spoke with our reporter, expressed dismay over the poor state of the zoo.

“There were so many animals in the zoo before such as lions, chimpanzee, gorillas, python, ostrich, elephant, crocodile and so on, which attracted people to the zoo, and it was generating money for the state. I am disappointed at the level of neglect the zoo has suffered. Previous administrations in the state did not deem it fit to fix the zoo or do anything about it.

“Before now, the zoo was the cynosure of all eyes given its strategic location. People from far and wide converged here mostly on weekends to ease off stress and enjoy life with their families in a natural environment,” he said.

He commended Governor Nyesom Wike for his recent move to reconstruct the zoo.

Another resident of Port Harcourt, who simply gave his name as Bala, said the zoo at some point became a hideout for street urchins.

“The poor state of the zoo made it vulnerable for urchins to use as hideout to carry out their nefarious activities. They run into the place the moment they rob people. If you look around, you find out that the place is not secured and that is the reason why you see all manner of people here. This is not what a zoo should look like. There is no wild life; what you have there are few animals and birds,” he said.

The People’s Democratic Party on Sunday described as wicked and devilish, the beheading of farmers by insurgents on Saturday in Zabarmari, Borno State.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said Nigeria appeared to be on auto pilot with no one in charge while the ship of state continued to drift.

The PDP expressed shock at the development and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to step up efforts at improving the security situation in the country.

The party said it was distressed by the escalated killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians by insurgents, bandits and marauders, who have continued to ravage and pillage communities in the country.

“The PDP is particularly disturbed because of the failure of the Buhari Presidency to take decisive action despite series of concerns raised by Borno state governor, Baba Gana Zulum, of security compromises in the state.

“The Buhari administration appears helpless while our national security structure under President Buhari seems to have collapsed.

“Mr. President should immediately move to Zabarmari in Borno State, empathize with the families of the victims and lead from the front in restoring security in the area,” the PDP said.

When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekina Nabena, asked our correspondent to forward the PDP’s statement to him before he could react. Though obliged, he did not react as of the time of filing this report.

Two months after they suffered from a fire incident at their Oka, Umudike Mbano home, deaf and dumb couple are yet to get proper medical attention.

Thursday May 28, 2020 started as a normal day for the family of 32-year-old Uzochukwu and Mrs Ihuaku Igbokwe (25) in their one-room apartment barely enough to contain a 3 by 6 feet bed located in their family compound in the agrarian community of Oka, Umudike Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

While Uzochukwu went off early to the farm, his heavily-pregnant wife stayed back to attend to house chores. As the days wore on, it was briefly interrupted by a light shower, prompting Uzochukwu to come back home sooner than expected. With the approach of dawn, the couple relaxed outside, communicating as usual in their sign language, while their daughter Ugochi was lying inside the room. But tragedy struck at about 9pm. Ihuaku had gotten up to light the lantern whose oil had gone low.

However, hell was let loose as she struck the matches, there was bedlam as the room was engulfed by a raging flame. Uzochukwu, who was outside could not immediately fathom what was happening because of his limitation, but as he turned round, he saw his room engulfed in fire.

He rushed inside to rescue his wife and daughter who where at that time fighting for their lives however, before the duo could be rescued, they had suffered various degrees of burns. Ihuaku, with her pregnancy, suffered severe burns on her chest and abdomen while the worse affected was Ugochi, who suffered about 75 per cent burns all over the body. Uzochukwu’s uncle, Peter Nwanguma, who narrated the incident when Daily Trust Saturday visited the family penultimate Thursday, said the shout attracted other members of the family who came to their rescue.

According to him, the victims were initially taken to Joint Hospital Mbano, where they were referred to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu, but were curiously rejected by the authorities.

Nwanguma, who is a staff of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, said, “Immediate the fire started, we rushed in to put it off and rescue them. “We removed their clothes and rushed them to Joint Hospital Mbano for the initial treatment because the burns were too much. “There, we were given a referral letter to IMSUTH Orlu, but to our amazement, they were rejected.

Nwanguma, who showed our correspondent the referral letter, said that they had no other option than to bring them back home where they have been receiving treatment locally since then.

The referral letter from the Mbano Joint Hospital to Burns and Plastic Unit of IMSUTH Orlu, stated that the victims suffered from kerosene explosion while trying to refill a lantern. The letter further stated that the hospital has tried to give them initial resuscitation and asked IMSUTH to take over.

He expressed surprise at the action of IMSUTH authorities. However, it was not all sorrow for the family as Ihuaku was on June 29 delivered of a bouncing baby boy.

Nwanguma described the birth of Baby Chima as miraculous as the grieving mother delivered the baby right in their home with the help of women around. He said the plight of the family was brought to limelight by a Facebook user, who visited them.

Since then, he said, a lot of people have been to the house to offer one assistance or the other. Indeed, it was a sorrowful sight as little Ugochi lay on a foam covered with a net to prevent flies from feasting on her wounds.

A woman guide, who accompanied our correspondent to the Igbokwe family, was moved to tears when a fly entered the net. Ugochi tried to draw the attention of her parents, but they could not hear her until their attention was drawn to her shrill cries. With no hope of any medical attention, the Igbokwes have taken their plight as fate.

Right now, Baby Chima cannot be breastfed as his mother’s two breasts are still covered with wounds. For now, the baby has to rely on baby milk for sustenance. All efforts to get the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Damaris Osunkwo, were unsuccessful.

Calls to her phone by our correspondent were unanswered. However, her counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the state government is unaware of the plight of the family. He however promised to get all the necessary information and further act accordingly.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election, yesterday, met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on how to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming election.

The Chairman of the council and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the party was confident of victory for Gov. Godwin Obaseki. Gov. Wike who presided over the meeting, said Edo electorate was desirous to consolidate the democratic gains the various elective representatives of the party had provided for it.

Those who attended the meeting were Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), members of the campaign council, chairmen and secretaries of all sub-committees of Edo 2020. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Gov. Fintiri said the meeting adopted the best strategies to retain “what rightly belongs to PDP”.

Fintiri who is the deputy chairman of the campaign council said they would leave no stone unturned in working with Edo people to deepen democracy. He said, “The election is already on the table for PDP. We have a sellable candidate, who is Gov. Godwin Obaseki. Nigerians are moving forward with democracy and we have to deepen it together.

“Technically, Edo is a PDP state, because in the last election of 2019, we actually won all the elections. So, it is not coming as a surprise that Gov. Obaseki has to shift ground from APC to join us. “Now, we are putting all the forces together, and there is nothing that’s left behind. So Edo is completely a PDP state and we are going in there to win the election.”

The Chairman of the Publicity Committee for Edo 2020, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said Edo people were convinced that Gov. Obaseki was the best candidate in the race.

Our correspondent reports that since the inauguration of the 77-member campaign council by PDP NWC on July 7, 2020, in Abuja, yesterday’s meeting was the first.

The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and the National Assembly management are set on a collision course over the retirement age of staff members.

The commission had asked the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and 150 other management staff to proceed on retirement having reached the retirement period of 35 years of service.

But Mr Sani-Omolori said the National Assembly Service Commission lacks the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly

.Sani-Omolori, who joined the National Assembly Service in 1985, is due for retirement. But he remains in service following the alteration of retirement age and length of service for staff members.

The 8th National Assembly had, through a resolution, amended the conditions of service, raising the retirement period for staff from 35 to 40 years in service while retirement age was upgraded from 60 to 65 years.

‘Only N/Assembly can review amendment’

Mr Sani-Omolori, in a statement on Wednesday, said only the National Assembly has the power to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.

He said the Resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff had not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly.

According to him, the commission lacked the powers to reverse the resolution.

Sani-Omolori said, “the Management of the National Assembly wishes to inform all staff and the general public that the extant regulation as contained in our Revised Conditions of Service duly passed by both Chambers of the 8th National Assembly puts the retirement age of staff at 40 years of service and 65 years of age whichever comes first.

“The Resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff has not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly, who under the authentic National Assembly Service Act 2014 as passed is empowered to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.

“Therefore, the National Assembly Service Commission does NOT have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly.

“The Management had maintained a studied silence in deference to the leadership of the 9th National Assembly who is looking into the position being canvassed by the Commission.

“It is therefore intriguing that the National Assembly Service Commission has unilaterally gone ahead to take a ‘decision’.

“Management urges all staff to disregard the press release by the Commission and go about their lawful duties.”

Retirement

In a statement signed by the NASC Executive Chairman, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, the commission approved the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.

The report reads, “Pursuant to its mandate as provided in the National Assembly Service Act 2014 (as amended), the National Assembly Service Commission at its 497th meeting held on Wednesday 15th July 2020 has approved the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.

“To this effect the Commission has approved the immediate retirement of staff of the National Assembly Service who have already attained the retirement age of 35 years of service or 60 years of age.

“Retirement letters would be issued to the affected staff accordingly.”

The presidency, on Tuesday, alleged that the volume and reach of the anti-corruption crusade so far reflected what the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, left behind.

A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said this while reacting to issues raised by the PDP since the beginning of the interrogation of suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, who is an African Union anti-corruption champion, would not fail Nigerians in the ongoing fight against graft.

He noted that Buhari had assured all Nigerians that he would not be deterred by baseless criticisms by the opposition in his determination to eradicate rampant and chronic corruption.

Shehu, while fielding questions from State House reporters, alleged that corruption became so normalized by the PDP that they had difficulty defining what is “corruption” and “theft”.

He lauded Buhari’s determination to end corruption in the country as responsible for the number of highly publicized charges and cases.

“A large number of cases, new and old, may appear to be daunting but PDP, which is now heckling the President, has forgotten that the party bequeathed this to the current administration.

“They had a large number of cases they did not investigate and prosecute,” he said. Shehu also cautioned the PDP to allow the process of investigation and prosecution to work instead of being preemptive about ongoing cases and unduly agitating the public.

Almost five months after the country confirmed its first case of the pandemic on February 27, 2020, a total of 30,748 cases have been recorded while 12,546 persons who had contracted the virus have been discharged and 689 deaths recorded, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCNC) daily update.

Confirmed cases have been on the increase despite the war waged against the pandemic by both federal and state governments. The country’s index, an Italian who returned from Milan, Italy, through the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos survived the virus. In line with medical ethics, the identities of persons who had contracted the virus and those who lost their lives to it are not made public by the NCDC.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that of the deaths recorded as a result of the pandemic, there are many politicians and influential personalities. However, only the statuses of few of them were made known to the public.

Since March 23 when the first death, involving a prominent person, a 67-year-old Suleiman Achimugu, an engineer and former managing director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), was recorded, prominent politicians including a former governor, ministers, lawmakers, party chieftains, among others, have lost their lives. Top among them was the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari.

Abba Kyari

It all started from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the country’s seat of power, when Kyari who was appointed Chief of Staff in August, 2015 by President Buhari tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24.

The 67-year-old presidential aide battled with the pandemic until April 17 when he succumbed to complications arising from it at the First Cardiology Consultants, a private hospital in Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

He was buried at the Gudu cemetery, Abuja, on April 18. The late influential presidential aide was said to have contracted the virus in Germany, where he visited for talks with top officials of Siemens, a German energy firm, on issues around the power sector.

Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo

Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo (APC, Lagos East) reportedly died of coronavirus at the First Cardiology Consultants, the same hospital where Kyari died. Osinowo who was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years, died on June 15 at the age of 64.

On Wednesday, the Senate held a valedictory session in his honour, where his colleagues extolled his heroic contribution to the development of the country’s democracy. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the late Osinowo left a very deep impression that he was a friendly, jovial and unassuming person, even though he accomplished so much.

Abiola Ajimobi

The immediate past governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, died on June 25 following complications arising from the pandemic at 70.

While battling with the virus, Ajimobi was declared as the acting chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after the Court of Appeal upheld the suspension of its estranged former chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Between 2003 and 2007, Ajimobi under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, served as Senator representing Oyo South.

In 2011, he won the Oyo State governorship election under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was re-elected for a second term in 2015, making him the first governor in the history of Oyo State to complete a two-term in office.

Suleiman Adamu

On April 30, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Suleiman Adamu died after a brief illness. It was days after his death that the sample taken from him returned positive for COVID-19. The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, confirmed that the deceased died from COVID-19 complications.

Governor Sule said: “The deceased was admitted at Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Keffi. He had symptoms of coronavirus, his sample was taken, but before it was out, he died and was buried. His result came out positive on Saturday (May 3).”

Two Borno lawmakers

Two members of the Borno State House of Assembly; Umar Audi Jauro and Wakil Bukar, were also said to have died of coronavirus pandemic in May.

Reports from the state quoted sources as confirming that the deceased lawmakers died due to the pandemic.

Shuaibu Danlami

A staff of Gombe Government House, Shuaibu Danlami, a director for special services and politics at the office of the SSG and a member of the state taskforce on COVID-19 died of the virus on May 31.

His death forced the state government to shut down the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the Government House Clinic for disinfection.

The chairman of the COVID-19 taskforce in Gombe, Professor Idris Mohammed confirmed that the deceased died of coronavirus.

Wahab Adegbenro

Ondo State Commissioner of Health, Wahab Adegbenro has died of COVID- 19 complications.

A family source told The Cable, an online news platform that Adegbenro died at the state’s infectious diseases hospital on July 2 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

The late Adegbenro is a native of Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Aminu Adisa Logun

Aminu Adisa Logun, was the Chief of staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State until Tuesday, July 7, when he died of COVID-19 complications.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, “Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from COVID-19. He died only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive.”

Daily Trust Saturday reports that a seven-day mourning declared in honour of the late Chief of Staff would end on Monday. Logun was a pioneer industrialist in Ilorin and an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. He hailed from Ilorin, the state capital.

Tunde Buraimoh

The latest COVID-19 casualty in the political scene was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Buraimoh who died early hours of yesterday (Friday). The cause of his death was yet to be formally announced as at the time this report was filed but one of his colleagues said he died of COVID-19.

Buraimoh, a one-time Chairman of Kosofe Local Government was serving his second term in the legislative house and was the chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy. Sources close to him said he might have contracted it from late the Senator Osinowo as he was one of his confidants. They were both political leaders in Lagos East Senatorial District especially Kosofe.

“We have been battling it for a while now before his sudden demise. It is so sad we eventually lost him. It is assumed he might have contracted the virus from the late Pepperito with whom you are much aware he was a close confidant, it is confirmed he died of COVID-19,” a lawmaker confirmed. The development, it was learnt, created fears and panic in the 40-member house.

Magu ran EFCC like cult – Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly has said the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was running the anti-graft agency like a cult.

Sani who is under probe by the EFCC took to his Facebook page on Wednesday, to celebrate Magu’s arrest. “Contrary to the facade you see from the outside, the EFCC has been run by an inside cult called ‘the Magu Boys’ or ‘the Chairman Squad.’ “They are a select cream of vicious and cruel officers who operate exclusively and with impunity and only report directly to their boss.

“The inside cult is the dark and immoral aspect of the agency engaged in persecution, blackmail, frame-ups, and cruelty. “The cult has been the wheel behind the ordeal of their embattled Boss. “Until they are rooted out from the agency too, I believe a lot of revelations will keep coming from other marginalized and honest officers in the so-called anti-corruption agency,” Sani posted.

Amend EFCC laws – Okorie

A former presidential candidate and elder statesman, Chief Chekwas Okorie has said Magu’s treatment fell short of international best practices and urged the federal government to amend the laws establishing the EFCC. Okorie in a telephone chat with Daily Trust Saturday yesterday expressed worry that all those who headed EFCC have all run into one trouble or another. “I’m a bit disturbed about Mr Magu’s arrest and detention.

The process was not very tidy to the best of my assessment. And since it is not an investigation as such according to the Presidency, it is a panel for him to clarify certain things he was alleged to have done. “Now, considering how these things are done in a civilised environment, the panel of inquiry is usually a public affair.

People are given the opportunity to watch questions that are asked and answers that are given. But if it is a private investigation, nobody wants to make public the investigation until the matter is charged to court. “But this is a panel of inquiry, so being done behind-closed-doors also raises certain doubts.

Some are of the view that government does not want a situation where Magu will make public a statement that could embarrass it, or that there is some conspiracy somewhere.

“So my strong suggestion is that it is time to look at the laws establishing the EFCC itself so that they can be more independent and report directly to Mr President. Being such an important anti-corruption agency, it shouldn’t be exposed further to third parties.

So I suggest that, that Act be looked at, again. “Everybody knows that Mr President has given Magu, all the support to achieve what he is now being credited with. But I think where the problem has being is the third party. “The office of the Attorney General also create this type of problem. It has always been the issue of Attorney General coming into the affairs of the EFCC that problems set in,” Chief Okorie said.

Magu was used as stooge by cabal – Dr Tanko

A former national chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yunusa Tanko has said a cabal in the polity has used and dumped Magu.

He said that due process needed to be followed in terms of putting officers in place and removing them, especially, in positions of integrity. Dr Tanko who spoke in a telephone chat with our reporter yesterday said, “The truth is that Magu was being used as a stooge by those that be.

Now they have finished using him and they are discarding him.” “Honestly, there are issues that have been raised for quite a long time now that Magu has not been able to reconcile what he collected and what is in the media.

“Therefore, those who have already made him and defended him are those that have found him not useful anymore, so they discarded him,” he said. “We can’t continue to use and dump people when we don’t need them anymore,” he added.

Magu must face prosecution – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu must be made to face prosecution.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, argued that “the revelations” of diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other sleazes, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as the report of the Department of State Services (DSS) were good reasons for his prosecution.

The party said that Magu’s indictment reinforced its position that the much-hyped war against corruption by the EFCC, under his watch, has been a huge scam by corrupt individuals to cover the plundering of public resources, harass political opponents, intimidate and extort money from innocent Nigerians.

The statement asked President Buhari to enforce the law by directing relevant agencies to commence actions that would lead to Magu’s prosecution in the court. “The development has also exposed why corruption has worsened under the Buhari administration, as documented by a credible international organization, including Transparency International (TI).

“It is a big embarrassment to our nation, that the head of the anti-corruption agency in an administration led by the African Union (AU) anti-corruption champion and which prides itself on zero tolerance for corruption, is being dragged in allegation of looting recovered fund and other barefaced frauds,” the party said.

The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Thursday advised the federal government to urgently call a meeting of West African countries, and the regional examination body, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), over the impasse on 2020 West African Senior School Certification Examination (WASSCE).

The group said instead of denying the students a complete session, the examination can be managed in a way that the health of the students would not be compromised.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin spoke against the backdrop of the decision of the federal government to reverse the reopening of schools.

It would be recalled that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had announced the reopening of schools for students preparing for primary 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3 examinations. On the basis of the announcement, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on Monday, announced that the WASSCE would hold from August 3 to September 5.

But on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Mall. Adamu Adamu issued a counter directive, saying schools would no longer reopen and that the WASSCE could not hold for now. But Afenifere was furious that the counter directive by the education minister was “yet another reason to know that we are burdened with a disintegrated government in Nigeria.”

Afenifere said since August 3 is still a bit far, “Nigeria should call a meeting of the West African countries involved and WAEC to manage the examinations in the interest of the students without compromising their health. “This is how the government should run to show it cares for the public.

The way our officials conduct themselves is becoming just too shameful. “We advise Mr President to manage his men so that our students are not made to lose a session to the ego fights of our officials,” Odumakin said in the statement. Afenifere stated that it was not comprehensible

“That the PTF would go and announce that schools should go and resume without consultation with the ministry of education, and that the minister will come on TV and be stamping his feet ‘nobody will tell us when we are to open until we are ready,’ if we have an integrated government.