Anti-Corruption Ambassador: Ekweremadu Media Team Reacts To EFCC Denial

The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, denying that the agency decorated the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as its Anti-Corruption Ambassador.

We want to put it on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, and his team, applied for and susbsequently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy President of the Senate in his Office on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.

Mr. Bakari, amongst other issues he raised, solicited the support of the Senate and National Assembly towards the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration, and even presented a frame with a bold picture of President Muhammadu Buhari, bearing the inscription: “If we dont kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.

Mr. Bakari also, on behalf of the Acting Chairman, management, and staff of the EFCC decorated Senator Ekweremadu as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador of the EFCC.

His words: “It is, therefore my honour, Your Excellency, to on behalf of my Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as

Saraki Seeks CCT Chair’s Withdrawal From Trial

Embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki has asked Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), to withdraw himself from his trial for alleged false declaration of assets, according to latest reports from TheCable.

In an application filed by Raphael Oluyede, Saraki’s lawyer, and seen by TheCable, the senate president asked Umar to disqualify himself from the case on the grounds that he was biased.

The application, which was filed on Wednesday at the CCT, read in part: “An order disqualifying/recusing the Honourable Justice Danladi Umar (Chairman of this tribunal) from sitting on the panel of this tribunal for hearing and determination of the charges filed in these proceedings for the reason that his continued presence on the said panel of this tribunal offends the provisions of section 36 (1) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which prescribes that ‘In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.’

It also read: “A likelihood of bias by the tribunal against the appellant… undermines and withdraws from the tribunal, the jurisdiction which it is normally endowed….”

In March, Saraki had filed an application asking the judge to declare he had no jurisdiction to hear the matter. But Umar dismissed his application and ordered the commencement of trial.

Fayose On Why He Endorsed Modu Sheriff’s Emergence As PDP Chair

Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has hailed the emergence of former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling on all members and supporters of the party to support the new chairman.

Vanguard Newspaper reports that Governor Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the choice of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was in the best interest of the party.

He said; “I have always defended the party even at the risk of my position, personal security and comfort. I have always stood for the truth, and I cannot now be part of any decision that won’t represent the party well.

“I supported the processes that led to the emergence of Ali Modu Sheriff because I believe in

BREAKING: Supreme Court Sacks Senators Andy Ubah, Stella Oduah, Others

Senator Andy Ubah

Senator Stella Oduah

Nigeria’s Supreme Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, sacked the remaining senators and members of the House of Representatives from Anambra State.

The decision swept away a host of lawmakers from Anambra State, including the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Stella Oduah and her counterpart representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Ubah. Also affected are members of the House of Representatives elected on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Chris Uba, younger brother to Andy Uba, and Prince Emeka are expected to take over seats vacated by Andy Uba and Stella Oduah respectively.

Former Senator Annie Okonkwo is in line to represent the PDP in a forthcoming election to fill a senatorial seat held by Uche Ekwunife who was sacked last December by the Court of Appeal.

Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court upheld an earlier decision by Justice Chukwu of the Federal High Court laying out the proper procedures for selection of the PDP’s legislative candidates.

In December 2014, the Federal High Court had ruled that it was only the constitutionally recognized state party leadership led by Ejike Oguebego that could organize the party primaries.

The Supreme Court’s ruling today, reaffirmed the High Court’s verdict, declaring that the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP executive had the sole right to hold the primaries in Anambra State.

Mrs. Obiano Doles out Houses to Widows

Wife of the Anambra State governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano may have opened a new vista in humanizing governance in Nigeria as she handed keys to three functional bungalows to three widows spread across three communities of Anambra State on Thursday.

The gesture forms a part of the central thrust of Chief Mrs. Obiano’s NGO, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE) which the wife of the governor established as an interventionist organ that makes critical interventions in the lives of society’s vulnerable members like widows, women, children, the mentally and physically challenged and the destitute.

Handing the house over to indigent widows in Alor, Agulu and Nri communities in Idemili South and Anaocha Local Government Areas respectively, Chief Mrs. Obiano said that the houses were the fulfilment of a dream nurtured by faith.

“This is the fulfillment of a promise I made after I observed the living conditions of some