Bukola Saraki: Why Senator shunned APC Senate mock primary election

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Read Time:1 Minute, 54 Second

Senator Bukola Saraki, who boycotted the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) mock primary organised to elect a Senate President, has given reasons to his action.

Saraki is in the race to becoming the eighth Assembly Senate President.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Saraki said the party adopted a voting pattern that is “undemocratic and against universal electoral norms and practice.”

Similarly, in a statement signed by senator-elect Dino Melaye and senator-elect Ahmed Rufai Sani, on behalf of ‘senators-elect of Like Minds’ reads:

 “We the senators-Elect of Like Minds today 6TH of June 2015, on the invitation of our party, attended an interactive meeting with selected 5 members from each group, the Unity Forum and the Like Minds Group.

“Regrettably, the Unity Forum insisted on open ballot voting which we discovered is different from the electoral process used to conduct the earlier election with the House of Representatives members elect. To us, this open ballot voting is primitive; undemocratic and against universal electoral norms and practice.

“In the light of the above, we the Senators elect of Like Minds hereby insist on our position of Open Secret voting process which we believe is in consonance with the provisions of the electoral act, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the universal electoral values.

“As responsible citizens of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and leaders in our own right, we have resolved and hereby state that we shall not be part of a process that promotes undemocratic electoral process that may resort to rancorous and uncivil situations which inhibits the rights of individuals to vote for the candidate of their choice, as this process will further divide us than unite members of our party.

“In conclusion we the Senators-Elect of Like Minds wish to state categorically that we will participate only in the constitutional election scheduled for Tuesday, the 9th of June 2015 in line with the rules of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We by this press release invite the media to a joint press conference by the 65 Senators-Elect of Like Minds drawn from across party lines on Monday morning, the 8th of June 2015"

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Abuja prostitutes protest incessant arrest by officials

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Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

More than 500 commercial sex workers in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, took to the streets protesting the incessant and indiscriminate arrests and extortion of their members by the FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management, reports say.

The prostitutes under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes (NANP), expressed their anger after more than 3,000 of their members were arrested in various raids in the last three months by the FCT officials in different parts of the capital city.

Parading the town with different placards with inscriptions like:

'Ashewo work na work'; 'Allow us to hustle for our daily bread'; and 'Legalize prostitution now', the scarlet ladies showed their dismay at the way their members are molested daily by different task forces and security operatives.

One of the ladies who said her name is Loveth, narrated their experiences to our source:

"We are Nigerians too and we only go about seeking our daily livelihood, so I see no reason why they should be harassing, arresting us and extorting money from us.

These same men are the ones who patronize us but during the day, they will be molesting us.

What crimes have we committed? Many of us are graduates who could not secure jobs, so we hustle to make ends meet. We have families and responsibilities to meet, so they should allow us to work and make money.

Many of us do not like selling ourselves for money but what can we do? We are not thieves; we are not members of the political class who steal Nigeria's money. If the government want us to stop what we are doing, they should provide jobs for us. We are tired of the daily harassment.

Enough is enough; prostitution should be legalized in Nigeria."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: David Mark’s Senate says goodbye

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Read Time:31 Second

The Seventh Senate led by Senate President, David Mark has wound down after four years.

The upper legislative house adjourned indefinitely on Thursday, June 4, 2015, after a valedictory session attended by the 107 outgoing senators.

According to Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, the Seventh Senate considered and passed 123 out of the 591 bills presented during its tenure.

In his farewell message, the Senate President accepted full responsibility for all the shortcomings recorded by the upper house in the last four years.

The Seventh Senate, on Wednesday, June 3, made history when it passed 45 bills in 10 minutes prior to its exit.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Buhari Inauguration: Committee member allegedly pockets N500m ceremony fund

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Read Time:1 Minute, 58 Second

About N500 million in funds set aside for the inauguration ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari has gone missing, according to reports.

The money, which is meant for the payment of ushers and other service providers, was allegedly cornered by a member of the presidential transition committee, according to The Nation.

The ushers, numbering about 50, are said to have been left stranded in Abuja due to the non-payment of their wages.

Also being owed are some traditional artistes hired to perform at the event while about N300million incurred as “aviation-related expenditure” has also reportedly been left unpaid.

The money for the payments was said to have been released to an official who decided to use it as an “exit package,” The Nation adds in its report.

“We do not know the whereabouts of over N500million meant to settle some bills. Some members of the inauguration committee have bolted away with it,” a source said.

“In fact out of the N500million, there is an embarrassing debt of about N300million which is yet to be settled. The aviation-related expenses had to do with the movement of facilities for visiting Heads of State and foreign dignitaries. We are busy shuttling between the Office of the SGF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with no one claiming responsibility,” the source added.

“If the government scrutinizes the records of other sub-committees, more dirty deals will be uncovered. Some inauguration committee members took advantage of the outgoing administration to divert public funds,” he said.

The source spoke further on the predicament of the ushers saying:

“We engaged over 150 ushers, especially unemployed graduates and married women, but there is no money to pay them. We had votes for the payment of the stipends but some officials diverted same. The ushers are stranded, they do not know who to contact for their stipends. Those who recruited them have left office.”

“It is sad that we stayed under the scorching sun for hours without being paid our stipends. This is just unfortunate. We want the new administration to look into the diversion of stipends meant for innocent citizens like us,” one of the ushers said.

Buhari was sworn in on Friday, May 29, and a sum of N2.7billion was budgeted for the ceremony.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, Surrenders to EFCC over £978m Case

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Read Time:40 Second

FORMER Borno State governor and alleged Boko Haram financier Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has handed himself in to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the agency threatened to declare him wanted over a N300bn (£978m) corruption scandal.

Alhaji Sheriff was governor between 2003 and 2011 and is said to have amassed a fortune during his time in office, which partly contributed to the neglect that gave Boko Haram a fertile ground with which to grow. One of Nigeria's wealthiest men, in 2013, Alhaji Sheriff purchased a top-of-the-range Gulfstream G650 private jet at a whopping cost of N11.5bn ($72m) bringing the total number of aircrafts in his private fleet to four.

One of President BUHARI's daughter is married to Sheriff's son

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Police uncover fake currency factory in Ibadan

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Read Time:2 Minute, 30 Second

The Oyo State Police Command has discovered a place in a remote village of Ibadan, where thousands of fake pounds, euros, dollars and other foreign currencies were being produced.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Katsina, said that the discovery was made by the command’s ambush squad in a village called Ojoku in Badeku, Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state. The police described the area as fast transforming to an abode for criminals, having earlier served as a kidnappers’ den.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the crime on Monday, discovered that the police had cordoned off the compound shielded by tall trees and thick bushes.

Two Toyota Camry cars with number plate AA 125 DK and AA 207 DH and a Nissan Almera lift back model with number plate AGL 882 DF were found in the compound, which was fenced with corrugated iron sheets.

Several notes of fake foreign currencies littered the ground.

Apart from being a fake currency factory, the place also served as a shrine where several criminal activities were perpetrated.

There are two houses in the compound with at least six rooms adorned with various statues to give the impression that the place is being used as a shrine. The walls were decorated with the group’s description of gods to scare victims.

Ismail Adesina, 43, who was arrested at the scene, said he did not know anything about the currencies and that the owners had escaped.

He said he was a herbalist and that he had been involved in several financial crimes under the pretext of helping victims to cure ailments and barrenness.

Adesina added that the owners of the three vehicles were canvassers who combed the town to woo customers.

He said, “I am a herbalist and I inherited the skill from my father. I am also a conman. I cured diabetes, barrenness, blindness and other ailments. I have cured many people. My partner, who escaped yesterday, knows how the currencies were produced. Taju and Wasiu are my other partners. We have been here for about four years. We collected varying sums of money from our victims but we do not kidnap people. We bought the land in the bush and built the houses. I am a native of Beyerunka in Ibadan. The names of our victims are with my partners.”

Adesina said his wife had left him and taken his child away because he could not provide for them.

He added that he had bought a car from the proceeds of criminal activities but had to sell it. Asked if his father also taught him how to swindle people through fake healing, Adesina said that he was a genuine herbalist before he took to the crime.

The police said apart from taken money from their victims, the suspects also devised a way of gagging them by taking their nude pictures and threaten to release them if they failed to keep the secret.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Impeached Vice Speaker in 7th Assembly becomes House Speaker in 8th Assembly

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Read Time:1 Minute, 11 Second

The member representing Mbamnga State Constituency in the Taraba 8th Assembly, Abel Diah, on Wednesday, June 3 emerged as Speaker.

Diah, who was a Deputy Speaker in the 7th Assembly, was impeached in 2013 by the house.

He was chosen along with Alhaji Mohammed Gwampo from Yorro State Constituency as Deputy Speaker.

Representing Lau State Constituency, Joseph Kunini, retained his former position of Majority Leader of the house.

Diah was nominated by the member representing Lau constituency, Kunini, and was seconded by the member representing Takum I, Hosea Ibi.

The nomination was unanimously endorsed by the entire house.

Diah, who was returning to the house for the fourth time, assured members that the house under his watch would run a transparent, accountable and a resulted-orientated administration.

"We shall operate an open door policy that will welcome constructive criticisms and ensure that decisions are reached with the full consent of members.

"Our leadership will ensure that the house operates as a family in spite of the different political parties which were just a platform for our recruitment into the house," he said in his acceptance speech.

The new speaker also pledged that the house will support the executive to ensure that peace returns to the state.

Pulse recalls that the leadership of the House under Haruna Gbana as Speaker and Diah as his deputy was impeached in 2013 over alleged financial misappropriation.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Psychiatrist says Nigerians are prone to mental illnesses given security challenges

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Read Time:1 Minute, 44 Second

A Psychiatrist, Dr. Gbenga Okulate, says the present security challenges facing the nation has grave consequences on the mental health of some Nigerians.

Okulate, who is also a consultant, said this in Lagos on Wednesday, June 3, at an Ordinary General Meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba chapter.

The theme of the meeting is: "Security Challenges and the Impact on Nigerian Families.’’

"Following kidnappings, armed robberies, violence, gang activities, violent attacks on people, we see all sorts of things.

"We see lots of people who thereafter begin to have difficulty sleeping, difficulty with coping with day to day activities, and they are said to have what we call stress reaction.

"If these go on for some time, then people begin to have depression, anxiety disorders, and ultimately, we do diagnose post-traumatic stress reactions in many of these persons.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people in an attempt to cope with the challenges they have gone through, security wise, then they begin to use a lot of alcohol and drugs.

"We are likely to find lots of young persons who are using serious illicit drugs, these which themselves have serious complications, and these are some of the issues we have to deal with after major security challenge.

"These are consequences of the effects of trauma of violence, war, combat, kidnappings on people’s mental health.

"However, in spite of that, what we are saying is that we must put in place some serious policies that will address these issues.’’

Also speaking, the President of the association, Dr. Jeje Oyetayo, said that the theme of the event was timely in view of the country’s security challenges.

Oyetayo said that psychiatric hospitals had been experiencing the influx of patients with mental disorder due to the security challenges.

"People who are predisposed to mental illness were most at risk of aggravated mental illnesses when they are faced with some of the security challenges,’’ he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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22 die after drinking ‘kai-kai’ and eating dog meat

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Read Time:1 Minute, 6 Second

No fewer than 22 persons have been confirmed dead in Bonny Island, Bonny, and Woji in Obio Akpor local government areas of Rivers afte drinking local gin popularly called ‘Kai-Kai’ or Ogogoro and eating ‘Dog Meat’ believed to contain inedible ethanol which is poisonous.

Simon Wilcox, a Youth leader and Spokesman for Bonny kingdom confirmed the death of 17 persons after the consumption of the toxic local brew, kai-kai imported into the Bonny Island.

He said

“As I speak to you, 17 persons have been confirmed dead. We are going to the hospital to attend those who are lying critically ill. We need the help of World Health Organization, WHO, Federal and Government agencies to assist people of Bonny kingdom."

Also, at least another five persons have been reported dead in Woji in Obio Akpor local government area after eating dog meat delicacy, popularly called ‘404’ allegedly cooked by one Friday Dickson, popularly called “Etiaba” from Akwa-Ibom state.

As at presstime there has not any reaction from the Ministry of Health on the sudden deaths due food poisoning.

Nigerians are advised to desist from drinking locally made brew as they contain harmful substance and have no quality checks done by the makers to ensure purity.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Ex-Governor questioned by EFCC over misappropriated 300bn

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Read Time:52 Second

For the second time this week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is inviting another ex-governor to answer questions bothering on misappropriation of funds during their tenure.

The ex-governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff was reportedly questioned on Wednesday, June 3 by the EFCC.

It was gathered that arrived at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC at about 6pm and was there for hours.

Report said he was questioned for over N300bn received from the Federation Account by his administration between 2003 and 2011.

The anti-graft agency had on Monday, June 1 questioned the former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, who arrived the country on Saturday, May 30.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to Punch that Modu-Sherif was at the commission’s office on Wednesday.

“I can confirm that he (Modu Sherif) is at the commission,” he said.

The EFCC, had in May, said that it would declare Modu-Sheriff wanted after he failed to honour the agency’s invitation for questioning.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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