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Petitioners seeking Nexim Bank ED’s removal tackle Senate for holding brief for her

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***Threaten to sue the Senate

Lawyers for Reform Group (LRG) have threatened to sue the Nigerian senate over its complicity and compromise in their petition against the Executive Director of Nexim Bank, Stella Okotete.
Barrister Oladotun Hassan and Myson Nejo, almost turned the Senate hearing room for its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition into a chaotic arena recently when they engaged the chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure in a shouting match for holding brief for the respondent.
Their grouse was that senator Akinyelure invited them to appear before the panel when he was aware that the NEXIM ED was out of the country and would not honour the invitation.
Even before hearing from the petitioners Akinyelure in his opening remark had stated that, “The President is free to appoint whoever he wishes into whatever position. This appointment is that of a Development bank that doesn’t require certificates.”

He added that “Mortgage and development banks can even be run by a primary six holder, unlike the commercial banks that require a lot of professionalism.”

Akinyelure further added that he is a Chartered Account and was therefore speaking from knowledge.
Senator Akinyelure further explained to them, “Since the case was already in court, the Senate might not be able to formally hear the case.

“The case is already in court but the reason I didn’t discharge the case is that I am not sure if that’s why she is here or not. She told me that she is on medical leave abroad.

“I magnanimously allowed that the case be heard. Let us wait till she comes and we would and we would hear from both parties. And if the court papers are presented before us to show that the case is in court, then we will let you go to the court to handle the case.”
The Senator also indicated that the Nexim bank ED sent a text message to the panel to inform them that she would not be available to attend the meeting as she was currently out of the country.
His arguments and positions did not go down well with the petitioners who started shouting accusing the panel of bias and lacking in transparency.

The duo had sent a petition to the National Assembly through Akinyelure, Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to look into the issue of the appointment of the ED of Nexim Bank.

The petition filed by Hassan and Nejo demanded for a reversal of Okotete’s appointment stating that she was not qualified to hold such a position.

The petition reads, “Public complaint against criminal conspiracy to wit: unimplemented 2019 senate resolution on removal recommendation, violation of the CBN’s circular to all banks and financial institutions revised assessment criteria for approved persons’ regime for financial institutions ref; fpr/dir/cir/gen/05/014 dated 15th October 2015.

“And regulations on appointment of heads of financial institutions, serial fraudulent misrepresentations on prerequisite qualifications and deceitful withholding of CBN’s statutory position, obligations and duties as the executive director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank against Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete.”

It added, “Given her lack of educational academic prerequisites and 18 years of banking service years of experience, non-professional technocratic competence and ongoing massive corruption at the Nexim bank, hence our clarion calls for her immediate replacement.”

One of the petitioners, Nejo retorted, “We don’t see the reason for coming here because you have already taken sides, defending the woman.

“If you say that the case is already in court, then you don’t need to say all of these.”
“If the Senate has done its job by monitoring things and the Central Bank of Nigeria did things rightly, there will be no need to be writing a petition.

“But things are not going in the proper manner and we have gone the extra mile to send a petition and the Senator is defending the woman, I am no longer interested in bringing this case before you.

“What we have heard from you shows that you will not give us a fair hearing because you are even telling us that the president is free to appoint whoever he pleases to appoint without the need for any certificate.

“We are telling you that we don’t want you to hear this case anymore, Mr Chairman, you’re biased sir! This is highly disappointing,” he added.

Nejo’s co-petitioner, Hassan demanded that Senator Akinyelure apologises to Nigerians or he would also sue the Senate.

He said, “ The President must have been misled over the appointment of Stella Okotete because he wouldn’t want to take Sin qua non the position of the chairman Senate Committee on Ethics and Privilege, Senator Ayo Akinyelure that further endorsed corruption. Giving corruption a bite is to put us back.

“We believe that we are supposed to be in a place where we would be moving forward but this decision in a Senate is the opposite.

“The Senate is the hope of the commonman even more than the court,” he added.

Hassan said their job was just to make the legislature see to it that the Senate resolution that was duly passed is followed through.

He added, “All we just came here for is to remind them that this was a statutory position based on a constitutional appointment by the president of the country through the Secretary-General of the Federation that do the needful,

“It shows great disrespect for us to have come from Lagos and Ondo states and we get here then you’re informing us that the other party is not here based on a text message.”

He added, “The Nexim bank is just here in Abuja but no one showed up and the senator raised the defence in absentia of the respondent.

“That shows bias, the Senate needs to apologise to us. If the Senate fails to do so, we as citizens will take the Senate on that the Senate is a total disappointment.

“We are giving the Senate through its committee on Ethics, privilege and public petition to apologize on behalf of their chairman.”

“If they fail to apologise, we will take them on as co-accomplice in our petition and if they remain a co-accomplice, it’s a huge stain on the Senate,” the lawyer added

He also reemphasized, “Senator Akinyelure has said that the position of the Nexim bank ED is a political appointment and a primary six holder even a non-educated person can be appointed.

“He even said that the Federal Mortgage Bank was once headed by a primary six holder. These are institutions that deal with finances.

“The Nexim Bank is a development bank that deals with both local and foreign investments that hold this nation in high repute.
“If someone that is not competent is therefore appointed into such positions and we have come here to present the case.”

He noted that bringing the case before the senate was not to prejudice the court but as a result of mutual respect.

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Legislature

Senator Ningi resumes from suspension

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After staying away for 75days out of 90 days suspension slammed on him by the Senate on March 12, 2024, Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Bauchi Central), formally resumed legislative activities at the Senate on Tuesday in plenary.

On the strength of motion sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro on behalf of minority caucus, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi from the three months suspension
Recall that Senator Ningi was suspended by the Senate at the committee of the whole on 2024 budget padding allegation leveled against the Senate during interview he had with the BBC Hausa service.
The Senate had recalled the Lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi after 2 Months and two weeks of the 3months suspension slammed on him over his interview in which he alleged padding of the 2024 N28. 7tn budget.

The lawmaker was suspended on the 12th of March, 2023 for three months, but the Senate on Tuesday unanimously resolved to  recall their colleague from suspension.

Recall that, Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).

Ningi had, in the interview alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn. 

The motion, for the unconditional recall of Senator Abdul Ningi was sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro, Senator Olalere Oyewumi and Senator Osita Ngwu.

Apparently elated to be back in the Senate, Senator Ningi was among the first set of Senators and House of Representatives members to arrive the National Assembly for plenary on Tuesday

Senator Ningi who along with some few other Senators like Suleiman Kawu ( NNPP Kano South), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP Sokoto South) etc , came into the National Assembly through the Villa Gate, arrived exactly at 10: 40am, 20minutes to 11:00am fixed for commencement of plenary which even started at about 12:10 pm .

Following his suspension , Senator Ningi lost his Chairmanship position of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, which was allocated to Senator Mustapha Musa (APC Yobe East), two days after the now lifted suspension

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Minimum Wage: Senate tackles Labour over National Grid Shutdown, disruption of Hajj flight

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**Resolves to use legislation to prevent reoccurrence
The Senate on Tuesday expressed displeasure at some of the excesses by some members of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) and Trade Union Congress ( TUC) during the nationwide strike for new minimum wage on Monday.
The upper legislative chamber declared that the shut down of the National Grid and the disruption of Hajj flight by some labour unionists were more of economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
It consequently declared that such situation would not be allowed to re – occur as laws against it would be reflected in the new national minimum wage Act that would be enacted soon after submission of bill to that effect by the executive.
Senate’s grouse against the alleged excesses of labour unionists during the now suspended nationwide strike, came through a motion on the strike action and new minimum wage by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).

Senator Plang had in the motion, requested the Senate to call on the federal government to expedite action on new minimum wage as a way of stopping the industrial unrest which was however overtaken by sudden suspension of the strike by labour.
But in his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said though it was heartwarming that the strike has been suspended but the excesses by some labour unionists need to be condemned
“One of such excesses, was the shut down of the National Grid which is more of an economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
“Disruption of Hajj flight by some other labour unionists as said by the Deputy President of the Senate, is also not palatable being a religious exercise.
“Also, disruption or prevention of students from writing their West African School Certificate Examination by some labour unionists during the strike was bad because the examination is not organized by Nigeria but West African Countries “, he said.
He added that such actions would not be allowed to be repeated as required laws against them, would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Bill expected from the executive very soon.
He,however commended the labour unions for calling off the strike
“I want to thank the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for listening to the voice of Nigerians and the international community by calling off the strike to enable negotiations to continue and we wish them well in the negotiations.
“On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians”, he said .

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Legislature

Senate approves Bill to change National anthem to “Nigeria, We Hail thee”

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**Counters AGF, insists Bill does not need wider consultation

The Senate on Tuesday approved a Bill to change the current National anthem titled “Arise O Compatriots ” to the old national anthem “Nigeria, we Hail thee”.
Following the consideration of the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Federal Character, and Inter governmen Affairs on Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill entitled, “National Anthem Bill, 2024” for third reading.

The Senate passed the bill amidst stakeholders misgivings, including Lateef Fagbemi, the Auditor-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against hasty passage and the need for a wider consultation.
The bill was read for the first and second time last week Thursday at the Senate. It also received an accelerated hearing at the lower house as it was read for the first, second and third time.

The Bill will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, it will be the first time Nigeria’s national anthem will be given legal backing.
Mongu nu Tahir, the Senator representing Borno North, while presenting the report of the Committee during plenary informed that the Bill seeks to give a legal framework to the national anthem “so that it can bite and bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.”

He clarified that the Bill, despite the concerns raised by the AGF does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
He insisted that the Bill is an ordinary Bill, not a constitutional amendment and only requires it to be read first, second and third time after a public hearing.
Presenting the committees report, Monguno however said that the new national anthem is apt as it represents the country’s people, culture, values and aspirations.
“The bill is in tandem with the spirit of unity. It will undoubtedly inspire a zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage. Changing the national anthem will chart a path to greater unity”, Tahir said.
He then recommended that the bill be passed. The Senate then resolved to the committee of the whole to consider the report. After which, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President put the bill to a voice vote and lawmakers supported it.
The Senate president also noted that the AFG is not a lawmaker and does not have a full understanding of how Bill’s are passed.
The bill was consequently read for the third time and passed.

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