BUHARI'S SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES IN TOP GEAR ACROSS THE NATION

*MORE STATES RECEIVE FUNDING FOR HOMEGROWN SCHOOL FEEDING 

*PAYMENT OF N-POWER BENEFICIARIES IN VARYING STAGES OF PROGRESS IN 34 STATES
*PAYMENTS OF CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER IN PILOT STATES CONTINUE

As the Buhari administration proceeds with the implementation of its Social Investment Programmes, the Federal Government has now released over N375 million this year to feed almost 700,000 primary school pupils in 5 states, while virtually all States of the federation, except two, are now being processed for the payment of N30,000 monthly Stipends to 200,000 graduates, the N-Power Beneficiaries.

Giving a Media Update in Abuja on Sunday, the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande said the Buhari Social Investment Programmes, SIP, are proceeding at different stages of implementation.

According to him, regarding the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, the Federal Government last week released money for this year, to the States of Anambra, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ebonyi to cover the feeding for 10 school days.

WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON SOCIAL INVESTMENT PLANS, & MORE COMING ON THE WAY - PRESIDENCY

President Buhari

There is now a significant progress in the implementation of the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari Presidency with the commencement of the N-Power Volunteers Corps, NPVC, and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme in the last few weeks.

Making this assertion Monday in Abuja is the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande.

“Right now verification exercises are going on very well across the states of the federation, regarding the 200,000 first batch of the half a million unemployed graduates being engaged to serve in their communities teaching, supporting the healthcare systems and educating farmers,” he disclosed while giving an update on the social investment programmes.

Press Release: CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL ADJOURNS ITS SITTINGS TILL AFTER 2016 ANNUAL RECESS

Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar

The Chairman Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar, Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday adjourned all sittings scheduled for this week and those to come within July and August till after the resumption from recess to be embarked by the Tribunal’s Judges soon.

The decision was taken due to the ongoing Roundtable Discussion involving CCT and other critical stakeholders within and outside the country, to develop the Code of Ethics and Practice Directions for the Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure fair and speedy trials, sponsored by European Union (EU) and implemented by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC).

My plan to fight corruption in Nigeria By President Buhari:

In the run-up to the general elections in March 2015, I campaigned on the platform of addressing the challenges of security, the economy, power, infrastructure and fighting corruption. Of these, removing the cancer of corruption from the system is the key not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.

Nigerians never cease to ask, for example, why it is that, at independence in 1960, Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was higher at $559 than that of Singapore’s at $476, but today Singapore’s GDP has grown to $55,182 and Nigeria’s has increased to just $3,005 (World Bank 2016).

Nigerians in Diaspora - ‘We’ll Write Saraki’s Resignation Letter If…’

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has offered to help embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is currently standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over corruption-related charges, to write his resignation letter, if he does not know how to go about writing it.

The offer came as it was revealed that over 1000 Nigerians living in London have signed up with NDMG to participate in a walk from No 1 to No 9 Northumberland Avenue London, which houses the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom. The NDMG revealed they would hold a one hour sit out at the embassy to demand amongst other things the removal of all public officials indicted for corruption using the Senate President’s case as the anchor. An electronic copy of the speech to be delivered at the sit out, titled “10 Reasons Why Bukola Saraki Must Resign as Senate President within the Next 10 Days,” stated that the position of Senate President has been tainted beyond imagination with the endless scandals around the current holder.

The speech, to be presented by Engr. Onyilo Adeka, said there are many reasons why Saraki must immediately resign as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: “His alleged failure to declare his assets or falsifying any declaration he did make is a violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as spelt out in the constitution. A lawbreaker has no business leading the nation’s law making the arm.

Joe Igbokwe - Nigeria’s Mendacious Senate Breaks My Heart

Let me sincerely tender an unreserved apology to the few decent men and women in the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for using the above caption to describe them. I am led to use this caption because of the signals emanating from the 8th Senate since its inception last year. I am not trying to throw away the baby with the bathe water but to rebuke men and women who do not know what Nigerians need at this critical point in the nation’s history. I am trying to call to order these leaders who are yet to come to terms that Change is here to stay in Nigeria for the better. I am persuaded to call the Senators names because I have seen the Senate turning into a national broken mirror.

UPDATES - False Assets Declaration: Saraki Arrives Tribunal with Just 4 Senators.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki already arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in company of just four Senators. The Senators are Shaaba Lafiagi – Kwara North; Senator Kabiru Gaya – Kano; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim – Kwara South and  Senator Stella Oduah.

Justics Danladi Umar of CCT had three days ago said the Nigerian senate is no trial but Senator Bukola Saraki, hence there is no need for the Senators to overcrowding the tribunal.

Senator Olubukola Abubakar Saraki who is the Nigeria's Senate President is currently standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets and other criminal charges which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, claimed was carried out while he was the Governor of Kwara State.

The Senate President had until now, enjoyed a large company of Senators who had been accompanying him to the tribunal in a bid to show their support.

CCT: Senators Should Stop Attending Saraki’s Trial

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar has criticized senators who have been attending the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Umar further said that the Senate is not on trial before the tribunal hence there’s no need for the legislators to appear with Saraki every day.

The CCT Chairman made the comment on Monday, April 18, 2016, when the Senate President’s trial resumed.

“The Senate is not on trial. The senators should sit down and do their work. They don’t need to be here. It is shameful and disgrace to the nation,” Umar said.

The following are among the Senators who attended the proceedings at the CCT with the Senate President on Monday; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Kabir Gaya, Shabah Lafiaji, Samuel Anyanwu, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Dino Melaye, Ali Ndume and Tayo Alasoadura.

Senate President Saraki writes resignation letter

Sources have revealed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is considering tendering his resignation letter as Majority of the senators have resolved to toe the line of party supremacy, the Nation confirmed.

This came few days after the Federal High Court Abuja, refused to stop his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets.

Reliable National Assembly sources allegedly told The Nation that at the wake of the judgment delivered by Justice Abdul Kafarati, on Friday, some front line supporters of the embattled Senate President have resolved to withdraw their support for Saraki in his bid to remain in office as Senate President, while his trial at the CCT lasts.

Osun Speaker Najeem Salam Faults Senate on CCB Act Amendment

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, has expressed his objection to the amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) acts coupled with Administration of Criminal justice act being currently undertaken by the Senate, saying the timing was wrong and the perception was negative.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam stressed that the insensitivity displayed by the sponsor of the bills has further aggravated the misconception of the people about the disposition of the National Assembly towards the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhamnadu Buhari-led government.

Group to FG: Remove CCT chairman now

The New Nigeria Group, a Civil Society Organisation has called on the federal government to sack the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar over allegations of corruption levelled against him while maintaining that a ”wounded personality cannot be fair in rulings.”

Also, the group has alleged that senior colleagues of the CCT chairman, such as a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, and former minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke had demanded the removal of the chairman citing several allegations against him and the huge embarrassment he had caused the profession which had made the tribunal unable to sit.

Federal High Courth Dismisses Saraki’s application, says he must face corruption trial

Happy to report that due to eternal vigilance, principled and resilient pressure, the Abuja Federal High Court today has again dismissed the application by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking nullification of his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.


Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has lost the case before Billionaire Justice Abu-Kafarati today, the court has just delivered his judgement claiming the lawsuit filed by Saraki asking to disqualify Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal amounts to abuse of court process and that most of the reliefs sought have been decided in other courts before now. Adding that the CCT is a constitutional body, in the discharge of its legal obligation which should not be interfered with by a court of law.

“I find that none of the claims fall within chapter four of the constitution”

Saraki's Corruption Charges: Court to deliver judgment on Saraki’s suit today

Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Abuja Federal High Court, who earlier withdrew from the fundamental rights enforcement suit by Senate President Bukola Saraki, will today deliver judgment on it.


Justice Kafarati had on March 22 withdrawn from the suit, citing an online publication which accused him of compromise. The publication alleged that N2 billion was found in the judge’s private account.

Saraki’s Trial: Nigerian lawmakers speed up controversial bill to amend anti-corruption law - Premium Times

A bill for an amendment of Code of Conduct Tribunal and Bureau Act scaled second reading at Senate, Thursday, just 48 hours after it was first read.

In Nigeria’s lawmaking process, rarely do bills get such accelerated legislative action.

The bill sponsored by Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP-Delta State), passed second reading and subsequently referred to the committees on Judiciary and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The committees will report back in two weeks.

THE AMENDMENT

The bill seeks to amend Section 3 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act “to give every public officer appearing (before the) Bureau fair hearing provided for under Section 36 (2)(a) of the CFRN 1999 which provides:

“for an opportunity for the person whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representations to the administering authority before that authority makes the decision affecting that person.”