News

Principal officers: APC protests selection, N’Assembly members back Akpabio, Abbas

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2023

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Tuesday, expressed anger over the new leadership of the National Assembly announced by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Adamu said the party was not officially informed about the sharing of the offices, describing the report of the emergence of principal officers as a rumour.

The party chair spoke at a crucial meeting of the National Working Committee and APC governors at the party secretariat in Abuja hours after the Senate President named Ekiti Central lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, as the 10th Senate Majority Leader.

Akpabio also announced Senator Dave Umahi ( Ebonyi South) as Deputy Majority Leader; Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip, and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as the Deputy Whip.

He also named Plateau North lawmaker, Mwadkwon Davou as Minority Leader while Osun West lawmaker, Kamorudeen Olarere (PDP Osun West) emerged as the Deputy Minority Leader.

Also, Darlington Nwokeocha, (LP Abia Central) was named Minority Whip while Rufai Hanga (NNPP Kano Central) was the Deputy Minority Whip.

Regardless of the ruling party’s position, several lawmakers are backing the National Assembly leaders’ decision and they have also endorsed the new principal officers.

It’s rumour – Adamu

Speaking on the development in the federal parliament, Adamu said, “I have just heard a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices. Until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions.

“So whatever announcement is done either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.

“We are going to formally inform you that we are going to have a caucus. For quite a time, there has been no caucus in place. The caucus has been reconstituted according to the constitution of APC. And we will be discussing that with you as governors, you know your states more than we know it. Even if we come from the same state, the leadership is in you as governors.”

Continuing, the APC chairman disclosed that the party would make an official announcement when the decision on the sharing formula of the principal offices had been determined.

The former two-term governor of Nasarawa State also used the opportunity to update the APC governors on the audit of the party’s account in the last year, which the NWC hoped to submit in seven days at the meeting of the National Executive Committee.

He said, “You will get an update of the national election in the national assembly sharing of powers particularly the leadership of the chambers, the election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities.

“The remaining offices are to be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his deputy.

“Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice. You will also be given the benefits of all the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023.

‘’The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party. We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party.”

Our correspondent reports that there was an alteration in the proceedings before the emergence of the principal officers.

Previously, the party would write the Senate President who will in turn read the names of the appointed officers on the floor of the chamber.

However, this tradition was not followed as the lawmakers were said to have agreed on the consensus candidates nominated for the positions in consultations with the political parties.

So, the Senate President simply read out the names of the selected lawmakers.

Akpabio defends selection

Akpabio said, “The All Progressives Congress caucus of the Senate after consultations has emerged with their leadership which will be the fulcrum of commencing other businesses of the chamber.

“I’m happy to announce that by consensus the Senate Leader is Senator Opeyemi Bamidele will be the Majority Leader. Sen. Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) will be the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate; Sen. David Umahi (APC-Ebonyi), by your consent will act as the Deputy Leader and Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) will be the Deputy Chief Whip.”

The Senate President explained that the emergence of the minority leaders was a democratic process.

According to him, 38 out of the lawmakers gave their signature and supported the emergence of the opposition caucus leaders, noting that it was more democratic to have other opposition parties elect their leaders, rather than making it solely a PDP affair.

He said, “On the other hand, concerning the minority parties, again it wasn’t entirely a party affair. Because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party but rather six political parties involved.

“Fifty of our colleagues were involved so rather than it being a decision to be taken at the secretariat of political parties, it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties, and 38 of them by their signature decided as to who their leaders will be and of course this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats, all the presiding officers did was to follow suit because more than a single majority had decided.

“It is a ‘no victor no vanquish situation.’ We are happy eventually a leadership has emerged for the 10th senate”

Meanwhile, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), a loyalist of the ex-Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has been named the House of Reps Minority Leader while Ali Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party was named as the Deputy Minority Leader.

The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced Julius Ihonvbere, the lawmaker representing Owan East/Owan West of Edo as the Majority Leader and Abdullahi Halims representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi as the Deputy Majority Leader.

Abbas announced Bello Kumo representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe as the Chief Whip and Adewunmi Onanuga representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency in Ogun, as the Deputy Chief Whip.

Ali Isa of the PDP was named the Minority Whip, while George Ebizimawo of the Labour Party was announced as deputy minority whip.

Abbas said all the members of the APC in the house endorsed the selection of the principal officers from the governing party.

Reacting to the APC’s chairman’s allegation, the Senate Majority leader, Bamidele noted that the APC was aware of the emergence of the Senate principal officers.

According to him, those who emerged as leaders visited the APC chairman at his Keffi hometown during the Sallah holidays.

Bamidele stated, “By the grace of God, we will be able to make a difference that will be positive and that will be worth the effort of all of you that worked with us in ensuring that the two presiding officers emerged in a manner that was not rancorous, in a manner that was not only democratic but transparent.

“But of course, the emergence of the remaining principal officers of the 10th Senate was not an issue that was meant to be decided on the floor but rather it was an issue which on the one hand as related to the APC needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party.

Bamidele speaks

“If you see the picture of those who visited the APC chairman, you will discover that those who were in the picture who visited, are those whose names came out on the list. So, there is no way the party can claim not to be aware of the emergence of the leadership of the majority leadership.”

Bamidele added that the same set of people visited President Tinubu during the Sallah festivities in Lagos to consult and present themselves to him.

“Before we went to the APC chairman, we went to see the President in Lagos and also consulted with him. The new leadership has emerged for the 10th senate and all I can assure you on behalf of myself and my dear colleagues is that we see it as an assignment. It is an assignment that we take very seriously,” he noted.

The Senate leader noted that the next step was to hit the ground running concerning committee formation, ministerial list and executive communication

Bamidele said, “For us, the next task is to ensure we hit the ground running so that from tomorrow we are able to take steps that will show that we have a clear understanding of what is to be done, the first task ahead of us is to constitute special committees of the 10th Senate. Our rules make provision for six special committees.

“Before long, during July we will have all the committees special and standing committees properly constituted so that every senator can get busy based on their professional background and can properly fit into the sector where they can add value.”

“We are ready to receive correspondence from the executive through a committee of the whole of the house commence with the confirmation hearing of the service chiefs and some other appointees who had been named by the President,” he added.

The lawmaker representing Nasarawa West, Senator Ahmed Wadada told our correspondent that although he had questions about how the names of the leaders were arrived at, he did not have a problem with the outcome.

He noted that it was put to vote and 38 lawmakers voted in support of it.

He said, “I was not interested in the principal offices nor will I be interested today. If I was offered, I wouldn’t have been interested. What I want is fairness and balance. What should have been ideally done was to balance.’’

“Of course, it was the decision of the majority of the lawmakers. If it wasn’t, trouble would have brewed on the floor but as you can see everything went smoothly.”

Senator Victor Umeh ( LP, Anambra Central) also noted that he expected some different names on the list but since it was the decision of the majority, it was accepted.

He further noted that the 10th Senate didn’t want to experience any form of crisis because they have the intention to work harmoniously for the country.

Umeh said, “Nobody lost out. Yes, we thought some people would emerge but since it was a majority’s choice, we have no reason to fight. There is a lot of work ahead of us and nobody is willing to have a crises-ridden senate.”

But the lawmaker representing, Kebbi South, Garuba Maidoki, expressed surprise over the emergence of the leadership.

He complained that nobody informed him about the process, stating that it was unfair “to sideline some people because they didn’t vote for the presiding officers.’’

Speaking on the controversy trailing the emergence of the NASS leaders, the Deputy Director of Publicity of the PDP, Chinwe Nnorom said the party would sort itself out on the issue.

“It is the internal affairs of their party and we are sure they will sort it out,” she said.

On his part, the Spokesman for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Charles Aniagwu advised Adamu to remain calm, noting that Akpabio would not take any position against his party.

He said, “The ruling party produces the Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip. These are positions for the party in the majority. But I don’t think Adamu needs to worry. Senator Akpabio will not take a position that will go against his party’s interest.

“Senator Bamidele is Tinubu’s boy. So, his emergence as Senate Majority Leader may not have been a unilateral decision engineered by Akpabio. With time, I think the APC NWC will know what happened and why it happened on Tuesday.”

Concerned by the friction generated by the choice of the National Assembly principal officers, the Labour Party blamed the face-off on President Bola Tinubu, saying it was obvious that the 10th National Assembly had mortgaged its independence.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the LP National Secretary, Umar Farouk, faulted the alleged interference of the APC in the business of the parliament.

He stated, “The way I see it, the two chambers have completely mortgaged the independence of the 10th National Assembly. They were selected and not appointed.’’

But he vowed the opposition and minority caucus would not take a back seat and watch the two chambers fall apart.

Going by the APC’s position, the Chief Spokesman for Obi-Datti Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, said this meant that the legislature was truly not independent.

Tanko stated that the ruling party’s frequent interference in the decisions of the legislators “will sooner or later reduce them to the status of a rubber stamp assembly.’’

APC govs

Meanwhile, the Progressive Governors’ Forum has pledged to intervene in the conflict between the APC and the presiding leaders of the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers.

But the governors believed the action was a result of a communication gap between the party and the party’s high-ranking legislators.

Addressing newsmen after they met with the NWC, the PGF Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, promised that they will resolve this with the aid of the APC internal mechanism.

He said, “Don’t let us misquote him. The chairman never said that they (Akpabio and Abbas) are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party and they enjoy our support.

“If there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make up. We have our internal mechanism for resolving such things. The national Assembly leadership enjoys the support of Progressives Governors Forum and that of our party. We don’t have any problem at all.

“We congratulated ourselves in the way and manner the leadership of the National Assembly election was conducted. We now have a Senate President, his Deputy Senate President, Speaker and his deputy who we are very confident will do well,” he stated.

The Imo governor also debunked the growing report that Adamu has handed the audited account of the APC for scrutiny ahead of the National Caucus meeting slated for July 10.

“In the course of the conversation, the chairman did mention that in keeping with the Electoral Act, they (NWC) are working on having an audited account that will be presented at the national caucus meeting. It was just mentioned. It has not been presented,” he said.

Courtesy PUNCH Newspaper

News

BREAKING: NIN: FG increases date of birth update fee by 75% to N28,574

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2025

Charles Flames

Nigerians seeking to correct their date of birth on the National Identification Number (NIN) database will now pay N28,574, following a major upward review of service charges by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The new fee represents a 75 per cent increase from the previous charge of N16,340, making it the most expensive data modification service under the Commission’s revised price regime.

The change is part of a broader review of NIMC’s service fees, which the agency says is necessary to reflect current economic realities, including a national inflation rate of 32.70 percent, rising operational costs, and the need for self-sustenance.

Under the new structure, corrections to other personal details such as names, addresses, and gender now cost N2,000 per modification — up from N1,522, a 31 percent increase.

Re-issuance of the NIN slip, previously pegged at N500, will now attract a fee of N600.

Meanwhile, premium services offered at select enrollment lounges and visa centers will cost N20,000 for NIN enrollment, and N3,500 for re-issuance of slips.

For Nigerians in African countries, NIN enrollment now costs $50 for adults and $30 for children.

Data modifications cost $55 for date of birth changes, and $10 for other fields. Outside Africa, name corrections are charged at $60, with other data fields remaining at $10 per change.

In an executive summary accompanying the new pricing list, NIMC stated that the adjustments followed consultations across its departments and benchmarking against charges by other government agencies like the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

“For over a decade, our service charges remained stagnant despite expanding our infrastructure and service offerings.

This new price regime ensures we can maintain our systems, support national revenue goals, and align with global identity management standards,” the Commission said.

NIMC also cited its role in broader policy objectives such as tax unification, social interventions, and digital identity expansion.

While the Commission insists the fee hike is necessary, many Nigerians have expressed concern about the affordability of the new charges, particularly the high cost of correcting date of birth — an error that often arises from initial registration challenges in rural or crowded centers.

For instance, a fruit seller at Ojota, Lagos, Adaku Okafor, said an error was made in her daughter’s date of birth on the NIN slip.

While she had initially ignored it, the mistake has become critical as her daughter, now in SSS 2, prepares to sit for WAEC and JAMB.

“I am now forced to cough out almost N29,000 just to correct a simple mistake. This is so unfair, especially with the harsh economic reality we are all facing,” she lamented.

News

BREAKING: Two dispatch riders killed in Eko Bridge truck collision

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2025

Charles Flames

Two dispatch riders were confirmed dead on Sunday following a crash involving two Mack trucks on the Eko Bridge inward Alaka, Lagos.

According to preliminary reports, one of the trucks—identified by registration number T-10357 LA—was reportedly moving at high speed when the driver, suspected to have been dozing, lost control and rammed into another truck ahead, marked KJA 107 XM.

The impact caused a 20-foot container to detach and fall, crushing the two dispatch riders who were on the route at the time.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who were on routine monitoring duty under the bridge, responded quickly and rescued one injured truck driver.

He was transported to the hospital by a Lagos State Government ambulance. The other two truck drivers fled the scene, and efforts are ongoing to locate them.

In a statement, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

He called the incident tragic and underscored the need for caution and alertness, particularly among drivers of articulated vehicles.

“Drivers must ensure they are fit to drive and that their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on any journey,” he said, noting that LASTMA continues its public awareness campaigns to promote safety, especially among operators of heavy-duty trucks.

To prevent additional accidents, LASTMA officers cordoned off the affected section of the bridge and diverted traffic through the Costain Roundabout toward Alaka and the Stadium.

Other emergency responders at the scene included the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, and officers from the Iporin Police Division. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

News

Yahaya Bello Vs EFCC: Court Adjourns Ruling and Continuation of Trials to June 26 , 27 and July 4 and 5

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2025

OhiBaba

You cannot cross examine him based on the document,” Daudu SAN argued. Enitan SAN added that he had the right to draw the attention of the court to some specific paragraphs in the document.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of the alleged money laundering case instituted against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to June 26, 27 and July 4 and 5 for ruling on the request by the prosecution to “cross-examine” the 3rd witness and for continuation of trial.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the hearing after listening to addresses by the prosecution and defence counsels on the Prosecution’s move to initially cross-examine the witness, a position that was rejected by the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN.

When the matter was called for continuation of cross-examination, the Defendant’s counsel asked the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, whether he had testified in other courts with respect to the issue of school fees paid by the Bello family to AISA, he said yes.

But the witness, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, said he could not mention the exact courts.

He admitted testifying in a similar charge involving Ali Bello but added that he never said anything adversely against former Governor Yahaya Bello just as he had not said anything negative or adversely against him in the instant charge.

After Daudu SAN concluded the cross-examination of the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, the EFCC’s lawyer, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, moved to also cross-examine the Commission’s witness on Exhibit 19.

He told the court that he was not re-examining the EFCC’s witness, but cross-examining him because the document was admitted in evidence.

“I am not re-examining him, I am cross-examining him because they brought this document,” he said.

The Defendant’s lawyer, however, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the prosecution counsel’s position was unknown to law, in line with the Evidence Act.

“If you want to cross-examine your own witness, you have to first declare him a hostile witness. You cannot cross examine him based on the document,” Daudu SAN argued. Enitan SAN added that he had the right to draw the attention of the court to some specific paragraphs in the document.

At this point, the judge asked: “Do you have any provision of the law to support this?””I will draw your lordship attention to Section 36 of the Constitution.

They sought to tender this document, we objected and the court granted their prayer. Fair hearing demands that the complainant too has the right to examine this because Section 36 of the Constitution talks of fair hearing,”

Enitan responded. “We are not saying that they cannot re-examine the witness. That is what Section 36 under the law says about fair hearing. But if it is to cross-examine him, he will have to show us the law that backs that.

“He cannot come under the guise of fair hearing to want to cross-examine the witness,” the Defendant’s lawyer maintained. The judge, at the end of the arguments, refused to allow cross-examination of the witness by the EFCC lawyer.”

Under the procedure, the witness gives evidence in chief and the defendant cross examines, then the prosecution re-examines.

“With due respect, what I will do is if you people are so skewed to continue with this, it is better to address me on this and I will take a position,” he stated.

At this point, the prosecution counsel agreed to re-examine the EFCC’s witness and the judge gave him the go-ahead.”You can re-examine him on that but not to ask questions that will show cross examination,” Justice Nwite said.

However, when the prosecution lawyer proceeded to re-examine the witness, and his questions pointed at cross-examination, as observed by Daudu SAN, the judge insisted that the parties had to address him on the specific issue.

The Defendant’s Counsel, in his address, maintained that the position was unknown to law.

“My lord, the procedure that is being sought by the prosecution by refering the witness to the document tender in Exhibit 19 and by asking him to read paragraph 1, without drawing his attention to the issue on how the document affected his evidence in chief, the question asked in cross-examination, and the ambiguity, which needs clarification, amounts to a strange and unknown procedure not covered by the Evidence Act,” he stated.

Enitan SAN, disagreed, saying that in the case of Amobi Amobi referred to by the defendant’s counsel, the Supreme Court held that the learned trial judge ought to have allowed a re-examination of Exhibit E.

He said when the defendant sought to introduce the document, the prosecution team “submitted that this document was not made by the witness and as such, he should not be allowed to speak to it under cross examination or allowed to be confronted with it.”

“Having brought it in now, during the case of the prosecution, particularly during the cross examination of PW-3, your lordship should not allow them to shut us out as that would amount to the court allowing them to blow hot and cold,” Pinheiro SAN said.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned to June 26, 27 and July 4 and 5 for ruling and continuation of trial.

The 3rd prosecution witness had, at the last hearing on Thursday, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American International School, Abuja.

He also read out a part of a previous Federal Capital Territory High Court judgment that said there was no court order for AISA to return fees to EFCC or any judgment declaring the money as proceeds of money laundering.