Buhari Commiserates With The Awolowos Over HID's Passing

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled the Obafemi Awolowo family over the passing of their matriarch, Chief Mrs Hannah Dideolu Awolowo.

The President sent his message of condolence on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria to the children, grand children and great grand children of the famed “Jewel of Inestimable Value” on the death of their matriarch, who died just before she turned 100.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, the president said he joined millions of admirers to mourn Mrs Awolowo who he said "will be long remembered and celebrated as the famous spouse and pillar of strength of the late nationalist, political leader and sage.”

According to the statement, “President Buhari believes that Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo will always be honoured too for the indelible legacy of very significant, behind-the-scene contributions to communal, state, regional and national development which she has left behind.

“The President prays that God will comfort Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s family, relatives, friends, associates and admirers, and grant them the fortitude to bear her loss.

“He also prays that the Almighty will receive the late matriarch’s worthy soul and grant her eternal rest from her long, earthly service to her renowned spouse, family, community and country.”

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Kidnapped Professor Shot By Abductors, Rescued By Police

Professor Emmanuel Ogundele of University of Agriculture, Makurdi who was kidnapped at the school on Thursday by unknown gunmen was on Friday rescued by the Nasarawa State Police Command.

According to the spokesman of the Nasarawa State Police Command, ASP Ismaila Numan, Prof Ogundele was rescued by the B Division following a tip-off.
He said that on sighting the police, the kidnappers shot Ogundele in the leg and fled, abandoning him in a pool of his own blood. He added that the police were able to arrest one of the abductors while two escaped.

According to ASP Numan, Prof Ogundele is in stable condition at an undisclosed hospital where he is receiving treatment.
He said that the arrested kidnapper would be handed over to the Benue State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

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John Obi Mikel Scores Two

Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel is now a father. Here is a photo of the player and his twins that he posted on Instagram on Friday.

He neither disclosed the sex of the babies nor the identity of their mother.

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"Missing" Bauchi Aircraft Was On Lease - Yuguda

Isa Yuguda, former governor of Bauchi State has said that the state's Embraer 145 aircraft declared missing and "discovered" in Morocco by the present administration is on lease to Overland Airlines.

Mallam Yuguda said that contrary to the claim by incumbent governor Mohammed Abubakar that the plane had been missing, he had captured the full details of the aircraft in his hand over note.

He recalled that he dedicated a full paragraph of the executive summary of his hand over note to his successor to the subject of the aircraft.

Governor Mohammed Abubakar had while marking his 100 days in office declared that the aircraft registered 5N-BJM was missing but had been discovered in Morocco.

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Bailout Funds : States To Pay Back Over 20 Years

The Central Bank of Nigeria has fixed a tenor of 20 years for the repayment of bailout funds given to 27 states of the federation to offset workers' salary arrears.

However, Ogun State which accessed 18.9 billion naira opted for a tenor of 10 years.

The apex bank's spokesman, Ibrahim Muazu said that the National Economic Council has approved its decision.

According to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, 18 states have so far accessed the bailout funds. They include Kwara, Zamfara, Osun, Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Abia, Adamawa, Ondo, Kebbi, Ekiti, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Plateau, Nassarawa, Sokoto, Edo and Oyo.

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How Senate President Reacted To The Warrant For His Arrest.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal yesterday in Abuja issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for failing to appear before it to answer charges of false declaration of assets.

See Saraki's reaction in this statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu.

“Following the development in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) today, Friday, September 18, 2015 when the Tribunal chose to ignore the subsisting order of a Federal High Court by sitting, we hereby state our position as follows:

“While the Senate President, Dr.Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has stated and maintains that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

“It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki, having satisfied himself that the case filed by the CCB and the manner in which the case was filed show that he will not be given justice, resorted to the Federal High Court for the determination of the issues of competence of the prosecutor as well as compliance with the procedure stipulated in the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“The Federal High Court on Thursday, September 17, 2015, therefore ordered that all parties in the case should appear before it on Monday, September 21, 2015. The implication of this ruling by a Court of competent jurisdiction is that the sitting today has been overtaken by event. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki chose to go about his normal official schedule.

“Today at the Tribunal, Counsel to the Senate President, Mr. M. A. Mahmud (SAN), raised a motion stating that there is a pending constitutional matter before the Federal High Court to be decided on Monday and that the Tribunal should halt the trial until the constitutional matter is disposed of.

“We are however dismayed that the Tribunal chose to disregard the order of the Federal High Court and the motion to suspend hearing till Monday when all parties are expected to argue their positions on the constitutional matter.“It is also a surprise to us that despite the application by the lead counsel to the Senate President that he will produce Dr. Saraki on Monday and the personality of the person involved as the number three man in the country, the Tribunal insisted on ( a warrant of arrest as if its intention is simply to embarrass Dr. Saraki.

“We are not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure. This is dangerous to our democracy. The conduct of the Tribunal today left nobody in doubt that it cannot do justice on the matter before it.

“It is also clear that today’s decision is an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to our judicial system.

“The Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.

“We want to emphasise the fact that this is not part of any war against corruption but using state institutions to fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through the back door what some people cannot get through democratic process.

“We need to caution here that in a desperate bid to settle political scores and nail imaginary enemies, we should not destroy our democratic institutions and heat the polity for selfish reasons. Let us all learn from history.”

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Tribunal Orders Arrest Of Senate President

The Code of Conduct Tribunal presided over by Justice Danladi Umar yesterday in Abuja issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for failing to appear before it to answer charges of false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Justice Umar ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase to arrest and present the Senate President before the tribunal on Monday to take a plea on the 13-Count charge against him.

The Federal Government had on September 11th, filed a suit against the Senate President before the Code of Conduct Bureau. Among the 13 charges against him are ; failure to declare property on Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; failure to declare property on No 1, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja) and failure to declare property No 3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja , claiming to own property on No 42, Gerard Road, Ikoyi and earning N110, 000,000 per annum at a time the property was under construction; failure to declare N375m GTB loan converted to 1.5m Pounds Sterling and used to purchase property in London; operating a foreign bank account; transfer of $3.4m from GTB to foreign bank account during his tenure as governor and failure to declare leasehold interest in No. 42, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja,  making anticipatory asset declaration of a house in Ikoyi in the assets declaration form he submitted to the CCB in 2003.

After listening to the arguments of both the prosecution and defense counsels, the Judge who was not pleased with Saraki's absence issued a warrant for his arrest.

“The accused is expected to respect the summon of this court and respect the constitution which he has sworn to protect as a senior citizen of this country.

“I hereby order a bench warrant to be issued on the defendant. The IGP and other relevant security agencies are to produce him in court on the next adjourned date. No court of co-ordinate jurisdiction can halt the proceedings of this tribunal. This tribunal calls on the Senate President to come and stand his trial.”

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