PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2014
PAGE 3
News
Nyako: Court okays impeachment proceedings
As gov's men fight back, slam ex-Chief of Staff By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja & Umar Dankano, Yola
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Yola High Court, presided over by the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, yesterday dismissed an application filed by Governor Murtala Nyako through his Counsel, Ayo Akams, to restrain the state House of Assembly from proceeding on the impeachment move against him. This is coming as a anonymous group sympathetic to the governor has accused Senator Bello Tukur of being part of the malfeasance allegedly committed by the Nyako's administration. Justice Mammadi, in his ruling on the matter said the House of Assembly has not committed any constitutional breach in its move to remove the governor. The Court had earlier granted an interim injunction on 26th June restraining the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process against the governor and this elapsed on the 2nd of July. But the court ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain the suit brought before it by the state governor and adjourned till the 9th of July. Reacting to the ruling, a
counsel to the embattled governor, Barr. Ayo Akumu, said "I am comfortable; my joy is that the court did not say it has no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The matter is still pending before the court; I am ok with it. The action taken by the House as at yesterday, I had made it clear that is a violation of the court order,’’ he said. Also reacting, Nyako’s adviser on legal matters, Hajiya Hadiza Aminu, applauded the ruling, saying, ‘’We are happy for today’s ruling, which says that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case; that is why it has been adjourned to July 9, for continuation. ‘’We appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm, resolute and be law abiding as the court is on the top of the matter,’’ she said. It is not clear, for now, whether the state Acting Judge had received any correspondence from the lawmakers to constitute the 7-man panel or not, as the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Alh. Abubakar Babayola has said he has yet to be communicated. He said, "As I am talking to you now, we are yet to receive their correspondence; and if there is any, we will communicate to you,’’ said the
chief registrar. But when contacted on phone, the chief press secretary to the speaker of the state Assembly, Mr. Solomon Kumangar said, ‘’The Clerk has since communicated the matter and it was received at the chamber of the Acting Chief Judge before closing hours,’’ he claimed. In a related development, some of Nyako’s men have accused Senator Bello Tukur of being part of the malfeasance allegedly committed by the governor. They wondered why Tukur would be part of the Elders Forum at a meeting held recently in Yola to indict Nyako for corruption, when he was his former Chief of Staff who asked for 'extraneous budget' during his tenure. According to the governor’s sympathisers, the ex-Chief of Staff allegedly made financial demands under the guise of essential services. Tukur was said to have requested and got approval for the sum of N15 million from the governor on October 10, 2010 to host some 'important dignitaries' from outside the state who came to attend a National Polo Tournament. The breakdown in a docu-
ment obtained by one of our reporters, indicated that Tukur demanded and got approval for N3.5m for ‘honourarium’ and souvenir for the visiting officials; N2.5million for logistics; N2.5m for accommodation; N3m for the purchase of 100 pieces of ‘Shadda’ brocade and N3.5m for miscellaneous. Similarly, it was alleged that the former Chief of Staff requested and got N30.55m to off-set some of the expenses incurred by his office. It also alleged that the state government spent N120m to fund his election into the Senate in 2011. While challenging the senator to disclose how much he received as imprest while in office, the group requested to know why Tukur chose to fuel Government House vehicles at a private filling station at Jimeta. Nyako’s men thus called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the activities of those who served in Nyako's cabinet from 2007 till date, with special emphasis on Chiefs of Staff. Several efforts made to get Tukur's reaction were rebuffed, as he neither picked calls put across to him nor reply text messages on the allegations.
L-R: Former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar, in handshake with Rivers state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, during Amaechi's visit to residence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, yesterday in Abuja.
Reps defer Electoral Act amendment to Tuesday By Umar Muhammad Puma
T
he House Representatives yesterday deferred on the proposed amendment to the 2010 Electoral Act, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Reyenieju (PDP, Delta), and adjourned debate on the Bill till Tuesday next week. The proposed amendment is entitled: “A Bill for an Act to further amend the Electoral Act, N0. 6, 2010, to ensure a levelplaying field for all participants in the electoral process and a more transparent process of conducting elections in Nigeria and for other matters connected
therewith”. Leading debate on the Bill, the lawmaker said the Electoral Act 2010 needed to be amended, to make it more precise and encourage more participation from Nigerians. Giving details of the proposed items, Reyenieju said the Bill seeks to amend section 2 of the principal Act fixing the tenure of the Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at four years, renewable only once. The amendment also seeks to empower INEC to accredit observers and monitors during election. It also seeks to vest the
power to request the president to deploy soldiers during election in the INEC only. Contributing, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano) argued that the Bill is important to the growth of democracy in Nigeria and would ensure free and fair elections, saying there are many sections in the current Electoral Act that make it easy for rigging to take place. In his contribution, Rep Jerry Mamwe (PDP, Taraba) said it is the responsibility of the lawmakers to ensure that they sanitise the electoral process by amending the Act, to give an enabling environment for all to
take part. Rep. Aminu Shehu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) said the Bill could not have come at a better time, in view of the many anomalies that are in the electoral process, calling on his colleagues to support the amendment. Others who spoke in favour of the amendment were Rep Fort Dike, the deputy leader, Rep Leo Ogor, minority leader, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, chairman committee on public service, Rep. Andrew Uchendu and chairman committee on petroleum resources (downstream), Hon. Dakuku Peterside.
Ramadan Timing Day 7
Towns Magrib Alfijr Abuja 6.58 4.55 Aba 6.55 4.58 Abakaliki 6.52 4.57 Abeokuta 7.09 5.16 Akure 7.02 5.06 Ankpa 6.56 5.00 Argungu 7.11 5.04 Auchi 7.01 5.04 Awka 7.02 4.59 Azare 6.49 4.42 Bama 6.38 4.28 Bauchi 6.50 4.47 Benin 7.04 5.05 Bichi 6.57 4.50 Bida 7.04 5.00 Birnin Gwari 7.03 4.58 B/Kebbi 7.12 5.04 Biu 6.41 4.35 Calabar 6.49 4.55 Damaturu 6.41 4.34 Daura/Kazaure 6.59 4.35 Dutse 6.51 4.47 Enugu 6.53 4.57 Funtua 7.01 4.53 Malumfashi 7.01 4.53 Gembu 6.46 4.41 Gombe 6.44 4.39 Gusau 7.00 4.56 Gwadabawa 7.11 4.57 Hadejia 6.49 4.42 Ibadan 7.13 5.09 Ife 7.08 5.06 Ilesha Baruba 7.10 5.05 Ilorin 7.06 5.07 Jalingo 6.41 4.39 Jere/Suleija 6.58 4.54 Jos 6.55 4.48 Kabba 7.03 5.00 Kafanchan 6.57 4.51 Keffi/Nasarawa 6.57 4.51 Kaiama 7.12 5.08 Kafin Maiyaki 6.57 4.48 Kaduna 6.56 4.54 Kano 6.52 4.49 Katsina 7.00 4.51 Kontagora 7.06 5.03 Lafia 6.52 4.51 Lagos 7.11 5.12 Lokoja 6.56 5.03 Maiduguri 6.34 4.32 Makurdi 6.53 4.50 Minna 7.00 5.01 Missau 6.46 4.41 Monguno 6.37 4.24 Mubi 6.36 4.31 Nguru 6.46 4.39 Ningi 6.50 4.46 Okene 7.06 5.01 Ogbomosho 7.11 5.09 Onitsha 6.59 5.04 Oyo 7.13 5.11 Port Harcourt 6.58 5.08 Potiskum 6.44 4.37 Saki 7.05 5.11 Sagamu 7.06 5.17 Sokoto 7.06 5.02 Umuahia 6.57 4.56 Warri 6.56 5.12 Wukari 5.44 4.51 Wurno 7.10 4.57 Yenagoa 6.38 4.34 Yola 6.35 4.34 Zaria 6.57 4.55 Cotonou-Benin 7.15 5.14 Ndjamena-Chad 6.26 4.21 Niamey-Niger 7.21 5.13 Zinder – Niger 6.58 4.40 Younde-Cameroun 6.39 4.40 Garoua – Cameroun 6.33 4.33 (Source: Timing Committee, Islamic Research and Timing Organisation Kaduna)