Court Freezes Assets Of Jimoh, As Senate Traces Diversion Of N35 Billion To Him

June 21, 2016

The Federal High Court in Lagos has frozen all the assets of businessman Jimoh Ibrahim, as well as his NICON Investment Limited and Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited. Justice Saliu Saidu issued the interim injunction in response to an application by Mr. Yusuf Ali, counsel to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on June 14th, and it will stay in place until all the issues concerning their indebtedness to AMCON are determined.

Justice Saliu Saidu issued the interim injunction in response to an application by Mr. Yusuf Ali, counsel to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on June 14th, and it will stay in place until all the issues concerning their indebtedness to AMCON are determined.

The order restrains NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim from dealing with any assets or funds of the company. It covers the assets of NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim in Abuja, Lagos, Dubai and London.

The freezing order also affects all bank accounts held and/or maintained by NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim in First Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, United Bank of Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc, City Bank Nigeria Limited and Sterling Bank Plc.

Others are Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Unity Bank Plc.

The court also ordered the freezing of all bank accounts to which Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim is a signatory either alone or with any other person in NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited in any of the banks and financial institution on the list. AMCON was also granted the possessory order to take over Jimoh Ibrahim’s Nigeria Re-Insurance Company Plc, NICON Insurance Company Plc, Nigeria Stockbrokers Limited (NSL) and NICON Trustees Limited.

The trio of NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim owe AMCON over N50billion that has become the subject of protracted negotiations and court battles as a result of their inability to repay the staggering debt. With AMCON’s debt recovery efforts in full swing, the Corporation took over the assets of Mr. Ibrahim in Abuja and Lagos.

Recall that 400 obligors of AMCON account for more than N4.5 trillion, which is approximately 80 percent of the total outstanding loan balance of the corporation’s over 12,000 accounts with obligors that have become recalcitrant over time despite the efforts of the corporation.

To deal with the situation, AMCON recently increased the tempo of its recovery activities using firmer negotiation strategies and the special enforcement powers it possesses under the AMCON Act, to compel some of its debtors, especially business heavyweights and the politically exposed, to repay their debts.

Ibrahim, one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men, has investments in such areas as aviation, hotels, banking, insurance, real estate, and publishing, along with a reputation for ruthlessness and shortcuts.

AMCON began enforcement of the freeze order earlier Monday.

Meanwhile, the Joint Senate Committee on Aviation and Anti-corruption investigating the disbursement of N500 billion power and aviation fund has revealed that the N35 billion loan collected by the Chairman of the defunct Air Nigeria, Jimoh Ibrahim, was diverted to Ghana.
The Federal Government in 2011 released N120 billion through the Central Bank of Nigeria to the aviation sector as intervention fund to rescue the sector from total collapse.
At the investigative ‎hearing by the Joint Senate Committee on Aviation and Anti-corruption on Monday, the Deputy Leader of House and also Vice Chairman of Aviation Committee, Senator Ibn Bala’ Nallah, disclosed that the fund allocated to Virgin Nigeria was diverted to another project in Ghana by Ibrahim, who is the CEO of Energy Group.
Confirming the diversion of the funds, a former Director of Finance and Accounts of Air Nigeria, John Nnorom, said ‎Ibrahim worked with a Nigerian bank on the project.
Nnorom explained that prior to getting the funds, Ibrahim brought in the Bank as part of the Directors of Air Nigeria.
He, however, said surprisingly, the very day the N35 billion hit the account of Air Nigeria domiciled with the Bank, it was also paid out.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, while responding to questions, revealed that though the fund was released in the name of Aviation, it did not pass through the Ministry and there was no record anywhere to show the money was received by the Ministry.
Amaechi said: “Distinguished Committee Chairmen, members, my job here is to watch proceedings because I know nothing about it and there is no record showing how the funds was disbursed.”
The Committee also queried the Central Bank of Nigeria for its inability to provide the record of N120 billion loan disbursed to rescue airlines in Nigeria as the Committee mandated th‎e apex bank to provide the record within 24 hours.
According to the Committee Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma: “We want the report of the disbursed fund with 24 hours.
“If you are not able to account for it, we will hold you responsible for the fund.‎”
The Committee also asked for the ‎criteria used to shortlist airlines that benefited from the aviation intervention.
Earlier, Uzodinma, in his welcome address, made a shocking revelation that most of the airlines that benefited from the N120 billion intervention fund have become moribund.
He said: “That is why it is a very disturbing development to learn of allegations that monies were not properly utilized for the stated objectives.
“These allegations are just absurd, but shocking.
“We are here to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of such allegations of misappropriation or diversion of the said funds.
“As is normally the rule in any investigation, we hold nobody guilty unless it is proven beyond all reasonable doubts that he or she is guilty.
“Curiously however, from the list of beneficiaries ‎of funds, some of the airlines have long folded up.” [myad]

FCT Administration Releases N5.7 Billion Counterpart Funds

Greenbarge Reporters

June 21, 2016

The Administration of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced the released of the sum of N5,744,835,928.38 to various development partners as counterpart funds for the projects they are executing in the Territory.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye who made this known at an interactive session with the Information Officers under the FCT Administration at the FCDA Conference Room, Abuja, said that some of these counterpart funds have not been paid for several years.
According to him, the Administration has taken this step to redeem its obligations and image with the international development partners in tandem with the Change Agenda of the Federal Government.
Dr. Ajakaiye said that the sum of N1,787,077,262.75 was released to the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) which has not been paid since 2013 and therefore the release includes all the arrears.
He said that N50 million was also released to the Community and Social Development Programme of the NYSC, adding that out of the sum of over N5.7 billion, the sum of N46,513,666.000 has been released for the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) projects in the FCT even as N113,488,000 is for FCT FADAMA programme.
“The sums of N2,939,681,413.96 and N808,075,585.62 were released as counterpart funds for the Abuja Rail project as well as its Consultancy Services respectively,” he added.
Dr. Ajakaiye warned that nonchalant attitude must be stopped forthwith as Information Officers have a lot of role to play to inform and publicize to the residents on the day-to-day activities of the FCT Administration. [myad]

Nigerian Govt To Increase External Borrowing, In New Debt Management Strategy

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

Nigeria Debt Management Boss, Abraham Nwankwo — Abraham Nwankwo

The Nigerian Federal Government has planned to marginal increase in external borrowing, increased commitment to capital projects execution as part of the new debt management strategy scheduled to run from 2016 – 2019.

The Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, revealed the three year debt management strategy at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.

According to Nwankwo, the new Debt Management Strategy approved by the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday, is aimed at economy recovery and diversification.

The DMO boss explained that the focus of the new initiative is to develop a debt management strategy that would ensure that in the face of macroeconomic and other financial constraints, the cost and risk profile of the public debt portfolio remains within acceptable limit over time.

He reiterated that the new Debt Management Strategy is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to generate maximum employment, reduce poverty and increase the living standard of Nigerians.

Dr. Nwankwo further stated that for this to be effectively achieved, the government is making positive efforts in diversifying the economy as against the backdrop of structural collapse in oil prices and oil revenue.

“The Debt Management Strategy we are going to pursue over the next four years, takes into account the fact that for now Nigeria’s public debt portfolio is dominated by domestic debt.

“After the Paris and London Club exits between 2004 and 2006, the country took a deliberate decision to develop its domestic bond market and to do most of the public borrowing from domestic sources so as to develop the domestic bond market, that objective has been sufficiently achieved.

“And therefore taking into account that external financing sources are on the average cheaper than domestic sources, it becomes more necessary to slant more of the borrowing in favour of external sources.

“Therefore one of the major elements of this strategy is that over the medium, term we will strive to remix the public debt portfolio from 84% domestic and 16% external to 60% domestic and 40% external.

“In addition taking into account other factors, the fact that over the next four years public borrowing proceeds will be devoted to capital expenditure an element of the strategy is to ensure that we remix the current status of about 31 percent short-term and 69 percent long-term to a maximum of short-term 25% and the minimum of long-term 75%.

“So we are remixing between external and domestic and we are also remixing within the domestic, between short and long-term.”

Justifying the decision to remix in favour of external debt, he said the country will be able to achieve cheaper cost of funds, lower debt servicing and avoid the risk of crowding out the private sector from accessing the domestic market, adding that the private sector is still expected to play the lead role to compliment government’s effort.

While dismissing concerns on government’s decision to focus on external borrowing in a country currently facing foreign exchange constraints and harsh macroeconomic environment, he stressed that the new strategy is the best for the Nigerian economy as the government is presently making sustained efforts on diversifying the economy, noting that in the next 5-7 years export proceeds accrued to the economy will be more and our exchange rate will be favourable.

While encouraging Nigerians that the future will be sustainable, the DMO boss further stated that the citizens should take advantage of the current challenges as a stepping stone to actualize their vision and achieve their dreams.

“One of the questions that will naturally arise and which many of you have asked us, has to do with the challenge of foreign exchange constraints,” Nwankwo said.

“At this point in time our exchange rate is not very favourable and our reserves are not as buoyant as they used to be and people are raising the question while would you go for external borrowing when you have foreign exchange constraints.

“However a closer look at the issue shows that the strategy the government has chosen is still the optimum strategy and the secret to arriving at that conclusion is simply to differentiate between a short-term static situation and a long-term dynamic situation.

“Of course if we are simply focused on the challenges we have currently there will be undue concerns about our ability to service external debt, however if you take into account that everything we are doing now are for the purpose of diversifying our economy in a sustained manner, so that in the next 5-7 years we will be exporting a variety of processed and primary products.

“We have all it takes in terms of variety of opportunities in agriculture and in solid mineral for example.

“The efforts being made by the government and private sector is to ensure that many of the products we now import will be provided locally, such as rice, sugar, flower, wheat, fruit juice, we can produce in abundance to satisfy our domestic needs and also have surplus to export.

“Then you will appreciate that in the next 5-7 years with Nigerians working hard and in a focused manner there is no doubt that our exchange rate should be more favourable as the years go by and our reserve will be more buoyant.

“So thinking in term of medium to long-term is a strategy is about right, because we are not bugged down by our current decision, rather we are inspired by where we must be.”

Nwankwo was upbeat that in the next few years there will be significant improvement in employment generation, poverty reduction and living standard of the people, adding that as part of the new strategy, the DMO will develop new products particularly the federal government saving bond and also diversify the sources of raising funds domestically. [myad]

EFCC Traces N1.2 Billion Part Of Dasuki’s Loot To Fayose Account

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has said that it has traced₦1.2b into his accounts, part of the money which former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Sambo Dasuki to the Zenith Bank account of governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state.

The Commission said that so far, it has concluded investigations into such account which the Governor allegedly used on #Ekitigate.

The EFCC has since ordered the governor’s account frozen after tracing ₦500m from Dasuki, which was paid into his Zenith Bank for the Ekiti Election Fraud.

More details later. [myad]

Finance Minister To Protesting Workers: I Can’t Pay You N1.2 Billion

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

The minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun has made it clear to workers of her ministry who went on peaceful protest Monday morning that she can’t pay them the N1.2 Billion they demanded.
She said that N1.2 billion as computed by the staff union for payment could not have been budgeted for in 2016 in the first place because of the paucity of funds.
A statement by the Director Information, Salisu Na’Inna Dambatta quoted Adeosun as saying that she could not pay the allowance because it is not part of the remuneration in the Federal Public Service.
“The payment of what the protesting staff called a Special Overtime (SOT), was stopped by the last administration in 2014 on the ground that it was not listed in any extant government Circular, Financial Regulations or the Public Service Rules.
“The Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, do not individually or collectively, owe any of their personnel their salaries.
In view of the foregone, the Management of the Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the protests have no justifiable grounds.”
The statement confirmed that the protest was carried out jointly by some staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, “to back a demand for the payment of an unofficial allowance totaling N1.2 billion.” [myad]

Pastor Osagie Picks Edo PDP Governorship Ticket, To Face Obaseki Of APC

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Monday emerged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 10 governorship election in Edo.

In the result of the primaries announced by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, Chairman of the committee that conducted the exercise, Ize-Iyamu polled 584 votes to defeat two other aspirants.

His closest opponent, Mathew Uduoeyekemwen, according to Umahi, scored 91 votes while Solomon Edebiri polled 38 votes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ize-Iyamu was Secretary to the State Government during former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion’s administration of 1999 to 2007.

He was South-South leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the PDP in 2014.

Umahi said that 713 delegates were accredited for the primaries from a total delegates’ list of 751, adding that there were no invalid votes.

Presenting Ize-Iyamu to the party members, primaries committee chairman thanked all PDP governors and members for their support which led to the success of the exercise.

In his acceptance speech, Ize-Iyamu commended the national leadership of the party and the electoral committee for transparency and fairness in the process.

He said that the fight to reclaim Edo would continue until the party produced the governor in the September election.

Before the collation of results, the three aspirants said that they were satisfied with the process, describing it as transparent, free and fair.

This is coming after Godwin Obaseki, the Chairman of the Economic Team of the state, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in the early hours of Sunday June 19th. [myad]

Gov Fayose Cries Out: EFCC Has Frozen My Account

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has cried out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen his personal account with Zenith Bank Plc.
Fayose who spoke on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, said that when he wanted to operate the account personally, he was denied by the bank.
He told newsmen that officials of the Bank told him that an embargo has been placed on his account.
Fayose had been having a running battle with the EFCC over the funding of his governorship campaign in 2014.
There had been accusations that the campaign was funded with funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Fayose had denied this, saying his campaign funds were generated from the ordinary people who wanted him in power.
When contacted, the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was not aware of that the governor’s account had been frozen. [myad]

It’s Another Summer, By Folu Olamiti

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

For some Nigerians, going abroad, even to a country with low fortune, fame and status, is the ultimate. By now, hundreds, if not thousands, of Nigerians are either booking their flights or are already abroad for what they often see and cherish as summer holidays. Yes, it’s another summer, and the rush from here is overwhelming!

Nigerians travel out of their country for many reasons. Some, especially the elite, prefer going abroad for medical check. They prefer to take all that risk to treat even common cold, cough and catarrh! They gleefully label it as medical tourism. For others, going overseas is a yearly ritual that affords them the opportunity to re-unite with friends, families and business associates. And there is this critical mass that jet out, almost on a daily basis, sinking millions to seek greener pastures or the Golden Fleece as they call it. In all, those who make peremptory trips outside the country often do so with pains and great discomfort. They do so in most cases while “suffering and smiling”, as the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang in one of his chartbusters.

In the course of my public service and journalistic odyssey, I have garnered long years of experiences and chalked hundreds of thousands of kilometres crisscrossing the world. Some of those experiences have prodded me to share a little on the inconveniences, sometimes mind-numbing risks that many Nigerian travellers, go through just to have some summer freaks. While the youth see long haul flights as adventurous, the attendant stress and pains always have a telling effect on the old; senior citizens. They often experience unusually prolonged jet-lag, have swollen feet, experience some numbness in their limbs and joints, not to talk of the deafening effect of planes on their ears.

It is to our senior citizens I want to offer this advice. I need to givesome useful tips for the elderly who may seem addicted to the longhaul flights. First, it is not advisable to travel alone. If you can afford it, you need the company of your spouse or any of your children. Second, medical science has established that long haul trips can aggravate arthritis or thrombosis. In that case, sufferers are always advised to be well equipped with flight socks. The socks, which are often sold at duty free shops at most international airports, are clinically packaged to improve blood circulation. They are prepared to make travellers endure long hours on the plane, ultimately making users feel light and relieved of joints pains.

Third, aged travellers must adequately fortify themselves with correct medication well ahead of an impending trip. The use of multivitamins, especially vitamin C, helps to boost body immunity against flu. This is necessary in case you are seated with someonenursing flu, cough or exhibiting symptoms of other contagious conditions. Every traveller must be aware that the toilets in every plane breed dangerous bacteria. So, when using toilets, either onboard or in transit, you are strongly advised to use hand soap and sanitisers.

Tip number four is that every traveller of age must avoid concentrating attention on watching movies or engaging in long hours of sleep onboard. It is imperative that at intervals, you must stretch your legs and body either by standing, or walking round the cabin, or engaging in mild body exercises. Travellers who stay glued to their seats are prone to stroke or deadly thrombosis.

Travelers should be mindful that a well-planned journey makes your trip less stressful. Ahead of flying over 24 hours with stops, or 15 to 16 hours non-stop, purchase ticket which include hotel accommodation, most especially where a stop-over takes over six hours before connecting the next flight. I have seen some aged persons falling sick or collapse at transit lounges during long journeys. Most international airports have good hotel accommodations for sound rest and you must avail yourself of the facility.

The next tip concerns the point where travellers face immigration clearance. Once you are armed with relevant documents, your clearance is guaranteed. Hard times await those without valid documents at entry points. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to be delayed, you need to ensure that your medication is in place. An asthmatic patient who suffers sudden attack may find it difficult to survive when exposed to stress at the immigration counters.

Travelling long hours in a plane is energy sapping. It always results in jet lag which often times takes up to two to three days to shake off. The case is worse for anyone who might have contracted flu or suffers from the usual summer allergies that often induce cold, coughing, sneezing and blood shot eyes. In some cases, and from personal experiences, the allergies could take about two weeks before full recovery. The body will now battle with differences in time zones and climate change. While the sun is receding in the United States, for instance, we are moving towards dawn in Nigeria. Presently, in Europe and far Eastern countries, they are witnessing heavy rainfalls and severe flooding. America is currently contending with high or humid temperature, which often requires the use of cooling devices.

Perhaps, the only reward meant for Nigerians who travel out is their dream to better security, good infrastructure and facilities. For them, leaving Nigeria is a temporary good escape from the harsh realities that they have been battling with for years. At least, they will be relieved of the sneers of armed robbery, kidnapping, killings and bombings by Boko Haram and now, Niger Delta Avengers, police brutality, fuel scarcity, ‘NEPA’ failures, hike in prices of essential commodities, poor medical facilities and others.

Travelling abroad for vacation may not be a bad idea but it can get scary when one discovers that time is an impatient customer. It flies so fast. For instance, four weeks of stay usually runs so fast you think you have just spent few days. In that regard, the thought of returning to inclement situations at home brings some pangs of heaviness or sadness. This is the crux of the matter. It is time for the government to start building solid infrastructures and facilities that would make Nigeria a beauty to behold and a place of allurement to seducecitizens to remain at home.

Government officials who travel out too often should be alive to their responsibility by returning home to replicate the good things they see abroad in their country. Nigeria is great. The country is imbued with natural and human resources which, if effectively managed, could turn Nigeria into an El-dorado. Perhaps, both the government and the governed can, indeed, latch onto this era of ‘Change’ in making acollective resolve to begin laying solid foundations for the revival, re-invention and re-orientation of Nigeria. Doing so will make the country a destination of choice for people from across the globe. After all HOME IS HOME.

Folu Olamiti Media Consultant wrote from Abuja.[myad]

Adeosun Must Go, Finance Workers Want Minister Sacked

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

Workers in the Federal Ministry of Finance, on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, demanding the removal of the Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

The workers accused Adeosun of not paying their allowances to the tune of N1.2 billion even when she has collected N30 million as annual house rent.

They displayed placards with various inscriptions, which indicated that the minister has become an agent of negative change.

Inscriptions on some of the placards read: “Kemi Adeosun must go,” “You are destroying Federal Ministry of fiancé,” “Inflation is 15% courtesy of Adeosun,” “PMB agent of positive change, Adeosun agent of negative change” “Adeosun score card is zero.” [myad]

Senate Warns Executive: Any Attempt To Frame Saraki Again Will Endanger Democracy

Greenbarge Reporters

June 20, 2016

The Senate has sounded a warning that any attempt to freshen up another charge against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and other Senators will threaten the democracy currently being practiced in Nigeria.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement in Abuja, emphasized that the plan to prefer fresh charges against Senate President Bukola Saraki and others will endanger Nigeria’s democracy.

“We are compelled to alert the good people of Nigeria and the international community, that our democracy is in danger and that the attempt by the Executive Arm of the Federal Government to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative processes in order to cause leadership change in the National Assembly is a return to the era of impunity and lack of respect for due process which we all fought to abolish.”

The statement, seen as a warning to the Presidency from the Senate, said:“We must make it clear here to the individuals in the Executive arm and party leadership behind these plots not to mistake the maturity and hand of co-operation being extended to the Presidency by the legislature as a sign of weakness. The National Assembly bent backwards to accommodate various infractions and inefficiencies in pursuit of inter-arms co-operation and national interest.

“We did not follow up the various infractions because we believe there are bigger issues which the government has to attend to in order to ensure that every Nigerian have food on his table and live confortably in a secure environment. We know that the country is actually in a state of economic emergency and all hands must be on deck.”

Senator Abdullahi noted that forgery case will be the second major battle for Saraki to contend with.He is presently under trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged failure to declare his assets properly while serving as governor of Kwara State.Saraki said the CCT trial is a politically motivated case borne out of his emergence as Senate President against the wishes of some party chieftains.

Below is the full text of the Senate’s Statement:

Forgery Case, An Unconstitutional Violation of Principles of Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances.

After reading in the national newspapers and online platforms of the planned charges of forgery and conspiracy preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ben Efeturi and reviewing the circumstances leading to the filing of these charges, we are compelled to alert the good people of Nigeria and the international community, that our democracy is in danger and that the attempt by the Executive Arm of the Federal Government to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative processes in order to cause leadership change in the National Assembly is a return to the era of impunity and lack of respect for due process which we all fought to abolish.

We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to please call his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to order. The Senate of the Federal Republic voted freely to elect its leadership into office and continuing attempts to change that leadership through the wanton abuse of judicial processes cannot stand in the eyes of the world. It is clear that the Attorney General and party leaders behind this action either lack the understanding of the underlining principles of constitutional democracy, the concept of Separation of Powers, checks and balances and parliamentary convention or they just simply do not care if the present democracy in the country survives or collapses in their blinded determination to get Saraki and Ekweremadu by all means necessary, including abuse of office and sacking the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Nigerian people have enough economic hardship at this time requiring the full attention and cooperation of the three arms of government, instead of these attempts to distract and politicise governance. We are in a state of economic emergency such that what the National Assembly needs at this time are executive bills and proposals aimed at resolving the crises of unemployment, currency depreciation, inflation, crime and insecurity. What the National Assembly needs now are executive bills to build and strengthen institutions to earn revenues, fight corruption and eliminate waste. Instead, we are getting hostile actions aimed at destabilising the National Assembly, distracting Senators from their oversight functions and ensuring good and accountable governance.

We must make it clear here to the individuals in the Executive arm and party leadership behind these plots not to mistake the maturity and hand of co-operation being extended to the Presidency by the legislature as a sign of weakness. The National Assembly bent backwards to accommodate various infractions and inefficiencies in pursuit of inter-arms co-operation and national interest. We did not follow up the various infractions because we believe there are bigger issues which the government has to attend to in order to ensure that every Nigerian have food on his table and live confortably in a secure environment. We know that the country is actually in a state of economic emergency and all hands must be on deck.

This latest plot is directed at forcing a change of leadership in the Senate or, in the extreme case, ground the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. Or how do one interpret a move in which the two presiding officers are being set up to be remanded in Kuje Prison or incapacitated from sitting at plenary through a day-to-day trial on a matter that is purely an internal affair of the Senate.

This obviously is a dangerous case of violation of the independence of the legislature, undue and unnecessary interference in the internal affairs of the Senate and blatant abuse of the judicial process. The matter now being criminalised was brought to the plenary of the Senate in session, over a year ago. And because it had no support, it was overruled and roundly defeated in chambers. To now take a matter that was resolved on the floor of the Senate to the police and then make it form the subject of a criminal prosecution of freely elected legislators beats all imagination of free thinking men all over the world. The implication is that any matter that fails on the floor of the National Assembly will now be taken to the Police, thereby endangering every Senator and House member. This current move clearly runs contrary to the Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances which are fundamental to the successful operation of the Presidential System of government. It runs counter to the principle outlined by the Supreme Court in the Adesanya Vs Senate case where it was held that nobody should seek to use the courts to achieve what he or she has failed to push through on the floor of the National Assembly. [myad]

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