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I’m Confident Justice will Prevail – Saraki

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The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, seeks to inform the wider Nigerian public that as a firm believer in rule of law, he intends to totally submit himself to the due process of the law as the trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) begins today, Friday, March 11, 2016. This is founded upon the premise that “justice must not only be done, but justice must also be seen to have been done.”Dr. Saraki and his team of lawyers have earlier submitted an application to quash the illegitimate suit being brought against him before the CCT based on several alleged discrepancies found in his asset declaration form. As Nigerians carefully follow the proceedings of the case, we must all be guided by the fact that a basic scrutiny of Section 3, Paragraph D of the Act that establishes the CCT and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) state in explicit terms that before any complaint (if any) is forwarded to the CCT for adjudication, the public officer against whom a complaint is made must be given the opportunity to either deny or admit the claims by the Bureau. As it stands, Nigerians must ask why this fundamental and indispensable condition for a trial at the CCT has not been followed.

What this means is: the condition precedent mandates that Dr. Saraki – as every other citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is entitled to – should have been given the opportunity to explain any perceived inaccuracy, but he was never given the opportunity to do so.

Secondly and more crucially, the application submitted by the Senate President draws attention to the fact that the 13-year-old declaration forms on which the majority of the impending suit is predicated, were examined and investigated by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) at the time of submission and were found satisfactory to the Bureau’s requirements at the time.

Given that for 13 years, all the documents from the Senate President’s asset declarations from 2003, 2007 and 2011 were accessible by the Bureau for investigation, Saraki’s application states that the condition precedence should have been drawn to it; to give the Senate President the opportunity to explain and address any identified issues.

The Senate President has expressed indignation that these confirmed forms which have rested in possession of the CCB for over a decade without issue are now being flagged.

In this regard, as the trial begins, Nigerians should note that this outright non-observance of the rule of law, reaffirms the belief that this trial is borne from political mischief and malice associated with the timeliness and nature of this suit.

As the head of Nigeria’s legislative branch, Dr. Saraki is confident that justice will ultimately prevail and he is ready, willing and prepared to submit himself to all proceedings that adhere to the strict dictates of the law. He believes that the law must take its righteous course and reassures Nigerians of his commitment to serving the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate

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Nasarawa ADC Suspends State Chairman Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities, Sets Up Disciplinary Committee

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nasarawa State has suspended its State Chairman, Godwin Alaku Williams, over alleged involvement in anti-party activities.
The suspension was approved by the party’s Transitional Leadership Team (TLT) following a petition accusing Williams of actions deemed harmful to the unity and progress of the party in the state.
The decision was taken at a TLT meeting held on Wednesday at Otunsha Hotel, Keffi, and presided over by the party leader, Chief John Michael Abdul.
In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Comrade Idris Ojoko, the suspension will last for 14 days, pending investigation and the outcome of proceedings by a disciplinary committee constituted by the TLT.
Ojoko also announced the appointment of Barrister Paul Magaji Ajeh, formerly the State Secretary, as Acting State Chairman, while Umar A. Babayaro has been named Acting Secretary.
According to the statement, the allegations against Williams include his alleged refusal to recognise the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator David Mark, and his failure to integrate coalition members into the ADC party structure in Nasarawa State.
Other accusations include allegedly reporting some party leaders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police, describing them as impostors.
Williams is also accused of constituting parallel party organs at various levels within the state, interfering with the establishment of party offices at the state, local government, and ward levels contrary to NWC directives, and disrupting the ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise.
Meanwhile, Ojoko announced the formation of a disciplinary committee chaired by Barrister Hassan Yakubu. Other members include Amina Zanwa, Mamman Sunday, and Yunus Abdullahi Sidi, with Gaza Mark Auta serving as Secretary.

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Atiku’s Son Expelled From Political Group After Defecting to APC Ahead of 2027 Elections

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The Atiku Haske Organisation has expelled Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress and endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

In a statement released on Saturday, the group’s National Secretary and Convener, Hon. Mai Nagge Musa Bakari said Abba had no authority to issue directives to the organisation, noting that he neither founded nor registered the group.

“The Atiku Haske Organisation was founded by us. Abba was merely invited to join the group. He neither contributed a single naira to the organisation nor does he possess its certificate of registration. We are, therefore, under no obligation to adhere to any directive from him,” Bakari said.

The organisation accused Abba of acting contrary to its collective decisions, values, and principles, prompting his expulsion. Bakari declared any instruction allegedly issued by Abba regarding the group’s political stance as “null, void and dead on arrival.””

The group categorically denied defecting from the African Democratic Congress, emphasizing that while it was previously aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party, members collectively resolved to move to the ADC, a decision that remains unchanged.

Despite expelling his son, the organisation reaffirmed its support for the former vice president, describing him as “the most credible candidate” capable of delivering good governance and alleviating Nigerian suffering.

Atiku has described his son’s decision as “entirely personal,” stating that such developments at the intersection of family and politics are “neither unusual nor alarming.”

The development signals intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political figures already repositioning themselves for the electoral contest.

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2027: Anytime Tinubu thinks I am no longer valuable, he has the right to sack me —Nyesom Wike

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Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has every right to remove him from office whenever he is deemed no longer useful.
Wike made the remark while addressing recent political discussions surrounding his role in the Tinubu-led administration. He stressed that his appointment is entirely at the president’s discretion and not a matter of entitlement.
According to the former Rivers State governor, his focus remains on delivering results and justifying the confidence reposed in him, rather than worrying about removal from office. He added that leadership positions come with responsibility, not permanence.
Wike’s comment has since sparked reactions across political circles, with many viewing it as a reaffirmation of loyalty to President Tinubu and the principle that public office is service-driven, not guaranteed.

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