Business
Senate Continues N195bn Pension Fraud Probe
The Senate has continued to probe into the N195b pension fraud as it said yesterday that the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, must face the law and pay for what he has done.
The Law Makers said they were not sure of the 2013 Appropriation Bill it passed on December 20 was sent to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media, and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, made this known yesterday during a news conference in Abuja.
Responding to questions on the 2013 Appropriation Bill, whether it has reached the President’s table, he said, “The Senate has passed the 2013 budget. Any other thing going on is the normal course of bureaucracy involved and I do not think there would be any problem with that.
“The important thing is that the 2013 budget was passed on December 20 by a concurrence of both Houses of the National Assembly and this officially is the passage of the budget by the parliament.
“I will have to assume that such has been done because after you have passed the budget, what is left is simply mechanical. You get a clean copy and then, you send it. I’m assuming that it must have been passed.”
Speaking on the decision to invite the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar for investigation over the Maina issue, he said the decision was agreed by the joint committee handling the case.
Adding, Abaribe said the Senate was not “helpless” in handling the refusal of Maina to appear before its committee.
In his words, “It is necessary for Nigerians to know that a committee of the National Assembly in either House is a representative of the House.
“It means if a committee of the Senate is operating or summoning anybody, it’s not just that committee; it is the whole Senate.
“It means whatever sanctions coming are not just from that committee, but the whole Senate.
“So, if a committee says ‘we have already discussed with our leadership and this is the step we are going to take’, then, you have to assume that such is a step approved by the Senate.
“But when committees seek further power, they bring it to the floor of the Senate. Then, we can vote for it, but the rule is that every committee is a representation of the Senate as a whole.
“On the issue of Maina, let me say that the Senate cannot be said to be helpless.
“On the contrary, the Senate will and I want to lay emphasis on that word, the Senate will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.”
Until date, Maina has been under immense pressure from the Upper Chamber for refusing to appear before its Joint Committee after several summons from the committee. In addition, he has failed to defend himself over allegation of N195billion pension fraud.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
Business
NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years
Business
FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year
-
Maritime2 days ago
Minister Tasks Academy On Thorough-Bred Professionals
-
Maritime2 days ago
Customs Cautions On Delayed Clearance, Says Consignees May Lose Cargo
-
Maritime2 days ago
NCS Sensitises Stakeholders On Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance System
-
Maritime2 days ago
Lagos Ready For International Boat Race–LASWA
-
Maritime2 days ago
Shoprite Nigeria Gets New Funding to Boost Growth, Retail Turnaround
-
Politics2 days ago
I Would Have Gotten Third Term If I Wanted – Obasanjo
-
Sports2 days ago
Bournemouth, Newcastle Share Points
-
Sports2 days ago
Iwobi Stars As Fulham Overcome Brentford