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Money Laundering Allegations: EFCC Must Respect The Law, Rivers PDP Insists

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Rivers State is the second state with the highest number of money laundering cases after Lagos, describing the allegation as fictitious.
Spokesman of PDP in Rivers State, Darlington Orji who stated this during a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt Wednesday, called on the commission to respect the rule of law.
Recall that the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt said the level of corruption in the state was high, especially those related to oil business and that there were records of money laundering in the crude oil and gas rich State.
But Orji dared the EFCC boss to back up his claims with facts and refrain from making blanket statements, noting that the Rivers State government has a clean record as it is not involved in illegitimate businesses.
“It is unfortunate for that fictitious statement that is being attributed to the EFCC chairman. For us, Rivers State is a favourable place and as far as we are concerned, there is nothing like money laundering here. We do legitimate business as a government and as a people in Rivers state.
“We are on clean record and history has shown that Rivers State has nothing to do with illegality. So he (Magu) should come up with his facts and name names as an organisation that is set up by law and it is supposed to operate within the law.
“You cannot make a blank statement that will be indicting the entire state. statements should be made specifically, so that statement is neither here nor there,” the state PDP spokesman stated.
Orji further said the state government led by Governor Nyesom Wike is not bothered by the comments of the EFCC chairman because, according to him, the state government is running a transparent administration.
“So, for us it’s an accountable government, a government that is loyal to the people instead of the people being loyal to the government. So, we are not bothered with the statement because is a fictitious one.”
On the EFCC’s plan to vacate the perpetual injunction obtained by the Dr. Peter Odili government restraining the anti-graft agency from investigating officials of the state government, he said the statement is a pointer that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government does not respect the rule of law.
According to him, “Well, we are aware that the Government of APC today does not respect the rule of law, otherwise, he (Magu) ought not to make such statements. All they (EFCC) need to do is to approach a superior court so that, that order can be vacated.
“Thank God today every successive Government has used that order. The government of APC and the government of PDP. That order was not made or the court was not approached by the government of today in Rivers State.
“That is to say, that we only inherited the liabilities and assets of Rivers State. So, if they want to vacate the order, it is not by mere statement, it’s by approaching the court, if the court see reasons with them, they vacate it.
“We have nothing to hide as Rivers people. The government is open 24-hours, but we are saying that the rule of law must be respected.The order must be vacated before you could approach our people. Though the EFCC that we know appears sectional, which ever case, things should be done right,” Orji said.

 

Dennis Naku, Favour Ukwe, & Charity Opara

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Reps Urge FG To Pay ASUU, NASU’s Withheld Salaries

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).
This followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Fulata said that the government must accede to the unions’ demands because they were genuine.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the President to direct the relevant bodies to come up with modalities for negotiation with both ASUU and NASU.
The House said this would enable them to come up with workable, implementable and final agreement to be signed by both parties.
The House urged the president to direct the Ministry of Finance, to ensure full implementation.
The House mandated its Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Federal Colleges of Education, Labour and Productivity, Finance, Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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Bill To Prescribe Salaries, Allowances Of Judicial Officers Pass 2nd Reading

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The bill seeking to prescribe salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of Judicial office holders in Nigeria has passed second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill, Ashiru said the bill, an executive bill, was forwarded to the two Chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, in accordance with provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He said the bill, in a nutshell, seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in order to nip in the bud, the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration.
This, he said was to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the time.
Ashiru said the bill intends to unify the salary structure, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial officers holders both in the Federal and at the State levels.
“This proposed legal framework, undoubtedly, will bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.”
He said that the intent of the bill was in conformity with the current administration’s resolve to strengthen the country’s Judiciary and the criminal justice system .
This, he said was to ensure its independence in the performance of its constitutional role, as the arbiter of the temple of justice.
He urged the senators to support the expeditious passage of the bill in view of its importance to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), who seconded the motion said it was necessary to ensure adequate remuneration of Judicial officers was in line with the current economic reality.
He said that there was the need to provide an adequate remuneration that would prevent judicial officials from being tempted for corruption.
Sen. Orji Kalu (APC- Abia ) commended the executive for presenting the bill to prescribe a remuneration for the judicial arm of government, saying that no right thinking Nigerian would want to oppose it.
He urged the officials to ensure that justice is dispensed rightly to Nigerians.
He also urged the government to improve remuneration of other sectors given the economic reality.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) said the President has done creditably well by presenting the bill for remuneration of the judicial officials.
He said the judicial officials had suffered in silence for as they were not disposed to speaking up on the issues, just like the labour unions.
He said it was cheery and commendable for President Tinubu to have brought the bill, which was designed to enhance the salary and welfare of the judicial officials.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio said presentation of the bill was a right step in the right direction by President Tinubu.
Akpabio, referred the bill to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks, after the bill was read for the second time.

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Court To Hear Suit Against Ganduje’s Suspension, May 28

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Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has fixed May 28 for hearing in the substantive application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Dr Ganduje is challenging his suspension from the party by factional ward executives led by one Basiru Nuhu Isa.
He was first suspended by APC Ganduje Ward executives led by one Haladu Gwanjo on April 15. Another faction emerged and also announced suspension of Dr Ganduje on April 20.
The Tide source reports that the secretary of the party in Kano, Zakari Sarina, said the suspension by the faction was another case of impersonation.
Dr Ganduje is seeking a declaration that his suspension from the party without giving him opportunity to defend himself amounts to violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
He is also seeking a declaration that his suspension by the faction was unlawful, null and void.
Counsel for the embattled APC chairman, Hadiza Ahmad, applied for service on the respondents by substituted means which the court granted.
Justice Liman adjourned to May 28 for hearing in the matter.

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