Some hours after the House of Representatives discarded the Bill to reorder the sequence of the 2019 general elections, the senate is re-considering the contentious provisions which the president snubbed.

The decision of the senate on Wednesday followed the debate on the bill which sought to further improve the electoral process as presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Suleiman Nazif at plenary.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had in the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 passed in February, proposed a new sequence of elections in 2019.

The amendment placed the National Assembly election first, followed by State Houses of Assembly/ Governorship elections and Presidential election last.

But President Muhammadu Buhari vetoed the bill in March.

The President said the inserted section in the Electoral Act violated the provisions of section 72 of the 1999 Constitution which empowered INEC to fix dates of elections and see to its conduct in all ramifications.

In his lead debate on Wednesday, Nazif disclosed that the new reordered sequence of elections would start with Governorship/State Houses of Assembly elections, followed by the National Assembly election and Presidential election last.

Contributing, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara) in said the bill will further divide the Senate.

It is unnecessary and we should not go to that. I dont want us to finish the way we started, he said.

Similarly, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio said: when we initially did the first one that the President sent to us, I believe strongly that the National assembly has the powers to fix sequence of election in the law as opposed to dates, all the judgments so far have talked about dates.

INEC has the rights to fix dates for election but in terms of sequence of election, I believe we can legislate on it.

But my disagreement with the Bill is that we cannot probate and reprobate, as a Senate we are distinguished people and we must not speak with both sides of our mouth.

The sequence that is proposed here is such that not only has it taken us backwards, it shows that we look confused, Akpabio said.

Also, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Olushola Adeyeye, kicked against the bill by describing it as unconstitutional.

As Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, I state categorically that I totally oppose this bill.

There cannot be sequence of elections unless there are dates. And if INEC is given the prerogative to choose and INEC chooses to put one day before the other, let us leave things as they are.

INEC in the past chose their date and INEC in the 8th National Assembly must be given the respect again to choose their date. Anything else in my opinion is legislative rascality, Adeyeye said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided said it was important for all Senators to be on the same page in matters such as this.

We passed the Electoral Act and then we sent it to the President, the President returned that Bill with a number of observations.

One of the observations he made was in respect of order of election, he also made observation with regards to local government elections which the National Assembly was given power under that Bill to make laws.

The President has made observations in respect of some aspects of that Bill, he did not say that the Bill we passed was entirely useless.

To save those noble provisions in the Electoral Act, it is important that we remove all those areas that the President had objected to and pass the remaining items as a separate Bill and send it back to him.

Then we can now deal with the issues where he has issues as a separate Bill altogether, then we either defeat it or have it succeed.

If it succeeds, we send it to the President, he decides what to do, if he brings it back, we also decide what to do.

We need to clean up that Bill so that we will be able to save all those provisions that were already made in the elaborate bill, Ekweremadu said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Embattled Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has denied having anything to do with the Wednesdays invasion of the senate chambers and the removal of the mace.

The senator representing Delta Central has also been released by the police.

The Senate Chamber was on Wednesday invaded by some persons who made away with the mace.

Shortly after the mace was stolen, the Senate accused Omo-Agege of sending thugs to steal the mace.

Omo-Agege in his reaction denied involvement in the theft of the mace.

He said he has also left police custody.

A statement by a legal practitioner, Mr. Lucky Ajokperniovo, for the office of the Senator, said that he only went to the Red Chamber on Wednesday to resume work and sit for plenary.

He added that he was only invited by the police to speak about his perspective on the incident.

We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all.

Following the said media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege.

He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police.

Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter, the statement read in part.

Omo-Agege also reacted to the statement by the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Abdullahi Sabi accusing him of leading the hoodlums to cart away the mace.

Omo-Agege described the allegation as very serious.

We are carefully studying Senator Sabis allegations to ascertain their full ramifications.

Appropriate responses will follow, as may be necessary, Omo-Ageges statement read.

The mace which is the symbol of authority of the Senate was on Wednesday, snatched by some unidentified men.

The men barged into the Chamber of the Senate, during plenary, pushed away the Sergeant-at-Arms positioned at the entrance and carted away the mace.

The drama coincided with the protest at the National Assembly against the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC- Delta Central.

Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, accused Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of masterminding the snatching of the mace.

He described the action as an attempt to overthrow an arm of government. He said it was treason.

Source: NAN

The Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Umar, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly reconsider his decision on theNigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill.

Alhaji Umar is the paramount ruler of the community where President Buhari hails from in Katsina state.

President Buhari had, on the 27th February 2018, transmitted to the National Assembly, his decision to withhold assent to the Bill, giving paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies, as reasons.

Addressing a delegation of officers of the Corps led by its National Commandant, Amb. Dickson Akoh, he said that as a father, he would look into the demands of the Corps with the hope that the bill will see the light of day.

He commended the organization for its doggedness, conducting itself peacefully and resorting to Rule of Law and Advocacy in pursuing its goals.

When the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill becomes law, it would serve as a platform for providing massive job opportunities for the Nigerian youths and creating the desired peaceful atmosphere against the prevailing height of insecurity in Nigeria, he said.

Speaking earlier, the Peace Corps boss said, the Corps has not breached any known provisions of the laws of the land to warrant the constant harassment it has been suffering in the hands of some security agencies.

When it became obvious that there was a grand conspiracy to misrepresent the noble intentions of the NPC Bill before Mr. President with a view to frustrating his assent to it, the Corps, in September 2017, formally requested for an audience with Your Royal Highness, which was graciously granted.

On getting to Katsina we were told that Your Highness was indisposed.

If that visit with you had held and the facts of our case laid bare before you, it would have averted this temporary setback.

Notwithstanding, now that we are with you, we do know and very hopeful that you will use your good office to appeal to your son, our President who we hold in high esteem to reconsider his earlier stance on this all-important Bill, Akoh said.

The National Commandant assured the Emir that, contrary to all negative reports against the Peace Corps, the organization has remained steadfast in its obedience to the rule of law.

He insisted that evidence abounds that the organization was highly misrepresented before the President and prayed the President to look a second look at the corps through an Independent Commission of Inquiry.

Source: NAN

Islamic State (ISIS) militants have been given 48 hours to withdraw from an enclave they control south of Damascus, the pro-Syrian government newspaper al-Watan reported on Thursday.

If they refuse, the army and supporting forces are ready to launch a military operation to end the presence of the organisation in the area, it said.

The jihadist-controlled enclave is centered around the Palestinian Yarmouk camp and the al-Hajar al-Aswad area south of Damascus.

The area is much smaller than the eastern Ghouta region where the Syrian government recently defeated insurgents.

A commander in the regional military alliance that backs the Syrian government said the Syrian army had begun shelling the jihadist enclave on Tuesday in preparation for an assault.

Yarmouk, some eight km from the centre of Damascus, was home to Syrias largest Palestinian refugee community before the Syrian war erupted in 2011.

Although most residents have fled, the UN has said several thousand remain.

The Syrian government has recovered swathes of territory from rebels by letting them leave to other rebel-held parts of the country after years of siege and ferocious military assaults backed by Russia and Iran.

Source: NAN

By Hauwa Gold
A Sokoto Magistrates Court on Thursday, ordered the remand of two men, Abdulkarim Muhammad and Ibrahim Ibrahim over alleged cruelty to a donkey.

The accused persons are facing a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy, riding and neglecting an animal.

The Chief Magistrate, Nuraddeen Bello, ordered the remand of the accused persons after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bello adjourned the case until April 24, for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Monday Kennedy, told the court that the accused persons, who reside in Tafawa Balewa area Sokoto metropolis, intentionally conspired and rode on a donkey belonging to one Faruk Koko of Mabera area.

He told the court that the accused persons jointly rode on the donkey to Tamaje area of Sokoto where they handed the exhausted donkey to one Abdulmumin.

The prosecutor further said that Abdulmumin and the donkey were however knocked down by a car and both sustained injuries.

He said that the owner of the donkey reported the incident on April 16, at Unguwan Rogo Police Station, Sokoto.

Kennedy said the offence contravened Sections 97 and 208 of the Penal Code.

Source: NAN

In a lead judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, directed the freezing of the account of the Ekiti state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

The court allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the judgment of Justice Taiwo. O Taiwo of Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti division.

Details later

Source: NAN

The Nigerian police have returned the mace stolen by some hoodlums from the Senate on Wednesday.

The mace which was recovered by the police later on Wednesday after it was abandoned by the hoodlums, was brought back by the DIG operations, Joshak Habila.

He handed it over to the chief security officer of the National Assembly, who then passed it to the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The mace has been taken into the chambers, said Yusuph Olaniyonu, media adviser to the senate president, Bukola Saraki.

Source: NAN

Seven-star Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) secured a fifth Ligue 1 title in six seasons on Sunday with a 7-1 rout of last years champions Monaco.

Unai Emerys team blew Monaco away in a first-half blitz that saw PSG score four times in 14 minutes at the Parc des Princes with with Lo Celso striking either side of goals from Edinson Cavani and Di Maria.

Rony Lopes pulled a goal back for Monaco as he scored for the eighth game in a row, but Di Maria added a fifth before Radamel Falcao turned into his own net and Julian Draxler struck late on as PSG romped to the clubs seventh championship.

With a fifth successive League Cup already won, PSG completed the second leg of a domestic treble they are also through to the French Cup semi-finals and could yet break their record 96-point haul from the 2015-16 campaign.

PSG also became the first team in Europes top leagues this season to reach 100 goals on a night they were without the injured Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the teenager left on the bench after a bout of illness.

Monaco arrived in Paris unbeaten on their last eight league visits to the capital but any prospect of them prolonging PSGs wait for the title quickly eroded.

Kamil Gliks absence in the heart of the visiting defence was acutely felt as Lo Celso started the move that resulted in the opening goal on 14 minutes, sauntering into the box to tap in a Dani Alves cross.

While Cavanis second half of the campaign has proved less prolific than the blistering spell that yielded 19 goals before Christmas, the Uruguayan bagged his league-best 25th goal with a powerful header from a Yuri Berchiche cross.

Cavani then released Di Maria with a superb hooked pass from inside his own half and the Argentine raced clear before lifting an exquisite chip over the advancing Danijel Subasic.

Sidibe injury concern

Javier Pastore supplied Lo Celso to head in PSGs fourth on 28 minutes and Monaco suffered further misfortune when France international Djibril Sidibe was stretchered off with a leg injury, a worrying sign for both club and country ahead of the World Cup.

Monaco briefly held up the onslaught as Lopes turned home an Almamy Toure cross seven minutes before half-time for the in-form Portugal internationals 13th goal this term.

But PSG continued to attack at will and Pastores assist for Di Maria allowed the winger to grab his second of the game on 59 minutes.

The hosts were gifted another when Falcaos attempt to clear a corner went horribly wrong, summing up Monacos misery as the ball looped beyond Subasic on 77 minutes.

Germany international Draxler rounded out the demolition, firing home via a deflection as PSG clinched the title at home for the first since 1994 while shattering Monacos 17-match unbeaten run.

Source: NAN

Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 32 points to power the Indiana Pacers over LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 98-80 on Sunday in the opening game of their first-round NBA playoff series.

Stay calm, stay composed, play the game I have all year long, Oladipo said of the key to his overwhelming day. This was a great team win.

James had won 21 first-round playoff games in a row until the rout, having never before lost the opener in a first-round NBA post-season series.

James, seeking his ninth career trip to the NBA Finals and fourth league title, had not dropped a first-round playoff game since the New York Knicks beat Miami in the fourth game of the 2012 opening round, a minor setback on the Heats title run, a career first for James.

James said falling behind in a series just motivates him to step up his game.

Im down 0-1 in the first found. I was down 3-1 in the finals. So Im the last guy to ask about what Im gonna be like the next couple days, James said.

The Pacers jumped ahead 33-14 after the first quarter and led by as much as 23 in holding off the Cavs, who came no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

You cant ease into the playoffs, said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. I thought (Indiana) came in and they attacked us.

James had a triple double in a losing cause with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. The rest of Clevelands starters only managed 25 points, Kevin Love with 17 rebounds but only nine points.

J.R. Smith had 15 points off the Cavaliers bench while Myles Turner had 16 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 for Indiana.

The Cavaliers had their lowest-scoring first period of the season and only five baskets with six turnovers in the opening quarter, drawing boos as they walked off at half-time trailing 59-38.

The Boston Celtics nearly fell victim to another Eastern Conference opening upset bid before edging visiting Milwaukee 113-107 in overtime.

Al Horford scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Boston while Terry Rozier, starting in place of injured Kyrie Irving, added 23 points. Marcus Morris scored 21 off the bench while Jaylen Brown netted 20 and Jayson Tatum contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics.

Weve been down a lot, a lot of injuries, and weve always found a way, Horford said. Morris made some big shots, Tatum down the stretch, Terry thats what were all about. We just find a way.

Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists and gave the Celtics headaches until fouling out in overtime.

Hes a great player, Horford said. He knows how to finish around the rim. He has great touch. We tried to contain him as best we could.

Khris Middleton added 31 points, hitting five-of-seven three-pointers, with eight rebounds and six assists in a losing cause.

The Bucks, who have not won a NBA playoff series since 2001, have been losers in seven consecutive first-round playoff series.

Source: NAN

Former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has urged the public to disregard calls on him by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to defect to the party.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, had recently called on Ihedioha to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join forces with APGA in the South-East to advance his political career.

However a statement in Owerri on Tuesday, quoted Ihedioha as saying that the call was of no consequence as his loyalty to the PDP had never wavered and would never be in contention.

The statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chibuike Onyeukwu, said the former Deputy Speaker views the statement as unwarranted, mischievous and a misplaced demand, borne out of mere imagination.

The former deputy speaker urges his friends, supporters and allies to disregard Chief Oyes call as it is of no consequence and be assured of his clear focus.

It is known to everybody that his membership and loyalty to PDP has never wavered and will never be in contention.

It said that Ihedioha, who appreciated the recognition by APGA leadership, however, condemned the attempt by the partys chairman to make political gains from a social visit.

The statement reiterated that the former deputy speaker was not power hungry and would realise his dream of becoming Imo governor through the PDP.

It expressed appreciation to Oye for acknowledging that Ihedioha possessed outstanding credentials to wrestle power for the All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the state.

It is noteworthy that Chief Oyes call is not new as there is hardly any serious political party in Nigeria that has not sought the membership of Emeka Ihedioha.

He has, however, without hesitation, rejected such requests, restating that PDP remains the only true national party that can liberate Nigeria from the maladministration inflicted by the APC government at all levels.

We make haste to reiterate that he is not desperate for power and wish to state with humility, that he will, by the grace of God, realize his political dreams through PDP, the statement said.

Source: NAN