PDP ratifies zoning formula .S’East loses bid for Senate President, Speaker . Ex-Governor Muazu tipped as PDP chairman

The enlarged National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified the zoning formula of the party, signalling the possible re-emergence of Senator David Mark as Senate President while Hon. Muraina Ajibola (PDP, Oyo) is set to emerge as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. With this development, the South-East geo-political zone has lost its bid for the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The party has also set machinery in motion for the emergence of a new national chairman of the party from the North-East zone in March 2012. These were some of the key decisions taken late Tuesday night by the Caucus at its emergency meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Impeccable sources at the meeting told National Mirror that the Caucus adopted wholesale the zoning formula presented to it by the National Working Committee.

The arrangement zoned the President of the Senate to the North-Central, the Speaker of the House of Representative to the South-West, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) to the South- East and the National Chairman of the party to the North-East zone. The South-East is also to produce the Deputy Senate President. Already, the President has gone to the South- South zone while the North-West got the position of the Vice-President. With this development, the coast appears clear for Senate President David Mark to retain his position while Ajibola is set to emerge as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Court stops INEC from issuing certificates of return Two senators, 10 Reps-elect affected

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday refused to give 12 of the 53 persons elected in the just concluded general elections in Katsina State their certificates of return, following a court order. The 41 others were given their certificates of return by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. Among those denied the certificates were two Senators- elect and 10 elected members of the House of Representatives.

Jega said the commission was restrained by court to present the certificates to the 12 candidates. Jega, represented by INEC commissioner in charge of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, Ambassador Ahmed Moh’d Wali, said: “The commission, being one that recognises court order, has no option than to abide with the order.” He said 14 political parties participated in the elections in the state and that 10 contested for the governorship poll of which the ruing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won. He said nine parties contested for three senatorial zones which were won by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), while 11 parties participated in the state assembly election.

Those given the certificates of return include Governor Ibrahim Shema (PDP), Senator Abu Ibrahim and five elected members of the House of Representatives and 34 for the House of Assembly. Shema commended INEC for conducting credible elections, despite the huge challenges before the commission. He, however, condemned the post-election violence which erupted in some parts of the North in the wake of the presidential poll in which many people were killed, including some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In Borno State, 42 winners of the general elections were given their certificates of return. Among them were 28 elected into the House of Assembly, 10 elected into the House of Representatives, three senators-elect and the governor-elect. Presenting the certificate to the winners at the INEC head office in Maiduguri, the state capital, INEC Commissioner in charge of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states, Col. Mohammed Hammanga, urged them to provide good governance to the people.

How Lawal, Ex-Minister, Stole N24.5 Billion - EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday informed a Federal High Court in Abuja how a former minister of works, Dr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, allegedly stole N24.4 billion frm the federal government.

The anti-graft agency had brought Lawal to court on a 25-count charge and named Adeogba Ademola, Digital Toll Coy Ltd., Okala Philip Yakubu, Thahal Paul, Swede Control Intertex Ltd., Proman Vital ventures Ltd., PEB 04 Nig. Ltd., and Lassa Ltd as co-accused persons.

The EFCC had claimed that Lawal conspired with the other accused persons, using some firms as fronts to appropriate the public funds while serving as minister of works between 2006 and 2009.

The commission also alleged the accused persons conspired to defraud the federal government to the tune of N24.4 billion, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 17 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.

The N24.36 billion is the total amount of money meant to finance the construction of dual carriage bridge across River Benue at Bagana with equity participation between the federal government, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

The EFCC had alleged that the accused persons fraudulently converted the entire project sum through a proxy.

Reps summon Bankole over fraud allegations

Dimeji Bankole, the speaker of the House of Representatives, is to respond today to fresh allegations of fraud raised against him by his colleagues in an unprecedented move which has further highlighted the cracks within the house, barely weeks to its end of session.

Mr Bankole is expected to answer to allegations that he raised unauthorised loans from a bank - which in a way has led to the delay in the payment of members' allowances - and that he unilaterally ordered the suspension of the house's sitting last week.

Lawmakers agreed to delay a proposal for Mr Bankole's suspension until he personally answers to the accusations raised by Dino Melaye, the leader of a group of 11 members suspended last year for a similar allegation.

The speaker was also criticised for his decision to "unceremoniously" adjourn the house sitting last week, and for locking out members yesterday as they reported for plenary without notice.

"This house is a house of order and what happened is a breach of the rules of this house," Mr. Melaye told his colleagues when the house finally convened late afternoon after the deputy speaker, Usman Nafada, who presided, intervened. "There is leadership failure except you don't want to speak the truth." The rare decision, coming as the house draws nearer to its final plenary date of June 4, showcased the financial crisis that have rocked the lower federal legislature that has been troubled throughout its four year tenure, with scarcely investigated graft allegations.

Fayemi sacks heads of educational institutions in Ekiti

The Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, yesterday fired the Vice Chancellors of the three state-owned universities and the provost of the only College of Education in the state.

The government said their removal, which was with immediate effect, was in preparation for the commencement of the repositioning of the education sector in the state.

Mr Fayemi, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mojeed Jamiu ordered the vice chancellors to hand over to the most senior professor in their universities.

Those affected include the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), Dipo Kolawole, who had just spent two out of his five-year term in the position. Others are the vice chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti (USTI), Samuel Oye Bandele and that of the University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti (TUNEDIK), Akin Ogunlade.

The acting Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti has also been replaced Francesca Aladejana of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife , Nigeria in the sweep.