Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, on Tuesday, swore in no fewer than 35 newly appointed commissioners in the state.

Swearing the Commissioners in at the Executive Council Chamber, Centenary City, Abakaliki, on Tuesday, the governor charged them to be innovative and strategic in the discharge of their duties, noting the governor said their appointments were not based on political patronage.

He also swore in his Chief of Staff, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu and Deputy Chief of Staff, Engr Timothy Nwachi; newly appointed Senior Special Assistants; Special Assistants; and Personal Assistants.

Addressing the appointees, he enjoined them to join hands with him to transform the state, adding that his administration will not tolerate indolence.

He said,

“As you all know, this is a call to serve, while I congratulate you, I implore you to take your duties seriously and I say it clearly, the appointments are not for political patronage.

“If I see lapses in your office, you are leaving the next minute and I can never call you back.

“Our state is very charged waiting for our leadership style and we must show them what we have for them and show them that we have the capacity to deliver.”

While thanking Ebonyians for their patience with his administration, he assured them he would hit the ground running to deliver on his campaign promises.

“We are grateful to Ebonyians for their patience especially when it comes to the environment and by the grace of God we will deliver.”

Some of the Commissioners sworn in were Works and Transport, Engr Lebechi Mbam; Finance, Dr. Leonard Uguru; Lands and Survey, Dr. Matthew Nwobashi; Tertiary Education, Prof. Omari Omaka (SAN); Market Development and Parks, Prof. Nwogo Obasi; Skill Development and Job Creation, Elijah Oko-Udu; Internal Security, Prince Etta Ude; Environment, Hon. Victor Chukwu; Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor; Commerce and Industry, Oguzor Offia Nwali; among others.

On Monday, Governor Yahaya Bello’s government announced plans to raise N15 billion to establish a third state university in Kabba.

Wemi Jones, education commissioner, disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Lokoja.

Mr Jones said the SEC had already approved the memo containing the bill to establish Kogi State University, Kabba.He said the attorney general had also been directed to transmit the bill to the Kogi House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

“We are very much aware that a Faculty of Law is one of the prerequisites for the National University Commission (NUC) to recognise and approve any request for a private university in Nigeria,” the commissioner explained.

“Therefore, the Kogi state government is working towards ensuring that before the end of the coming weeks, NUC will have given approval to the state university.”

Mr Jones added,

“In fact, the recently inaugurated implementation committee chaired by Prof Olu Obafemi is working alongside other stakeholders to speed up the process.”

The commissioner used the opportunity to clarify the rumour over alleged plans to convert the College of Education (Technical), Kabba, into a site for the university.He said the news was false and “unauthenticated information.”

However, the commissioner explained that the committee, after several considerations, concluded that it was expedient to start the Kogi State University, Kabba, at the College of Education (Technical) Kabba while the college of education would be relocated.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has made a personal donation of N1.5 million and hundreds of mattresses to the three special schools in the state in fulfilment of his earlier promise to support the students with needed facilities.

The benefiting schools are Government Special School for the Physically Challenged and Mentally Retarded, Ido Ekiti; Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro Ekiti; and Government Special School for the Blind, Ikere Ekiti.

His wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, who made the donation on the governor’s behalf, said the gesture was borne out of compassion toward ensuring the well-being of students living with disabilities in the state.

The governor’s wife said the visit was also to ensure an on-the-spot assessment of the school’s facilities and to determine the welfare and well-being of the special students.

While encouraging the students to reciprocate the present administration’s love and kindness by being obedient and paying more attention to their education, Oyebanji also charged the teachers and other workers to continue to show love to the students, promising that there would be regular visits to the schools to ensure that proper attention is given to the students.

She told the students,

“You are special and dear to the heart of the governor and the government of the state. That is why particular attention is being paid to your welfare and well-being. I want you to reciprocate this by focusing on your education, which will prepare you for a great future.She urged them to see themselves as a special creature of God with a purpose to fulfill.

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MR YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, ON THE COMMENTS BY SENATOR ADAMU MUHAMMAD BULKACHUWA ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE ON MONDAY, 12 JUNE 2023

14 June 2023.

My attention was drawn to a viral video clip on the social media, of the comments made by Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa on the floor of the Senate on Monday, 12 June 2023, at the valedictory session of the Senate of the 9th Assembly, before he was interrupted and stopped by the then Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

Senator Bulkachuwa, in his remarks, amongst other things, referred to “confidential dealings” he had had with some of his colleagues in the Senate, and went on to say:

“I look at faces in this chamber whom have come to me and sought for my help when my wife was the President of the Court of Appeal, and I’m sure…In his concluding remarks, he said: And I must thank particularly, my wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while she was in office, and she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment, and extended her help to my colleagues…”

All these were amidst several interjections by the Senate President. Probably, if the Senate President had not interrupted Senator Bulkachuwa, he would have made more vital/useful revelations that would have provided specific details of the “confidential dealings of one sort or the other” he allegedly had with some of his colleagues in which according to him, “I did my best and in most cases I succeeded.

Notwithstanding however, given the office held by his wife which he clearly mentioned in his remarks, no one would be left in doubt as to the sort of help he either succeeded or did not succeed in securing for his colleagues, with whom he had since become good friends and still remain good friends.

These colleagues, according to him, only “thanked me for what I have done with words of mouth, that was all.”

The statements were clearly admissions by the Senator, that he did attempt to, and/or actually perverted the course of justice/interfered with due administration of justice, which makes him liable to be investigated and prosecuted even on his admission.

That this came with a huge negative impact on the integrity and the independence of the Judiciary can only be an understatement. At the 102nd meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) held today, 14 June 2023, I took the liberty of my membership of the Council to complain about the rather disgusting and despicable conduct of Senator Bulkachuwa, which was a direct attack on the integrity of the Judiciary.

The NJC condemned the actions of the Senator in the strongest terms as an affront on the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. I made it clear to the Council that, while the NBA will at all times rise to the defence of the honour, integrity and independence of the judiciary, we shall not hesitate to take on anyone, either within or outside the legal profession, who takes steps or makes statements that are capable of undermining the independence of the judiciary and the impartiality judicial processes.

It is in this regard that I call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately invite Senator Ahmad Muhammad Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly.

I shall write a letter to both the IGP and the ICPC Chairman in this respect.We reiterate our commitment to the maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Judiciary in Nigeria, within the bounds of the law, irrespective of the personalities involved.

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN PRESIDENT

Emmanuel Emeruwa of the Labour Party (representing Aba South) has emerged as the eighth Abia House of Assembly speaker.

Another Labour Party lawmaker, Okezie Augustine, representing the Umuahia East constituency, also emerged as the deputy speaker of the house.

Mr Emeruwa was nominated by Uche Akachukwu, representing the Aba Central, and seconded by Emeka Obioma, representing the Umuahia South constituency.

Attempts by two lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Solomon Akpulonu (Obingwa East constituency) and Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North constituency), to nominate PDP’s candidate for the deputy speakership were overlooked by the clerk of the house, John-Pedro Iroakazi.

The development caused a mild uproar on the house floor as the PDP members began to raise objections.

In an acceptance speech after the return of normalcy, the speaker promised that he would pilot the affairs of the house without fear or favour.

He described Governor Alex Otti’s efforts to enthrone excellence in governance as commendable, saying that the governor’s leadership style would serve as a guiding principle for him as a speaker.

Mr Emeruwa said,

“I am deeply honoured by the trust reposed in me, and I pledge to serve with unwavering integrity and dedication. I will serve to produce good laws and support the executive to propagate prosperity in the state. The mandate you have given me will be carried with utmost diligence.”

In a proclamation speech, the governor called for a partnership between the executive and legislative arms of government to foster productive development in Abia, stressing that building meaningful collaboration between both arms would allow for more effective, reliable and productive administration.

He described the legislature as “a crucial part of government” and expressed his readiness to support the house to churn out good laws for the betterment of Abia.

Mr Otti appealed to the legislators to place a premium on the mandate given to them by their constituents by joining him to transform the state into an investors’ haven.

“Our government will be a government of zero excuses and 100 per cent action. I extend a warm handshake to everyone, and I will work with everyone regardless of party affiliations so that we can deliver the real dividend of democracy to our people,” said the Abia governor.

There are 24 parliament members (10 Labour Party, 11 PDP, two Young Progressives Party and one APC).Of the PDP lawmakers, only four returned from the seventh house.

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has resigned his membership of the 10th House following his resumption of work as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila tendered his resignation letter on Wednesday on the floor of the House before Abass and the members of the House.

After laying his letter of resignation before the House, the new Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, read it out to the members.

The former Speaker subsequently took a bow before the new Speaker and the members before walking out of the chamber amidst cheers and standing ovation from the lawmakers.

During his two-decade law-making career in the House, Gbajabiamila was Minority Leader, Majority Leader, and Speaker at various times.

He was re-elected to represent Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos State before his new appointment and was sworn in as a member of the House at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday.

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has tasked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to include women in governance.

The national president of NCWS, Lami Lau, gave the task while congratulating Mr Akpabio after he emerged as the 10th president of the Senate in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We are aware of your belief that women are better managers, so we urge you to canvass for an all-inclusive government with adequate women representation,” she said.

Ms Lau said his emergence was in the interest of Nigeria and women in particular.

She described Mr Akpabio as a “strong supporter of women”, adding that she does not doubt that he would continue to support women as the 10th senate president.

“As a council, we draw your attention to the underrepresentation of women in the 10th National Assembly, which is a serious setback that requires deliberate action,” Ms Lau added.

Mr Akpabio polled 63 votes to emerge the winner, beating his contender, Abdulaziz Yari, who scored 46 votes.

Governor Caleb Mutfwtang has appointed Jeremiah Satmark as his chief of staff.

The appointment is contained in a statement by Mr Mutfwang’s spokesman, Gyang Bere, on Monday.

He said the appointment was in furtherance of his resolve to run a responsive and people-centred government.

The chief of staff was, until his appointment, the vice-chairman of the People Democratic Party of Central zone in Plateau and was chief of staff to a former speaker in the state.

Also, the governor approved the appointment of the outgoing speaker of the Plateau assembly, Abok Ayuba, as his special adviser on legislative duties, Alex Gyang Kundang, as deputy chief of staff to the deputy governor.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Tuesday that the country would amend its election law to ban any politicians who do not vote from running for political offices.

Mr Hun Sen said this in a speech during a get-together with nearly 20,000 garment factory workers in the Cambodian capital.

According to him, if politicians do not cast their ballots on the general election day, they would have no right to stand for any election level.

He said it was the common people’s right to decide whether to go to the polls, but politicians must vote, or their right to be a candidate in any elections will be revoked.

Cambodia would hold a general election for the 125-seat national assembly on July 23, 2023, the National Election Committee (NEC) said.

It added that over 9.7 million Cambodians had registered to cast their ballots.