The All Progressives Congress (APC) has tasked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the vandalisation of former Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara’s residence by individuals masquerading as security operatives.

Musa Mada, the North-West APC publicity secretary, said this at a news conference in Kaduna on Saturday.

“Our enquiry at both the Gusau and Maradu residences of Bello Matawalle confirmed that there was no warrant or anything for that matter presented to the people when the act was carried out by the invaders.

“Furthermore, residences of other government officials that worked with Matawalle during his four-year administration were also invaded, and some of their personal vehicles carted away by the same group,” said Mr Mada.

Mr Mada said the vandalisation violated sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 42 of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended.

He added;

“As a party, we will not tolerate that, and we will watch closely how the authorities concerned will handle the situation to know whether the police and the DSS are working for the PDP or Nigeria.”

He warned,

“If an investigation is not taken, hoodlums may wear uniforms and attack perceived enemies in the name of such operations.”

Mr Muda urged party supporters and Matawalle’s loyalists to remain calm and not take laws into their hands, pending investigation by police authorities.

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, met with traditional rulers and their representatives from across the country at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

This is coming after the president met with members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, an assembly of the 36 State Governors, at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

Present at the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar; Emir of Kano, Obi of Onitsha, Tor Tiv, Etsu Nupe, Deji of Akure, Shehu of Borno, Elegushi of Ikate, Jaja of Opobo, Lamido of Adamawa, Emir of Zazzau, Gbong Gwom Jos, Attah Igala, Alake of Egbaland, Shehu of Borno and a representative of the Oba of Benin.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has approved the request of Gov. Abdullahi Sule for the appointment of 20 special advisers.

The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi said this after an emergency sitting of the House on Thursday in Lafia.

Mr Abdullahi said that the approval was to enable Mr Sule to appoint the advisers that would assist in implementing his policies and programmes for the people.

“His Excellency has sent a request for the appointment of 20 special advisers that will assist him in the consolidation of his policies and programmes.

“After an extensive deliberation on His Excellency’s request, the request is hereby granted by the Honourable House,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi assured of the readiness of the house to partner with the Executive in order to ensure speedy development across the state.

Jacob Kudu (APC- Nassarawa Eggon East) and other lawmakers supported the approval.

The lawmakers said that the appointment of the special advisers would ensure speedy development of the state.

The Speaker announced that Mr Sule had approved the total renovation of the Assembly Complex.

He said that the action was in line with the government’s commitment to create an enabling environment for the lawmakers and other staff for effective service delivery.

He said that the ministry of works would soon commence work at the complex.

“We are proceeding on recess today, June 8, to resume on July 10, to enable the ministry of works renovate the House, as approved by His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule,” he said.

Mohammed Omadefu (APC- Keana), the majority leader moved for the House to proceed on recess, while Musa Ibrahim (NNPP- Doma South), the minority leader seconded.

The Edo House of Assembly on Thursday passed four bills and confirmed 15 civil commissioners at its valedictory session marking the end of the state’s seventh assembly in Benin.

The bills are a bill for a law to make provision for the emolument of elected political officers and public officers 2023, a bill for a law to provide for the pension rights of the governor and the deputy governor 2023.

Others are a bill for a law to provide for sanitation, pollution and waste management and a bill to establish a unified local government agency.

The house also amended and adopted new house rules which threw up some controversies before its adoption.

House Speaker Marcus Onobun had earlier called on the members representing Esan North East I and Esan South East, Assemblyman Francis Okiye and Assemblyman Sunny Ojiezele respectively to second the adoption of the motion.

But the two lawmakers declined, saying that they had no idea of the content of the new house rules.

Also at plenary, the house confirmed 15 commissioners as civil commissioners in the state.

They are Christopher Nehikhare, Monday Osaigbovo, Isoken Omo, Joan Oviawe, Ethan Uzamere, Stephen Idehenre, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi and Patrick Unaseru.Others are Samuel Alli, Adeze Aguele-Kalu, Kingsley Uwagbale, Uyi Oduwa Malaka, Joshua Omokhodion, Ojeifoh Enaholo and Christabel Omo Ekwu.

The house also approved the request of Governor Godwin Obaseki to obtain N3.5 billion contract and asset finance auto-loan facility.

According to the governor, N2 billion will be used for the procurement of hospital equipment for Stella Obasanjo hospital and N1.5 billion will be used to procure vehicles for the 24 incoming legislators and the state chief judge.

Thereafter, Mr Onobun opened the floor as he thanked his colleagues and staff of the assembly for their support over the years.

Mr Onobun, in his valedictory speech, stated that the seventh assembly passed 54 bills, 48 of the bills were assented to and also passed 118 resolutions.

“The turbulence that characterised the inauguration of the seventh assembly made us heroes of democracy having done the job of 24 members,” he said.

Mr Onobun, however, thanked his constituency, the governor and the people of Edo for the privilege to serve.

House deputy speaker Roland Asoro, member representing PDP Orhiomwon south, thanked his constituency and the governor for the enabling environment for the house to function.

Former House Speaker Francis Okiye, member representing PDP Esan North East I, reflected on the milestones the house recorded in the last four years.

Mr Okiye said “we have sojourned together in the last four years through challenges and I believe that each of us contributed his quota to the development of the state”.

Other lawmakers also took turns to appreciate God and their constituencies for the privilege to represent them in the house.

The seventh assembly came into being by a proclamation by Mr Obaseki On June 17, 2019.

All 24 seats were won by the then ruling party, APC.

However, before the proclamation, the politicking of who becomes the speaker tore the legislators-elect into two major factions.

At the inauguration on June 17, only 10 members out of 24 presented themselves for inauguration.

The house, thereafter, adjourned sine die (with no appointed date).

A former Senator who represented Anambra Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Annie Okonkwo, is dead.

According to Vanguard, he died in US after a long battle with a terminal illness. He was 63 years old.

Okonkwo who was a foremost businessman in the 80s and 90s, hailed from Ojoto, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He once represented Anambra Central in the Senate, and also contested more than once for the position of Anambra State governor.

He was also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Okonkwo was last seen in public glare when his son, Uche Okonkwo, who won a seat in the house of Representatives paid him a visit to present to him his certificate of return.

The National Assembly has passed a bill for the prohibition and punishment of sexual harassment by teachers/lecturers in tertiary institutions.

The Senate passed this bill in 2020 but the House of Representatives passed theirs but with different provisions.

On Wednesday, June 7, the Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the conference committee of both chambers harmonised the different positions as he presented the report during plenary session.

The proposed bill seeks to criminalise sexual harassment by educators against students in tertiary institutions.

The National Assembly on Wednesday also passed a legislation to make compulsory, the inclusion of preventive measures against sexual and gender based violence in the curriculum of all levels of secondary education in Nigeria.

The Senate has granted the request of President Bola Tinubu to appoint 20 special advisers.

The President had earlier sent a letter to the Senate asking for approval for the appointment of the Special Advisers.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter on the floor of the upper legislative chamber during plenary today June 6.

The lawmakers approved the request. However, President Tinubu did not list the names of the 20 special advisers.

Mudashiru Obasa (Agege I) has been re-elected speaker of 10th Lagos assembly. The election followed the proclamation of the 10th Assembly by Governor Sanwo-Olu.

Monisola Lasbat (Apapa I), Chief Whip of the Ninth Assembly, was elected Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly after her nomination and general acceptance by the House.

This is Obasa’s third term as speaker of Lagos state assembly.

The House of Representatives has postponed its valedictory session scheduled for today, June 6, to tomorrow, June 6.

This was announced in a statement released by the Clerk to the House, Yahaya Danzaria.

It read;

“This is to inform all Honourable Members that the Valedictory session for the 9th House of Representatives will hold on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023 by 10:00am at the HOR chambers.

“The event will have in attendance former Presiding Officers, Leadership and Clerks. It will equally be subject to live coverage by NTA and Channels TV stations”.

A lawsuit filed by five residents of the federal capital territory (FCT), seeking to stop the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as President has been struck out by a federal high court.

The plaintiffs; Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had asked the court to determine “whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT”.

They also sought for a declaration extending former President Buhari’s tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in.

Ruling on the case today, June 6, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit.

He stated that the lawsuit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.

The plaintiffs were also asked to pay the sum of N10 million each to the attorney-general of the federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The wife of President Bola Tinibu, Mrs Oluremi, on Monday in Abuja, assumed office as Nigeria’s First Lady.

Mrs Tinubu who arrived at the First Lady’s wing was accompanied by her security aides.

The First Lady on arrival, was received by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Tijjani Umar, and other Heads of Units in the First Lady’s Office.

Mrs Tinubu was therefore guided on a tour of offices within the First Lady’s wing, comprising the Administrative, ICT, Catering, Media and Protocol Units.

Mrs Tinubu was born on September 21, 1960, to an Itsekiri mother and a Yoruba father.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Ife and has undertaken several courses in some higher institutions.

She was once the first lady of Lagos State Governor between 1999 and 2007 and thereafter elected senator representing Lagos Central in the Senate.

At least 80 citizens were killed in different violent attacks across the country in the first week of President Bola Tinubu’s newly inaugurated government.

Mr Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president on May 29 at the Eagles Sqaure Abuja, taking over from former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his inaugural speech, the president listed security as top priority of his government, assuring Nigerians of a more secured country under his watch.

“Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE,” Mr Tinubu said.

However, in his first week in office as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, at least 80 citizens were killed.

On June 3, about 25 citizens were brutaly killed and scores injured in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.

On the same day in Zamfara, 25 people were killed as bandits raided three villages for their refusal to pay “ransom or protection fees” before they’re allowed to farm.

In Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, 30 citizens were killed by armed gang, the police said on Sunday.

The continued killing spree under Mr Tinubu’s watch have been condemned by citizens.

Mr Tinubu is yet to officially appoint his spokesperson. So far no comment from Mr Tinubu on the latest killings under his watch.