NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Senate plenary on Wednesday turned ‎rowdy when the Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi alleged that the Social Intervention Programme of the Federal Government, which was introduced by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has been politicised. Olujimi alleged that beneficiaries of the programme were being asked to provide details of their Permanent Voter Card in the application form. While presenting a copy of the form, she further alleged that ‘I Stand with Buhari’ was written on it. Before the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who defended the Buhari-led administration and the programme could speak, the chamber had become noisy as the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party exchanged words across the divide. The APC lawmakers also forced the Senate to resolve that the SURE-P policy of the immediate past ‎PDP government led by former President Goodluck Jonathan be probed. Credits: NAN

Nigerian Senate Pesident, Bukola Saraki, has asked the lawmakers to fast track the passage of police reform bill. “The Police Reform Bill which we have put forward, should have gone for public hearing and should have been passed by now. “It touches on issues that will address the professionalism that should be enforced in the Nigerian Police Force,” Saraki said. “Let us ensure that we pass this Police Reform Bill within the next two weeks so that we do can a public hearing on it,” he added. This is coming after the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Nwanneka Ekweremadu, and son Tuesday survived an assassination attempt at his Apo Quarters in the country’s capital, Abuja. Following the Tuesday incident the Nigeria police said the country’s deputy senate president was a victim of burglary attempt and not assassination as he claimed. “Preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Dep Senate Presi

The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution urging security agencies to thoroughly investigate the alleged assassination attempt on its Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu. Ekweremadu had told his colleagues at plenary on Tuesday how armed men allegedly invaded his Abuja residence around 4 a.m. earlier in the day. He said the intruders made it to his bedroom where he was sleeping with his wife at the time. The lawmaker had alleged that the police poorly responded to his distress calls during the incident.  The resolution followed a motion moved by Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia South), who faulted the preliminary report of the police on the incident. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday evening, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, had said the incident was a burglary and not an assassination attempt. Moshood said that a similar incident also took place at the residence of Haliru Adamu, a neighbour of the deputy president. “Investigation so far carried out

AS the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began its strike, yesterday, academic activities at the University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO were totally paralysed. Meanwhile, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, were thrown into dilemma following a division among lecturers in the institution. UI Students, who should have resumed lectures as from 7am, were seen in their halls of residence playing table tennis and watching films. ASUU chairman UI, Dr Deji Omole encouraged his members to be resolute in their fight for the future of the Nigerian child. To ensure strict compliance, he set up a monitoring committee led by Professor Gbenga Olujide. Due to late information on the suspension of the strike earlier fixed for yesterday, some non-teaching staff of the institution did not report for duty. OAU lecturers split over ASUU strike Similarly, students of the Obafemi Awolowo

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has denied knowledge of the quizzing of its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by operatives of the Department of State Services DSS. Reacting to reports of the questioning of the chairman, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said Mr Oshiomhole is currently out of the country and could not immediately respond to the “rumor”. “We do not have any information on this rumor. More so, the Chairman is not around in the country to confirm or deny this. As soon as we have any relevant information, you’ll be updated”, he said. Oshiomhole was said to have been invited for questioning Sunday night following petitions from some aggrieved governors of the party, accusing him of subverting the recent primary elections of the party due to some pecuniary interests. The party said Comrade Oshiomhole traveled abroad Monday on personal grounds, declining further details about the trip. The DSS operatives were