Tag: House of Representatives

$2.4bn Stolen Crude Oil Probe: Again, Reps invite Malami, Zainab

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 including crude oil exports from 2014 till date has again invited the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to appear before it today. Speaking at the hearing the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Gbillah emphasized the need for the ministers to appear before it to explain certain aspects of the…

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10th NASS: “Allow us to choose our leaders”, H/Reps-elect to Tinubu

Aminu Imam

Speaker of the National Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila, has told lawmakers that will form the 10th National Assembly that the president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will issue a directive to all contestants for the position of Speaker to withdraw from the race and support Tajudeen Abbas. Gbajabiamila stated this while addressing members and members-elect in Abuja on Tuesday night at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. However, this has met with stiff opposition from members elect, who insisted that they should be allowed to choose who becomes the Speaker of the lower chamber,…

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$2.4bn Oil Probe: ‘Disclosure of Whistle-blowers’ details violate confidentiality’ – Malami tells H/Reps.

Aminu Imam

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that disclosing the details of the whistle-blowers as requested by the Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in unremitted oil revenue, violates confidentiality. Malami stated this yesterday in Abuja when he appeared before the committee. The revenue is from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export from 2014 till date. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Mark Gbillah, who had last week announced…

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Alleged $2.4bn Crude Oil Illegal Sale: H/Reps may issue arrest warrant on AGF, Fin. Minister

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has threatened to issue warrant of arrest on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, as well as the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, if they fail to appear for its on-going probe on sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil amounting to over $2.4 billion, and crude oil export to global destinations. The House ad-hoc committee investigating an alleged loss of over $2.4 billion from illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015, including crude…

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APC mulls S/East for Senate President, N/West, N/Central for Speakership

Aminu Imam

In order to balance power distribution in the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering zoning the Senate President’s office to the South-East geo-political zone. This comes amid reports that former minister Godswill Akpabio may abandon his bid for Senate President. There are indications that Akpabio may accept a ministerial position in President-elect Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. Recall that during the APC’s presidential primary, Akpabio, who planned to run for president, stepped down in favour of Tinubu, who went on to win the Party’s ticket. According to sources, Akpabio’s intention…

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H/Reps approve Buhari’s N1tr loan request

Aminu Imam

…Defers decision on N22.7tr extra-budgetary spending The House of Representatives has approved the request by President Muhammadu Buhari to secure an additional N1 trillion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN). The loan will be used to fund the 2022 supplementary Budget. The lawmakers approved the request yesterday, following the consideration and adoption of the Committees on Finance, Banking and currency, and Aids, Loans and Debt management. The House, however, deferred the request to securitise the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means loans, pending “further engagement with the executive by…

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Redesigned Cash Policy: Reps. read Riot Act to CBN Governor, others

Aminu Imam

The leadership of House of Representatives on Wednesday read Riot Act to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and its management team over the public outcry on the 31st January, 2023 deadline issued on the cash withdrawal limit and cash-swap policy. Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee investigating the policy, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, stated this while briefing members on the communication from CBN on the inability of the CBN management to attend the investigative hearing. While noting that the CBN Governor and other Directors are employees of Nigerians, Hon.…

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H/Reps directs Petroleum Ministry, NNPC to expedite action on oil exploration in Bida Basin  

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to ascertain availability of hydrocarbons in commercial quantities in the Bida Basin, in Niger State. Adopting a Motion, sponsored by Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi during plenary, presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the House enjoined the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to conclude geophysical survey. The House also mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance. Abdullahi (APC, Niger) argued that the call was in tandem…

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Reps summon security agencies Heads over refusal to patronise DICON

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Committee on Defence has summoned Heads of security agencies in the country over their refusal to buy arms and ammunition from the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, (DICON). Rep. Taofeek Ajilesoro (PDP-Osun) moved the motion when the DICON’s Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Tafida, appeared before the committee to defend the 2022 budget performance and 2023 Budget proposal. Tafida had accused other security agencies of not patronising DICON for the purchase of arms and ammunition from the corporation, adding that they rather preferred to go outside to buy.…

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‘Finance Minister, Budget Office DG undermining Buhari’s anti-corruption war’ – H/Reps

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Director General Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, the Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Sylva Okolieaboh, and the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan over the budget of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF). Chairman of the committee, Wole Oke announced the summon after the 2023 Budget defence presentation by the Acting Auditor-General of the Federation, Andrew Okwudili, yesterday. The summon came after the committee discovered that the OAuGF’s budget proposals,…

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