How Fashola Survived Impeachment Plot – Saturday Independent

It has emerged that members of the Lagos State House of Assembly actually collated signatures to sack Governor Babatunde Fashola after seven impeachable offences were allegedly established against him days after he and the Action Congress (AC) denied any infighting in the party.

A source at the Alausa seat of power in the state said the signature collation followed months of complaints that Fashola was going it alone without carrying along the Assembly and the party chieftains, who are said to be upset at the man for not oiling the AC machinery as expected of a loyal party man.

The source said the Assemblymen had complained to former Governor, Bola Tinubu, that Fashola was not carrying them along, and were told to exercise restraints, as their grievances would be addressed.

Saturday Independent was further informed that “Tinubu also told them of his frustration with the man on many fronts. However, he promised to talk to him. I can confirm to you that the former Governor once came to the Round House and he almost wept. He asked the man in charge what his offences were to deserve some treatments being meted to him.

“At a time, it became clear that the man (Fashola) would not be moved and the other camp had to go back to Tinubu. It is believed that the man told them to look into the books and see what they can do. He reportedly told them that no governor can be so careful as not to commit any impeachable offence. Eventually, they got at least seven impeachable offences. Add that to complaints that Fashola was not implementing the party’s manifesto and the problem becomes compounded.

‘Funny enough, one of them was said to have leaked the compilation of list of offences and the signature strength to Fashola, who reportedly became jittery and came to the realisation that he had gone too far. He settled with the Assembly immediately, and has agreed to listen to them to avoid further trouble.’

Reps Knock FAAN For Spending N52b Without Approval – Daily Independent

House of Representatives on Tuesday knocked the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for allegedly spending over N52.878 billion it generated internally between 2003 and 2008 without approval or appropriated as required by law.

The lawmakers’ anger coincided with another disclosure by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation that FAAN has not submitted its audited accounts between 2003 and 2008.

Managing Director of the Authority, Richard Aisuebeoguun, had at an interactive session with members of the House Committee on Public Accounts, disclosed that between 2003 and 2009 FAAN generated N78 billion and spent N85.8 billion within the same period.

Talks Must Continue Till We Reach Compromise, ASUU Insists – Daily Indepenedent

University lecturers on Wednesday reacted with criticism to the unilateral decision by the government to stall talks on an agreement, declaring that the action would not compel them to suspend the strike begun on June 22.

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National President, Ukachukwu Awuzie, said in Abuja that the government’s decision could be a ploy to use force to trample on industrial democracy, as neither party has the right to unilaterally alter the framework of negotiation.

The ASUU also disclosed plans to compile and publish the names of government officials whose children and wards school abroad, in order to drive home its demand for improvement in the education system.

Awuzie argued that “once the negotiation process has begun, one side cannot legitimately impose a new framework for negotiation either during or at the end of the negotiation.

N9b Deposit: Court Issues Contempt Notice On Bank PHB – Daily Independent

A Nigerian firm, Mathan Nigeria Limited, has begun contempt proceedings against Platinum Habib Bank (Bank PHB) over allegation that it tampered with N8.9 billion the company deposited with it.

Consequently, the company has caused a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to issue the bank with a notice of consequence of disobedience of court order (Form 48).

The Form 48 was issued for service on Kelechi Nzewuhie, the bank’s Internal Managing Director of the address; M.K.O. Abiola Building, Central Business District, Abuja.

JCCR: 18 Prado Jeeps Causes Disquiet In Senate – Daily Independent

There are rumbles in the Senate over purchase of 18 Toyota Prado sports utility vehicles (SUV) meant to facilitate constitution amendment in the National Assembly.

The federal lawmakers dumped the idea of a joint review of the Constitution by the two chambers after disagreeing on the designation of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Usman Bayero Nafada, on the joint committee.

Before the parting of ways, however, there was a proposal to buy at least 18 jeeps to facilitate the work of the then Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR).

The vehicles were meant for principal officers of the JCCR and chairmen of six sub-committees “to aid the movement across the six geo-political zones during the constitution review exercise”, it was gathered.

The purchase was to be funded from the N1 billion allocation specifically appropriated in the 2009 budget for the exercise.

Amnesty: S’South Govs Threaten Pull-out – Daily Independent

Governors of the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone resolved unanimously last night to distance themselves from the amnesty deal granted militants in the oil-rich region by President Umaru Yar’Adua unless the Federal Government withdraws the new Petroleum Industries Bill which is before the National Assembly.

Rising from a marathon meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the governors took a swipe at the Federal Government for what they called anti-people policies of the administration. In a four-point communique issued at the end of the meeting, they stated that the Minister of Petroleum, Rilwanu Lukman, is anti South-South. Beside the Petroleum Industries Bill which they claim is anti-community and a slap on the long-suffering indigenes of the zone, they also frowned at the proposed relocation of the University of Petroleum from Effurun, Delta State to Kaduna.

Senate Probes N400b Sales Proceeds From Govt Houses – Daily Independent

Senators on Tuesday mandated their Housing and Urban Development Committee, chaired by Ikechukwu Obiorah, to investigate how the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) disbursed N400 billion garnered from the sale of government houses.

The Committee will also probe how the five per cent sales tax from the deals was handled, likewise the N15 billion bank interest on the N400 billion.

The Senate handed down the directives after the PIC, chaired by Minister of State for Housing, Grace Ekpiwhire, snubbed an invitation from the Housing and Urban Development Committee to explain how the N400 billion was disbursed.

Waziri Knocks Amaechi Over Attack On EFCC – Daily Independent

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri, has described as childish, comments by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, over EFCC,s investigation against some officials of the state government.

Amaechi was reported last week to have boasted that ,,we will not allow EFCC into Rivers State anytime because there is a judgment and before they can come here, they have to vacate that judgment,,.

He reportedly berated the EFCC boss over the matter.

But Waziri, while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Monday, described Amaechi,s statement as ,,unbecoming of a state chief executive.,,

According to her, ,,no amount of attack from the governor or any of his officials will stop us from carrying out our statutory responsibilities anywhere, including Rivers.

Oil: Nigeria Not A Good Example For Ghana, Says Atta Mills – Daily Independent

Buoyed by Barack Obama’s applause, Ghana too has taken a dig at Nigeria, the giant of Africa the United States President shunned last Saturday in his trip to the father land, not wanting to have anything to with its corruption in high places and election rigging.

Ghanaian President, John Atta Mills, said on Thursday that Nigeria is not a good example in managing oil resources, as his own country prepares for a boom in the liquid gold.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Ghana could earn over $20 billion from only its first offshore field, but it need look no farther than Nigeria to see how squandered oil wealth can bring violence that destroys pipelines, takes hostages, and consumes the Federal Government.