COVER
Senate Withholds el-Rufai, Two Others’ Confirmation over Security Concerns
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Senate yesterday confirmed 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees sent it by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with security checks blocking former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and two others from confirmation.
The other two nominees affected by the security checks are former Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Sani Danladi and the former Executive Director of Nexim Bank, Stella Okotete who is from Delta State.
President Tinubu had transmitted 47 names in two batches to the Senate, through his Chief of Staff, Hon.
Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday last week.Afterwards, the presidency withdrew the name of Dr. Maryam Shetty from Kano and replaced her with Dr Mariya Bunkure, her secondary school mate at the Kano Foundation School.
The confirmation follows after the screening and approval of the nominees by the Senate, after a week of thorough drills of the nominees from Monday last week until yesterday.
The Senate however had it smooth with all the nominees except Barrister Festus Keyamo, who was the last to be screened. The Senate had earlier raised a motion to stand down his screening and subsequent confirmation over his unruly attitude and negligence to invitations earlier sent him in the 9th senate.
The motion so moved by Darlington Nwokeocha (Labour Party, Abia Central) and seconded by Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) threw the Senate into disarray, prompting some to leave the red chambers. The situation was hitherto brought to normalcy by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio who called for a two hour break so they could discuss the matter off camera.
Within the break period however, the Senate President immediately drove off for a rendezvous with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, in company of Senate Leader, Bamidele Opeyemi.
Upon his return from the meeting with President Tinubu, the Senate resumed the screening of Festus Keyamo who apologized for his negligence of the parliamentarians during the previous session. After his apologies, the Senators forgave him and told him to “go and sin no more”.
He was then screened and subsequently approved and confirmed with the other 45 nominees earlier screened.
Our correspondent reports that the Senate had screened Dr. Mariya Bunkure, from Kano State earlier in the day, before Festus Keyamo. Dr. Bunkure was brought in as a replacement for Dr. Maryam Shetty without any official explanation by the federal government.
The list of the 45 ministerial nominees as confirmed by the Senate through Godswill Akpabio, Senate President are: Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom), Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Betta Edu (Cross River), John Enoh (Cross River), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Yusuf M Tuggar (Bauchi), Ali Pate ( Bauchi), Festus Keyamo (Delta), Abubakar Kyari (Borno), Alkali Ahmed Saidu (Gombe), Uba Maigari Ahmadu (Taraba), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Mohamed Badaru(Jigawa), Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Mariya Bunkure ( Kano), Abdullahi T Gwarzo (Kano), Ahmad Dangiwa (Katsina), Hanatu Musawa (Katsina), Yusuf Tanko Sununu (Kebbi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello M Goronyo (Sokoto) and Bello Matawwalle (Zamfara).
Others are Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia), Uju Ohaneye (Anambra), David Umahi ( Ebonyi), Chief Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Doris Uzoka (Imo), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Tunji Alausa (Lagos), Lola Ade John (Lagos), Ishak Salako (Ogun), Bosun Tijjani (Ogun), Olawale Edun (Ogun), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo(Ondo), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo), Joseph Utsev (Benue), Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo (FCT), Shuaibu Audu (Kogi), Lateef Fagbemi (Kwara), Imaan S-Ibrahim (Nasarawa) and Mohammed Idris (Niger).
Keyamo Undergoes Screening After Apology to Lawmakers
A ministerial nominee from Delta State, and immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, was yesterday screened by the Senate after he apologised to the lawmakers over an alleged misconduct to the legislature.
Keyamo’s screening at plenary yesterday followed his apology to lawmakers over his conduct in 2020, when it was said he ignored summons of both chambers of National Assembly to explain disbursement of N52 billion public works programme of the Federal Government.
Earlier, the Senate had dissolved into closed session over motion to suspend the screening of Keyamo.
The motion, which generated altercation amongst the senators, was sponsored by Sen. Dalington Nwokocha (LP-Abia).
Nwokocha had raised a motion for suspension of Kayemo’s screening pending investigation and explanation on how disbursement of N52 billion public works programme to Nigerians across 774 local governments during his tenure as Minister of State, Labour and Productivity.
On resumption from closed session, Keyamo apologised to the lawmakers over his conduct in 2020 to both chambers of National Assembly, when he was invited to explain the ministry’s activities on the public works programme.
He thereafter explained payment to the beneficiaries of the public works programme was made by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) direct to the beneficiaries account with their verifiable BVN.
According to him, every beneficiary was duly registered and documented and could be verified by the Senate.
President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio noted that government was a continuum, adding that the Senate has the right to investigate payment of the money to the beneficiaries.
Sen. Godiya Akwasiki (SDP-Nasarawa) however urged the senate to accept the apology tendered by the nominee, given his remorseful disposition.
Sen. Alli Ndume (APC-Borno) thereafter moved a motion that senate accept the apology of the nominee, while Sen. Jaribe Agom (PDP- Cross River) moved another motion that the nominee take leave of the senate, after his his apology was accepted by the senate, given the ruling of President of Senate.
Akpabio consequently ruled further that the nominee took a leave of the senate.
Senate thereafter dissolved into another closed session to continue the legislative business of the day.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils.The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.
A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request. The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
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