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Revelation on senior Senators getting ‘N500m’ each tears Senate apart

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The Senate was plunged into a rowdy session on Tuesday as the Point of Order raised by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, was hijacked by an escalation by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe representing Cross River North.

Adeola, an APC Ogun West senator raised a point of order against the allegation by former Senate Deputy leader and Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central.

Ningi had raised the alarm of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7trillion 2024 Appropriation Act and that the budget passed by the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year is N25trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7trillion.

The Senators were divided on the matter, as they took turns to speak on the floor of the Senate, but more revelations confounded the matter, when Jarigbe, a PDP senator said some senators got N500 million each but he did not get it.

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“All of us are culpable. Some so-called Senior Senators here got 500M Naira each from the 2024 Budget, I am a ranking Senator and I didn’t get anything. No Senator has a right to accuse Senator Ningi,” Jarigbe said.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio tried to restore calmness on the floor.

Background on Ningi’s allegation:

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service) on Saturday, Senator Ningi said that the budget being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn, whereas the one approved by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn.

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In the interview, Senator Ningi was cited as saying, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the presidency.”

He stated, “The one approved by us is ₦25trn while the one operating by the Government is ₦28tn.

“Apparently, we discovered ₦3trn was inserted into the budgets for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”

He added, “We resolved as people Representatives to see President Tinubu on this issue, with facts and figures, to ask him if he is aware of this embarrassment or not, then from there we will take action.

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“Let Nigerians be patient with us. This is a national issue; it affects all Nigerians in respective of party, tribe or religion.”

Meanwhile: The Senate through its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) had in a chat with our correspondent refuted the claim on Saturday night stating that there was no padding whatsoever in the budget.

Adaramodu said, “There is no budget padding as far as the Senate and the National Assembly are concerned.

“The national budget is a public document, which expressly states the expected revenue and the expenditure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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“The Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is not aware of any varied execution of the 2024 appropriation mandate, as approved.”

Senator Adaramodu added, “The budget presentation and approval processes were made in the public glare, while the Presidential assent was also in a public ceremony.

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Police rescue abducted AIG’s wife, waste kidnappers

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Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued the wife of former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, Folashade Odumosu and eliminated her abductors.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to Channels TV on Thursday morning, said the victim regained her freedom on Wednesday.

Naijablitznews recalls the retired AIG’s wife was kidnapped last Thursday at the entrance of her residence in Arepo, Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was learnt that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, led the operation that rescued the retired AIG’s wife.

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The kidnappers whisked the victim through a swampy area to an unknown destination after dragging her out of her SUV.

Giving an update on the matter, Adejobi said the operatives also recovered the ransom paid to the kidnappers as bait.

However, he refused to disclose the amount paid to the kidnappers or where exactly the victim was rescued.

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Pardoned ex-convict by Gov Adeleke goes back to crime, steals tv set

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A middle-aged man, Sunday Omisakin, one of the ex-convicts granted state pardon by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on December 24, 2024, has been rearrested and remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.

Omisakin was apprehended for allegedly stealing a plasma television set worth N600,000 in Osogbo.

According to the Osogbo Chief Magistrates Court, the incident occurred on January 3, 2025, in the Iludun area of Osogbo, just eight days after Omisakin received the pardon.

The charge sheet obtained by reporters detailed the accusations against Omisakin. COUNT I reads:

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“That you, Adebayo Omisakin Sunday ‘m,’ on the 3rd day of January 2025 at about 12:00 pm at the Al-Medinat Area, Iludun, in the Osogbo Magistrarial District, did break and enter the house of one Shittu Damilare ‘m’ and steal one Plasma TV valued at the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000:00k) only.”

COUNT II states:

“That you, Adebayo Omisakin Sunday ‘m,’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magistrarial District, did steal one Plasma TV valued at the sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (#600,000:00k) only, property of one Shittu Damilare ‘m.’”

Omisakin was charged under Section 411 (1) (2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II and Sections 383 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

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During his arraignment on January 7, 2025, Omisakin applied for bail. However, Magistrate A. Adeyeba deferred the ruling until January 10.

In the prosecutor’s submission, Kayode Adeoye requested the court to deny the defendant bail. Following this, the magistrate ordered that Omisakin be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

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New Alaafin yet to begin traditional rites, returns to Canada

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Ten days after being presented with his Staff of Office and Certificate of Appointment by Governor Seyi Makinde, the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has yet to begin the month-long traditional rites required for his coronation, Punch reports.

Pun ch recalled that during the January 13, 2025, presentation at the Oyo Governor’s Office, in Ibadan, Governor Makinde announced that the coronation ceremony for Oba Owoade would take place within four weeks.
“The coronation proper will take place in four weeks, but today I will hand over the certificate and staff of office,” Governor Makinde had said.

Following the presentation, the Alaafin-elect returned to Oyo town, where he received a warm welcome from residents. He also visited his family house to celebrate with relatives and friends.

Contrary to expectations that the traditional rites would begin immediately, Oba Owoade traveled to Canada the day after his triumphant return.

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A source told Punch that the Alaafin-elect returned to his Canadian base to officially resign from his roles and complete necessary documentation.
“He has to resign from the places he works in Canada and finalize all the necessary paperwork before returning to Oyo,” the source said.

Oba Owoade, a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, serves as President of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate and financial services company. He is also a Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, a leading electric power and natural gas utility in Canada.

Individuals and groups involved in the enthronement process confirmed that the traditional rites, including the Ipebi (seclusion) ritual, have not commenced.

“He is yet to begin the traditional rites. Once he starts, it will be a continuous process involving visits to several locations, performing sacrifices, and undergoing rituals. It could take close to a month,” one source explained.

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Enthronement Process:

– Ipebi Seclusion Ritual: This includes prayers, sacrifices and spiritual guidance by the Oluawo (Ifa priest) and the Oyo Mesi.

Visits to Key Locations: These include the Baba Iyaji residence, Ona Isokun, Ilemole, and Bara.

– Koso Chamber Rituals: The Alaafin-elect will be crowned with a royal headdress, solidifying his spiritual authority, and perform additional offerings to the Orishas and ancestors.

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Meanwhile, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the coronation has been scheduled for April 4, 2025.

“The state government has approved April 4 as the date for the coronation of the new Alaafin,” Oyelade t.

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