News

Wike notifies me each time he wants to visit Assembly -Ex-Speaker

Published

4 hours ago

March 13, 2025

A former Speaker of Rivers State Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani has confirmed that each time his Governor, Nyesom Wike wants to visit, he personally notifies him.

Ibani was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023 when Nyesom Wike was governor

The former Speaker was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast programme on Thursday.

Ibani, who referenced his eight-year tenure as Speaker, said then-governor Nyesom Wike informed him behind the scenes of his planned visits to the Assembly before he showed up.

The pro-Wike ex-lawmaker said, “I operated as Speaker from 2015 to 2023. When Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was governor, I informed him to look at the state of the Assembly Quarters.

“He had to write to me; he had to call me that he would be visiting the Quarters of Rivers State House of Assembly.

I then put the members on notice that the governor of Rivers State was coming. He couldn’t have driven down there to inspect knowing that it is a different institution headed by a different official of government.”

There seems to be no end in sight in the protracted feud between the Wike-backed House of Assembly and Fubara as the governor was denied access to the Assembly Quarters on Wednesday when he showed up to re-present the 2025 Budget of the state, as mandated by the House after the Supreme Court verdict of February 28, 2025.

Ibani said what transpired on Wednesday between the Amaewhule-led Assembly was not unconnected to the frosty relationship between Fubara and Wike since 2023.

Ibani said, “What happened yesterday (Wednesday), nobody should treat it in isolation; it should be taken holistically. It didn’t just happen because it was to happen yesterday, it started from somewhere.

“When you are elected into a position of trust and authority, your personal interest should take the background while the interest of the people should take the foreground.

“You don’t know the legislative calendar of the legislature. A governor or a president cannot just walk to the assembly to present a budget.

“The process that will lead to that is the exchange that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the governor comes and the budget is presented in the interest of the people.”

News

New Tax Laws Will Be Beneficial To Nigerians – Chairman Finance C’ttee

Published

1 hour ago

March 13, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, has guaranteed that the new tax laws resulting from the reform bills will be Favourable to all Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Rep. Faleke gave this assurance after the House reviewed and approved the report on four tax reform bills in Abuja.

The bills under consideration include the Nigerian Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, the Revenue Tax Board Bill, and the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill.

“These bills took three full days of public hearing, we took memoranda from more than 80 critical stakeholders and after the three days, we resorted to a retreat for eight days, debating all the clauses for each of the bills.

“I am glad that members of the house saw that we had done a thorough job and they have approved all our recommendation.

“We want to appreciate our members and all Nigerians who showed interest in this bills and we assure that the laws that will come after these bills acceptable by all Nigerians”, he said.

The Chairman commended the leadership of the House for giving the responsibility to the committee of processing the tax bills and to lay them before the house.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for taking the initiative to amend outdated tax laws, noting that some have been in place since 1959.

According to him, continuing with these old laws will not support the country’s economic needs, business growth, or revenue targets.

The Deputy Chairman of the committee, Rep. Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), pointed out that no bill in the 10th Assembly had sparked as much debate as the tax reform bills.

He emphasized that under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas’ leadership, the House was able to bring all stakeholders together to reach a common ground.

Abdullahi explained that representatives from various geopolitical zones and regional leaders were involved in the discussions, helping to address public concerns.

He added that the committee’s recommendations were shaped by the contributions of all stakeholders.

“There were never seen as a perfect document, there were proposals from the Executive and the puli hearing provided Nigerians the platform to make the better and from what we have seen today, the whole country represented by the lawmakers have assented to it,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Rep. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) said that the process was transparent as the consultants and the executive all made adjustments to reflect the will of the people.

“Even though we are from the opposition, we are so proud of this historic moment that is going to bring more people in the tax net, create more revenue for effective running of government.

“There is going to be efficiency in tax collecting system and even small businesses are well protected; for me this is very historic and that is why all of us worked with the government and our colleague to ensure it sailed through today,’ he said.

Also the Chairman House Committee on Defence, Rep. Benson Babajimi said that the issues raised by all the relevant stakeholders ranging from inheritance tax, derivation, VAT etc were considered by the house.

“It is a good day for Nigeria, the injection that Nigeria needs to move into the comity of nations had been applied and the House of Reps have sanctioned it so we wait on the Senate to do the same,’’ he said

News

Rivers Assembly wants DSS to investigate CJ over age falsification

Published

4 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Rivers State House of Assembly has asked the Department of State Services to investigate the Chief Judge of the State for alleged age falsification.

This was the subject of plenary on Thursday at the Assembly following the presentation of some documents to the assembly by the leader of the House, Hon Major Jack.

Afterwards the Deputy Speaker, Hon Dumle Maol raised an allegation against the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi.

He said , “These document before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”

The House debated on it and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to do its investigation and revert to the House on their findings.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule called for an investigation into the alleged age falsification against the state chief judge.

He said, “The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect.”

After a voice vote, the House eventually agreed to write the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.

News

Ikimi-Led PDP Disciplinary Cttee Wants Anyanwu Suspended

Published

4 hours ago

March 13, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended the expulsion of the party’s national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from the party.

A letter signed by Ikimi and dated March 10, 2025, which was received by office of the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on Wednesday, March 12, revealed that despite being given the opportunity, Anyanwu failed to appear before the committee to defend himself against the petition filed by the PDP Young Generation Caucus.

The petitioner had accused Anyanwu of engaging in anti-party activities contrary to the provisions of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution

The petitioner also accused Anyanwu of engaging in conduct likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party contrary to provisions of Article 58(1)(h) of the PDP Constitution 2017, by inviting security agents and other persons and thugs to interfere in the ordinary business of the party at the Headquarters of the party, on 29th January and 1st February 2025.

Having submitted their recommendations, the National Executive Committee of the party (NEC) Is expected to take the final decision on the matter.

The Committee had in Februaryinvited a former governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom; Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and others.

This followed a meeting of the committee in Abuja where it “considered five (5) petitions received so far”.

It said, “following a detailed review of the petitions noted that the first set of petitions was against some key members of the National Working Committee (NWC)”.

“The Committee came to the conclusion that in order not to jeopardize the ongoing reconciliatory efforts of the Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees, took a decision to step down those three (3) of the petitions against the top NWC members,” the chairman of the PDP committee Tom Ikimi said in a statement issued after the meeting.

“The second set of petitions which were set down for enquiry are those against former Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Ortom and 10 others and the petition against Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

“Accordingly, the National Disciplinary Committee resolved to invite the affected persons to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 12th February 2025 at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.”

Anyanwu has also been in a tussle with Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position of the National Secretary of the party.

The High Court and Court of Appeal decisions on the dispute favoured Ude-Okoye, with Anyanwu challenging the decision at the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Anyanwu, challenging his sack from office.

Anyanwu, in the appeal, is seeking to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, which upheld the Federal High Court judgment that removed him as the Secretary of the party.

In a ten-ground appeal filed through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu prayed the apex court to allow the appeal and overturn the decision of the lower court.