Politics

Unfolding story: What we know about siege on home of Nigeria’s Senate President

A detachment of security operatives on Tuesday laid siege to the homes of President of the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja

Published

6 years ago

July 24, 2018

Africa News Watch

A detachment of security operatives on Tuesday laid siege to the homes of President of the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja.

There are very strong speculations that the move is intended to prevent the senior lawmakers from making it to the National Assembly today because of an alleged plan by many lawmakers to decamp en masse from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

SlamReportsAfrica had reported how the Chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, had made underground moves to persuade members of the breakaway faction, R-APC, not to carry out their threat. There had been strong indications that the initiative would meet a brick wall.

The planned cross carpeting, if allowed to take place, would render the APC a minority party, a fact attested to by the Peoples Democratic Party leader in the House of Representatives on Monday.

Saraki’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, confirming the siege to PREMIUM TIMES said:
“As I am talking to you, I cannot access the street. They have barricaded the road and I cannot say his whereabouts now.

“I hear they are doing the same thing at the Deputy Senate President’s house.”

Reacting to the developments, Kola Ologbondiyan, a spokesperson for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria’s democracy was under assault.

“Democracy has been placed under a jackboot. We are now in a totalitarian government. You can not stop the National Assembly, which is a key element of a constitutional republic.

“We will resist this,” he said.

Saraki’s travails are legion. First, he has been accused of betraying the ruling party by conniving with the opposition PDP to install himself Senate President. He was also charged with falsifying his asset declaration papers, an allegation nullified by Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

The police are yet to provide reasons for the apparent siege. However, Saraki was summoned by the police and asked to report Tuesday at its office in the nation’s capital, Abuja, in connection to the Offa robbery incident in Kwara State for which the police said some suspects mentioned Saraki as a sponsor.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.