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Senate Goes On Easter Break, To Resume Plenary April 13

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The Senate on Wednesday adjourned plenary for 19 days to enable the lawmakers to proceed on Easter break.

President of Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, who made the announcement on the floor of the chamber, said the break would last for three weeks, commencing from Thursday, 25th March till Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

He however said the upper chamber would be holding committee meetings during the break.

Lawan added that on resumption from the break, the Senate will receive reports from its committees on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act Amendment Bill for consideration.

Meanwhile, the Senate at Wednesday plenary passed for second reading, a Bill seeking to implement paragraph 5 of President Muhammadu Buhari’s executive order on open defecation, to create legislation on the practice of open defecation with appropriate sanctions and penalties for offenders.

The legislation titled, ‘The Clean Nigeria Agency Establishment Bill 2021, is sponsored by Senator Clifford Ordia (Edo, Central).

Recall that on 20th November 2019, President Buhari issued a Presidential Executive Order 009 on “The Open Defecation Free Nigeria by 2025 and Other Related Matters”.
In pursuant to this Order, a secretariat in the Ministry of water resources called ‘Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat’ was created to coordinate and drive the implementation of the said Presidential Executive Order.

Leading the debate on its general principles, the sponsor, Ordia said it is against the above backdrop that the bill has conceptualized to give a legal framework for the execution of the Presidential Executive Order.

He said the Bill, amongst others, seeks to prohibit Open Urination and Defecation in order to keep Nigeria clean and free from diseases.

The Senator explained that the stench that emanates from open urination and defecation sites, provides a breeding ground for diseases causing organisms.
He stressed that open defecation is not only a social stigma but also a factor contributing to violence against young girls and young married women.

The economy, according to him, is not spared from the scourging effect of open defecation as Nigeria loses over N455 billion or US$ 3 billion annually due to poor sanitation.

Ordia said, ”The Bill will also empower the Agency to among other things. Make rules and regulations for enforcing and implementing the provisions of this Act. Issue license to a private corporation for the operation of commercially owned public toilets. Certify a public toilet facility to be fit for use by the public.

”Shut down any public place that does not meet the required recommended standard of toilet facility. These expressed powers that this bill gives to the coordinating Agency, are essential if Nigeria wants to achieve the “Open Defecation Free” (ODF) posture by 2025.”
The Senate President, thereafter, referred the bill to the Committee on Water Resources, for further legislative work within four weeks.

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President Tinubu Returns From Trips To Netherlands, Saudi Arabia

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Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after trips to The Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

On April 22, Tinubu departed Abuja for the Kingdom of The Netherlands on an official visit.

According to presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, Prime Minister Mark Rutte invited the president to visit The Netherlands.

Following his commitments in the Netherlands, Tinubu travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on April 28 and 29, where he attended a special gathering of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, had said the president and his aides will return to Nigeria on Wednesday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” Onanuga wrote.

On Wednesday, Onanuga confirmed the president’s return by tweeting: “Welcome home Mr. President.”

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How I Killed My Sugar Mummy Over N100,000 — Murder Suspect, Akpoveta School

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The suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a lady, Glory Akpaku, in Delta State, Akpoveta School, has narrated how he allegedly killed the victim by stabbing her multiple times.

According to an interrogation video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Monday, the suspect disclosed that the victim was his sugar mummy before her demise.

It was gathered from the video that things went south between Akpoveta and the late Akpaku over the sum of N100,000 he allegedly kept with the deceased for safekeeping, but which the deceased allegedly refused to give him when he needed the money.

The suspect claimed that he had gone to Akpaku to demand the money but, instead of receiving it, she insisted that she would give it to him after returning from the market.

The suspect narrated further that he threatened the victim to report their relationship to her son, but the victim threatened back that if he did so, she would not give him the money in her custody.

He added that the threat from his alleged lover infuriated him, which led him to stab her with a knife in the neck, hand, and stomach.

Akpoveta narrated in pidgin English (now translated), “She asked me to save some money with her and that she would return the money to me later. But when I needed the money, she refused to give it to me. Rather, she became angry.

“She asked me to escort her to the market, and I thought she would give me the money, but she insisted that she would give it to me after she returned from the market.

“I told her that I would tell her child, and she said if I told the child, she would not return my money. While she was going in front, I took a knife that I had with me and stabbed her in the neck, hand, and stomach.”

The suspect stated further that he regretted his action but blamed the devil for it.

Reacting to the confession, Edafe urged members of the public to learn from it.

The PPRO wrote, “I share stories like this so we can learn from the mistakes of others. So this suspect allegedly murdered his sugar mummy over her failure to give him back the money she was helping him save. When asked why he did it, he said, ‘NA DEVIL WORK’.”

Meanwhile, giving further updates on the incident, the PPRO noted that the incident happened in April and the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“The incident happened in April. He will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” Edafe concluded.

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Kaduna Assembly Probes ‘Multi-Million Dollar Loans’, Projects Under Former Governor el-Rufai

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The committee set up to probe the finances of Kaduna under the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate former governor of the state, has commenced an investigation.

The committee, which is made up of 13 members, was set up by the Kaduna assembly in April.

The panel is tasked with looking at loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023, the period when el-Rufai was governor of the state.

Suraj Bamalli, the media aide to Yusuf Liman, speaker of the Kaduna assembly, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday.

“The adhoc committee set up to conduct a comprehensive fact-finding into financial dealings, the status of executed contracts, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015-2023 has commenced its clarification session,” the statement reads.

“The committee has engaged in detailed discussions with several key present and past government officials, including former Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Honorable Manzo Maigari; Former KADPPA Boss and Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Honorable Thomas Gyang, Commissioner and Administrator of Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Hajia Balaraba Aliyu, amongst others.

“The Kaduna State House of Assembly appreciates the cooperation and contributions of all individuals involved in this process and assures the public of their dedication to upholding the highest standards of governance during this process.”

On March 30, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, said his administration inherited a debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from el-Rufai’s administration.

The Kaduna governor said the huge debt burden is eating deep into the state’s share of the monthly federation allocation.

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