News

Dino Melaye Demands Refund Of Funds From Party Agents After Loosing Kogi Guber

Published

6 months ago

November 17, 2023

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate Dino Melaye, in the aftermath of the November 11, 2023, Kogi State governorship election, is reportedly furious and demanding refunds from certain party members.

According to a breakdown obtained by SaharaReporters, Melaye had disbursed N250,000 per polling unit for various purposes, including “voter’s mobilization,” which sources have indicated was utilized for vote-buying.

An insider revealed that a substantial sum of N87 million was budgeted for “voter’s mobilization,” with additional amounts allocated to Polling Officers and Assistant Polling Officers.

Melaye’s frustration allegedly stems from the belief that key individuals within the PDP, including a Local Government Chairman and his campaign Director-General, failed to deliver the election for him despite the substantial funds disbursed.

The report suggests that the PDP candidate is specifically upset over the mismanagement of funds designated for vote-buying purposes, with claims that certain individuals pocketed the money without fulfilling the intended objectives.

Additionally, Melaye purportedly allocated N3,510,000 per polling unit for local security but claims a PDP Local Government Chairman diverted the funds.

The fallout follows the electoral victory of Usman Ododo from the All Progressives Congress (APC), declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 446,237 votes.

Melaye trailed significantly in third place, garnering 46,362 votes, while the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, came in second with 259,052 votes.

In response to the election outcome, Melaye called for the cancellation of the gubernatorial election in five local governments within Kogi Central, alleging irregularities and manipulation of result sheets before voting.

He accused INEC of coordinating a fraudulent election.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

3 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.

News

Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.