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Tag: Abdulaziz Yari

  • ‘I Feel Betrayed’ — Yari Reacts After Losing Senate Presidency To Akpabio

    ‘I Feel Betrayed’ — Yari Reacts After Losing Senate Presidency To Akpabio

    Two days after losing the senate presidency to Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has alleged betrayal by some of his colleagues.

    Akpabio, former Akwa-Ibom State Governor and lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-West was the anointed candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He emerged as President of the 10th Senate on Tuesday after polling a total of 63 votes. Yari, also of the ruling party got 46 votes.

    Speaking during an interview on Thursday in Abuja, Yari claimed his permutations as of 3 am on Tuesday showed that he would get at least 61 out of the 109 votes available, which would have been enough to see him coast home to victory. Despite feeling betrayed by the turnout of events, the former Zamfara governor believed only God knew what transpired.

    “Yes, I can say there was a betrayal. That’s the truth because as we are taking stock as of 3 am, Monday-Tuesday election, we took stock of over 76. But as usual, human beings, we thought we are going to get a pullout of about 15 which we will have a comfortable 61 to win the election,” he stated.

    “But it’s become the reverse which only God knows what happened. So, I feel betrayed but life continues and it’s a cycle.”

    Asides from Akpabio, Senator Jibrin Barau, who represents Kano North Senatorial District, emerged unopposed as Senate Deputy President, succeeding Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Also, a member of the House of Representatives from Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas, was elected Speaker of the Green Chamber just as a member representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Benjamin Kalu, became the Deputy Speaker.

  • Controversies Surrounding Nigeria’s New Senate President

    Controversies Surrounding Nigeria’s New Senate President

    Key Points of Controversies Surrounding Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s New Senate President

    Godswill Akpabio, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and current Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has been elected as the new Senate President of the 10th National Assembly. However, his victory has been overshadowed by various controversies and allegations surrounding his political career.

    Corruption Allegations:
    In June 2015, Akpabio was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the alleged misappropriation of approximately N108 billion during his tenure as governor. No charges have been filed, and a petition filed against him by a lawyer and activist was later met with a defamation case against the petitioner.

    In May 2020, Akpabio faced another investigation by the national assembly regarding the alleged misappropriation of N40 billion from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was accused of fueling the crisis between the National Assembly and the NDDC.

    In March 2023, the EFCC invited Akpabio over allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds, but he cited a scheduled medical appointment overseas as the reason for his inability to honor the invitation.

    Sexual Harassment Allegation:
    Joy Nunieh, a former acting managing director of the NDDC, accused Akpabio of attempting to make her take an oath that would prevent her from exposing corruption within the commission. She also claimed that he sexually assaulted her, leading her to slap him at his guest house in Abuja. Akpabio denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Nunieh.

    Despite the controversies and allegations surrounding Akpabio, he emerged as the preferred candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Senate Presidency, defeating his sole challenger, Abdul’aziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State, in a closely contested election. However, some senators from his party and various interest groups opposed his candidacy due to the aforementioned issues, including corruption allegations, alleged disrespect for the national assembly, and mismanagement of NDDC funds.

  • N84bn fraud: EFCC Arrests Ex-Zamfara Governor Yari

    N84bn fraud: EFCC Arrests Ex-Zamfara Governor Yari

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari.

    Sources within the antigraft agency said the former governor was arrested for his alleged role in the N84 billion fraud involving a former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmad Idris.

    He was said to have been picked up at about 5pm on Sunday for allegedly benefitting to the tune of N22 billion from the N84 billion which the former AGF reportedly paid to one Akindele.

    According to the sources, the anti-graft agency also arrested one Anthony Yaro who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional – the company through which former Governor Yari allegedly benefited from the fund.

    Former Governor Yari’s arrest came barely a day after he won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest for one of the three senatorial district seats of Zamfara State in the National Assembly.

    Channels Television had reported that the primary was witnessed by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara alongside party officials from both the APC national headquarters and the state executives, among others.

    Former Governor Yari contested for the APC ticket unopposed at the exercise monitored by a team of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

    Mr Idris was arrested in mid-May over allegations of money laundering and diversion of public funds in excess of N80 billion.

    He was reportedly intercepted in Kano State by EFCC operatives and flown to Abuja for interrogation.

    Amid controversy trailing his arrest, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, suspended Mr Idris from office.

    The government has since appointed Mr Anamekwe Nwabuoku as the acting Accountant General of the Federation.

  • Ex-Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari Left Over N6bn Backlog Of Gratuities In Zamfara

    Ex-Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari Left Over N6bn Backlog Of Gratuities In Zamfara

    By Ahmad Ibrahim, Gusau
        The immediate past administration of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has left over N6billion backlog of gratuities in Zamfara state.        This was revealed by the chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Zamfara state chapter, comrade Mansur Mustapha Kaura while briefing Newsmen in Gusau recently.     According to him the administration of Governor Dr Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) has now given a matching order for the release of N100 million every month from July last year for the payment of gratuity to cushion the situation Of some of the retired civil servants in the state.     Comrade Mansur Mustapha Kaura noted that N100 million release monthly has assisted a lot in settling many civil servants who have retired several months/years without being paid by the previous administration.   He also noted the rate at which state civil servants are retiring which has become a sources of cont, noting that unless government is willing to increase the money from N100 million or provide substituted funds to settle the backlog of 100% the crisis of payment Of retirement benefits May not end.    He commended the government of Bello Muhammad Matawalle for its sustained effort in the payment of pension, nothing that every pensioner receives his pension as soon as month ends without any hitch.

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