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E-transmission: Opposition Reps call for prosecution of NCC officials for lying on oath
The Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives have called for prosecution of officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission for lying on oath when they appear before the Committee to offer explanation on its networks.
The leader of the PDP Caucus, Kingley Chinda, in a statement on Tuesday, alleged that the officials lied under oath while appearing before the House last Friday to explain the possibility of having results of elections transmitted electronically from across Nigeria.
Following a stalemated consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2010 (Amendment) Bill over the controversial Clause 52(2), the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had called for suspension of the exercise and summoned the NCC and the Independent National Electoral Commission to appear and guide the lawmakers this Friday.
While INEC did not show up, officials of the NCC led by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Adeleke Adewolu; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska, and two others had appeared before the lawmakers.
Maska, however, answered all the questions asked by the lawmakers.
However, in the statement titled, ‘NCC Lied to Nigerians on Electronic Transmission of Votes and Should Face Prosecution’, the PDP caucus alleged that officials of the commission misled the House with their presentation.
The statement read in part, “It was a show of shame on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, July 17, 2020, during the consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
“The comedy of errors started by the House stopping INEC from appearing before the House to prevent the nation from learning the truth and allowing only the NCC to appear to discuss issues on the ability or otherwise of INEC to handle electronic transmission of votes.
“Officials of the NCC, led by Executive Director, Ubale Maska, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umaru Garba Danbatta, appeared and an oath was administered on them consistent with the Section 5 of the Legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.
“While testifying before the House, on the adoption of electronic transmission of results from the units, Ubale Maska claimed that the 2018 Technical Report of the NCC showed that only about ‘50 per cent of the polling units had 3G, while 49 per cent had 2G network and below’. His answers and body language clearly betrayed his intense desire to mislead the House and the nation.
“He cleverly sought to rely on 2018 data in 2021, when they knew or ought to know that Internet penetration has advanced substantially in Nigeria since 2018.
“Indeed, a perusal of the NCC website even today shows that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 (P .33) says that by September 2019, the spread of 3G/LTE had reached 74.2 per cent in Nigeria.”
The caucus also recalled that a telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, recently announced that it had achieved extensive nationwide network coverage of 89.9 per cent.
“This is just MTN, not to talk of other networks,” Chinda noted.
The statement added, “Perhaps, the worst form of perfidy, deception and outright lies is for the NCC to hide the Memorandum of Understanding between the NCC and INEC in 2019. During preparations for the 2019 general elections, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, had in January 2018 visited the NCC to discuss collaboration that would enhance the electoral process.
“A joint technical committee of INEC and the NCC was subsequently formed with a mandate to map out strategies that would reduce human interventions in the transmission of election results. The committee was headed by Maska and co-chaired by Muhammed Lecky, an INEC National Commissioner.
“After several meetings and engagements, it was then recommended that the ‘INEC/NCC Joint Technical Committee should consider and adopt the traditional data communication service from the MNOs using the APN as the most appropriate solution for the electronic transmission of election results.’”
According to the caucus, “the icing on the cake” is the categorical declaration by INEC, through its spokesman, Festus Okoye, that the commission has the capacity to transmit election results from any part of the country, no matter the terrain.
The opposition lawmakers said Okoye’s confirmation “has put the final nail on the coffin of the purveyors of the fallacy that it cannot be done,” recalling that electronic transmission was recently deployed by INEC in Edo, Ondo, Borno and Kaduna elections.
The statement added, “It is obvious that there are fifth columnists and anti-democratic elements, who are afraid of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
“For a witness to be sworn under Section 5 of the Legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, then to lie under oath and give false evidence to the House is an offence under Section 7 of the same Act.
“We call on the prosecuting authorities to immediately arrest the officials of the NCC under Prof Danbatta and all those, who procured Ubale Maska and other officials to lie under oath, to be criminally investigated and where found culpable, be brought to justice by standing criminal trial.
“We must maintain the integrity of our laws and the sanctity of our institutions as a nation.”
Oni asks conference committee to endorse e-transmission
A former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Olusegun Oni, on Tuesday, urged the National Assembly not to miss the window of opportunity in the Conference Committee to harmonise the Electoral Bill to ensure electronic transmission of election results.
Oni, a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, reminded the country’s leaders, especially members of the National Assembly and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that they were in place for the people, hence the need to respond to overriding public concerns and meet the populace’s aspiration for credible elections.
In a statement titled, ‘The conduct of credible elections is service to God’, the former governor said, “As leaders, the Almighty God has given us the wisdom, knowledge and wherewithal to do what is right and just and in return, we must do everything possible to put in place a system that will allow the people to freely and fairly choose their leaders.
“Consequently, a conference committee of the National Assembly that will be saddled with the responsibility to harmonise the Electoral Bill must, therefore, ensure an unconditional transmission of results in the Electoral Act, 2021.”
Credit: Punch
News
Emergency Rule in Rivers: Senators Dickson, Abaribe, Tambuwal walk out of Senate Chambers in protest
As the Nigerian Senate approved the emergency rule declared in Rivers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senators Seriake Dickson, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal walked out of Chambers in protest of Senate’s position.
Seriake Dickson representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District (PDP), Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South Senatorial District (APGA) and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal representing Sokoto South Senatorial District (PDP) were unhappy over the declaration of emergency that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara out of office.
Senators Seriake Dickson and Aminu Tambuwal who was also a former Speaker of the House of Representatives are lawyers and said, the declaration was unconstitutional and would not have their support.
Notwithstanding, their objections, the Senate presided by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio through a voice vote overwhelmingly supported the president’s move, shutting down an open debate on the matter.
Senator Dickson expressed his gratitude to colleagues who supported his stance and acknowledged the presidency’s modifications to the original declaration. However, he emphasized that the introduced oversight mechanisms did not address the core constitutional concerns.
Dickson also criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of attempting to silence opposition. “The Senate is a meeting of equals, and no lawmaker should be censored for speaking on national issues,” he stated.
The walkout by the three senators highlights the deepening divisions within the Nigerian Senate and raises concerns about the implications of the state of emergency on the country’s democratic institutions.
Rugby School Nigeria, the newest international school of the esteemed Rugby School Group, is set to open in September 2025 in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
To celebrate this significant milestone, an exclusive launch event was held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, attracting over 100 distinguished guests and key stakeholders from the education, government, business sectors, and diplomatic communities.
At the official launch event on March 19, 2025, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter highlighted the significance of Rugby School Nigeria stating:
“Rugby School Nigeria exemplifies one of the best of UK-Nigeria collaborations, bringing another world-class British education institution to the heart of Lagos. Situated in the dynamic Eko Atlantic City, a symbol of Nigeria’s ambition and innovation, this school is poised to further shape future leaders in a rapidly evolving global landscape.”
Rugby School Nigeria will initially open its doors for Sixth Form students (ages 16-18) in September 2025, with boarding facilities set to be available from September 2026. The Senior School (ages 11-16) will launch in September 2026, offering a broad and engaging curriculum that prepares students for IGCSEs and future academic success.
Founding Principal of Rugby School Nigeria, Dr Adam England expressed his enthusiasm:
“Rugby School Nigeria will offer an exceptional education that nurtures both intellectual growth and character development guided by the Rugby School ‘Whole Person, Whole Point’ philosophy. Students will benefit from a comprehensive A-Level programme, preparing them for top universities worldwide, alongside the Rugby 360 programme, which fosters leadership, community engagement, and personal development.
Our state-of-the-art facilities will include science labs, creative arts spaces, and world-class sporting facilities.”
Founded in 1567, Rugby School is one of the world’s most prestigious UK boarding schools, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and character development. With established sister schools in Thailand, Japan, and now Nigeria, Rugby School continues to expand its global impact, offering transformative educational experiences to students worldwide.
Dr England added, “We are excited by the substantial interest we have already received, with numerous parents’ meetings taking place daily at our offices.”
Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Olajide Ipinsagba Emmanuel has scored himself high in terms of constituency projects deliveries to his constituents.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in his office with journalists, he said “he facilitated Agricultural Training Programs for youths and existing farmers, equipping them with modern techniques to enhance productivity, distributed fertilizers to farmers to address critical agricultural challenges, ensuring increased output and improved local food security.
“Constructed and fully equipped a modern health centre in Akunnu-Akoko, ensuring access to quality healthcare for the community, distributed health equipments and materials to the State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko, thereby strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving health outcomes.”
“Trained and Empowered Women and Youth in Confectioneries. He organised training in cake baking and other confectioneries, followed by the disbursement of start-up grants to empower beneficiaries to establish their businesses. Training of women on soap making with start-up funds.
In the same vein, he organized ICT training programs for youths, distributed HP Core i7 laptops, and provided start-up grants to promote innovation and employment in the tech sector.
“Trained youths in tailoring, provided sewing machines, and disbursed start-up grants to enhance self-reliance and job creation. Constructed a 1.5-kilometer road in Oka-Akoko, improving connectivity, facilitating economic activities, and easing transportation for farmers and traders. Spearheaded the construction of the Ikare Modern Civic Center, which serves as a hub for cultural, social, and civic engagements. Facilitated the construction of 28 lock-up shops in Oka -Akoko, providing a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and boosting local commerce.
Dist. Sen. Olajide who is passionate about education, distributed free JAMB forms to students across the Senatorial District, enabling many young people to pursue higher education without financial barriers.
Also, he sponsored a bill for the establishment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University in Ikare-Akoko. A public hearing was successfully held on December 28, 2024, reflecting progress toward establishing this vital institution for skill development and education. Lighting up towns and villages with Solar Panels including Adekunle Ajasin University.”
These achievements underscore his commitment to fostering development in agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, he also prioritizes accountability and efficiency in national projects, which directly impacts the equitable allocation of resources to Ondo North Senatorial District and Ondo State at large.
Moreso, he empowered Small Businesses through skill acquisition programmes and provision of lock-up shops, he has laid the groundwork for entrepreneurship to flourish within the district. Strengthening Youth Engagement, by bridging the gap between education, technology, and employment. He is equipping youths with the tools necessary to thrive in the modern economy.”
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