News
Ministerial screening: How Lawan foils Senator Okorocha’s plot to block Imo candidate

There was a dramatic twist in the screening exercise on Wednesday when Senator Rochas Anayo Okorocha was blocked by the Senate President from raising dust against the screening of Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nnana Opiah from Imo State.

Okorocha who represented Imo West Senatorial district has been at daggers drawn with Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma and in what looked like a transfer of aggression, he indicated to speak during screening of the Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nnana Opiah, who was recommended for ministerial appointment by the governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Being aware of Okorocha’s deft move for a dissenting voice, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan after he had allowed Senator Francis Onyewuchi Ezenwa to speak tactically disallowed Rochas Okorocha from making comments.
Though, Ezenwa spoke in favour of the Imo candidate, Senate President disallowed Senator Okorocha when his address system was switched off.
Lawan’s action infuriated Okorocha and he engaged in shouting match, saying, “why he was disallowed, but a colleague of his was allowed.”
CALPITAL POST recalled that Senator Rochas Okorocha was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the order of Imo State government over alleged stealing of State funds running to billions of naira when he governed the State for eight years
However, Lawan was said to have stopped Okorocha based on earlier agreement in a meeting of Senators behind closed doors that former lawmakers facing screening exercise should take a ‘bow and go’.
Reacting to questions at a press briefing after the screening, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nnana Opiah who was a former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and member representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives insisted that there was no ‘bad blood’ between him and Senator Okorocha, insisting however, that the former governor meant well.
“There is no bad blood between me and Senator Okorocha. What happened on the floor of the Senate today is an extension of that kind of rumour.
“I can tell you that Senator Rochas Okorocha meant well. I think he wanted to add his voice to my nomination.
I have heard a series of telephone conversations with him before today. And there is no indication that he was going to oppose my nomination,” Hon. Opiah said.
The minister designate also said that he would put all arsenals together to make a mark in the Federal Executive Council.
“I will do everything using the knowledge I had garnered both in the private and public sectors over the years to add my support to those of my colleagues, members of the Federal Executive Council.
“This is to ensure that we move this country forward with a view to finding solutions to the problems facing our dear country.”
In the short period he would have as a minister to make a mark, the nominee said that “In governance, an hour means forever. And so if I have one week, one month, or one year I think I will put all my arsenals together to leave a mark wherever I will be.”
Opiah further said that as a former member of the House of Representatives, he was happy to be screened by the Senate.
“I feel like being back home as a member of the national assembly. I have come to meet the old colleagues, most of them staff of the national assembly.
“I feel overwhelmed by the level of cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“What happened earlier in the Red Chamber is an indication of the serious partnership between the Green and Red chambers.
“That is very commendable. We must do everything within our powers to encourage that partnership to continue to happen. It should be sustained if not deepened.
“I’m very happy to be nominated as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I thank Mr President for finding me worthy of this nomination,” he said.

News
Police invites Emir Sanusi for investigation for violating Sallah Durbar ban [See copy]

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been summoned to the Nigerian Po,ice Force headquarters to face criminal investigation.

In a letter dated 4th April and signed by Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, said he was directed by the Inspector General of Police to invite the Emir for questioning for violating Durbar ban.

A copy of the letter sighted by CAPITAL POST indicated that Sanusi led a Durbar processing to the Government House to pay homage despite the ban which the Police expressed security concerns.
The urged Emir Sanusi Lamido to appear on Tuesday,b8th April, 2025.
Sanusi reportedly led a procession in car as against the usual horses in which a 20-year old in the entourage was arrested and detained.

News
Senators Natasha, Abbo unite in peddling dangerous falsehood against me – Akpabio

Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio has accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Elisha Abbo of being united I coordinated attacks against him lately.

He stated this following Natasha’s claims during a rally in her Kogi Central Senatorial District that he recruited the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to assassinate her outside Abuja.

At the rally on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, Natasha accused the former Governor Yahaya Bello, having been contacted late in the night of March 12, 2025 to orchestrated ‘recall and assassination’ of her outside Abuja.
Natasha said she has intelligence reports that when she is killed in her Constituency, “it will look as if it’s her people that killed her.”
Though Bello was yet to issue a statement debunking the allgations or otherwise, Senate President on his part denied the allegation and described it as falsehood and inflammatory.
Reacting in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publici, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh on Friday, Akpabio accused former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial, Elisha Abbo of toeing the similar part of blackmail, saying barely 24 hours later, on April 2, 2025, Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously withdrawn claim that Senator Akpabio “manipulated the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate.
The statement said: “Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.
“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.
“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.
“The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.
“The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign. These individuals—backed by undisclosed interests—appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric.
“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.
“We call on the Nigerian public in particular and the International Community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives. The Senate, under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, remains focused on its constitutional mandate: to promote legislative excellence, safeguard democratic values, and deliver meaningful progress for the Nigerian people”, the statement concluded.

News
Governor Ododo mourns death of Kogi East APC Chairman

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed heartfelt sympathy over the demise of Hon. Suleiman Muhammed, the Kogi East Zonal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a condolence message to the family of the deceased and members of the APC in Kogi state, described the sudden passing of the APC Zonal chairman as a loss not only for the party in Kogi East but the entire APC family in the state.

According to the Governor “The late Hon. Suleiman Muhammed was a man of peace, humility, and one who demonstrated commitment to the service of the state and the APC as a party. He carried the aspirations of his people with dignity; his leadership was widely respected and his contributions deeply valued within and beyond the APC in Kogi East”.
“He was instrumental in strengthening party cohesion and promoting inclusive dialogue. His presence in every party engagement brought stability and thoughtful leadership to our consultations in the zone.”
Governor Ododo further noted that Hon. Suleiman’s calm temperament, sense of fairness, and ability to listen distinguished him as a unifying figure in the party.
The Governor also extends condolences to the family of the deceased, the leadership and members of the APC in the state, the people of Dekina local government area and the entire Kogi East Senatorial District.
He prayed that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanatul Firdaus.
The late APC zonal chairman who served as the APC coordinator in Odu Ward 2 before becoming the zonal chairman of the party in Kogi East died at the age of 45 and has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.

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