WE WILL EXPOSE CORRUPT SENATORS-------David Mark

SENATE President David Mark has vowed to expose corrupt senators and those engaged  in acts capable of tarnishing the image of the National Assembly.

Mark stressed that no amount of blackmail will deter the institution from carrying  out its oversight functions. He,  however, cautioned members of the public against compromising lawmakers  in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the National Assembly will continue to clear itself in its strong determination to meet the expectations of the electorate.


Speaking  at the National Assembly-Private Sector Forum organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos, the Senate president  noted that allegation of corruption against the National Assembly was  exaggerated.


According to him,  "There are those who say that the National Assembly takes the bunch of the budget. This is very ridiculous. I know that what goes to the National Assembly is not more than 2.5% of the total budget.  The National Assembly members are always accused of corruption but Nigerians ,to a large extent ,are responsible for this alleged corruption.


"If a businessman gives a bribe to a lawmaker, is it only the lawmaker that is corrupt? If the business man didn't offer the bribe, the lawmaker will not accept. But the question remains: Why did he accept it? If our National Assembly members are found wanting, we will  discipline them.


"We will clean our house to earn the respect of those that elected us into our respective offices.  We will continue to clean our house and those who bring us to shame will get their punishment accordingly."


Stressing that the legislature as an arm of government is on a steady growth and improving by each legislative day, Mark recalled that the level of rancour that characterized the legislative houses between 1999 and 2003 has been reduced.


"We  would continue to improve on legislative business until we attain a level where the average Nigerian will be satisfied with our performance", he said.

Sons of the soil in Abuja want state status

Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory under the umbrella of Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja [OIDA], have appealed to the federal government to give the territory the status of a state with its own governor and state house of assembly.


Their demand for Gbakka state is being worked out through constitutional amendment at the National Assembly.


Addressing a news conference in Abuja, chairman, board of trustees of the association, Dr. Abubakar Wodi said the original inhabitants of Abuja have been alienated from the scheme of things in the federal capital territory with the forceful acquisition of their land since 1976.

The association expressed regrets over the continuous neglect of the original inhabitants of Abuja in terms of full participation in governance and provision of educational, economic, social, political opportunities and infrastructural facilities saying it is a social injustice against the original people of the area.

Senator Gyang Datong shot dead in Jos

Update: However, Ruwang Dantong, the brother of the deceased, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the senator collapsed and died of a heart attack after seeing the dead bodies of his murdered kinsmen.


A Serving Senator, Senator Gyang Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a funeral in the state on Sunday.

A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the shooting.
Senator Datong won his first election into the Senate in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011. He was previously a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency.



Also shot dead is Hon. Gyang James Fulani, the Chief Whip of the Plateau state House of Assembly. Hon. Fulani was representing Barkin Ladi constituency. Barkin Ladi is about 25 kilometres from the state’s capital, Jos.


Another lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Simon Mwatdkon is currently hospitalised after recovering from coma.


Over 37 people were killed in Barkin Ladi at the weekend in a new cycle of violence between Fulani herdsmen and Berom tribesmen who live in the two local government areas.


Over 9 villages were attacked by people believed to be Fulani in the raids on Saturday.


The attack reportedly took place at the venue of the burial of some of the victims of Saturday’s attacks.



Abraham Yiljap, the state's Commissioner of Information, confirmed the assassination in a statement.


Gyang Fulani, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, was also reportedly shot during the attack. It is not yet clear if he survived.

Family of nine killed

   

Tragedy struck this morning at Umuakoro Village in Emekuku Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo state as 9 bodies of the Pascal Njoku Family were found dead at their residence in the early hours of today.

Sources said Mr. Pascal Njoku who works and resides in Port-harcourt, Rivers state, came back home for the final burial of his mum who died some months ago and he was accompanied by his wife, 5 children, his sister-in-law and her son. Shortly after the burial event yesterday night, they all went to their respective rooms to sleep.

However, in the early hours of today, all nine of them were found dead. At the moment the reason of their deaths could not be ascertained but sources said their mouths were all foaming profusely when the bodies were brought out of the rooms.

The Imo State Commissioner of health Obi Njoku who visited the scene of the occurence said from the foaming found in their mouth, there is a possibility that they might have died of food poisioning but however, the state government will carry out an autopsy to know the cause of their death.

Meanwhile, in a telephone conversation with the state Police Public relations Officer Mister Vitalis Olugu, he said the case has been reported to the police and the police have swung into action to know the cause of their death, no arrest has been made.

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Serena Williams win 5th wimbledon title and 300 million naira equivalent!!!

Serena, who pockets a cheque for £1.15 milllion ($1.78 million, about N300 Million), is the first woman over 30 to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1990 and she needed all the experience gathered over her illustrious career to survive a remarkable revival from Radwanska.

After being completely out-classed for the first set and a half of her maiden Grand Slam final, Radwanska had Serena on the ropes before the sixth seed finally recovered her composure to reclaim the Venus Rosewater Dish in just over two hours on Centre Court.

Williams has now equalled her sister Venus's tally of five titles at the All England Club, but more significantly the 30-year-old's 14th Grand Slam crown is her first at the majors since her last Wimbledon triumph in 2010.

Inspired by the painful memories of her shock French Open first round exit against Virginie Razzano last month and a spell in hospital with a serious illness 18 months ago, Serena has been determined to reestablish her primacy. It is mission accomplished, but only just.

"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago when I was in hospital. Now I'm here again and I'm so happy," a tearful Serena said.