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Lawmaker Plays Down Removal of Dogara, Says Speaker has Right to Belong to any Party

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8 years ago

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The Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has dismissed rumours of possible removal of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Mr Dogara, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) like the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is expected to face impeachment threats in the House.

Shortly after his defection, the APC again insisted that Mr Dogara, like Mr Saraki, must resign or be prepared to be removed.

Mr Doguwa expressed his contrary view in a text message he sent to PREMIUM TIMES, saying the speaker reserves the right to belong to any political party he so wishes.

“Speculations about looming crisis in the House of reps over the Speaker’s defection to the opposition PDP were NOT true.

“Like every other member of the house, the Speaker has the right to associate or belong to any political party of his choice.

“Of course, all of us in the APC Caucus were not happy with this development. But we must know that the speaker did not commit any crime under the law,” he said.

The chief whip went further to say the defection did not in any way violate or breach any section of the House rules or the Nigerian constitution.

“As far as we are concerned, as an institution, we have no legal or moral cause to contemplate the removal of the honourable Speaker from office.”

He described the offices of the speaker and his deputy as nonpartisan and as such, can be occupied by a member of any political party.

“Any member from whichever political party can be elected Speaker or Deputy Speaker, whether HE or SHE is a member of the majority party or not.

“We as proud members of the ruling APC have nothing to lose from the Speaker’s defection to the PDP.

“We will therefore, continue to allow him preside for as long as he does not take any partisan steps to undermine the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“And for the avoidance of doubt, the APC still remains the majority party on the floor of the House.

“We will rather continue to patriotically give priority to issues of national development and popular concern as against partisan issues.”

The Cable had reported that Adams Oshiomhole, the APC chairman, had been meeting with party members, particularly members of the House of Representatives, in a bid to remove Mr Dogara.

Quoting a source, the news outfit said the APC chairman had intensified efforts to oust the speaker after it became public that Mr Dogara was seeking for re-election on the platform of the opposition, PDP.

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UK Court Acquittal: Diezani Goes Spiritual, Says God Will Always Be God

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3 days ago

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June 18, 2026

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Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reacted to her acquittal by a London court after bribery charges brought against her were dismissed.

The Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday acquitted the former minister of all charges, including five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Reacting to the judgment, Alison-Madueke expressed relief and said she and her family had endured years of emotional distress over the case.

Speaking to News Central, she said she has remained in the United Kingdom since the legal proceedings began 11 years ago.

She said: “I’m just thankful to God, it’s been arduous, almost 11 years. It’s been traumatic not just for me but for my family, friends, my 93-year-old mother in Port Harcourt and for my son.

“It has been a hard journey, but I tell you this, God will always do as He will. God will be God and God is not a man that He should lie; when He promises you something, He will see it through.

“For almost 11 years I have been here. I did my job to the best of my ability.”

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I Never Saw Report that Led to Natasha’s Suspension, Says Ireti Kingibe

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3 days ago

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June 18, 2026

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The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha  Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

She said she was at a retreat with Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, when she heard about the report.

“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee.

“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time.

“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.

“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.

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UK Court Clears Ex-Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke of All Corruption Charges

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4 days ago

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June 17, 2026

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Former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was on Wednesday found not guilty ​by a London jury of six bribery charges, after ‌a rare corruption trial of a high-profile former energy official.
Alison-Madueke, minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan, stood trial ​charged with five counts of accepting bribes and a ​charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denied.
Prosecutors ⁠alleged Alison-Madueke, 65, was given “a life of luxury” in London ​from oil and gas industry figures seeking lucrative contracts in Nigeria, ​which has long grappled with mismanagement and corruption.
But the former minister, who was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, ​said she never took any bribes and had no real ​influence over the awarding of lucrative government contracts.
After a trial at London’s Southwark ‌Crown ⁠Court, Alison-Madueke was acquitted by a jury of all six charges she faced after more than 46 hours of deliberation.
The not guilty verdicts are a major blow to British authorities, which began their ​investigation into corruption ​allegations against Alison-Madueke ⁠more than a decade ago.
Alison-Madueke stood trial alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who was ​charged with one count of bribery relating to ​Alison-Madueke ⁠and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke’s brother Doye Agama, 69, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery ⁠with ​his sister relating to payments made to ​Agama’s church.
Both Ayinde and Agama denied the charges against them and were also ​acquitted by the jury.

Source: Reuters

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