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The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika until November 15.

Sirika, alongside his daughter Fatima, son-in-law Jalal Hamma, and Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited, faces six charges related to abuse of office and contract fraud, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charges stem from allegations that Sirika misused his ministerial position to award contracts to a company in which his family members had interests.

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The prosecution argues that these actions contravene the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000 and the EFCC (Establishment) Act of 2004.

During Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Sylvanus Oriji ruled against the admissibility of a document that defense counsel Michael Numa (SAN) sought to introduce, citing relevance to the case’s core issue regarding the company’s approval by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The judge emphasized that the defense failed to establish a connection between the witness and the document, thus rejecting its admissibility.

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He explained that to introduce a document through a witness, the cross-examiner must demonstrate a relevant link, which was not accomplished in this instance.

Following this decision, the same document was again rejected when presented by counsel for Jalal Hamma.

The fourth prosecution witness, Isaiah Yusuf, testified that Al-Buraq Global Investment Limited was not listed as a bidder for the contracts in question.

After the cross-examination, the court adjourned the trial until November 15 for further proceedings.

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The House of Representatives has tasked its Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debt Management with conducting a thorough audit and oversight of all loans obtained by federal and state governments since the start of the current democratic era, which total N121.67 trillion.

The committee is expected to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

This decision followed the adoption of a motion presented by Rep. Lanre Okunlola during Thursday’s plenary, titled “Need to Ensure Public Debt Oversight on the Federal and State Governments Loans and Proper Utilization of Borrowed Fund.”

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Presenting the motion, Okunlola referenced data recently released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) as of March 31, 2024, regarding Nigeria’s public debt profile, encompassing both external and domestic debt.

He stated, “Nigeria’s debt rose by N24.33 trillion in three months from N97.34 trillion ($108.23 billion) in December 2023 to N121.67 trillion ($91.46 billion), according to the same report.

Although borrowing is a vital means for financing development, unchecked debt accumulation poses serious risks to Nigeria’s fiscal stability and future economic growth.”

Okunlola emphasized that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007), and the Debt Management Office Establishment Act (2003) mandate the National Assembly to approve all government loans and ensure their proper utilization.

He noted, “Over 40% of developing countries, including Nigeria, currently spend more on debt services and repayments of loans, leading to inefficiencies in government finances at the expense of funding critical sectors of the economy such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social policy.”

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The lawmaker expressed concern about the increasing lack of oversight and transparency in the management and utilization of borrowed funds by both federal and state governments.

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has presented a proposed budget of N320.811 billion for 2025 to the state assembly.

The budget, titled “Budget of Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction,” was introduced during a session on Thursday.

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In his presentation, Governor Buni outlined that N144.036 billion, or 44.9% of the budget, is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N176.774 billion, representing 55.1%, is allocated for capital projects.

He reported that the overall performance of the 2024 budget reached N164.949 billion, achieving a 76% success rate by September 30, 2024.

For 2025, the governor emphasized plans to improve infrastructure, including the construction of roads to enhance community access.

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He committed to completing 17 ongoing road projects and initiating 11 new ones, with work on the Damaturu flyover set to begin soon.

Additionally, Governor Buni announced plans to increase the number of solar-powered boreholes and improve water supply systems in towns such as Damaturu, Buni-Yadi, Nguru, Geidam, and Potiskum.

His administration also aims to develop the Damaturu Green Economic City and enhance facilities at the Nasari, Gurjaje, and Bade-Gana Livestock Development Centers.

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The construction of a modern abattoir in Damaturu and the procurement of additional agricultural equipment are also part of the agenda.

In response, Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio, Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, assured that the assembly would expedite the review and passage of the budget and associated financial bills.

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The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move its local government offices to neutral, secure locations in order to preserve the commission’s integrity.

This request emerged from a motion presented by Prof. Paul Nnamchi (LP-Enugu) during Wednesday’s plenary session. Nnamchi referred to Section 157 of the Constitution, which guarantees INEC’s autonomy and independence in overseeing national elections.

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He stressed that INEC’s duty is to conduct free, fair, and credible elections across Nigeria, as mandated by law.

However, he raised concerns about the location of most INEC offices within local government headquarters.

“This is potentially hampering and compromising the independence of INEC in the conduct of national elections. This proximity exposes INEC to manipulation and control by council Chairmen, particularly in areas dominated by a single political party. This impedes INEC’s impartiality as enshrined in Section 6 of the Electoral Act (2022). Hence, the need to maintain public trust and confidence in the electoral processes,” he stated.

Responding, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas instructed the Committee on INEC and relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with the motion and report back to the House for further legislative action.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated on Wednesday that the recent Federal High Court ruling restricting the release of state allocations is “the least” of his concerns.

Speaking at a special thanksgiving service organized by the state government to commemorate his administration’s resilience amid ongoing political turmoil triggered a year ago by an arson attack on the State House of Assembly, Governor Fubara assured attendees that his government would continue to pay contractors and disburse workers’ salaries starting Thursday.

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He confirmed that allocations for the 23 Council Chairmen would also be processed, as the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) procedures are complete.

Fubara encouraged his supporters to remain steadfast, asserting that all challenges can be overcome.

He reflected on his administration’s accomplishments, noting that despite predictions of its imminent collapse, he has successfully led the state for over a year.

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The governor highlighted the completion of local government elections and the maintenance of a full cabinet despite attempts to destabilize his leadership through resignations.

He pointed to ongoing projects throughout the state as evidence of his administration’s commitment to progress, countering critics who doubted his ability to deliver.

Additionally, he referenced recent reports that recognize Rivers State for its financial accountability and transparency.

Reflecting on a violent incident from October 30 of the previous year, Fubara described it as an assassination attempt, attributing the attack to political opponents who ambushed him after he withdrew legal actions against the Martin Amaewhule group, following an intervention by President Bola Tinubu.

While he expressed no regrets about pursuing peace, he acknowledged that his conciliatory approach may have given his adversaries an advantage, allowing them to secure judgments against him.

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The governor noted that his opponents’ unwillingness to reciprocate his peaceful gestures has influenced his decision-making regarding the ongoing political crisis.

The thanksgiving service, held at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, featured performances by prominent gospel artists, including Joe Praiz, Frank Edwards, and Asu Ekiye, with Pastor Uma Ukpai serving as the guest preacher.

The event attracted a diverse audience, including high-ranking government officials and party leaders.

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The House of Representatives has introduced a significant bill aimed at amending Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution to create six special seats dedicated to women and people living with disabilities (PWDs).

The proposed legislation, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” was presented during a plenary session on Wednesday.

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Spearheaded by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti, APC), the amendment seeks to expand the number of representatives in the House from 360 to 366, with the additional six seats specifically reserved for women and PWDs.

The bill outlines that these special seats will be allocated evenly across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring that each region has one representative from both women and PWDs.

Candidates for these positions must fulfill all standard qualifications required for regular House members.

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Elections for these roles will be conducted via an electoral college comprising members from the National Associations of each special interest group, incorporating grassroots and regional input through a multi-tiered election process.

Once elected, these representatives will serve the same term as their counterparts and will receive the same benefits as other House members, as specified in the legislation.

Rotimi emphasized that the bill is designed to bolster representation for women and individuals with disabilities, who frequently face significant barriers to political engagement.

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“The inclusion of these special seats will ensure that the voices of underrepresented groups are heard at the national level, fostering a more balanced and inclusive legislative framework for Nigeria,” he stated.

In related news, House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen recently proposed a constitutional amendment to allocate legislative seats for women and ensure their participation in joint tickets for executive roles.

Furthermore, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has criticized the current representation of women in Nigeria’s National Assembly, which stands at less than 10%.

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Titilayo Daniel, a representative of NILDS, raised this concern during a town hall meeting in Sagamu, Ogun State, focused on enhancing women’s political representation.

Addressing over 100 grassroots female politicians, Daniel highlighted the “stark gender disparity” within the National Assembly, stating, “With women constituting less than 10% of the Assembly, the voices of over half our population are largely absent from key decision-making processes. This statistic is embarrassing for Nigeria, especially when compared to other African nations like Rwanda, which boasts a 61.3% representation.”

Daniel also pointed out the persistent challenges Nigerian women face in political participation, citing structural barriers and discriminatory laws as significant obstacles.