Defendant’s absence stalls arraignment of NBC boss | Nairalaw

The scheduled arraignment of the Director-General of the
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Modibbo Kawu, was on
Wednesday stalled due to the absence of the second defendant, Lucky
Omoluwa.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
(ICPC) is prosecuting Mr Omoluwa, who is the Chairman of Pinnacle
Communications Limited, alongside Mr Kawu for allegedly
misappropriating N2.5 billion, a scandal that could slow down the
nationwide rollout of the digital transmission of home television
signals.

The anti-graft office is also prosecuting Dipo Onifade and the
firm, Pinnacle Communications Limited, for allegedly conspiring
with Mr Kawu.

During the court session on Wednesday, the counsel representing
the second and third defendants, Alex Iziyon, told the court that
after standing down for an hour, Mr Omoluwa was still not present
in court.

Mr Iziyon had earlier informed the court his client, Mr Omoluwa,
was on his way from Kaduna to attend the court proceedings.

“The second defendant still did not show up. I urge your
lordship to please move the arraignment to May 2.

“I do not want to say tomorrow because I do not know what had
happened to the second defendant who sent a text this morning that
he was on his way from Kaduna.

“I would not mind signing an undertaking that he would show up
on May 2.

The prosecution, Henry Emore, did not oppose Mr Iziyon’s prayer
for adjournment.

Prior to this, the judge, Folashade Giwa, said, “Next time, tell
him to come a day before.”

Mrs Giwa then adjourned to May 2 for arraignment.

Wase as House Speaker Will Uphold APC Party
Ideologies—Youths Group

A socio-political group known as Conference of Nigerian Youths
in Defence of Democracy (CNYDD), has described the serving Deputy
Majority of House of Representatives, Honourable Ahmed Idris Wase
as a progressive-minded lawmaker who will uphold the fundamental
ideologies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if
elected as Speaker of the ninth National Assembly (NASS) lower
chamber.

CYNDD, in a press release signed by the group’s National
Chairman, Comrade Adam R. Ali, Secretary-General, Comrade Baffo
Umar, and Mr. Jibrin Danpullo, who is the Director of Media, said
the philanthropic, selfless, detribalized, and indefatigable Idris
Wase has represented Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State
since 2007, with a track record of brilliant performance as a
lawmaker.

They maintained that while the competence, ability and integrity
of some lawmakers aspiring to contest for the House Speakership
have become subjects of public debate, the intimidating profile of
the Plateau-born legislator kept rising like one bright star in a
million galaxies.

Part of the release reads: “Honourable Wase, who is eminently
qualified and is seeking to become the next Speaker, is one Plateau
State politician, who has demonstrated to his constituents that
providing good governance is not rocket science.

“Honourable Wase, as a faithful member of APC family in Plateau,
has since raised the bar of servant leadership. This, we can all
see in the numerous youths empowerment programmes he launched,
while also awarding contracts and solely financing the
constructions of several beneficial infrastructural projects across
his constituency.

“Equally, Honourable Wase, as the Chairman House Committee on
Federal Character for eight years, doggedly fought to bridge the
yawning gap in terms of employment and infrastructural distribution
to various states and geo-political zones.

“In furtherance, Honourable Wase, who meritoriously served and
is still serving as member of the House Committee on Emergency and
Disaster, Environment, Area Councils, Capital Market, Poverty
Alleviation, Housing and Habitat, Justice, and Public Petitions,
among others, has also sponsored numerous bills and motions on the
floor of the House.

“Aware of his humble background, Honourable Wase is one that
will definitely give priority attention to the enactment of sound
laws to enhance the living standards’ of the masses. With Wase
firmly on the saddle as Mr. Speaker, we have a strong conviction
that it will no longer be business as usual in the noble, yet
arduous business of lawmaking.”

The group appealed to the APC National Working Committee (NWC)
to zone the Speakership office to North-Central which has not
produce a Speaker since the advent of democracy in 1999, saying:
“APC, as a progressive party, should allow the members-elect decide
the fate of all the aspirants, including our amiable Honourable
Ahmed Idris Wase, during the inauguration of the ninth House. The
decision to foist their handpicked leadership on the House, will
obviously not augur well for the harmony, peace and cohesion of the
party.”

By PRNigeria