Dino Melaye, a disgrace to the Senate - Tinubu

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8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016 Jonathan’s ministers, others returning diplomatic passports — Immigration CG By Omeiza Ajayi A BUJA—THE Comptroller- General of the Nigerian Immigration Service NIS, Mohammed Babandede, has announced the retrieval of diplomatic passports and other official travel documents from immediate past government officials. Babandede had on assumption of office about two months ago, threatened to arrest former ministers, governors and others who served under the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan but refused to return such diplomatic documents since they left office over a year ago. The CG, who spoke during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, maintained that the strategy to collect the passports from their holders at the borders would be sustained. “Some of them have started returning the passports. The response has been very impressive, but I cannot immediately give you the number of those that have returned theirs,” he said. Babandede said additional measures, including prosecution of defaulters, might also be considered. According to him, the NIS has received approval to write to federal, state, local government institutions to, henceforth, include the return of the government documents as some of the things to return before payment of severance or retirement benefits. “Also you cannot cross the border with the diplomatic passport whether going or coming if you are not entitled to it, we will collect it. “The next thing we will do is to go house to house to collect it. It is an offence. I told a former minister that it is an offence for you to hold a passport when you do not deserve it. ‘’It attracts a two-year jail term. We will soon begin to catch defaulters. People have started returning a lot of the passports,” he said. $200bn scam: EFCC seals First Group office in Abuja By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor AFTER MANY months of investigating the atrocities allegedly committed by the First Group, a property firm said to be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, closed down the Abuja Office of the entity, accusing it of fleecing unsuspecting Nigerians to the tune of $200 billion. The sealed office of the company is located on the 7th floor of Bank of Industry Building in the Central Business District, Abuja. A top source in EFCC said the firm was shut because it was implicated in what it called ‘phony real estate scam in which innocent Nigerians were duped to the tune of $200 billion. According to the anti-graft agency, it is as a result of the scam that the commission raided the Abuja office in May this year as part of its investigations into the alleged large-scale fraud perpetrated by the Group. “Investigations into the scam revealed that the company originally known as TFG Real Estate Limited operates in Nigeria in the guise of being The First Group Company, a Dubaibased real estate firm, which is not registered in Nigeria. “The modus operandi of the company is to lure innocent Nigerians interested in owning properties in Dubai, into parting with their hard-earned money. “They are mandated to make the payment in instalments; however, the payment is deliberately structured in such a way that the debt is difficult to offset, and as soon as one defaults, the money will be MEETING: From left, Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Diri; Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, and Director, Civil Litigation, Dayo Apata, at a meeting with the Senate committee on Judiciary over the alleged forgery of 2015 Senate Rules, at National Assembly, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan Alleged Senate Forgery: No going back on case, AGF insists By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke A BUJA—ATTORNEY General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, yesterday, vowed not to withdraw the forgery case against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from the courts on the claim that it was in the public interest. Malami, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, said the case was on the basis of a police report which predated his appointment as the chief law officer of the country. He, however, in deference to the Senate Standing Rules forbidding discussion of issues in court, drew back from discussing the merit or otherwise of the case. The about two-hour session also saw a sharp exchange of words between pro- and anti- Saraki senators. Malami, who noted that the amendment of the 2015 Standing Order was carried out illegally, appeared after about three weeks after the invitation was sent to him and was barely 24 hours after Senate President Saraki threatened to invoke the relevant sections of the constitution to compel him to appear before the Senate Committee. Answering questions from the senators, Malami noted that he had a clear obligation to do whatever should be done within the context of the constitution to sustain the democratic process. “The issue that constitutes the basis of this invitation is a criminal case instituted against certain members of the Senate. It is an act that predates my appointment. There are series of suits. The date of interest is July 23, 2015. “I was appointed on November 12, 2015. That is four months after the investigation was concluded by the NPF. I have an obligation in the sustenance of democracy to institute a legal action from an investigation that had been concluded. It was based on this that I took the action. “The action was not taken to truncate any democratic process but to protect it. There are now two pending cases in court. One is a civil case instituted by some senators. The other is a criminal case instituted by the office of the AGF. These two matters are subjudice. When a matter is before a court of law, nobody is entitled to look into it. “seized” by the company. “The company is implicated in a phony real estate scam in which innocent Nigerians were duped to the tune of $200 billion. “EFCC operatives had in May 2016 raided the office as part of investigations in the alleged property fraud. Several implicating documents were discovered, including a list of high profile patrons,” the source said. Attempts to get reaction from the corporate headquarters of the firm in Dubai were unsuccessful as the office claimed ignorance of sealing of the property in Abuja. The office, which was contacted by Vanguard around 6p.m. on ++971 4 455 0282, said they would, however, get in touch with our correspondent in future date in order to respond to the development. A message on the TFG website claims, among other things, that: “When you invest in property with The First Group, our promise is to provide you with much more than amazing real estate and lucrative returns. “Ownership with us gives you instant membership to our prestigious club and access to a world of exciting rewards and privileges, from cash returns and investment property credit to fully paid Dubai holidays. We invite you to discover more about these outstanding benefits, created exclusively for our owners. “As a property owner with The First Group, you are our top priority. Our commitment to you is to ensure you enjoy a superior level of service that goes above and beyond simply buying an amazing property in Dubai. “This is why we have created a specialised company, The First Group Asset Management, to look after every aspect of your finished investment property. “Their highly skilled team of industry specialists have an impressive track record spanning decades of experience in the global hotel and property market. Our property investors can rest assured that they are in expert hands. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the rewards of a truly effortless investment.” Contractors under pressure to comply with Workmen’s Compensation Act By Favour Nnabugwu THE FEDERAL Government has taken the lead to ensure that contractors in the country comply with the 2010 Workmen’s Compensation Act. Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who dropped the hint as guest speaker at the concluded 2016 National Insurance Conference in Abuja, yesterday, vowed to lead the campaign for compliance to the Act by government contractors to ensure protection of their workers. According to him, this will encourage commitment and dedication among the workers. The 2010 Federal Workmen’s Compensation Act, which repealed and replaced the 2004 legislation, makes provision for insurance cover for workmen in respect of occupational disease(s) (arising from exposure to risk factors), injuries from accidents at the workplace or in the course of employment. The Minster, who spoke on the 'Expected Role of Insurance in Infrastructural development,' a topic of the overall theme of 'Expanding National Resources and Infrastructure in Challenging Times,' said he would use his position as Minister of Power, Works and Housing, to insist that all the state Controllers of Works in the country took steps to demand and ensure that all government contractors provided proof of compliance with the law.
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Dino Melaye, a disgrace to the Senate - Tinubu

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