Politics

Nigerian Senate to bring in CBN gov over N30trn Ways and Means loan

Published

2 years ago

March 19, 2024

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee probing the N30tn Ways and Means loans to the Federal Government has discovered 13 infractions in the process of obtaining the loan.

The Senate also disclosed that it would summon the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso.

This came to the fore when the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) and other members of the committee met with officials of the CBN at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The team of CBN officials was led by Bala Bello.

The ad-hoc committee is probing the disbursement and usage of the N30 trillion Ways and Means loan obtained during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the CBN.

Jibrin said the former governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, unilaterally signed billions of naira in the approval of different tranches of the loan without following due process.

The Kogi lawmaker stated that Emefiele illegally signed billions of naira in 13 documents.

The committee chairman said Emefiele ought to have approved the loans in conjunction with the CBN board of directors but the latter unilaterally signed the loans which was contrary to the provisions of the CBN Act.

Jibrin said, “The committee of governors ought to be the signatories to the Ways and Means account but in the document we have here, the governor signed billions of naira in about 13 places.

“We want to know the total figure of the Ways and Means. We want to know the summation of the figure.”

The committee chairman further noted that documents available to him on the Anchors Borrowers Programme implemented by former President Buhari’s administration indicated that about 70 per cent of the programme has been executed, leaving 30 per cent.

He said, “On the Anchor Borrowers Programme, you have done well. You did about 70 per cent but we must ensure the completion of the remaining 30 per cent.”

Jibrin, however, informed them that the committee will summon the CBN governor, Cardoso, to give a detailed account of what he knew about the Ways and Means.

“Your governor who took over from Emefiele, should be able to stand for Emefiele because he took over from him including his assets.

“Emefiele should provide an explanation to the existing governor. We will invite the governor and in case he does not have a response, he will contact Emefiele,” he added.

Politics

Hon Success Opara Wishes ST Peter Women Ikenegbu a Blessed Mothering Sunday

Published

10 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

In a heartwarming gesture, Hon Success Opara, former councilorship candidate for Ikenegbu Ward 2, has shown love and appreciation to the women of ST Peter Anglican Church, Ikenegbu, on the eve of Mothering Sunday.

The visit was a wonderful opportunity to bond and celebrate the selfless love of mothers in the community.

Opara, who worships at ST Peter’s, took time to fellowship with the women, sharing words of encouragement and praying for their well-being.

His gesture is seen as a testament to his commitment to uplifting and empowering women.

The ST Peter women appreciated his thoughtful gesture, wishing him continued success in his endeavors.

Politics

‘I get excited when we make law that angers opposition’ – Akpabio

Published

10 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio says when the opposition expresses anger over any law made in the Senate, he gets excited.

Akpabio spoke on Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, while addressing the audience in reception of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

According to him, anger from the opposition signals to him that the right law has been made.

He declared that opposition figures threatening to boycott the 2027 presidential election are just not ready for the contest.

He said, “Each time we make a law and the opposition frowns, I get excited that I’ve made the right law”.

“Yesterday I saw one man shouting on TV because of the Amended Electoral Act, saying we’re likely to boycott elections.

“My response was tell the truth, you’re boycotting the elections because you’re not ready. If you are ready you won’t boycott.”

Politics

NASS: Nigerian society oppressive to women, we’re not allowed to speak – Kingibe

Published

11 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Federal lawmaker, representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, has said that the six special seats for women in the Nigerian Senate will not change anything.

According to her, the Senate will still remain overwhelmingly male-dominated.

She lamented that reducing the special seats to 6 does not solve the problem, adding that it does not fundamentally change representation or the balance of voices in the Senate.

Ireti, who is the Chair, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, pointed out that until there are deliberate measures to increase women’s representation, the situation would remain the same.

Speaking on Arise News, the lawmaker was asked whether the political setting in Nigeria is not rather too hostile for women.

She said, “No, it’s only because the men choose to make it so. In the National Assembly, outspoken men are described as just outspoken. Outspoken women like me are described as troublesome.

“Now I’ve even asked some men to define what the difference is between an outspoken female parliamentarian and why do you describe them differently? Now, the gender equal opportunity bill has gone to first reading. I’ve been struggling for it to go to second reading.

“Whenever I lobby some of my colleagues, especially the older ones, it is ‘why do you need that? Does it not contravene the Constitution?’ I said no, the Constitution says 50% and I’m asking you to enforce 35%.

“Now even the special seats the Senate insisted that from 37 they cut it down to six. Now, let me just give you theoretically, there are four female senators in the Senate right now, let us assume that two do not return, when you add six to them, please, what’s the difference? Eight senators.

“And I tried to make that argument that six is inconsequential. It does not change the narrative of anything. In fact, I will also tell you that even in the Senate, when you have four women, yes, you cannot spread four women across everything but lots of times you set up an ad-hoc committee of 20 people, sometimes there’s no woman on it.

“And at the end of the day, I believe that until we, the countries that are not gender inclusive, have penalties internationally, things are not going to change.

“They have started some of the penalties right now in a lot of the International parliaments, any country that does not have a woman, sometimes two women on his delegation, depending on the number of delegates, cannot vote its full votes.

“Nigeria is unlikely to comply, because the men have this reactionary attitude that is more cultural than even religions. Because countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, all those ones that are Muslim countries, they’ve left us all behind and Nigeria is supposed to be even a secular state.

“So I do not see the reason, except that we have a society that is oppressive to women. Sometimes you want to say something. You’re not allowed to speak unless you make a fuss. How then do you get this country to develop without the voice of 50% of its population?

“We do have a problem. I am also waiting to see that, will we actually pass this bill before the 10th Assembly finishes? I remember that even after we do, we still need 24 state assemblies to agree.”