President Muhammadu Buhari led the APC National Executive Committee Meeting at the APC Party Headquarters March 24, 2016, but Senate President, Bukol Saraki and some governors of APC controlled states, particularly from the southern part of the country as well as some national leaders of the party failed to attend the crucial meeting of the National Executive Council of the APC in Abuja.
There was heavy security around the national secretariat of the party ahead of the meeting with only a few journalists covering the party allowed into the secretariat to cover the meeting on Thursday.
The National Chairman of the party Chief John Odigie Oyegun who arrived the secretariat at exactly 9.10 was subjected to security checks by the Presidential guards before being allowed into the building.
Also absent at the meeting were Deputy Speaker, Suleiman Lasun, House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Whip of the Senator, Francis Alimikhena among others.
Those who attended the NEC meeting include Speaker of the Housemof Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, former Zamfara state governor, Senator Ahmed Sani and labour leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Senators Dino Melaye and Binta Masi Garba.
2: President Buhari with R-L Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman John Odigie Oyegun, Speaker House of Representative Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Lawal Shuaibu and APC National Secretary Alhaji Mai Mala Buni .
4: President Buhari with L-R Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Speaker House of Representative Hon. Yakubu Dogara, APC National Women Leader Hajia Ramatu Tijani, APC National Chairman John Odigie Oyegun, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and APC National Secretary Alhaji Mai Mala Buni .
Elombah.com had reported that the Code of Conduct Tribunal today dismissed an application by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration charges against him to be dropped.
Mr. Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, had argued that the 13-count charge was invalid procedurally because the Code of Conduct Bureau which filed the charges, failed to allow Mr. Saraki explain discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as required by law.
But in his ruling Thursday, the chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, said there was no breach of law as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1989, still allows the senate president raise his clarifications at the level of the tribunal.
Mr. Danladi said by law, the CCB could receive complaints of breach of the Act and refer such complaints to the Tribunal, provided that it will allow the person involved to give a statement affirming or denying the said misconduct.
Also, upholding the argument made by the prosecution, Mr. Umar said Section 3 (e) of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution gives the bureau the right to receive complaints of such nature and where necessary refer such matter to the tribunal.
According to Mr. Danladi, Section 174 of the Constitution also gives the Attorney General of the Federation the prerogative to file criminal proceedings and does not owe any explanations to any one on how to go about it.
He therefore ordered the continuation of the trial.
Mr. Saraki had earlier lost his bid to stop the trial after the the Supreme Court dismissed his initial objections.
