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South African parliament names panel to probe Cyril Ramaphosa over farm scandal

South Africa’s Parliament has appointed an independent panel to determine whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should face impeachment over the alleged cover-up of a heist at his luxury farmhouse.

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula named the panel in a statement overnight Wednesday, according to local news outlet News24.

The three-man panel is headed by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo and includes a former High Court judge and a university professor. It will have 30 days to report its findings.

To remove a president requires a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly and that could be a tall order as Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) party commands more than two-thirds of the seats.

But there has recently been division within the ANC’s ranks as some party members joined an anti-Ramaphosa rally in July, to demand his removal.

In June, legislators from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a leading opposition party, heckled the president as he delivered a speech in Parliament.

A small opposition party, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), set down the motion that led to the creation of the panel in Parliament on Wednesday.

The scandal around Ramaphosa erupted in June after South Africa’s former national spy boss, Arthur Fraser, filed a complaint with the police.

He alleged that robbers broke into the president’s farm in the northeast of the country, where they stole $4m in cash stashed in furniture.

Ramaphosa hid the robbery from the authorities and instead organised for the robbers to be kidnapped, questioned and then bribed into silence, Fraser said.

The president is also alleged to have enlisted the assistance of his Namibian counterpart, Hage Geingob, in apprehending one of the suspects who was a Namibian national and fled back home.

Ramaphosa has acknowledged a burglary but denies the accusations of kidnapping and bribery, saying he reported the break-in to the police.

He has also disputed the amount of money involved and said the cash came from legitimate sales of game from his animal-breeding farm.

In June, Ramaphosa suspended the country’s anti-corruption ombudswoman a day after she launched an investigation into the burglary. The public protector’s office had said it would invoke subpoena powers to get answers from the president.

Last week, the High Court dismissed the suspension, saying the “hurried nature” of the move “may have been retaliatory”.

Pressure has been piling on Ramaphosa in the run-up to an ANC conference in December where he is expected to seek re-election.

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BREAKING: APC Suspends Ganduje – 365 News

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Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa local government area of Kano State has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from the party.

The announcement was made by the ward’s legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, who addressed journalists in Kano on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo stated.

He said the suspension subsists until he clears himself from the allegations.

Details Later…

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Coastal Highway Dispute: Obi Calls Out Umahi to Substantiate Allegations

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Peter-Obi-and-Dave-Umahi

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has addressed what he calls the “distortion of facts” surrounding his actions and statements during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, particularly concerning the ongoing demolitions for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal super highway.

In a statement on Thursday via his X account, Obi stated, “I aim to address these issues directly, devoid of political rhetoric, to ensure clarity for all. Let me be unequivocal: during my governorship, I made it abundantly clear that all structures obstructing existing roads and lacking approval would be removed.”

Referring to a circulated Update, Obi clarified, “The circulated Update clearly stated this, and I only initiated removal when construction had already commenced. Any insinuation otherwise is a blatant misrepresentation of the truth.”

He challenged critics, saying, “I challenge anyone to verify and show me where the demolished structures on existing roads or ongoing businesses were not encroaching on the road and built without government approval while I served as governor.”

Obi cited the demolition of the Onitsha North local government headquarters situated on the only existing stadium.

“I decisively demolished the Onitsha North local government headquarters situated on the only existing stadium, relocated, and built a brand new structure for the local government office away from the stadium,” he explained.

He further detailed his actions as aimed at restoring the stadium to its original purpose and honouring Nigerian sports heroes.

“This action was necessary to restore the stadium to its original purpose as a sporting facility for the people. Subsequently, the stadium was rightfully named after the first owner of the first football club figure in Nigerian sports, Chuba Ikpeazu, as a tribute to our commitment to honouring our heroes,” Obi stated.

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Akpabio: No Nigerian Will Work Under Inhuman Conditions Again

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Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerian workers that the National Assembly and the executive arm of government would work collaboratively to give them a living wage and better working conditions.

The Senate President declared that “No Nigerian worker will again be allowed to work under inhuman conditions. We will do everything to give you the best because you deserve the best.”

He made the declaration in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, to congratulate the workers as they commemorate the 2024 May Day.

Akpabio, in the message, extolled the sterling qualities that stood out to the Nigerian workers, saying, “A Nigerian worker is noted for his patriotism, hard work, resilience, and dedication to duty.

“I am happy to be associated with the Nigerian workers in the last more than 25 years and I can attest to the fact that everywhere you go, the Nigerian worker’s spirit resonates profoundly.”

Speaking on this year’s theme for Workers’ Day, “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate,” Akpabio promised that the National Assembly under his leadership was more than committed to ensuring the best working conditions for the Nigerian workers.

The Senate President reiterated that the theme for this year’s celebration was apt and in tune with the international best practices, assuring that nigeria would not be left behind.

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