• Chamber meets with service chiefs
• Senators probe alleged plot to abduct Kashamu
The Senate Committee on Niger Delta yesterday invited the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris to explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged refusal by some agencies of the Federal Government located in the Niger Delta to contribute to the funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, gave the directive when the management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, (NLNG) and Ecological Fund Office, (EFO) appeared before the Senate panel to explain reasons why they were not making their obligation to the NDDC.

Nwaoboshi, said the amount due for payment to the NDDC from the NLNG and the EFO which they refused to pay since the last 16 years was colossal and insisted that they had by their action, disobeyed the nation’s laws.

Also, the Upper Chamber held a closed-door meeting with service chiefs to discuss the prevailing security issues in the country especially in the North East.

The two-hour meeting chaired by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was attended by other principal officers of the Senate and chairmen of security related committees.

Although the press was not allowed to cover proceedings at the meeting, Senate Leader Ali Ndume told journalists that the issues discussed could not be revealed to the public, adding that, “we have been briefed properly, but these are security issues and we cannot really disclose any of it.”

He said the issues bordered on national security and as such was for those who were in attendance.Ndume, however, expressed the satisfaction of the Senate, as this was the first time the upper legislative chamber was being fully briefed on matters of security.

“Unlike before, the Senate was not abreast or updated on the efforts they are making. Now we have full, honest, open and transparent discussion on the activities. This is a security meeting that we just had and it will be wrong for me to disclose the details. We are satisfied because we have never had this kind of briefing before. We are part of it now, we know what is the problem, we know what are the challenges,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senators have commenced investigations into an alleged plan by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to abduct Senator Buruji Kashamu to the United States.

The investigation, which was being conducted by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, followed a petition to the Senate by Ajibola Oluyede, lawyer to Kashamu, alleging that there were plots to kidnap the senator and illegally send him to the United States of America.

A Federal high Court in Abuja had stopped the NDLEA from unlawful extradition of the senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly.

Defending his client before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee yesterday, Oluyede alleged that the NDLEA was being influenced by authorities in the United States to abduct the senator, just as was done to a Nigerian motor dealer, Lanre Shittu who was extradited to the US in year 2000.

Also, Senate President Bukola Saraki, while receiving the management of the NLNG led by its Managing Director, Babs Omotowa, who visited him in Abuja yesterday challenged the management of the NLNG to put an end to gas flaring in the country.

Saraki, who stated this when the management of the NLNG led by its Managing Director, Babs Omotowa visited him in Abuja, said it was high time the gas being flared was converted to something more productive as well as ensure the use of cleaner energy in the country.