The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to delve into the intricacies of the procurement process surrounding the award of the ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar coastal road contract.

The motion, spearheaded by Honourable Austin Achado on Thursday, was underscored as a matter of urgent national importance.

Citing breaches of the 2007 Procurement Act and the absence of requisite approvals from the National Assembly, the House highlighted glaring irregularities in the contract award process.

Consequently, the House has demanded that the Minister of Works, the Minister of Finance, the Attorney General, and the Minister of Justice furnish the National Assembly with copies of pertinent documents related to the contract.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of recent demolitions of buildings and structures along the designated route of the project.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, shed light on the financial scope of the undertaking, revealing that the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road would amount to approximately ₦4 billion per kilometer.

Spanning a distance of 700 kilometers, the Lagos-Calabar coastal road is poised to establish a crucial link between Lagos and Cross River, traversing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before reaching its terminus in Cross River.

Despite its ambitious scope, the project has not escaped scrutiny. Notable figures including Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, have criticised the endeavour, branding it a misallocation of resources by the Federal Government.

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar labeled the project as fraudulent, although his assertions were promptly rebuffed by the Presidency.

The Nigerian Senate has approved the death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers in the country.

The historic decision came as the Senate passed the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill through its third reading.

The proposal gained traction on Thursday as the Senate delved into a meticulous clause-by-clause examination of the report presented by Senator Tahir Munguno, Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters, and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

During the review of the penalty provisions aimed at bolstering the agency’s operations, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, the Senate Chief Whip, proposed an amendment to elevate the punishment for drug traffickers from a life sentence to death under clause 11.

Initially met with dissenting voices, the proposal faced a moment of contention during the voting process. Despite an initial indication of disapproval, a subsequent vote favoured the adoption of the amendment, prompting a heated reaction from some lawmakers.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole was among those who voiced dissatisfaction with what he deemed a rushed consideration and passage of the amended clause.

However, the Deputy Senate President rebuffed attempts to reverse the ruling, citing procedural grounds.

In a parallel effort, the Senate also embarked on a comprehensive review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.

The move, aimed at combating bribery and corruption while safeguarding the judiciary’s independence, saw the executive bill seeking to prescribe remuneration levels for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels advance to the second reading.

While the bill garnered unanimous support, calls were made for a broader review of salaries and remuneration across various sectors in light of prevailing economic challenges.

Consequently, the bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, and two others have been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja, each required to pay ₦100 million.

The case revolves around an alleged fraud totaling ₦2.7 billion.

The court mandated two sureties with landed properties in Abuja, emphasising their responsibility as citizens.

Additionally, sureties must submit an affidavit of means.

The court imposed travel restrictions on the defendants without its permission.

Justice Oriji warned of remanding the defendants if bail conditions aren’t met.

The sureties must possess valid titles for landed properties within the FCT.

Trial dates are scheduled for June 10th, 11th, and 20th.”