Senate queries Buratai over removal of Kazaure as NYSC DG

…Saraki leads 7-man delegation to Saudi Arabia over Zainab Habibu Aliyu

Few hours before the release of Zainab Habibu Aliyu by Saudi Authorities from detention, Senate on Tuesday, resolved to send a 7-man delegation, led by its president, Bukola Saraki, to Saudi Arabia, to intervene in  her matter .

This is as the Upper legislative  chamber questioned the legality or otherwise of the recent sacking of the Director General of National  Youth Service Corp ( NYSC) , Brigadier Sule Kazaure by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt- Gen Tukur Buratai.

The decision of the Senate on Saudi trip over Aliyu’s ordeal, followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by  Gaya and all senators. 

Aliyu was before her release  awaiting sentencing in Saudi Arabia, over an alleged claim that she imported Tramadol into the country. 

The lawmaker, while leading the debate, said Aliyu travelled to Saudi Arabia and some cabals planted Tramadol in a luggage in her name.

“Zainab had no idea where the said luggage came from because she came with only one luggage. Following her arrest, her father wrote a petition. NDLEA launched an investigation after the petition.

“The culprits confessed orally to committing the crime. They were released on bail, while Saudi Arabia is still holding the girl. Zainab’s case is one of the many cases of innocent Nigerians,” Gaya said.

Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan, while contributing said: “I believe the time to take drastic action against this kind of people is now. Those operators who have taken to putting drugs in the bags of innocent Nigerians have to be dealt with. So many people might have been executed for crimes they knew nothing about.

“We need our committees on foreign affairs, drugs and narcotics, etc to investigate this matter and find out how this thing happened.”

Mohammed Ali Ndume in his remarks, said: “I think we should form a small team that will quickly swing into action. If not, immediately they take action, it will be very difficult to reverse it.”

Other Senators on the Saudi trip apart from Saraki, are  Kabiru Gaya, Abdullahi Adamu, Aliyu Wamakko, Sam Egwu, Abdullahi Gumel, Monsurat Sunmonu and Shehu Sani are also  named to be part of the team. 

Meanwhile, the Upper Legislative Chamber  has mandated its committee on Sports and Youth Development, to investigate the recent appointment of a new director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Sani Ibrahim by the Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai.

The committee is expected to report back to the Senate next week Wednesday.

The committee is assigned to establish whether any law was violated in the appointment of the new NYSC boss.

Dino Melaye, had while raising a point of order, claimed that there was an infraction by the Chief of Army Staff in the appointment, contrary to the Act establishing the body.

Melaye said: “NYSC Act Section 5 says there shall be a service to be heard by a person called the director-general to be appointed by the president.

“Surprisingly, the Chief of Army Staff, removed the director-general through signal and through another signal appointed another one.

“The law doesn’t confer the power of appointing NYSC DG  on anybody, but the president. The last person and all other past persons were appointed by the presidents.

“If we allow this, the announcement of the Senate President can come from the Road Safety and replacement may come from the same Institution.”

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