“But does that really call for celebration? Yes, there are no minnows in football but who are Swaziland to hold the Super Eagles to a goalless draw?
He continued: “The Super Eagles won 2-0 in Nigeria but is it not a game the Super Eagles should be winning 6-0, 7-0 under normal circumstances? What type of football do they play in Swaziland?
“Swaziland is not the first match Super Eagles have played under Oliseh. There has not been any difference between their first game under him and the game with Swaziland.
“I’m sorry, with Oliseh, the Super Eagles may not go to the World Cup in Russia.”
President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday in Washington DC, denied allegations that his Government awarded contracts for the procurement of weapons in the range of $2billion. The former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has being in the news in recent weeks over the award of these contracts as reported by the Presidential committee handling procurement of arms in the twilight to the end of Mr Jonathan's administration in its interim report submitted to President Buhari revealed that it found extra-budgetary spending by the Jonathan administration to the tune of N643.8 billion and an additional $2.2 billion in the foreign currency component, all managed and supervised by Sambo Dasuki, a retired army colonel. But the president said his government never awarded any contract in the range of $2 billion dollars.
“I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons” Mr. Jonathan stated categorically querying, “Where did the money come from?” and repeating emphatically that “I did not award a contract of $2billion for procurement of weapons”.
Mr. Dasuki however said in a statement Wednesday that all contracts and accruing payments were made based on the approval of Mr. Jonathan, adding that due process and military procurement regulations were followed in all the transactions.
“Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment,” said Mr. Dasuki.
But Mr. Jonathan said he never awarded any $2billion arms contract, suggesting that the claims by the Buhari administration were false and unsubstantiated. Mr. Dasuki have the same argument.
He said: “I have great respect for the Senate. I also have great respect for this distinguished committee. Unfortunately, we have a law that is superior to all of us whether it is the Senate or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So as distinguished as this committee is, it is not greater than the constitution.
“The constitution is very clear as to those who can be subject to investigation by Sections 88, 89 of the constitution. By Sections 88, 89 of the constitution, the Senate has powers over two categories of persons - the first are those who are the subject of investigation. They can be summoned before the committee and the second are witnesses to appear in respect of that investigation.
“Now, those who can be the subject of investigation have to be public officers holding that office that is being investigated. In other words, if you look at Sections 88 or 89, it refers to those who are charged or intend to be charged with the responsibility of an office; so it does not talk about those were charged or who was charged with a responsibility.
“For instance, I want to ask a very simple question: If you write a petition today against Nuhu Ribadu that he was corrupt in office or Farida Waziri, can the Senate invite Farida Waziri to investigate her? It is not possible. They cannot.
“Even if you say the petition was directed at him in his private capacity, can the Senate investigate him in his private capacity? The answer is no.
“For instance, if you are a public officer and somebody comes to report to the Senate that the public officer raped his wife. Can the Senate investigate that rape?
“The incident did not happen in his official capacity. The Senate can only refer it to the police and say this is a criminal case, because it did not occur in his official capacity.
“So it is clear that this Senate no longer has the power to summon Lamorde. The invitation, the summon, has been overtaken by events; he is no longer in office. He can no longer appear as a person being investigated in this Senate. He can only appear as a witness.
“If there is any allegation against him now, it should go to the police or the EFCC for him to be investigated purely as a criminal allegation.
“We will take advice; we will look at it and take the appropriate decision but I can tell you that the Senate itself is not in a place where their decision cannot be subjected to a review.
“The Senate also has no power to send letters of invitation. They have powers to issue summons to people to appear. Can the court, for example, write a letter of invitation to anybody?
“The powers of this committee are the same powers a court of law exercises. If the court of law wants someone to appear before it, it issues summons. A court of law cannot write an invitation letter. So this Senate has no power to write letters of invitation. They should correct it.
“Do not forget that it is this same Senate that for many years did not know their powers regarding the service chiefs.
