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NEWS & LIFE

EFCC petition: Dickson defends his assets

MY FAMILY ASSETS WERE ACQUIRED IN 2007 WITH LOANS
…REPEATED DECLARATIONS MADE TO CCB BEFORE I BECAME GOV – DICKSON
… SAYS PETITION WAS FRIVOLOUS

About two weeks ago I received an invitation from the EFCC to clarify some issues relating to assets declarations as alleged by an NGO.

On account of our busy schedule at the time, I wrote to inform them and we agreed to reschedule the interview for today.

As a law abiding citizen and with a life long commitment to supporting Law enforcement and security agencies, I honored the invitation today as rescheduled. I understand that the subject matter of the inquiry relates to investments of my family trust, which I incorporated while being a member of the House of Reps to hold my family assets and investments which were made between 1996 and 2012 before I became Governor.

I understand that there is a petition from an NGO alleging that these investments (largely buildings, plots, farms, etc in my village, Orua, Yenagoa, and two buy-to-let houses in the UK) were not declared. I have a duty to clarify these issues with the investigating authorities who by law have the responsibility to inquire into these matters.

However, for the avoidance of doubts, let me state that my family investments, Seriake Dickson Trust Incorporated were made between 1996 and 2012 before I became Governor.

These investments were funded by loans and advances and repaid from salaries, allowances, savings and others. One of them is still on mortgage and I have made these documents available to the EFCC.

These investments were declared in my assets declaration form at the House of Reps in 2011; my Governorship form in 2012, 2016, 2020 after I left office and the Senate Assets declaration form this year.

I went beyond these declarations and wrote several letters to the appropriate agencies, copies of which have been made available to the EFCC. My trust and I subscribed to the federal government Voluntary Assets Income AND Declaration Scheme (VAIDES) and also paid the necessary taxes.

As a result of blackmail from some quarters, the Trust and I went to the Federal High Court where there is a subsisting judgement declaring that no Nigerian law is breached by a public officer who takes loans and other verifiable avenues to make investments for his family provided these are declared.

It should be on record that I have since resigned from the Trust Administration since 2011 before I became Governor.

My solicitors and those of the trust have written to the EFCC to clarify these issues with the accompanying documents.

However on getting to the commission, the investigating team came up with a new allegation of diversion of flood funds in 2012 totaling N17.5 billion. The petition further alleged that the money was used for my re-election in 2019. The fact is that there was no such donation about the 2012 flood in Bayelsa.

Curiously, there was no mention of donor or where the money came from. There was also no re-election for governorship in Bayelsa in 2019 which are clear proofs that the petition was totally frivolous.

The commission after looking into these allegations have since asked me to return home on self recognition.

I have authorized this statement to be released for the avoidance of any misinformation.

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly

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NEWS & LIFE

I will always be a policeman – Dickson

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has said that he is proud of his police background and that he will always be a policeman.

He said this in Abuja on Friday when he paid police authorities a visit.

Dickson, also representing Bayelsa West (PDP) in the National Assembly said police was not the problem of Nigeria and should not be seen as enemy .

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba in Abuja in a statement on Friday quoted Dickson as saying this in Abuja

Mba explained that the former Bayelsa governor made the assertion when he paid a solidarity visit to the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba.

The senator, a two time governor of Bayelsa, said that the visit was in solidarity with the police over the dastardly and criminal acts of terrorism, unprovoked and coordinated attacks on the force.

Dicksom said that the murder of innocent police officers and malicious damage of security assets and other government infrastructure in some parts of the country were condemnable.

The senator called for a cessation of all forms of criminal attack on police and government infrastructure in the country.

He congratulated the new police boss on his appointment as the 21st indigenous I-G and called for proper funding of the Force to enhance its operational efficiency.

Dickson commended the Nigeria Police for doing their best in the face of daunting welfare and operational challenges.

In his remark, I-G Baba commended the Senator and pledged that the force would remain committed and unwavering in its task of protecting lives and property in spite of the numerous challenges.

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POLITICS

Bayelsa West election: Dickson loses at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck out two appeals filed by Sen. Seriake Dickson and the PDP against a suit seeking his disqualification from contesting the concluded Bayelsa West senatorial election.

Dickson is appealing the Court of Appeal ruling which set aside a ruling by the Yenagoa Federal High Court that dismissed a suit seeking to disqualify him from running for the senatorial election.

Justice Mary Odili, who led five-member panel of justices, held that the appeals lacked merit and struck out both appeals after Dickson and PDP lawyers agreed to formally withdraw the appeals.

The apex court agreed with the lawyer to the first respondent (Owoupele Eneoriekumoh), Pius Pius that, having earlier filed a notice of withdrawal, he could no longer take further steps except to withdraw the appeal.

“Once a party files a notice of withdrawal, the only further step such an appellant could take is to formally withdraw the appeal, not to abandon the withdrawal notice and seek to be heard on the same notice of appeal.

Dickson had earlier applied to withdraw the appeal, but later changed his mind and filed a motion, seeking to have the appeal heard.

Also while striking out the appeal by the PDP, the apex court noted that the appellant filed a notice of appeal without specifying the judgment of the Court of Appeal that was being appealed against.

However, the respondents objected the motion, arguing that, having applied to withdraw for whatever reason, he could no longer change his mind.

The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, had on Jan. 7, 2021 ruled that the disqualification suit against Dickson was not statute barred and should be given accelerated hearing by the Federal High Court.

The three-member panel disagreed with the Federal High Court’s decision to dismiss the matter, saying the judgment of the lower court was wrong.

The panel presided over by Justice U. Onyemenam, explained the appeal was based on whether by the provisions of Section of the Electoral Act and Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the originating process of the applicant was statute barred.

He, however, said the suit was filed within 14 days beginning from the publication of the particulars of the candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’’.

Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court Yenagoa had thrown out the suit filed by Owoupele for lack of jurisdiction declaring that the suit was stature barred for being filed after the constitutionally stipulated time to do so.

Owoupele’s lawyers lead by Pius Danba and Ebikebuna Augustine Aluzu had proceeded to the Court of Appeal seeking the court to upturn the verdict of the lower Court.

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HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE POLITICS

Seriake Dickson, others take oath of allegiance as members of 9th Senate

The Senate has administrated oath of allegiance on four new senators as members of 9th Senate, following their victory at the Dec.5 by- election conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

The new senators included Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), Cleopas Moses (PDP-Bayelsa), Tokunbo Abiru (APC-Lagos)and Nora Daduut (APC-Plateau).

The oath of allegiance was administered by Clerk of Senate, Mr Dauda Ibrahim El- Ladan, shortly after the commencement of Tuesday’s plenary.

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan in his remarks said that the 9th Senate since inauguration, has worked for Nigerians, and would continue to work for Nigerians.

He said the activities of Senate have been conducted in a by partisan manner, noting that the Senate has done fairly well.

Senate receives bill to ensure effective management of recovered funds
Lawan

Lawan said the Senate would not do anything to jeopardise the progress of government, noting that the interest of Nigerians remained the priority of the National Assembly.

He urged Nigerians to engage in constructive criticism of the National Assembly, while also recognising its central role in democracy.

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NEWS & LIFE

Gunmen invade Dickson’s home, kill policeman

Gunmen, early Thursday, invaded the home of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, and killed a policeman on duty there.

Fidelis Soriwei, spokesperson for the former governor, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that it happened in the Toru-orua community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the bandits invaded Dickson’s compound through the Forcados River in the early hours of Thursday, November 19.

inim Butswat, spokesperson for the police in the state said a statement about the incident would be put out later.

I-G tasks officers on regular medical care
IGP Mohammed Adamu