The National Council of State, Nigeria’s highest advisory council,is expected to meet later today to deliberate and possibly ratify vital recommendations expected to be tabled before it by President Bola Tinubu.
Daily Query gathered that top on the meeting’s agenda are issues of national significance like the appointment of a new Chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and pardon for some high-profile convicts and other state offenders including former Delta State Governor Chief James Ibori and Alhaji Farouk Lawan, a former Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Utilisation, who 13 years ago was indicted in a sting operation for allegedly accepting bribe to remove Femi Otedola’s Zenon Oil and Gas from the list of companies that were involved in fuel subsidy fraud.
He was released from Kuje Correctionsl Centre in 2024 after serving out his jail term.
A member of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Shanono/Bagwai constituency of Kano State, Mr. Lawan, a former lecturer was one of the few members of the House who had returned a record four times successively.
The position of the INEC Chairman became vacant with the exit of the last office holder, Prof Yakubu, last Tuesday after the completion of his successive second term of office.
Appointed in November 2015 by the immediate past President late Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Yakubu is the first head of the national electoral body to complete a two term tour of duty totalling ten years (2015–2025).
Ibori was the Governor of oil rich Delta State. During his governorship between 1999 and 2007, he was one of the nation’s most influential political leaders. He ran into troubled waters shortly after his tour of duty and fled to Dubia from where he was extradited to the United Kingdom to face trial. He pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him and was subsequently jailed.
Similarly, Farouk was one of the most consequential members of the House of Representatives of his time. His encounter with Otedola led to a sting operation that resulted in a jail term and political nadir.
It is expected that with presidential pardon in their kitty, both Ibori and Farouk will soon bounce back to political nadir.
