THE Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a total of thirty-three motions during its first 100 days of sitting.

The Speaker of the House, Mr. Somtochukwu Udeze, who spoke at a ceremony to mark the occasion, also said a number of bills would soon be passed by the house.

Udeze listed the bills to include Anambra State Oil Producing Area Development Commission Bill, 2023, Anambra State Peace Building and Conflict Management Agency Bill, 2023, Anambra State Safety Bills, 2023 and Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement, and Administration Bill, 2023.

He stated that the House has also addressed key issues through motions, such as ecological and erosion control, road construction and rehabilitation, agriculture, healthcare, and initiatives to improve the living conditions of the people.

Udeze said: “I am delighted to announce that within our first one hundred days, we have successfully drafted a comprehensive legislative agenda.

“This agenda will guide our actions and policies, serving as our roadmap for the next four years. It outlines our vision and objectives, ensuring that our legislative efforts are directed towards the betterment of Anambra State and its citizens.

” We have worked closely with our Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to ensure good governance in Anambra State.

“My appreciation goes to my esteemed colleagues for their unity, peaceful disposition, and unwavering commitment to their legislative duties.

“I acknowledge and appreciate the cooperation received from the legislative staff and call on them to remain dedicated to their responsibilities.

“My administration has maintained an open-door administrative policy for both lawmakers and legislative staff, promoting productivity and collaboration.”

“To ensure our commitment to transparency and accountability, we have initiated the practice of sharing legislative updates with the public through various media channels.

“This approach ensures that our constituents are well-informed about our legislative activities, promoting transparency and public engagement.

“We have undertaken significant reforms in the handling of private member bills and these reforms are aimed at streamlining the process of introducing and debating private member bills and ensuring that every member of this honourable Assembly has an equitable opportunity to contribute to the legislative agenda.

“This reform emphasizes our commitment to transparency by making the legislative process more accessible and understandable to the public.”

The Speaker expressed appreciation to Governor Soludo for the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction work at the legislative building complex and offices, as well as his unwavering commitment to implementing the House’s resolutions in line with his transformation agenda.

Punch

Security operatives in Ogun State on Wednesday tracked six suspected cultists, allegedly involved in the violence that erupted in Sagamu at the weekend to the official residence of a member of the State House of Assembly.

The member, representing Sagamu State Constituency 1, Hon. Damilare Bello Mohammed, was alleged to have provided shelter to the fleeing cultists.

A team of security operatives, in a sting operation after a tip-off, arrested the suspects in the premises of the lawmaker.

Those arrested, according to sources, include Damilare Bello Mohammed aka DRE, Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya and Tobi Owoade.

They are presently undergoing interrogation at the Department of State Service (DSS).

Sources revealed that many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered from the suspects.

It would be recalled that Hon. Bello was arrested by the DSS for masterminding the violent protest that took place in February this year in Sagamu over the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

During the protest, irate youths vandalised about 10 banks and other public infrastructures.

Vanguard

Tragedy stuck in Okanla community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State on Sunday as some men bearing arms stormed the palace of Olokanla of Okanla, killed an admission seeker, Ibrahim Qudus, before setting the building ablaze.

Uncle to the deceased, Jimoh Qadri, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said the assailants were led by a man identified simply as Naim, who was the only one among the attackers that did not cover his face during the incident.

Qadri, who could not give a reason for the attack, said the perpetrators had initially stormed his personal house, and met his absence before they proceeded to his father’s house, late Oba Jimoh Adigun, the Olokanla of Okanla, that he used as palace before his demise.

He said, “I was not at home, but my wife called me that gunmen numbering about 20 had stormed my house in Okanla area very early on Sunday. She told me they all covered their faces, but one of them bearing Naim did not cover his face and my wife saw him. The attackers were after me and they searched around the house.

“When they could not find me around, they vandalised the building and proceeded to my family house, where my late father, Olokanla of Okanla used as his palace. It was there they saw Qudus, a son to my elder brother, who was living in Ibadan, until he recently returned home to seek university admission, after writing UTME.

“He was killed and they put his corpse in my car parked within the premises and set the vehicle ablaze. They also set the palace ablaze. The reason behind the attack is not known to me. But it may not be unconnected to the tussle over land in our area. The family is pleading with the security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended.”

When contacted, the Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who said the Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe, had visited the scene of the crime, added that more operatives had been deployed to the area.

“Someone was burnt with a car around Okanla, the area is between Ifon and Ilobu. We have deployed our men to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The Commissioner of Police has visited the scene,” Opalola stated.

Punch