The appointment was made public on Tuesday by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, while reading a letter by President Muhammadu Buhari for its approval.

“In compliance with section 2 (1) of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, I write to forward for confirmation of the Senate, the confirmation of Hon. Abike Dabiri as the Executive Chairman/CEO of Nigeria Diaspora Commission.

“Her curriculum vitae is attached herewith while I hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the distinguished senate,” the president’s letter reads.

A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Publicity, Dabiri-Erewa obtained her first degree in English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

She got her Post-Graduate Diploma, PGD, in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.

She had her Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the same university before she later studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

In the same vein, Buhari sought the approval of the Senate for Chidi Uzowa as director-general of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC.

The request reads:  “In accordance with section 21 (a) of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) act 2010, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate nomination of Engineer Chidi Uzowa as director-general of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

“It is my hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the distinguished Senate. Please accept, Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

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The fund is to the tune of N378 billion

The Senate gave its Committee on Gas, headed by Senator Albert Akpan, the approval to probe the case.

Akpan had sought the permission of the Senate to commence work on the probe and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, gave an express approval.

The commencement of the probe was in fulfillment of Saraki’s promise on Monday.

According to a statement issued by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said it had become evident that a lot of illegal and unapproved spendings were going on in the petroleum corporation.

Said he:  “Let me assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We are confident that the ad-hoc committee will do a thorough job. All the issues will be unearthed. That is why when the Senate set up investigative committees on issues, we want Nigerians to have confidence in us that we do not act because we want to embark on a wild goose chase. There must be some serious issues to be looked into. The revelations by the NNPC’s GMD have justified the need for this investigation and they have shown that we are acting in good faith.

“When in my ruling on the motion raised by Senator Olujimi, I insisted that we want a transparent, honest and non-partisan investigation on the fuel subsidy issue, it was clear to me and my colleagues that there are certain irregularities being perpetrated and we should let Nigerians know the truth. That is why we set up the committee in the first place and to demonstrate the seriousness we attach to the issue, we decided that the ad-hoc committee should be led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“We are however shocked that the NNPC’s GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG which should be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of funding the fuel subsidy was done ‘in compliance with the National Assembly directive that NNPC as the supplier of last resort should, and has, maintained robust petrol supply’.

“So, if the National Assembly called on NNPC to carry out its legitimate duty of ensuring adequate fuel supply to Nigerians, the GMD logically thinks the corporation by that call has the license to perpetrate illegality, spend money without approval and violate appropriation laws. It is my belief that if the National Assembly said the corporation should perform its duty effectively as a supplier of fuel to Nigerians without exposing people to needless suffering, that ought to be done within the ambit of the law.

“This investigation will require the GMD to produce the approval given by the National Assembly and other necessary approving bodies authorising the NNPC to divert the dividend from the NLNG investment, which ought to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund belonging to the three tiers of government, for the payment of fuel subsidy.”

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The number of casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of this report.

Several other persons, including four officers were injured too.

The suspect is said to be one Robert Bowers who is 46 years old.

He has since been arrested by the police and being treated in the hospital.

The synagogue serves the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Director, Wendell Hissrich, described the scene of the shooting as horrific.

The gunman was said to be shouting anti-Semitic abuse as he entered the building, armed with an assault rifle and two pistols.

Reports said he barricaded himself in a room at the synagogue.

US President Donald Trump describe the shooting as very terrible, adding:  “To see this happen again and again, for so many years, it’s just a shame.”

He said the US should “stiffen up our laws of the death penalty.”

“These people should pay the ultimate price. This has to stop,” he said.

He added that incident had little to do with US gun laws.

“If they had protection inside, maybe it could have been a different situation,” he said.

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The leading opposition party said by so doing, he would be complying with the requirement of the nation’s law as one seeking to contest election for the presidential seat.

According to the PDP, Nigerians were sick of the continuous use of affidavit in place of the certificates, hence he should write the military authorities to release the certificates to INEC.

It said in case the president did not have any, he should apologise and allow the nation to move ahead.

The PDP threw the challenge on Friday in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.

The party said the fact that the use of the affidavit was allowed for the 2015 election did not make it right.

The party said the inability of the president to make his credential available cast a doubt on his integrity.

It therefore urged Buhari to, like other presidential candidates, submit his certificates.

Said Ologbondiyan in the statement: “President Buhari and the previous INEC succeeded in circumventing the law in 2015 does not make such acceptable in our current electoral process.

“Moreover, President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) must realise that even their followers, that were beguiled in 2015, are currently not prepared to accept ‘NEPA bill’ as WAEC certificate in the 2019 elections.”

The party said instead of presenting affidavit, the president should write to the military authorities to release his certificates to INEC.

The presentation of the document, the party said was a necessary requirement for election into the Office of the President, under section 131 (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

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