Adolphus Wabara

Adolphus Ndaneweh Wabara (born June 1, 1948) is a former Nigerian senator who represented the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State. He became a senator in 1999, and was president of the Senate of Nigeria from 2003 to 2005, he continued his tenure as a senator until 2007 when he stepped down.[1]

Adolphus Nduneweh Wabara
President of the Senate of Nigeria
In office
2003–2005
Preceded byAnyim Pius Anyim
Succeeded byKen Nnamani
National Senator
In office
May 1999 – May 2007
Succeeded byEnyinnaya Abaribe Harcourt
ConstituencyAbia South
Personal details
Born (1948-06-01) June 1, 1948
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)
OccupationBusiness man
ProfessionPolitician

Background

Adolphus Wabara was born in 1948, and obtained a master's degree from Kiev State University.[1] He is happily married with 2 children. He Grew up in a family of six, five brothers and one sister, one of the brothers was former Managing Director of Hallmark Bank Marc Wabara.

Senate career

Adolphus Wabara was elected to the Senate in 1999, and reelected in 2003. He was president of the Senate of Nigeria from 2003 to 2005.[1] In the April 2003 election Wabara was first declared the loser to D.C. Imo, candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), but won a court appeal in June 2003 and was declared elected.[2] The decision was controversial.[3] [4]

At a Commonwealth meeting in December 2003, Adolphus Wabara said that "Responsive and responsible governance should be the keyword ... as it is the only instrument for promoting democratic values, wealth creation and people’s empowerment."[5]

In May 2004 senators moved to investigate Wabara over alleged financial misdeeds. President Olusegun Obasanjo supported the decision.[6] The senators accused Wabara of exceeding his authority by handing out various contracts without the knowledge or approval of the responsible Senate committee.[7] An additional allegation was made by Senator Bode Olowoporoku, who denied receiving a N 3 million advance that the Senate President said had been paid to him for a tour of Europe and Latin America.[8] Wabara said he was ready for the probe, and said the allegations were false, raised by Igbo senators who wanted his position.[9]

In February 2005 at a reception hosted by the Chinese embassy, Wabara confirmed Nigerian support for the One China policy, and said the Senate would do all it could to foster the relationship with China.[10]

In April 2005 Wabara resigned from his position after allegations were made that he and others took a $400,000 bribe from the education minister, Fabian Osuji.[11] He was succeeded by Senator Ken Nnamani.[12] Fabian Osuji had been fired the month before for allegedly bribing Wabara and six other members of parliament to facilitate passage of his annual budget.[13] After extended legal battles, on 1 June 2010 Wabara's charges were dropped. The court held that the charges were bogus and failed to disclose prima facie cases against the accused persons. The court held that the action of the federal government on the allegation was most embarrassing, barbaric and uncivilised because the accused persons had not made statements to any security agents before the broadcast trial and finally pronounced guilty. Justice Odili, the judge in charge of the case, said that "the accused persons had no case to answer in law and consequently have to set them free."[14]

References
  1. "Adolphus Wabara". AfDevInfo. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  2. "Shady Deals". Newswatch Communications Limited. June 8, 2003. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  3. B. U. Nwosu (December 2006). "Civil Society and Electoral Mandate Protection in Southeastern Nigeria". International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  4. "Imo Throws in Abia Towel / Abuja Swears in Anambra Senators". www.nigerdeltacongress.com. June 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-09-10. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  5. "EnGENDERing Development and Democracy" (PDF). Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. 3–5 December 2003. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  6. "Wabara: Why Obasanjo Backs Senators Over Probe". This Day. May 2, 2004. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  7. Henry Omunu & Isa Sanusi (2004-04-26). "Nigeria: Senators move against Wabara in impeachment motion". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  8. Emmanuel Aziken (April 29, 2004). "Wabara: Senators locked out, Olowoporoku raises alarm over N3m claim". Vanguard. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  9. Desmond Utomwen & Tony Orilade (April 30, 2004). "I'm Ready for Probe-Wabara". P.M. News. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  10. "Chinese Embassy Hosted Senate Seminar on Sino-Nigerian Relations". Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 2005-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  11. "Adolphus Wabara and Alice Mobolaji Osomo unseated after corruption allegations". New African. 1 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  12. "Wabara, Too Late to Talk Now!". NigeriaWorld. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  13. "Senate prez Wabara's ignominous [sic] fall; Obasanjo fires education minister for bribing senate leaders". USAAfrica. 23 March 2005. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  14. "N50m Bribe: Appeal Court Reprimands Obasanjo". This Day. June 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
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