The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdulfattah Ahmed

  • Police insists Saraki has case to answer

    The Nigeria Police Force have insisted that the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has a case to answer.

    Contrary to a report by an online media that the Senate President was cleared by the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Force said the Senate President was not exonerated adding that the Police  was only asked to do further investigation.

    Saraki was indicted by the statements made by five principal suspects in connection to Offa robbery.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publication on Premium Times Online Media publication credited to one Samuel Ogundipe, that “there was no evidence that linked Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the Armed Robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April, Premium Times can now confirm”.

    “It is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer of the story that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation in the legal advice did not restrain or restrict the Force from investigating further, the indictments against the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed by the principal suspects arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery of 5th April, 2018.

    Read Also: Police denies besieging Saraki’s residence

    “The DPP advice did not exonerate the Senate President, it only called for further investigations into the matter”, the Police stated.

    The statement further reads: “It is in the course of further investigations into the case that a letter of invitation dated 23rd July, 2018 was sent to the Senate President to appear on 24th July, 2018 at 8.00am before the Investigation Team at Intelligence Response Team office, Guzape Junction, Abuja.

    “Consequently, the Force is hereby re-affirming that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki has case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki earlier to the Investigation Team was not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation, and coupled with the fact the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him.

    “It is therefore, imperative for the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki to report to the Police to make further statement after sighting the full text of the statement of the suspects.

    “Furthermore, the Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no  political influence or consideration in the matter.

    The Police urged the media not to allow the pages of their esteemed publications be used to misinform the public adding that they are veritable partners in crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and absolute compliance with the rule of law.

  • Kwara youths protest against plot to implicate Saraki

    Scores of youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda on Wednesday protested against alleged plot to implicate Senate President Bukola Saraki on criminal case.

    The protesting youths took their peaceful rally the Kwara state Government House, Ilorin, the state capital

    Leader of the group, Taofiq Olateju told Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed the plot was to link Saraki with a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu, who was recently paraded by the police in the state over alleged involvement in cult related murders.

    The protestors carried several placards with various inscriptions such as “Fresh plot to frame Saraki uncovered”, “Stop intimidating Saraki”, “We stand with Saraki” among others.

    Addressing Ahmed, Olateju raised the alarm that the suspect was being transported to Abuja while his crime was allegedly committed in Ilorin.

    He added: “Our attention has been drawn to a fresh plot by the federal government to implicate the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki in a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu.

    “It is on record that Lanre Mohammed Soliu was recently paraded alongside five others by the Kwara state police commissioner, Aminu Pai Saleh, as members of Aiye confraternity cult group. Soliu was specifically accused of killing one Yemi Bayero of Ago market, Ilorin. The offences which the suspect allegedly committed were carried out in Ilorin, Kwara state, and expectedly he’s supposed to be tried in a competent court of jurisdiction in the state.

    “We are, however, alarmed by a new twist to the whole issue. As we are speaking with you, Soliu is being transported to Abuja by men of Kwara state police command.

    “This is not our concern, but our concern is about the plot by the powers that be to torture and force the suspect to implicate Dr Bukola Saraki. We have it on good authority that the main purpose of transferring the self- confessed cultist to Abuja is to implicate the Senate President in the whole saga.

    “As concerned youths of Kwara state, we want to appeal to men of conscience across the country to prevail on the federal government to stop intimidating and humiliating our God – sent leader, the President of the Senate. No Senate President in the history of this country has been so humiliated and vilified as Senator Bukola Saraki, for no just cause.

    “Saraki is our leader and a law abiding citizen whose passion is to improve the lots of the common man. He should be left alone to continue the good job he and his colleagues are doing at the National Assembly.

    “We are using this forum to warn those behind this fresh plot to frame and tarnish the image of our leader to retrace their steps. We have no doubt in our mind that this fresh plot like the ones before it shall fail woefully.

    “Dr Bukola Saraki remains committed to the cause of the Nigerian masses, and their prayers and support shall always keep him going and ensure his victory over his adversaries.”

    In his response, Governor Ahmed promised to deliver the message from the youths to the right quarters as he commended their maturity in carrying out the protest.

  • Kwara, UNILORIN resolve differences over mini-campus

    The Kwara State government and the authorities of the University of Ilorin, have resolved the controversy surrounding the temporary relocation of an agency of the state government to the university’s mini-campus.

    At a meeting with the management of the university, a delegation of the government led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, explained that the relocation was a temporary measure expected to last not more than three months.

    Gold, who regretted the inconveniences and controversies generated by the development, assured UNILORIN authorities that the government holds the university and other federal agencies in the state in high esteem and would never strain the relationship.

    Responding on behalf of the university, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, expressed optimism that the status quo subsists pending the 90-day request by the government.

    Ambali thanked the government for the promptness with which it handled the matter and seized the opportunity of the meeting to invite Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, to the university’s upcoming 40th anniversary.

  • CITN seeks autonomy for state revenue services

    CITN seeks autonomy for state revenue services

    The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has called on governors in the country to accelerate the mechanism for granting autonomy to State Internal Revenue Services (SIRS).

    Its President, Mark Dike made this call during a courtesy visit to Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Dike said: “It is becoming imperative for the state governments to focus more on redefining internal revenue drive by improving the efficiency of revenue collection and administration in their policies and programmes in the area of increased revenue generation. This can be best implemented with a State Internal Revenue Service that is autonomous and managed professionally by competent chartered tax practitioners.”

    The CITN chief identified the merits of an autonomous revenue service body to include setting targets and having inspiration to attain them; better taxpayer enlightenment programme, simpler assessment and payment procedures, comprehensive and reliable database. Others are automation of processes, better remuneration, training and motivation of staff, accountability, foolproof tax clearance certification, improved relationship between the government and taxpayers among others.

    He said the institute will be willing to assist in ensuring that these merits are not only attained but also sustained for improved internally generated revenue (IGR) for the states.

    Ahmed commended the institute for its tenacity and spirited efforts in tax advocacy and awareness. He advised the Institute to sustain its advocacy drive towards ensuring that taxation becomes the number one revenue source for all tiers of government for the execution of their primary responsibility of providing social infrastructure for their citizenry.

    “The importance of taxation to any serious economy cannot be over-emphasised as global oil prices are threatened everyday by happenings around the world. Forward-looking governments need to look inwards and take full advantage of taxation as a viable alternative source of revenue,” Ahmed said.

    He said despite government’s plans to diversify its revenue base, the country’s fiscal and budgetary landscape had continued to be dominated by oil income. He, however, explained that the fluctuation in oil revenue had yet provided the country with a unique opportunity to reposition its tax system in order to make up for the shortfall arising from the fluctuating fortunes of oil revenue.