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Tag: Federal government

  • Senior govt official charged with forging documents to obtain passport

    The federal government has charged a Director of Protocol in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maikudi Haruna, with forgery and international passport racketeering.

    Haruna appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a three-count charge brought against him by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

    He was charged with “conspiracy,” “making false statement for the purpose of procuring Nigeria passport,” and engaging in “forgery.”

    The prosecution, led by the Head of Prosecution, NIS, Collins Obilor, alleged that Haruna forged the official identity card of his ministry and signature of the Minister on a letter he issued to a friend, Abubakar Mustapha Bida, for whom he procured an official passport, after  collecting N250,000 from him.

    The accused pleaded not guilty, following which the court granted him bail at N250,000.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo commended the NIS and the Comptroller General for their diligence in the prosecution of cases.

    Read Also: Workers forging my signature, VC cries out

    He adjourned till September 27, 2019 for trial.

    The charge reads:

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja did commit an offence to wit: forgery, by fraudulently making official identity Card of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida and signing a letter of introduction for him, on the letter headed paper of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing purporting same to have been written and signed by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, for the purpose of procuring Official Nigerian Passport for Abubakar Mustapha Bida supposing him to be a Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2018, at the Federal M1mst1y of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja did conspire with one Mr. Henry Canton, (now at large) to procure official Nigerian passport for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida, who you know is not a senior government official and who is not entitled to hold the Federal Government of Nigeria official passport after he paid you the sum of N250,000 only.

    “That you Maikudi Haruna, (M), of The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May,2018, at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Maitama, Abuja, did commit an offence to wit: Knowingly making false statement for the purpose of procuring official Nigerian passport for for one Mr Abubakar Mustapha Bida by introducing him to be a Special Assistant to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing and submitting forged documents in that regard to: the Nigeria Immigration Service, knowing that he is not an eligible government official.”

  • FG phases out yellow card, replaces it with e-yellow card 

    The Federal Government has introduced the e-yellow card certification for travelers to address the issue of fake yellow cards.

    The electronic card, which will take effect from July 1, replaces the old card.

    Announcing the development yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi, stated that the new card has enhanced security features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the yellow card portal.

    The introduction of the new e- yellow card, otherwise known as International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), is to address the issue of fake yellow cards which has hitherto constituted a source of national embarrassment.

    Mr. Abdullahi stressed that with effect from July 1, the new e-yellow card would be the only valid documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

    Read Also: Passport issuance: Immigration officers are still collecting bribe – Babandede

    On the importance of the yellow fever vaccine for which the yellow card is documented for, the permanent secretary said that yellow fever, a viral haemorrhagic fever, caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is a potentially fatal illness but vaccine preventable.

    Mr. Abdullahi noted that some countries, including Nigeria, were endemic for yellow fever, as such travelers to affected (endemic) countries were at risk of exposure to infection by the yellow fever virus, hence the mandatory vaccination against the disease.

    To this end, the permanent secretary said that according to the World Health Organisation’s, recommendation, all international travellers, nine months of age and above, who were visiting Nigeria must be vaccinated against yellow fever.

    Also, additional measures have been adopted at points of entry for the prevention and control of yellow fever which involves mandatory requirement of evidence of vaccination against yellow fever on arrival in Nigeria, Mr. Abdullahi added.

    He further noted that some countries also require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever as a condition for entry.

    He stressed that from July 1, travelers arriving Nigeria without proof of yellow fever vaccination would be vaccinated at points of entry and issued the cards after payment.

  • Lagos-Ibadan rail project cost below $2b, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said the Lagos-Ibadan rail project cost less than $2 billion, contrary to other claims.

    Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation Sabiu Zakari said the total contract sum of the project is $1, 581,847,371.00 as against the $2billion alleged.

    He added that the cost index/km is $4.09 million as against the $13.6million also alleged.

    The ministry, in a statement by the Assistant Director of Press, Anastasia Ogbonna, said the project is being executed in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

    Zakari explained that the clarification became imperative, following insinuations that the project was inflated over and above the one in Ghana.

    Read Also: Photos: Ongoing repairs of Lagos rail tracks

    The permanent secretary also added that the Ghanaian project is at the conceptual stage, insisting that there are neither construction designs nor cost estimates.

    He explained that the Lagos-Ibadan railway is actually 386 kilometres since it is a double track rail line as against the 156 kilometres alleged, which is just the distance from Ebute Meta (Lagos) and Ibadan terminal stations only.

    According to him: “Railway project does not depend solely on the distance between terminal points but rely on various factors which include but not limited to terrain, core operation accessories, land acquisition and compensation, earthworks, bridges, culverts and stations.”

    The permanent secretary stated that due diligence was followed in the award of the contract as the project was approved by Federal Executive Council after a Certificate of No Objection by the Bureau of Public Procurement was issued.

  • FG to inaugurate SEC board Monday

    The Federal Government will, on Monday, inaugurate the board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to be chaired by Mr. Olufemi Lijadu.

    The board’s constitution is coming four years after President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the former SEC board headed by Mr. Peter Obi.

    The inauguration, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) will take place at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters, Abuja.

    Other  members of the  board  include Mr. Lamido Yuguda from Gombe State (Non-executive Commissioner); Mrs. Rekiya Ladi (Kaduna), Non-executive Commissioner; and Mr. Okokon Ekanem, representing the Ministry of Finance.

    Read Also: 25 things Buhari promised to do in second term

    The rest are: Dr Alvan Ikoku, representing the Central Bank of Nigeria; Ms Mary Uduk, SEC’s Acting Director-General; and Mr. Henry Rowlands, SEC’s Acting Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services; Mr Isyaku Tilde, Acting Executive Commissioner (Operations); and Mr. Reginald Karawusa, SEC’s Acting Executive Commissioner (Legal and Enforcement).

    The board will have a four-year tenure, according to the source.

    Buhari dissolved the previous board on July 16, 2015, and set up an eight-man panel headed by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, two months later, to reconstitute it.

    Market operators had been calling for the  reconstitution of the board to strengthen SEC’s operations.

  • Ebola: FG orders surveillance across states

    The Federal Government on Friday called for increased surveillance at all entry points into Nigeria following the lingering Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Government directed all Port Health Service officials and other relevant agencies at such points of entry to heighten surveillance and ensure that all passengers coming into the country are screened.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullahi Mashi, on an inspection visit to Port Health facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, said that any suspected case must be presented for relevant tests in line with the global practice on disease emergency control and prevention.

    Mashi, who was accompanied by other top officials of the ministry and those of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said he wanted to ascertain the level of preparedness of Nigeria for the worst.

    He said: “More doctors, nurses and other health officials would be deployed in the Port Health Services at the airport. Consumables required for day-to-day activities at the airport would also be adequately provided.”

    Read Also: No Ebola case in Nigeria, says FG

    Mashi met with the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos  State Ministry of Health, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, and hailed the state for its preparedness and surveillance system against Ebola.

    He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Lagos State Ministry of Health had been working together to forestall the importation of any disease into the country and called for continuous collaboration.

    He said: “Lagos State is the entry point of most of the visitors to Nigeria. Therefore, there is need to heighten the surveillance system”.

    Responding, Dr. Goncalves dismissed social media reports about an Ebola virus carrier in Nigeria.

    She said the person in question was tested and the result was negative.

    “I want to authoritatively tell you that the patient was tested and the result was negative. She is well and has been discharged. Everybody should put his mind to rest; there is no Ebola in Lagos”, she said.

  • Federal Government eyes 45million tax net

    Nigeria’s taxpayer roll will soon hit 45 million, the Executive Secretary, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Sir Oseni Elamah, has said.

    He stated this yesterdaty while presenting a report on the new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Registration System to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS),  Tunde Fowler.

    According to statement, “the leap in taxpayer roll is the result of collaborative efforts between the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Services (SIRSs), part of which is the ongoing integration of databases that will fetch the nation  a total of 45 million  individual and corporate taxpayers.”

    Elamah said the JTB, chaired by Fowler, has completed the building of a new TIN Registration System, which is an integration of TIN numbers of various organisations, adding that the growth of the taxpayers’ database is a major flank of the goals of the JTB in collaboration with the FIRS.

    Read also: Alleged tax invasion: Rivers govt seals NDDC’s premises

    Also speaking, Fowler said the launch of the new TIN registration system will make tax payment easier for taxpayers.

    “When the integration of the new TIN Registration System is launched, it will afford prospective taxpayers the opportunity to register for tax from the comfort of their homes and print their registration certificate,” Fowler said.

    He expressed delight over the completion of the new TIN Registration System, which he said will encourage transparency, efficiency and convenience in tax administration in Nigeria.

    “We now have a consolidated database for all taxpayers in Nigeria. If you (a taxpayer) goes to any other country or visit another state in Nigeria and they want to check your tax status, what this means is that they can check your tax status by a touch of a button. We want to assure all taxpayers that we are ready to serve them more with technology, convenience and accountability,” Fowler stated.

    On the benefits of the new TIN Registration System, Elamah said:

    “State Revenue Authorities are expected to enjoy immense benefits from the new TIN System. Among these are taxpayer information accessibility and accuracy. The registration and recording of taxpayer information is one of the fundamental functions of tax administration and to a great extent, this will drive how other core administrative functions operate. The timely and accurate collection and recording of basic identifying information of the taxpayer will permit the tax administrator to understand its taxpayer base, staff itself accordingly and to effectively plan other core administration functions. The existence of an accurate taxpayer database will inevitably lead to effective compliance programmes observation,” he said.

  • Federal Government urges court to order Innoson chairman’s arrest

    The Federal Government yesterday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant against Innoson Nigeria Limited’s Chairman Innocent Chukwuma and two of his employees.

    They were charged with alleged fraud before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

    The police charged them with an alleged N2.4 billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the matter.

    Others named in the charge are: Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

    The prosecution is praying the court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his workers for failing to take their pleas in a criminal charge.

    Chukwuma and his employees were not in court yesterday.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Julius Ajakaiye, moved an application for the court to order the arrest of the defendants.

    The lawyer said the charge was served on them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service, following the AGF’s take-over of the matter.

    Read also: GTBank, Innoson rift over alleged court judgement deepens

    He said since then, the third and fourth defendants had been coming to court, while the first, second and fifth defendants “have refused, failed and neglected to appear in court till date”.

    Ajakaiye said the defendants were yet to take their pleas and should be compelled to appear.

    The lawyer added that an April 12, 2016 amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants.

    He urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.

    But defence counsel – Chief George Uwechue (SAN) and Prof. C. Mbadugha – prayed the court to dismiss the application.

    They argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly before the court”.

    The lawyers said the application contradicted Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was no proper service on their clients.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to unlawfully falsify shipping clearance documents.

    They were also accused of “uttering” (presenting) the allegedly falsified shipping documents as collateral to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to allegedly obtain a loan of N2.4 billion.

    The Federal Government claimed that the defendants committed the offence at Apapa Wharf, Lagos, on October 10, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to sections 1(2) (c) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Justice Faji adjourned till July 3 for ruling.

  • FG to Court: order arrest of Innoson boss, two staff

    The Federal Government Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant for Innoson Nigeria Limited’s chairman Mr. Innocent Chukwuma and two of his employees.

    They were charged in a fraud case before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

    The Police charged them with an alleged N2.4billion shipping fraud, but the Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the case.

    Others named in the charge are Charles Chukwuma, Maximian Chukwura, Mitsui Osk Lines and Anajekwu Sunny.

    The prosecution is praying the court to order the arrest of Innoson Motors Chairman and his staff for failing to turn up to take their plea in the criminal charge.

    Yesterday, Chukwuma and his staff were absent.

    Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Julius Ajakaiye moved an application urging the court to order the absent defendants’ arrest.

    He said the charge was served on them through a court-ordered February 8, 2016 substituted service following the AGF’s take-over of the case.

    Read Also: Court rejects certificate forgery suit against Bindow

    Ajakaiye said since then, the third and fourth defendants had been coming to court, while the first, second and fifth defendants “have refused, failed and neglected to appear in court till date”.

    Consequently, he said the defendants were yet to take their plea and should therefore be compelled to appear.

    He added that an April 12, 2016 amended charge could not be served on the absent defendants.

    Ajakaiye urged the court to grant his application by ordering their arrest.

    But defence counsel Chief George Uwechue (SAN) Prof. C. Mbadugha prayed the court to dismiss the application.

    They argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to issue the warrant against the defendants “because they were not properly before the court”.

    They said the application offends Order 6 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, adding that there was no proper service on their clients.

    The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to unlawfully falsify shipping clearance documents.

    They were accused of “uttering” (presenting) the allegedly falsified shipping documents as collateral to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to allegedly obtain a loan of N2.4billion.

    The Federal Government claimed that the defendants committed the offence at Apapa wharf on October 10, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to sections 1(2) (c) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Justice Faji adjourned until July 3 for ruling.

  • FG buys N5billion aircraft fire fighting simulator

    The Federal Government has disclosed the readiness of the country to take the delivery an automatic aircraft firefighter simulator equipment worth N5billion.

    The decision to deliver came after the builders, Messrs Alpine Metal Tech. Company carried out the factory acceptance and pre-shipment inspection test of the simulator in the presence of top Nigerian functionaries including the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

    According to a statement by the Ministry, the pre-shipment test, which took place in the United Kingdom showcased the full complements of about 28 possible fire and non-fire scenarios carried out including; cabin fire simulation, cabin smoke, lavatory smoke and the likes.

    Other simulation tests include DHC 8 starboard engine, DHC 8 starboard undercarriage, starboard side, CRJ-900 starboard engine, APU, portside, A320 Undercarriage, A320 Port engine, Port Wing, fuel spill burn pit, internal fires among the vast arrays of simulations it can imitate.

    The simulator which is the first of its kind in Africa is a modern- multi-scenario firefighting simulator capable of delivering training for different types of operational incidents involving aircraft in the aerodrome and its vicinity.

    The federal government explained that the purchase was in fulfilment of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) requirement for training of firefighters in the airports and will, overall, enhance competence in achieving the primary objective of saving lives in the event of a fire incident.

    Read Also: Flight operations resume at Imo Airport after fire outbreak

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who spoke after inspecting the equipment said the simulator which cost the nation about N5 billion is safety equipment that is key for airport operations.

    He said: “Well the focus of the Buhari-led administration in civil aviation is safety and security, this is a component of it. We take matters of safety very seriously and President Muhammadu Buhari once he came into office asked us, Ministers, to do those things that would put the nation forward. In aviation, our policy is safety first and security and this is a demonstration of it.

    “Before now, we train our firefighters in Cameroon and I found myself approving several hundred thousands in dollars for training in Cameroon and I said this is not the best. I applied and got approval to procure this firefighting simulator equipment and he graciously approved, costing the nation about N5 billion and we started it and now it is completed and it’s ready for testing, it has been tested in front of us and you have seen it, it’s in perfect working order and condition and we will install it at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (NCAT).

    “Now the impact on our nation is that it would improve our safety fire cover, fire fighting as an important aspect of airport operations without which we cannot open our airports. The only other simulator I know in Africa is in Cameroon and it is not as up to date, not as automatic or sophisticated, not as hi-tech, not as multi-functional. This one can simulate cabin fire, smoke, cockpit fire, cargo fire, undercarriage fire so this multi-functional ”

    Sirika said once the equipment is installed, the country will be a hub for comprehensive

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  • Akeredolu pledges to rehabilitate PHC facilities, inaugurates medical equipment

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has reiterated the determination of his administration to rehabilitate Primary Healthcare Facilities for proper classification according to the Minimum Service Package (MSP), guidelines of the Federal Government.

    Akeredolu made the pledge in Akure on Friday while inaugurating the second phase of Minimum Medical Gadgets for Primary Healthcare (PHC), System.

    He explained that the state government was not resting on its oars in fulfillment of the MSP pillar of Primary Healthcare Under One Roof (PHCUOR), policy of the Federal Government.

    “The policy is aimed at ensuring that certain basic medical equipment are available in each of the categories of PHC facilities.

    “For the sake of emphasis, the equipment to be inaugurated are necessary to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capacity of our PHC to respond to health needs of our citizens within the state,” he said.

    The governor said the PHC system, which was hitherto viewed as unfit for patronage by many for lack of modern tools and equipment, was revitalised due to the governor’s efforts in improving the sector.

    Read also: ‘Birth registration a tool for national devt, says Akeredolu’s wife

    According to Akeredolu, our government truly understand the potentiality of a healthy and virile PHC system to the morbidity and mortality indices of mothers and children in the country.

    Also, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, the state Commissioner for Health, described the inauguration as part of the government’s doggedness in reducing the incidence of child and maternal mortality in the state.

    According to him, the ‘Agbomola’ concept, the state tactical approach toward curtailing peril-natal, childhood morbidity and mortality, encompasses the deliberate strengthening of our primary health facilities and our health workers to deliver minimum quality services.

    “As part of the drive toward realising the objectives of ‘Agbomola’, we are here today to commission some vital medical equipment for use by primary healthcare workers”, he said.

    He noted that the gadgets were procured with taxpayers’ money worth millions of naira and would be handed over to the 18 medical officers of health/primary healthcare coordinators.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment include: 300 units of each of children ambu-bags, baby weighing scales, blood pressure apparatus, stethoscopes, as well as penguin suction devices.

    Others are: 60 adult ambu-bags, 301 angle poise examination lights, and 18 anti-shock garments. (NAN)