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Tag: Hope Uzodinma

  • Senate gets committee on Electoral Act

    Senate gets committee on Electoral Act

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday announced a six-man committee to reconcile the Senate’s version of the amended Electoral Act with the version passed by the House of Representatives.

    The Senate’s conference committee has the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Suleiman Nazif, as chairman.

    Other members of the committee are – Senators Shehu Sani, Biodun Olujimi, Hope Uzodinma, Dino Melaye and Peter Nwaoboshi.

    The committee is expected to meet with the House of Representatives to harmonise the version of the amended electoral bill before being sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

    The Senate had in 2017 passed an amended version of the 2010 Electoral Act.

    While the House of Representatives had on Tuesday amended the Electoral Act to change the 2019 general elections time table.

    This came barely a month after the INEC released the time table for the general elections.

    With the amendment, the National Assembly election will take place first, followed by gubernatorial and state assembly polls.

    The presidential election will be conducted last.

    The amendment was made at the Committee of the whole House, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun.

     

     

  • Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    Senate to publish names of companies in alleged N30trn scam

    The Senate says it is set to publish names of companies found culpable in investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

    He said the committee had completed its first batch of investigation involving over 60 companies and would publish names of companies involved in various infractions leading to loss of government revenue.

    He said the committee was releasing the names because it had established culpability against the companies.

    Uzodinma added that the names to be published would contain details of how much of recoverable government revenue was with each of the companies.

    The lawmaker stressed that companies found to be involved in infractions bothering on money laundering and foreign exchange abuses would be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) for prosecution and recovery of the monies.

    He added that those bothering on smuggling and import infractions would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for recovery of such revenues and possibly blacklisting.

    “We got up to the point that even the companies themselves have seen that they are culpable and that is why we want to publish the names and hand them over to EFCC and Customs.

    “The reason for the delay in publishing the names all the while is to establish culpability against the companies.

    “Now through various reconciliations, it has been established and we are no longer in doubt, including the companies that are involved, that these things are in existence and that they are culpable.

    “We have presented the interim report which detailed how much we have recovered so far and the Senate approved it in plenary, while an extension was given to us to do the final reconciliation.

    “We do not want emphasis to continue to be on how much we have recovered even though it is contained in the report. We want those companies found culpable to go to government and make payments,’’ he said.

    The chairman further said that “some of the companies have started paying while others have not. None of them have fully paid what we have established against them.

    “Since they have started paying, we will now transfer the matter to the Customs, who will now do a recovery schedule with the companies that are willing to pay what is due to government.

    “By the time the names are published, Nigerians and the Federal Government will know which company is owing what and the relevant agencies will go after them to recover the money.’’

    The chairman said that the committee would commence the second batch of investigation after some oversight visits to establish culpability.

    He assured that the committee would not be deterred in its effort to assist government in recovering monies meant for the development of the economy.

    He stressed that the legislature would continue to use its constitutional powers to assist the executive in blocking leakages and increasing revenue generation, particularly in the non-oil sector.

    Uzodinma said it was appalling that in spite of government’s effort to improve revenue generation to meet the country’s development needs, some people were still involved in jeopardising such effort.

    The joint committee was mandated by the Senate to carry out investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakages in foreign exchange and the entire import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    It was mandated to identify leakages and irregularities in the system and come up with recommendations that would block further leakages and strengthen the revenue drive of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    In an interim report presented to the Senate on Oct. 18, the committee said it had recovered N140 billion.

    The report indicated that some collection banks had made remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria to the tune of N128 billion with evidence of payment received by the committee.

    It further indicated that some of the 60 companies made voluntary payment of over N12 billion to government based on internal self-audit after receiving documented evidence of culpability from the committee.

    The report also indicated that the committee identified 32 leakage channels as the major sources of revenue loss in the import-export value chain, including undervaluation, wrong tariff classification and abuse of waivers and concessions.

    NAN

  • Revenue scam: Senate to send firms to EFCC for prosecution

    Revenue scam: Senate to send firms to EFCC for prosecution

    The Senate said on Wednesday that plans have been concluded to hand over companies found culpable in its investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export value chain to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, stated this during chat with journalists in Abuja.

    He said firms to be handed over to the EFCC were those found to have manipulated the foreign exchange procedure and those involved in money laundering, round tripping and abuse of foreign exchange manual.

    He said the Committee would pass all established evidences against the companies to the EFCC for immediate prosecution.

    Uzodinma also said companies with established cases of infractions within the import and export value chain would be referred to the Nigeria Customs Service for blacklisting.

    He said: “We have also established another department of the investigation, which is abuse of fiscal policies from Federal Ministry of Finance.

    “Most of these companies that have applied and gotten approval as manufacturers of different products, assemblers of various products but import finished goods in the name of CKD (Complete Knock-Down) will be charged for economic crime.

    “We are going to follow up the prosecution with all evidences available to us.

    “As we are about concluding our investigation on the 60 selected companies being currently investigated, it is very clear that so much collectable revenues are still hanging.

    “These are monies that government would have used to ease governance and provide necessary infrastructure and amenities to the citizenry.

    “So, this Committee will not sit back and allow the economy to crumble.  This is just 60 selected companies. We are visiting over 1,000 companies.”

    The senator said of the 60 companies in its first phase of investigation, the Committee had been able to interact with 50 while 10 others were on the run.

    He vowed that the Committee would ensure that those companies were fished out by the relevant security agencies.

    NAN

  • I am committed to a united, virile PDP- Sen. Uzodinma

    I am committed to a united, virile PDP- Sen. Uzodinma

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, on Tuesday assured party supporters of his commitment to a united, virile and unstoppable Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State.

    A statement by Uzodinma in Abuja revealed that he gave the assurance in Owerri, Imo State while addressing party supporters on the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP leadership crisis.

    He said that his immediate concern as the most senior public officer of the party in the state was to restore the unity that existed in the party across the country.

    He said that he would also ensure that the party win elections in the state in 2019.

    The lawmaker further declared his commitment to working relentlessly to actualising the goals of the party for the benefit of all.

    “In my view, this is not the time for jubilation or for making show or claiming victory.

    “This is a time for sober reflection, cooperation and forging unity to avoid the mistakes of 2011 and 2015.

    “I want every leader to come together and work for the party above personal ambitions,’’ he said.

    Uzodinma assured of his readiness to sacrifice his personal ambition for the victory of the party.

    According to him: “the concern of stakeholders should be to first save the party and then later support whomever people want to represent them even if it means funding such a person.’’

  • Probe of revenue leakage not a charade – Senate

    Probe of revenue leakage not a charade – Senate

    The Senate on Wednesday said ongoing probe into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakage in the country’s import and export value chain was not a charade as perceived by some Nigerians.

    The probe covers activities in the value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    The Chairman of Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, which is conducting the investigation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, told journalists in Abuja that some firms that allegedly involved in the process had made “confessions.”

    He assured that no amount of blackmail would deter the committee from carrying out its constitutional role, particularly with regard to issues that had direct impact on Nigerians.

    Uzodinma said: “If there is anybody who is still in doubt whether there are recoverable revenues of government in the hands of these companies, by the admission of some of them, it means that the person should better wake up.

    “We call on all Nigerians to support the Senate. We are all very serious men and women.

    “We are professionals in different fields of endeavour and when we have decided to come here to serve the country, we mean every word of it.

    “What we are doing and showing by this investigation is that the country can be better and that we can move from where we are now to where we expect the country to be.”

    He dismissed insinuations that the committee’s investigation was shrouded in secrecy, saying it was unfounded.

    He, however, said the committee was being careful in disclosing some details as the investigation was still ongoing and that making the details public now may jeopardise the process.

    “We are not shrouding anything in secrecy.

    “The public is interested in this investigation and you know the Stock Exchange is an important platform for trade in Nigeria.

    “We don’t want to create unnecessary panic in the market as some of the companies are public-quoted.

    “There is a signal we will let to the market that will destroy the image and integrity of these companies.

    “We have not arrived at any conclusion because the investigation is still on. On the final day, we will do a full blown news briefing so that Nigeria will know the outcome of our exercise,’’ Uzodinma added.

    NAN

     

  • N30trn revenue probe: Senate gives Glo, others appearance ultimatum

    N30trn revenue probe: Senate gives Glo, others appearance ultimatum

    The Senate on Wednesday gave executives of Glo Mobile and other firms allegedly involved in N30 trillion Federal Government revenue leakage till Thursday to appear before it for defence.

    The other companies given the deadline by the Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, probing the revenue loss are British American Tobacco Company, CCEC Nigeria Ltd and Dana Group.

    Also affected are African Wire and Allied Ltd, Admiral Overseas Nigeria Ltd., Aarti Steel Nigeria Ltd., Gagsel International, Fries Land Capina, Etco Nigeria Ltd and Encounter Ltd.

    They also include Edic Chemicals and Allied Distributors Ltd, Don Climax Group and De United Foods

    Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, gave the ultimatum at an investigative meeting with some of the firms in Abuja.

    He decried the failure of the firms to honour the committee’s invitation to Wednesday’s meeting, saying it was disrespect to the National Assembly and would not be tolerated.

    Uzodinma said that of the 30 firms invited between Tuesday and Wednesday, only 14 appeared before members of the committee.

    According to him, the chief executive officers are expected to cut short whatever engagement they have to honour the invitation in view of the magnitude of the investigation.

    “It is only in Nigeria that the Senate will invite an entity for an interactive session, particularly in a case that borders on investigation, financial mismanagement and infractions, and the company will be complacent.

    “The companies will not be willing to come or sometimes send junior officers.

    “I have directed, and we are working with security agencies, that any company that is invited and has something to explain and refuses to appear, we will issue a warrant for such persons to be arrested.

    “We are giving them the final opportunity to appear and if they fail, we will issue a warrant of arrest.

    “In this investigation, we are working with the Nigeria Police.

    “This is because we are using their facilities to process some of our data so that the information we will present to the public will be information with high integrity that will not be questioned by anybody.

    “We have directed that the firms must come tomorrow, Thursday unfailingly,’’ he said.

    Addressing representatives of firms present at the meeting, Uzodinma said that they would be given documents arising from the investigation carried out by the committee to study and comply.

    He said that the documents specified the various forms of infractions carried out by each of the firms involved in the import and export value chain.

    “We have put everything in different categories and for category one, it is unutilised Form M. You applied for Form M and approval and allocation were given.

    “But, rather than import with the allocation, God knows what happened because you did not do that.

    “Then pre-arrival assessment report that was issued, you abandoned them yet you took your goods. We do not know how you took the goods away and the money is still open in the data base.

    “Then Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) which you people did by yourself then abandoned and yet collected your goods.

    “These are all indicated in the documents we have handed over to you.

    “So, if there are such legitimate approvals, we want to see a copy, otherwise we will assume that they were not cancelled, in which case we will be expecting you to make payment,’’ he told them.

    “On classification, we have cases where a pre-arrival assessment is carried out and a particular item is classified under a particular HS (Tariff Handbook) Code.

    “When you now go to SGD, if it is a classification of 35 per cent, you see that you declared five per cent instead of the 35 per cent that was issued to you.

    “So, we have worked out the difference. Unless there is evidence that what you shipped were no longer what came to Nigeria which we doubt, you will be liable.

    “Then, wrong classification is another category. That one deals directly with those bringing vehicles with reverse gear and you declare them as CKD.

    “For instance, Dag Motorcycle Industries Ltd, when you bring in tricycle which has reverse gear, there are cases where they are classified wrongly.

    “All these must be submitted on Monday so that by Wednesday we will be able to deal with definite figures on what amount of money that we should be expecting to receive as unutilised foreign exchange allocation,’’ he added.

    The lawmaker expressed concern that most approved Form Ms were not given to genuine users, leading to increasing exchange rate.

    He said the committee would ensure that henceforth, foreign exchange was given to genuine importers to strengthen the Naira against foreign currencies as well as improve employment opportunities, among other benefits.

    He stressed that the committee was extending its investigation to the operation of Free Trade Zone Agreement.

    Uzodinma said, “most of you who have been importing in the name of free trade zone, under that policy you know you have to do 30 per cent value addition.

    “But, we have identified all the trade free zones that imported finished goods and those goods did not even get to the free trade zones.

    “The goods ended up in the various warehouses in Apapa, and when they make the money, because there is no documentation, they have surplus Naira.

    “With the surplus Naira, they in turn buy dollar at any rate and in the process kill our local manufacturers, who really want dollar to be able to do their businesses.’’

    The joint committee was mandated by the Senate to carry out holistic investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakages in foreign exchange and the entire import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    The committee has so far met with all indicted commercial banks as well as government agencies and is currently meeting with the companies alleged to be involved in the unwholesome acts.

  • NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    The Senate on Thursday, gave the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman, four days to explain the whereabouts of over 282 vessels allegedly missing from the sea ports.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate’s Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, gave the ultimatum in Abuja, at an investigative hearing on N30 trillion lost through leakages in Customs and other agencies.

    Uzodinma, who expressed displeasure with the managing director for not honouring the committee’s two previous invitations, said the information on the vessels was imperative and must be available within four days.

    He threatened that the senate may be compelled to pursue a financial crime case against Usman should he fail to heed the committee’s directive.

    “We are looking for these vessels. We have the date of arrival, the ports of discharge and manifest.

    “Everything is with us but in information available to us, no money was collected by Customs, the NPA or any other person.

    “So you have four days to do your written explanation otherwise, we will consider it a financial crime,’’ he said.

    According to Uzodinma, there are also recent missing vessels that we have discovered.

    “I mean recent ones that happened under the new management.

    “The NPA is the custodian of the vessels; it received the cargoes and the terminal is theirs.

    “We want to know under whose authority the cargoes were released, “he said.

    The lawmaker said that the committee had also uncovered the activities of a port cabal that had defrauded the nation to the tune of over N30 trillion.

    “It is common knowledge that infractions abound in daily transactions at the nation’s ports, commercial banks, shipping companies, terminal owners and operators.

    “They connive at ease with officials to defraud the nation of trillions of Naira.

    “Preliminary evidence before us suggests that this is the case in all sea ports,’’ he said.

    He expressed concern that the leakages and infractions were costing the country huge revenue losses, while also constituting security threat.

    The lawmaker, however, expressed optimism that the Senate was determined to tackle the assault on the economy.

    He said that in doing so, the committee would be minded by the reality that those who wanted to bleed the nation to death without remorse must be dealt with without reprieve.

    “Consequently, all those indicted in this crime will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The nature and methodologies of these infractions include abuse of Form M and violation of foreign exchange manual issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), incorrect classification, under-valuation and incorrect declaration.

    “Others are incorrect origin, error in calculation, temporary importation, exemptions and waivers, foreign exchange manipulations, unit cost analysis on excise, smuggling and illegal removal of cargo from terminals and lack of exit certificate by vessels.

    “We shall zero our search light into these areas of infraction and we are certain that our suspicions shall be confirmed.

    “Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers Council(NSC), shipping companies , operators of bonded terminals and importers and exporters have questions to answer,’’ he said.
    Uzodinma emphasised that the joint committee would carry out its assignment without fear or favour.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, decried the indicting reports about the ports.

    Saraki said that it was disturbing to hear that trillions of Naira in revenue was lost annually within the import and export value chain as a result of financial leakages caused through various malpractice and infractions within the system.

    He said that the Senate would use its oversight functions to expose corruption and ensure that all loopholes and leakages in the revenue system were blocked.

    “We are determined to reverse these financial leakages to enable us to get the much-needed resources to fund our children’s education, healthcare and fix the potholes on our roads.

    “I urge you not leave any stone unturned to ensure that we incrementally eliminate waste and corruption in the management of our resources,’’ he said.

    The president of the senate expressed confidence in the joint committee to carry out a thorough job that would help to sanitise the system.

  • Senate probes N4trillion revenue leakage in Customs

    Senate probes N4trillion revenue leakage in Customs

    The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, has commenced investigation into over N4trillion revenue leakage in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) between 2006 and 2016.

    Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Abuja. Uzodinma vowed that his committee would stop at nothing in recovering the money.

    Preliminary investigation by the committee, he said, revealed that the N4trillion leakage was as a result of various forms of infractions including abuse and non-implementation of Form M (foreign exchange form).

    He noted that other factors that may have been responsible for the leakage could have been wrong classification of cargo under harmonized system codes, non-screening of cargoes coming into the country and lack of adequate ICT infrastructure for revenue collection.

    Uzodinma said that cancellation of pre-arrival assessment reports, abandonment of single goods declaration may also have been responsible for the leakage.

    He said, “The Senate Committee on Customs has condemned the inability of the technical committee on the implementation of comprehensive import supervision scheme to ensure that the provisions of the Act are followed to the letter.

    “The committee frowns at the quantum of revenue losses and it will stop at nothing in ensuring that those involved in this ugly act would return all recoverable monies with them.

    “The committee also frowns at the level of collusion and corruption within the Customs Service.

    “At the end of our current investigation, all these will become a thing of the past and customs revenue will be enhanced and non-oil revenue will be improved upon.

    “What we are investigating is not money spent. It is the leakages.

    “For instance, I am supposed to pay XYZ amount of duty, I will abandon the documentation, go get fake documents, collude with customs, pay maybe a fraction of it and carry my goods. With that, the true import circle is not closed.

    “Another instance is that assessment is abandoned, or I fill the form M for example with a pro forma invoice, apply for foreign exchange in Central Bank, XYZ amount of money is allocated to me, money moves in but  no goods shipped.

    “I will then go get fake documents, collude with customs and then retire the allocation.”

    The committee chairman noted that this sharp practices, which also include round tripping and false declarations, had over time led to increase in the exchange rate. He said that it was also observed that in most cases, the amount of money spent was not commensurate with the volume of goods imported. According to him, his committee had started investigating activities of companies and banks indicted in the matter.

    He said, “We will not mention the companies involved because we are also very careful of the integrity and public perception of some of these companies, being that some of them are in the Stock Market.

    “We will be diplomatic in carrying out this investigation. This is to the extent that little or no damage will be done to the integrity and image of such companies provided that government revenues in their hands will be recovered.”

    He assured that investigation into the over N4 trillion leakage would be brought to a logical conclusion because it had to do with the economy and revenue loss.

    He further added that, “I am sure that the executive arm of government will be willing and interested to ensure that the monies that are littered here and there are recovered.

    “If they can pay up to five per cent to whistle blowers to recover money, it means in this case where no money is required or whistleblower required, they will be interested to do justice.”

    On the committee’s investigation into non-repatriation of proceeds from oil and non-oil products by Joint Venture companies, he said report on the investigation had been concluded.

    On the retrospective policy on payment of customs duties on old vehicles, Uzodinma noted that NCS overstepped its bounds by making policies rather than implementing them. The power to make policy for the service, he said, was vested in the Ministry of Finance.

    He said, “Having gone through the legislations and books available to my office as it has to do with the administration of the customs service, it only implements policies made by the Ministry of Finance.

    “So, it sounds very strange to hear that Customs gets up and says they are making a policy.

    “That is what I am yet to understand and there is no way to fathom that before the law.

    “The referral is already before us. I was waiting for him to appear before the senate before we commence a full blown investigation into some of those issues that have been referred to us.

    “Concerning the suspended policy on payment of customs duties on old vehicles, the committee will continue to interface with the service to ensure that the policy is cancelled not suspended.

    “The whole idea is about governance and governance is about the people and nobody is licenced or entitled to talk about the people more than the elected representatives.

    “So in my view there is no hullaballoo. We will discuss with them and wise reasoning will prevail,” he said.

     

  • Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    Tight security as Sheriff resumes at PDP secretariat

    There was tight security Tuesday at the national secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff resumed duties.

    Police and the Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps (NCSDC) personnel had already taken position within and outside the secretariat building, while some took positions in adjoining streets.

    An operation truck belonging to the NCSDC was used to block the road leading to the main gate of the secretariat, forcing motorists to divert to only one of the dual carriage way in front of the building.

    One of the police officers told our correspondent that they were mobilised to provide security at the secretariat since Monday and that they were there to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

    Sheriff, who arrived the secretariat about mid-day, was accompanied by his appointed Deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju; Imo Senator, Hope Uzodinma; and a retinue of aides.

    He was on hand to receive a group of party women from Imo State who came to pay a solidarity visit.

    The women, adorned in attire with Uzodinma’s portrait, chanted praises of Sheriff and Uzodinma throughout their meeting with the party chairman.

    Sheriff assured the visiting women of a more organised PDP under his leadership, saying that his mission was to return the party to the grassroots, particularly the women and the youths.

    Workers at the secretariat however stayed away, apparently in solidarity with the rival Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee.

  • Senate to probe Airport renovations

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Tuesday said his committee would carry out audit of the renovated airports.

    Uzodimma wondered why the Ministry Aviation included some projects contained in the first phase of the airport remodeling exercise when the work was about 99 percent completed.

    He stated this when the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, appeared before the Aviation Committee for budget defence.

    Amaechi also said his ministry will conduct audit of the renovated airports.

    Uzodinma said, “I can see some phase one projects. For phase two which is about 75 percent competed. I still see a lot of projects under it in your budget.

    “Since there was no approval for phase three, we asked you not to sign agreement. But I learnt that you had signed some agreements and backdated it.

    “We are going to audit the projects. We are going to support the minister to carry out comprehensive audit. So that we check whether if you have exposed government to the over N300bn debt profile for aviation before us.

    “We have been begging you for the past six years to supply names of consultants supervising your projects but you didn’t supply. Let us have engineering design so that we will be able to compare the cost, but you didn’t give us.”