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  • Wike: Coalition exonerates Nigerian Army, GOC of any complicity in oil bunkering allegation

    An Investigative report by the Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance has exonerated General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State of the allegations of oil bunkering against him by the Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.
    Governor Wike had accused Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commanding the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, of raising a team of soldiers to steal and sell petroleum products in the region.
    “The GOC has his own team now doing oil bunkering for him because he wants to be chief of army staff,” Wike had claimed.
      However, the Nigerian Army had in a reaction said the claims by Wike were false and a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC 6 Division.
    Relatively, the latest report by the human right group, said there was no iota of truth in the claim by Governor Wike.
    The report released on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Shima Atoka, said the crux of the issues the Governor of Rivers state had with the GOC 6 Division Major General Jamil Sarham started after the GOC turned down the request by the governor for a private meeting.
    The report further revealed that the accusation that the GOC is involved in oil bunkering is far from the truth as there are no such operations spearheaded or supported by the Nigerian Army in the South-South region.
    The report below.
    In the build-up to the 2019 general elections, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) identified some states as the big win states and Rivers state was one of them. This much was revealed in a document where the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike promised to deliver 3 million votes in an attempt to march whatever votes that the All Progressive Congress (APC) would garner in Kano state to avoid a repeat of the 2015 scenario.
    It was also identified that the governor who was seeking re-election felt pressured fearing that the former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi would use federal might to edge him out of office.
    It was revealed that part of the plot was to get the buy-in of the relevant security agencies in the state which included the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army.
    Consequently, machinery was put in place by the Rivers state government with active collaboration with top chieftains of the PDP towards actualizing the plot and as such overtures were made to the relevant security agencies for their buy-in.
    It was revealed that the overtures made to the Nigerian Army were rebuffed by the GOC of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, Major General Jamil Sarham, who directed that such request should be sent to the Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja for approval.
    It was gathered that the Governor of Rivers State was alarmed by the position of the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham that he requested for a private meeting with the GOC.
    It was revealed the crux of the issues the Governor of Rivers state has with the GOC 6 Division Major General Jamil Sarham started after the GOC turned down the request by the governor for a private meeting. The governor felt insulted by the actions of the GOC who he described as “arrogant and a poor man” who would retire from the Nigerian Army in penury.
    It was also revealed that the governor realized that the buy-in of the Nigerian Army was very critical to actualizing his ambition and he subsequently sent emissaries to the Army GOC with offers of millions of dollars if he decides to play ball.
    These overtures were also rebuffed by the GOC who threatened to confront the governor should he continue with his desire to compromise him with monetary inducement. It was gathered that this further infuriated the governor who vowed to make the operations of the Nigerian Army in Rivers and the South-South region difficult.
    The governor was quoted as sending threats to the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham that he would instigate the people of the South-South against the Nigerian Army 6 Division unless he Sarhem agrees to play ball.
    It was gathered that the GOC sent words back to the governor stating that the Nigerian Army was a neutral party in the elections and its role was strictly to ensure that the polls were not disrupted by political thugs as directed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
    It was gathered that the governor indeed carried out his threat by reaching out to governors in the South-South region and paint an awful picture of the GOC to them, also stating that the GOC was working hand in hand with the APC to rig him out of office and to reduce the votes of the PDP presidential candidate in the elections.
    This move it was gathered pitched the Nigerian Army against the locals in most of the states in the South-South region so much so that the hostility made the operations the Nigerian Army difficult.
    It was gathered that the GOC reached out to the Chief of Army Staff on the development and he was instructed to ensure as much as possible the neutrality of the troops during the elections and the also abide by the rules of engagement with little or no use of force.
    The posture of the governor indeed gave rise to the confrontation the Nigerian Army experienced during the elections in Rivers state that led to the death of an army officer and some civilians.
    Outcome of Investigations:
    The result of the investigations conducted by the Coalition of Human Rights and Good Governance indicates that all the allegations levelled against the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham were false and targeted at the image of the GOC for turning down the monetary offers from the Rivers state government.
    The accusation that the GOC is involved in oil bunkering is far from the truth as there are no such operations spearheaded or supported by the Nigerian Army in the South-South region.
    Instead, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers state under Major General Jamil Sarhem has helped to reduce incidents of institutionalized crime such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and oil bunkering in Rivers State.
    The activities of the Nigerian Army in the South-South region has helped the government a great deal in reducing the loss of revenue to the federal government by constantly engaging militants engaged in oil theft and the vandalization of critical government oil assets.
    The officers and soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have remained very professional in the discharge of their duties and have been instrumental to the arrest and forwarding to the Police for the prosecution of militants and oil bunkers in the region.
    Recommendations:
    The Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance as a result of its investigative report on the allegations of oil bunkering by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike on the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, as a result of this make the following recommendations:
    • That the Government of Rivers State should as a matter of urgency discontinue the campaign of character assassination against the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should apologize to the Nigerian Army and her personnel for the wrong accusations of partisanship and involvement in oil bunkering activities within 72hrs.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should stop dragging the Nigerian Army into politics as it’s been very clear from the posture of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai before and after the 2019 General elections that it cannot dabble into politics.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should concentrate on the task of governance and desist from making derogatory statements about the Nigerian Army.

  • Tax expert urges FG to review VAT law

    A tax expert, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged the Federal Government to review its Value Added Tax (VAT) law and better policing of its borders to improve its VAT collections.

    Oyedele, Head of Tax and Corporate Advisory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), West Africa, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

    He said the government could shore up its revenue through a review of VAT waivers and come up with a framework for VAT on imported services and digital transactions.

    “At the moment, we have a lot of issues with Nigerian VAT law because most times policymakers talk about the rate alone without saying anything about the rest of the law.

    `For instance, the country loses lot of revenue from the importation of a lawyer from Ghana who pays nothing for services rendered in Nigeria because he pays no VAT for such services whereas his Nigerian counterpart does.

    “The implication is that it makes the country’s lawyer less competitive because there is no legal provision in the VAT law that imposes five per cent VAT on such imported services.

    “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has seen this loophole and it is trying to block the leakage through the back door by issuing circulars to that effect.

    “The truth is that you cannot use circulars to impose tax, it has to be by law, so the government needs to amend the law to block this leakage and others,” he said.

    Oyedele said that the government should also have a regulatory framework for generating revenue from digital transactions.

    NAN reports that digital economy (transaction) is the worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

    He said that though some of the digital transactions operators such as Uber, Bolt (Taxify), office sharing and even technology platform providers like Facebook, Google, online stores and blogs pay VAT, the taxes were not backed by law.

    According to him, people place adverts on these platforms.

    “The government should explore these opportunities and back it up with law to ensure that not just few people pay taxes but all operators,” he said.

    He said South Africa had just released a regulation on its digital economy, adding that Nigeria should follow suit.

    Besides, Oyedele noted that four per cent cost of VAT collection by FIRS was too high by global benchmark standards, while 15 per cent allocation of VAT to Federal Government was no longer justified.

    “VAT law was introduced in 1993 and took effect in 1994; all over the world, including Nigeria, consumption tax is usually a state and local government tax.

    “But along the line, it was discovered that some states do not have capacity to collect the tax and agreed that the Federal Government should collect the tax on behalf of states.

    “That is why the Federal Government gets 15 per cent as cost of administering it while states get 85 per cent.

    “Technically for VAT, Federal Government gets 15 per cent and FIRS gets 4 per cent bringing total accrued to the Federal Government to 19 per cent.

    “Globally, the standard benchmark for collecting tax is one per cent, even many tax authorities in some countries collect less than one per cent,” he said.

    He added that should Federal Government take lesser percentage it would free funds for states to meet their financial obligations and become more financially stable.

  • Oyo guber: Court orders INEC to allow Adelabu, APC inspect materials

    The Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State on Monday ordered INEC to allow Mr Adebayo Adelabu, governorship candidate of the APC, to inspect election materials used in the March 9 Governorship Election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Makinde winner of the governorship election after polling 515,621 votes to defeat Adelabu who had 357,982.

    Other respondents in the case are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Anthony Akpovi, said he gave the order after considering the application made by Adelabu on its merit and felt it would help the petitioners in maintaining their case against the respondents.

    He ordered INEC to allow the petitioners and their agents to inspect and obtain all polling documents used in the March 9 governorship election in the custody of INEC.

    Akpovi directed INEC to make available all ballot papers, voter registers and copies of all election materials in all polling units.

    Earlier, Mr Olajide Ola, counsel to Adelabu, had prayed the court to grant his motion experte to inspect the governorship election materials in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adelabu and his party, APC, filed a petition at the tribunal against INEC for declaring Seyi Makinde of the PDP winner of the governorship election.

  • Fayose: How I took delivery of N1.2b cash, by bank chief

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday heard how the N1.2billion allegedly given to former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) was moved to the state.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is trying Fayose for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million allegedly stolen from the ONSA.

    Testifying before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, the 11th prosecution witness, Mr. Sunday Alade, said he was the  Akure Branch Manager of a new generation bank in 2014 when the money was moved to his branch.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness said he got a call from his head of operations asking him to prepare to head for Akure Airport to receive cash from a customer.

    “On the 17th of June 2014, I was in my office in Akure. I received a call from my head of operations Abiodun Oshodi that a customer would be coming to make deposit into his account with the bank.

    “He said in order to provide security, we should arrange for a van bullion to go to the airport to pick the cash.

    “After an hour, my head of operations Abiodun Oshodi came and said the customer had arrived. He introduced Abiodun Agbele as the customer.

    “He said we should prepare to go to the airport. I asked for time to arrange for security, but they said that won’t be necessary as they had sufficient security.  They came with MOPOL and some soldiers in a Hilux van,” Alade said.

    The witness said he joined Oshodi and Agbele to the airport, along with the bullion van and the security men.

    Alade said: “At the airport, we waited for a few minutes before the arrival of the aircraft. Three individuals came out of the aircraft.

    Read Also: Obanikoro ends evidence against Fayose

    “Two of them walked away. The remaining person introduced himself as O. Adewale. The cash was offloaded into the bullion van and we drove to the bank,” Alade said.

    He said when they arrived at the bank; the money was counted in his presence.

    He said Oshodi, Adewale and Agbele were also present.

    “The money was counted in our presence. It was N724million. We were informed that there was a balance. We went back to the airport and picked N494million.

    “The total cash amounted to N1.219billion. Another aircraft brought the N494million.

    “I gathered that the cash was lodged in three bank accounts – those of De-Privateer, Spotless Investment and Ayodele Fayose.

    “I also understand some cash was taken away that day by Mr Agbele.”

    Asked who Adewale was, he said: “Adewale O. introduced himself as Obanikoro’s ADC (aide-de-camp).”

    Asked if he knew those who walked away from the aircraft after it landed, the witness said: “One of them resembled Obanikoro. I never met him in person. But he resembled the person I saw on television and newspapers.”

    Under cross examination by defence counsel Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) (for Spoless Ltd, Fayose’s co-accused), the witness said he did not know where the money came from.

    Asked if he knew what the money was meant for, he said: “Not at all.”

    The witness said it took 10 days to process the cash.

    In response to a question by Ojo as to whether he submitted a bulk cash register to EFCC on the transaction, the witness said “No.”

    Ojo showed the witness a statement of account belonging to Spotless Investment.

    He was asked to identify entries for October 6, 2014, September 5, 2014 and December 6, 2014.

    Alade said the entries showed the transfer of N11.173million each described as “mortgage repayment” and “mortgage loan liquidation”.

    He added: “But I didn’t know anything about the transactions.” Ojo said: “Don’t worry.”

    Before the trial began, Jacobs said he was involved in an accident and had to come to court in crutches.

    He asked the court to allow him take only one witness, but he did not disclose when or where he had the accident.

    He was seen wearing a heavy bandage brace on his right foot with no footwear on.

    There was also no indication that the case would be transferred to another judge.

    EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu reportedly wrote to the Chief Judge, asking that the case be withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun and re-assigned to another judge.

    Magu was said to have expressed lack of confidence in the judge.

    But no reference was made to the purported letter to the CJ by Magu.

    Fayose had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge on October 22 last year.

    EFCC said he and Agbele, facing a different charge, allegedly took possession of N1, 219,000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from former Minister of State for State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution.

    The commission said the sum exceeded the amount authorised by law, thereby violating the Money Laundering Act.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until May 10 and 14 for continuation of trial.

  • $2millon arms probe: Concerned Nigerians want house of reps report on probe panel released

    Some group of concerned Nigerians have demanded for a holistic probe into the activities of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015.
    They also want all those found culpable brought to book.
    The convener of the group, Princess Ajibola at a press conference in Abuja today said as a civil society organisation that demands accountability from government to the governed, the group is sad with the Committee of Public Safety, National Security and Intelligence of the Federal House of Representatives for the way and manner it has handled the probe of the activities of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement, (CADEP) from 2007-2015.
    “The Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria is desirous of the content of the probe by the House of Representatives to be made public in the overall interest of justice and fairness to all concerned.
    “It is common knowledge that the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015 made a mess of the mandate given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is however not enough to continue to shield them from public scrutiny as evident in the cold foot suddenly developed by the House of Representatives.
    “At this point, the Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria wishes to educate the members of the House of Representatives that they were elected by the people to represent the interest of the people and not to protect the interest of a select few that do not have the interest of the people at heart through their actions and inactions”she said
    Ajibola said it is worthy of note to highlight that the mandate given to the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015 was primarily to bring to justice those that committed crimes against the Nigerian people by mismanaging billions of naira meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to help in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
    “To the dismay of all persons with a conscience, these individuals instead decided to cut deals and enrich themselves at the expense of the sacred mandate of unravelling the circumstances the lead to the mismanagement of public funds and also to recover same from these individuals and organizations.
    “At this point, the Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria cannot fathom why the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety, National Security and Intelligence who indeed confessed in public that it was in possession of a series of petitions from members of the public and defence contractors who have complained about the activities of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015.
    “It was against this background that the House of Representatives launched a probe and indeed conducted a public hearing on the contentious issue, and only for them to suddenly go mute on the outcome of their inquiry.
    “We must add that this sudden muteness indeed raised a flurry of questions that needed answers. The muteness also questioned the sincerity of purpose of the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety, National Security and Intelligence.
    “It further fuelled the suspicion that indeed something was dangerously amiss in the polity as been speculated in some certain quarters. Some believed that monies must have exchanged hands. Some were also of the opinion that probably members of the House of Representatives Committee might have been intimidated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, under whose purview is the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015.
    “The Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria demands that justice be served in this sensitive matter of national importance in the interest of all and sundry.
    “The Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria at this point and in the interest of our country demands that holistic probe into the arms fraud be instituted by the federal government, as well as the National Assembly”she said
    She urged the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency  institute a probe that would unravel as a first what happened with the earlier probe report of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety, National Security and Intelligence.
    “The National Assembly must either make it public or institute a fresh probe with a clear mandate to reviewing the activities of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement from 2007 to 2015 that has been entangled in controversies’ bordering underhand dealings, receiving gratifications and compromising the core mandate of the committee.
    “The Civil Rights Movement of Nigeria believes that there should be no sacred cows in the war against corruption in Nigeria. Nobody should be favoured above others, especially in cases of economic sabotage.
    “If the leadership of this great country is sincere about the war against corruption, then it must initiate this probe as a matter of urgency and bring to book all those that are found wanting in any way as no one should be seen to be above the law no matter how highly placed.
    “The world is indeed watching Nigeria and expects that the right thing is done in this sensitive case. The relatives of the victims of the nefarious activities of these individuals and organizations are also watching to see how the government would protect their interest by serving justice to all”she concluded

     

  • Group warns Amnesty International over conspiracy to destabilize Nigeria

    The Amnesty International has been warned against playing “devil’s advocate” over alleged conspiracy to destabilise the entity called Nigeria.

     

    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC), which handed down this warning to AI, said it was shocked over the comment by the group on the recent clash between Shiites and security personnel in Abuja.

     

     

    Amnesty International had faulted the security personnel for using force against the violent group.

     

    Reacting, however, SHAC through its Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar, at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said it was obvious AI was working with those conspiring to make Nigeria ungovernable.

     

    The group, therefore, called on Amnesty International to discontinue its open support for terrorism in Nigeria forthwith.

     

    Full text of his speech below.

     

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    Gentlemen, the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre, SHAC, is disappointed but not surprised by the decision of Amnesty International (Nigeria) to become sectarian through its endorsement of the terrorist acts of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN. We are not surprised because Amnesty International has made it clear in all instances of security breaches in Nigeria that it has an agenda that is geared towards the termination of Nigeria as a corporate entity.

     

    Amnesty International has been running an endorsement campaign for and on behalf of IMN. It exploits these campaigns to legitimize the acts of terror being committed by the radicalized IMN members without recognizing that there are victims in the criminality being perpetrated by the IMN. Rather, it is the IMN that has been painted into victimhood while the Nigerian state, its organs and agencies have been branded as aggressors when all they are doing is to protect the life and property of citizens, which is a primary responsibility of government.

     

    Even at a time when it is taken for granted that Amnesty International cannot sink lower than it already has in supporting terrorists like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, it has successfully broken its own record at being irresponsible. On a day that IMN militants shot at policemen and killed a Deputy Commissioner of Police, other policemen, a journalist and innocent Nigerians, Amnesty International still managed to cause outrage by continuing to defend the attacks carried out by its militants.

    Gentlemen of the press, even when our members and other Nigerians witnessed IMN militants attacking and shooting other Nigerians, Amnesty International, shamelessly tweeted that the Federal Government is clamping down on “peaceful protesters”.

     

    One of the lying tweets reads, “This new crackdown is part of a shocking pattern in which security forces have used live ammunition to disperse IMN supporters who are simply exercising their freedom of expression.”

     

    We are at a loss as to at what point invading the parliament, attacking policemen and other Nigerians became freedom of expression.

     

    We are also trying hard to reconcile the relationship between freedom of expression and arson, in which IMN militants set vehicles ablaze in a development that did not spare emergency ambulances.

    In furtherance of its propaganda, aimed at insulating IMN from retribution for its terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Amnesty International accused the Nigerian police of “reckless use of lethal force” “against unarmed supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN)”. Even if IMN had falsely claimed in the past that its members were not armed, their attack on the National Assembly, which killed at least two policemen, should have forced the NGO to reassess the kind of lies it is willing to tell on behalf of IMN.

     

    An organization that has regards for truth would have known that there are videos and pictures that capture the aspects of the protests it is hiding from the world.

    Amnesty International’s tweet storm about the attack not only painted IMN militants as armless but went on to lament that they were “being driven from the streets of Abuja. This marks the height of irresponsibility, one that we believe the Nigerian government should firmly censure in order for the world not to be misled into believing the lies being told by the NGO.

     

    Had the IMN members been left on the streets of Abuja, there is no telling the extent of lives that would have been lost to their attacks. Leaving the militants on the streets would have also resulted in further damages to public property, which Amnesty International omitted to mention, even though they destroyed government facilities worth billions of naira.

     

    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre condemn Amnesty International in the strongest terms possible for its destabilization agenda in Nigeria and for its refusal to see beyond this agenda even when IMN has accepted responsibility a clear case which the IMN have admitted blames the AI still wants to twist the narrative. This is unfortunate and well-meaning Nigerians and members of the society demand immediate apology from AI.

     

    We demand that Amnesty International discontinue its open support for terrorism in Nigeria forthwith. Contrary to the way the NGO is carrying on, Nigeria is not banana republic and cannot be coerced into taking instructions from Amnesty International or be scared of it IMN terrorist collaborators.

     

     

  • 9th NASS: Gender rights activist urges more leadership role for women

    A gender rights activist and politician, Mrs Ann Agom-Eze has called for the inclusion of more women legislators in the leadership of ninth National Assembly (NASS).

    Agom-Eze made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Monday.

    She said that apart from the positions of Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives, other leadership positions including deputy senate president and deputy speaker, among others, could be allocated to women.

    The gender rights activist said that women had got all it took to be good leaders of the national assembly.

    She said that the ninth national assembly would be more vibrant, resourceful and more focused for effective governance, if more women were saddled with more leadership responsibilities.

    Agom-Eze urged the leadership of the two leading political parties, APC and PDP, to ensure that female legislators elected under their platforms were elected into the leadership positions of the two chambers.

    “As managers of the homes, women have gotten the requisite skills to show good leadership and these virtues have been displayed by women who have been appointed into leadership positions in the country in recent past.

    “The Oby Ezekwesilis, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealas, late Dora Akunyilis, among others, were women who excelled in their different positions as ministers and leaders.

    “I believe that female legislators will do excellently well, if given the opportunity.

    “I am therefore calling on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to allocate leadership positions to women in the Senate and House of Representatives upon inauguration.

    “The era when women were given the back seat is over. Women should be encouraged to come out and showcase their leadership prowess by being elected into leadership positions,’’ Agom-Eze said.

    The former Permanent Secretary and aspirant for the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat in under APC further urged female lawmakers-elect to reach out to their male counterparts to negotiate for leadership positions.

    “I believe that the female legislators in both the Senate and House of Representatives can get what they want if they can come together, reach out to their male counterparts and negotiate with them.

    “Power is gotten through struggle and also by negotiation and in this particular instance women can get what they want through negotiation” she said..

    The gender rights activist said negotiation was the best approach, considering the fewness in the number of the elected female lawmakers.

    She expressed confidence that the in-coming national assembly would work in synergy with the executive arm of government to ensure smooth administration of the country.

    The politician appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to include more women in his government in his second term administration.

  • Updated! Again, court orders Jay Jay Okocha’s arrest

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Monday renewed a bench warrant for the arrest of a former Super Eagles captain, Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha, for alleged tax evasion.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye extended the arrest warrant, originally made last January 29, following an application by the Lagos State Government.

    Prosecution counsel Mr Yusuf Sule told the judge that Okocha had yet to settle out of court, the 2017 income tax evasion charge.

    Okocha, who was not in court, was not represented by any lawyer.

    The government alleged that Okocha had also failed to appear in court since October 5, 2017, when the case first came up.

    At the resumption of proceedings Monday, Sule said Okocha had made contact with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

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    He said: “The defendant (Okocha) is trying to settle, but he is yet to make any payment. In the circumstances, we will be asking for a further date.”

    Granting his application, Justice Akintoye ruled: “Bench Warrant is to continue against the defendant. Case adjourned till May 28, 2019 for further directions.”

    The government filed a three-count charge against Okocha on June 6, 2017, accusing him of:

    “Failure to furnish return of income for tax purposes with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service contrary to Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 (As Amended).

    “Failure to pay income tax contrary to Section 56(a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No. 8 of 2006.

    “Failure to furnish return of Income for tax purposes with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service contrary to Section 94(1)of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 (As Amended).”

     

  • Breaking: CCT to deliver judgment in Onnoghen’s trial Thursday

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has scheduled judgment for Thursday (April 18) in the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen on a six-count charge of non-declaration of assets.

    Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar announced the date on Monday after listening to lawyers to the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.

    Read Also: The fall of Onnoghen

    Umar said the court will also, on Thursday, deliver two rulings earlier reserved on two applications by the defendants, first challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the other asking the tribunal Chairman to recuse himself from the case.

     

     

  • Court remands two friends for gang raping 19 year–old girl

    An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered that two friends, who allegedly raped a 19-year-old woman be remanded in prison.

    Magistrate Monisola Kamson, ordered that Sodiq  Abdulrauf and Ali Ahmad, be remanded in Oke-kura Prison Yard, Ilorin.

    She adjourned the case until May 2 for further mention.

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    The Prosecutor, Sgt.Gbenga Ayeni, informed the court that the victim accompanied her friend to her boyfriend’s house where she was assaulted and gang-raped.

    Ayeni said that the defendants and one Korani, who is now at large, beat up the victim and raped her.

    After the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

    The Prosecutor, said that the alleged offence contravened the sections 97 and 282 of the Penal Code Law.

    He prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the completion of investigation.