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  • RMAFC set to probe banks over stamp duty collections

    The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is set to probe commercial banks over stamp duty collections.

    According to a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, the probe which is to commence soon would involve a forensic investigation of the funds that have so far been collected as stamp duty by 22 Deposit Money Banks (DMB) from 2000 to 2018. RMAFC is the only constitutional body vested with the powers to monitor all revenue accruals into the Federation Account.

    To this end, it said: “The commercial banks had been deducting the sum of N50 on every deposit with a value of N1,000 and above since January 2000.

    “At the moment, the total sum of N33bn had been realised through the collection of stamp duties, which falls far below the expectation of stakeholders.

    “It is expected that at the end of the exercise, over 100 billion would be recovered.”

    The statement added the Commission had concluded “arrangements to engage the services of reputable forensic audit firms to carry out the probe of the banks.

    “The probe will be comprehensive as it will cover the affixed stamp used on cheque books prior to the introduction of electronic transactions.”

    The Commission observed that “if NIPOST is properly repositioned through appropriate legal and regulatory framework and the introduction of appropriate technology, the Agency can generate over 500 billion.”

    Therefore, the Commission appealed to the National Assembly and the Federal Government to initiate measures for the amendment of the NIPOST Act to enable it to expand the economy and attract more revenue to the Federation.

  • Breaking: Lagos Fire Service chief, others kidnapped

    Kidnappers on Saturday night whisked away the Lagos State Fire Service Director Rasaki Musibau and about nine others along the Epe-Itokin road, Ikorodu.

    The incident, it was gathered, occurred while the fire chief and others were returning to Lagos from Epe.

    The Nation learnt that the kidnappers had blocked the Itokin bridge, ambushing occupants of a Sienna, Corolla and a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    In another incident, residents alleged occupants of an interstate bus were also kidnapped after the vehicle dropped off some passengers along the road.

    A resident, who spoke to The Nation, said the interstate bus had stopped to drop off a passenger at Ejirin, adding that some other persons standing on the road joined the vehicle enroute Lagos.

    “It happened on Saturday evening. It was around 7pm. It was on one of these instate buses that ply that route. The bus stopped to drop off passengers and some people entered.

    “But unknown to the driver and passengers, those who entered the bus were kidnappers and they took them to unknown destination.

    “It was a separate incident from that of the fire service director. The man and some others were coming from Epe to Lagos when the kidnappers ambushed them and took them away. This area is gradually turning to something else.

    “We are worried because we know how bad it was then when farmers and their employees were being kidnapped daily. These boys are gradually starting again.

    Read also: Police parade 15 suspected cultists, robbers, kidnappers

    “We are calling on the authorities to act fast before it is too late,” said the source.

    But the police denied any commercial bus was involved, adding the total number of those affected were seven occupants of a Toyota Sienna, Corolla and an Opel SUV.

    Saturday’s kidnap has sent shivers down the spine of residents of the axis who have experienced respite from incessant kidnappings and another armed banditry just recently.

    Prior to the latest incident, it was gathered that the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman Samson Ajijedidun was kidnapped by the criminals on March 1 and only released after ransom was paid.

    Contacted, police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said seven persons including the fire service boss were kidnapped from three vehicles.

    Elkana said: “They are seven persons not nine. They were not in a bus. We are just coming from the scene now. The Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu visited the scene.

    “They were in three different vehicles, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Corolla and Opel jeep.

    “We searched and saw some items belonging to the victims, one of them is the Lagos Fire Service Director.

    “Investigation has commenced into this incident. The CP has also deployed Special Forces and tasked them to rescue the victims, arrest the perpetrators. Effort is ongoing.”

  • Dickson offers automatic employment to 307 PHD, MSC holders, others

    Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has offered automatic employment to 307 products of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Scheme who concluded their doctorate degree and master decree programmes in various disciplines in universities across the world.

    A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, on Sunday quoted the Governor as having the declared automatic employment for 107 PhD holders and 200 MSC degree holders during a meeting with beneficiaries of the scheme in Yenagoa at the weekend.

    The governor also announced automatic employment to all medical doctors, pharmacists and public health specialists as well as other beneficiaries of the State Scholarship Scheme who studied professional courses considered critical to the ongoing efforts to develop the state.

    He told the ecstatic audience that the 107 PhD holders would be deployed to the three state-owned universities – the Niger Delta University, University òf Africa and the Bayelsa Medical University – as lecturers.

    He stated also other products of the scheme who studied medicine and other professional courses at Master Degree level would be engaged in the various medical facilities and the civil service respectively.

    Read also: Dickson takes campaign against degradation to IOCs, regulatory bodies

    However, the Governor noted that the State Scholarship Scheme which was designed to send an army of Bayelsa scholars to universities across the globe came with heavy sacrifice and cost to the government.

    According to him, the government was saddled with outstanding liabilities of about three million Pounds, one million Euros, several millions of dollars and naira.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries who studied for Phd, Dr, Jude Cocodia, a lecturer at the Niger Delta University, commended Dickson for his bold revolution in the education sector in the state.

    He said that the state was already feeling the positive impacts of years of sustained investments in education especially at the NDU which is host to a large number of the beneficiaries.

  • Emmanuel will do better in second term, ex-militants assure

    Ex-militants in Akwa Ibom state under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have expressed confidence that Governor Udom Emmanuel will perform better than his first term in office.

    In a statement on Sunday in Uyo, leaders of the ex- agitators, General Nick Sintei, Prince James Ukpong and Sunny Okon Nathan congratulated the governor over his reelection.

    They lauded the governor’s achievements so far particularly in attracting viable industries to the state.

    “On behalf of the entire genuine ex-militants in Akwa Ibom state, we the leaders Gen. Nico Sintei, Prince James Ukpong , and Sunny Okon Nathan congratulate His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel on his landslide victory at the March, 9 2019 election.

    “Your victory was not only expected but deserving given your recorded achievement since assumption of office in 2015 particularly your relentless effort towards the industrialisation of the state.

    “We have no doubt that you will even perform more and impact more on the lives of the people in your second term in office.

    Read also: 2019 Polls and the Akwa Ibom Charade

    “We the ex-agitators will remain law abiding citizens and will continue to support positive policies and programmes of government.”

    They however expressed concerns that many groups parading themselves as ex-militants are springing up all over the state and urged government and security agencies in the state to look into the issue.

    They stressed that they have found out that the names of those parading groups are not in the list of militants that embraced the amnesty programme.

    “We are aware that their names are not captured in the original list of militants that dropped arms during the Presidential Amnesty Programme in October 2009, therefore they are impersonators.

    “We have also found out that they are not also part of the state amnesty programme put in place by this government.

    “We therefore use this medium to appeal to government and security agencies to investigate their activities and fish them out.

    “This will help to avert miscreants to cause mayhem under the guise of ex-militants,” they stressed.

  • I’ve nothing to do with alleged plot to void River poll, says Malami

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) has distanced himself from claim by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that he was working with Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi to void the result of the last governorship election in Rivers State.

    Malami’s spokesman, Salihu Isah, described the claim by the PDD as ridiculous and demanded that the AGF should not be linked with the local politics in Rivers State.

    Isah, while speaking with The Nation on Sunday, said: “I am not aware of any such ridiculous plan. There is nothing like that, to my knowledge.

    Read also: Amaechi, Malami plotting to void Rivers elections, PDP alleges

    “We are in a democracy, and there are institutions with powers to void elections if the need arises. That is not part of the responsibilities of the Attorney General of the Federation.

    “So, they should not link him (the AGF) with such ridiculous claim. They should leave the AGF out of the local politics in Rivers State.

     

     

    “There are better and more important issues to attract the attention of the minister,” Isah said.

  • World Health Day: Dettol counsels Nigerians on good hygiene practices

    In its bid to achieve quality health inclusion and improved hygiene for all Nigerians, Dettol on Sunday, April 7th 2019 joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Health Day.

    The World Health Day was first celebrated in 1950, and every year since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has used the 7th of April as a day to campaign for raising awareness of the need to improve global health. The theme for this year’s celebration is Universal Health Coverage which ensures that people get the right healthcare, where and when they need it without any form of financial barrier.

    Commenting on the World Health Day celebration, General Manager, RB West Africa Dayanand Sriram stated, “Dettol is happy to join the rest of the world in celebrating the 2019 World Health Day. At RB, we see this as a good opportunity to renew our commitment to helping Nigerians live healthier lives through the adoption of good hygiene practices. We believe that simple activities such as regular washing of hands, go a long way in preventing the spread of diseases like diarrhoea amongst children and adults. We will continue to work together with our partners and stakeholders to educate Nigerians on the importance of good hygiene and healthy habits.”

    According to UNICEF, the prevalence rate of diarrhoea in Nigeria is 18.8%, accounting for an estimated 150,000 deaths yearly amongst children under five due to poor hygienic and sanitary practices.

    Recently, Dettol signed an MoU with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to launch the ‘Clean Naija Program’, a national hygiene initiative designed to create awareness and educate the public on the importance of handwashing in order to promote personal hygiene and achieve a cleaner and healthier Nigeria.

    RB Nigeria, through its Dettol brand, already has a number of programs committed to tackling some of these issues, but it aims to bring all of its activities into one initiative that will educate and create awareness that will lead to a behavioural change among Nigerians.

  • Court orders sale of properties to defray N35.9m tax debts

    The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered of sale two landed properties belonging to two tax evaders Zaibadari Company Limited and Tradecraft Nigeria Limited to defray N35.9 million tax debts.

    A statement by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Sunday said: “The court granted the sale order following prayers by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, (FIRS) to allow it sell the landed properties of the two firms to defray the tax liabilities which amounted to N18. 8 million against  Zaibadari and N17.1 million against Tradecraft.”

    The statement added the FIRS approached the high court sitting in Abuja for an order to sell the companies properties after the two firms failed to honour series of demand notices issued to pay their outstanding tax liabilities.

    Counsel to the FIRS, Bar. Collins Ugwunebo had told the court that Zaibadari was indebted to the FIRS to the tune of N18. 8 million while Tradecraft owed the Service N17.1 million in 2015.

    FIRS said it “issued and served demand notices on the two firms and gave them 30 days within which to pay arrears of taxes to the FIRS. Both firms failed to pay within 30 days the arrears of taxes within 30 days.

    “Despite the Warrants of Distraint served on the two companies, both failed to pay the tax arrears, this led to the two suits against Tradecraft and Zaibadari,” the FIRS statement said.

    On 7th October 2018, FIRS complied with the order of the court that it should run newspaper adverts to serve Zaibadari through substituted means.

    Cornelius Ugwunebo, in an affidavit, told the court that Zaibadari’s assessment was based on 20 per cent of N62,675, 200 million which was the “deemed profit of the respondent (Zaibadari) landed property located at Plot 551 Wuye B03, FCT Abuja, valued at N313, 3376,000 million”.

     On March 23rd 2019, Justice A. I . Chikere the suit noted that “FHC/ABJ/CS/438/2018 noted that” despite the service of process on the respondent’s company, it refused, neglected and failed to state its side of the case nor have counsel appear on its behalf to state its case.

    “It is trite law that an averment in an affidavit which is not challenged or controverted is deemed admitted as true. See DIGAL Vs NACHANG (2005) All NWLR (pt240) pg 41 at 46. Also in the case of ATAMAH & ANOR Vs EBOSELE & ORS (2018) LPELR 3825 where the court held that ín the nature, a party who has or has every opportunity to present its case before the court and who fails to do so cannot be heard too complain.

    Read also: Akingbola: Court to rule April 18 on documents’ admissibility

    “The court is bound to believe the affidavit in support of application to the effect that the respondent is a tax evader and in default of its tax obligation to the applicant.

    “Accordingly, an order for the sale of landed property the respondent located at Plot 551, Wuye B03 FCT is hereby made to satisfy her arrears of tax N18,802, 560.00 (eighteen million eight hundred and two thousand five hundred and sixty naira only.

    Justice Chikere also ordered sale of the property at Plot 1151 Wuye B03 FCT, Abuja to satisfy the arrears of tax of N17, 150, 496:00 after the deduction of the expenses from the sale of the property, refund the amount in excess to the defendant or anybody authorised by her upon request by the defendants’ company’’.

    The application for the sale of the properties was brought under S.33(2) which gave the Federal Inland Revenue Service the power to apply to Court to obtain an Order prior to selling a distrained property.

    “Executive Chairman of the FIRSTunde Fowler hailed the Nigerian judiciary for supporting the fight against tax evasion and expressed the hope that this judgement would deter other tax evaders.”

    “Director, Legal Services Department of the FIRS, Ike Odume noted that this was the first time in the history of the FIRS that a court order would be used to sell the properties of tax evaders in Nigeria. Odume urged Nigerians to support the efforts of government in raising revenue to build infrastructure to stimulate the economy and ensure better life for all.”

  • Amaechi, Malami plotting to void Rivers elections, PDP alleges

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fingered the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in an alleged plot to void the March 9 Rivers State governorship election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP winner of the election, after weeks of suspending collation of the results of the governorship election.

    But at a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, raised the alarm, alerting of alleged plots by Amaechi and Malami to trigger constitutional crisis in the state.

    According to the PDP, the two Ministers have been allegedly mounting pressure on the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed to void the election.

    The main opposition party alleged the two Ministers are allegedly working on the CJN to reverse the February 12, 2019 final judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the exclusion of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Rivers election.

    The trial court had earlier ruled the Rivers APC out of participating in the 2019 National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections following the nullification of the party’s flawed primaries in the three categories of election.

    By implication of the apex court’s ruling, the APC was barred from fielding candidates for the three categories of election in Rivers.

    Based on the ruling of the apex court, INEC had excluded the Rivers APC from the ballots in the 2019 federal legislative, governorship and state assembly polls.

    The PDP is worried by the prospects of Amaechi and Malami succeeding in having the entire elections in Rivers state voided by the Supreme Court and the possibility of the apex court reversing its earlier judgment and ordering the conduct of fresh elections in the state to accommodate the APC.

    It said:  “Nigerians can also recall how the APC, having been frustrated by its lawful exclusion, used compromised security agents to violently disrupt the smooth conduct of elections in Rivers State.

    “In the course of the elections, the APC however adopted the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), bankrolled his election and made compromised security agents and thugs available to him, with the view to using them to muscle votes.

    Read also: Court declines jurisdiction in Rivers SDP matter

    “In spite of these conspiracies by the APC, the will of the people of Rivers state prevailed, as they braved the odds, resisted all machinations and voted overwhelmingly for the PDP and all its candidates.

    “The spontaneous jubilation in Rivers State and across the country, in addition to the general outpouring of goodwill to Governor Wike and other candidates of the PDP on their victory, clearly demonstrates the PDP popularity and acceptance not only by the people of Rivers, but also by lovers of democracy all over world.

    “However, not done with the desperation to cause confusion and crisis in Rivers state, the leader of the APC in the state; Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has engaged in fresh conspiracies to subvert the will of the people as expressed at the polls.

    “The PDP has information of how Rotimi Amaechi has been going around in Rivers State, giving assurances that he has the ears of the Supreme Court under the leadership of Acting CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed, and that the Supreme Court will reverse its final judgment on APC primaries and create the way for fresh elections in Rivers State, in which the APC will be allowed to participate.

    “Rotimi Amaechi goes about boasting that the apex court in the land, the Supreme Court, will reverse itself and order for fresh conduct of all the elections in Rivers State”.

    The PDP described the alleged scheming by the two cabinet Ministers as completely reprehensible and unthinkable in a democratic process.

  • Leadership tussle rocks 188-old African Church

    If the leadership crisis rocking the African Church is not resolved soon, the 188- year- old church may disintegrate following threats by some provinces in the Niger Delta region to break away.

    It was gathered that provinces in Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states have already given the indication to the Arch Cathedral in Lagos to secede if the current Primate, Dr. Emmanuel Udofia is not allowed to complete his tenure.

    The current primate of the church, Dr. Udofia is said to be under severe harassments and threats by the Western provinces for him to vacate his position as he turns 60 years in May.

    Udofia, who was weekend received in a very colourful ceremony at St Stephen’s Cathedral of the church  in Uyo, has been asked by the laity and clergy to temporarily relocate to Uyo until the crisis is over, it was learnt.

    His life and that of his family members are said to be under threat by some parishioners of the church in Lagos, which necessitated the call for his relocation to Uyo.

    Vice lay president of Warri Diocese, Mr Ezekiel Okorode,who spoke at Dr Udofia’s reception in Uyo, said the indignities to which the Western Provinces of the church had subjected the primate were in a way bringing victory to Calabar and Rivers provinces.

    “Today is a day of victory for our provinces. We have taken a step that will not be easy to reverse. We have told those bishops from the West to go back to their people.

    “They don’t like us and so we can’t like them. The Western provinces must retrace their steps and apologise else it is backward never; forward ever,” Okorode said.

    He explained that if Udofia, the only primate of African Church who is a non -Yoruba in the 118-year life of the church could be humiliated by the Western provinces, there was no basis for their continuous pretence to be together.

    The legal adviser of Calabar Province, Justice Ezekiel Enang, said the two provinces would stand by the General Council decision of the church that the current primate should retire at 65 years after which the new rule of retirement at 60 would take effect.

    The medical adviser of the Calabar Diocese, Dr Nathaniel

    Adiakpan, expressed gratitude to God for preserving the life of the primate for him to return home alive, saying that was the most important thing.

    Read also: Daystar church donates N10m to conflict victims

    “Injustice is what is playing out in African Church today. The same people who were bombarded us with calls to help them attend certain positions in the church only a few years ago are now the ones causing disunity.

    “If Dr Udofia doesn’t enjoy the support of African Church Worldwide, no other primate will enjoy our support,” Adiakpan stressed.

    However, the embattled primate, Dr Udofia said he had not relocated to Uyo because he still considered himself the Primate of African Church Worldwide as such he would go the arch cathedral anytime he feels like.

    But he explained that it was necessary to pray for God’s intervention in the crisis as he would not want his tenure to be credited with infamous history of the beginning of fragmentation of the hitherto unified African Church.

    “I don’t want the Yorubas living with us to leave in tears. They are

    not the cause of my leaving Lagos. I’m still the Primate of African

    Church for now because we have decided to seek peace.

    “We want everyone to pray for the church. If we allow this to happen, it will affect the entire church.

    “As a church, we would have been better than this but for unnecessary obstacles we bring upon ourselves.”

    Udofia, whose message was anchored on the Romans 8: 28-39, said that all things work together for to those who love the Lord.

  • Trailer overturns, injures pregnant woman, two others

    A trailer conveying fruits and vegetables to Lagos has overturned in Minna leaving a pregnant woman and two other persons injured.

    This is coming a week after a trailer with tomatoes overturned at the Minna city gate.

    The truck was said to be coming from Plateau state heading to Lagos after dropping some of its customers in Minna.

    An eyewitness report that the pregnant woman was trying to cross over to the other side of the road when she was hit by bags of goods adding that the other men who were injured were hit while on motorcycle after the trailer tumbled at the roundabout.

    Read Also: Falana seeks removal of trailers from Apapa road

    The Driver of the trailer, Mallam Isah Kuta said the overturn was caused by the afternoon rain stressing that he was not speeding, “I am happy nobody died”.

    The victims were taken to the Minna General Hospital for medical attention by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).