Colombian superstar Shakira will pay a fine of over 7.3 million euros ($7.98 million) as part of a deal with Spanish prosecutors to avoid trial for tax fraud, a Barcelona court said Monday.

Under the deal, announced at the start of what would have been the trial of the 46-year-old singer, Shakira also agreed to receive a three-year suspended sentence.

Under the deal, announced at the start of what would have been the trial of the 46-year-old singer, Shakira agreed to receive a three-year suspended sentence and to pay 7.3 million euros ($7.98 million) in fines.

Prosecutors had accused the superstar of defrauding the Spanish state of 14.5 million euros ($15.7 million) on income earned between 2012 and 2014, charges Shakira had denied, saying she only moved to Spain full-time in 2015.

The singer, who wore a pink suit and sunglasses, did not speak to the throng of reporters as he entered and left the Barcelona courthouse, but in a statement, she said she had agreed to settle for the sake of her two sons, Milan and Sasha.

“I need to move past the stress and emotional toll of the last several years and focus on the things I love – my kids and all the opportunities to come in my career, including my upcoming world tour and my new album,” she said in the statement issued by her lawyers.

“I admire tremendously those who have fought these injustices to the end, but for me, today, winning is getting my time back for my kids and my career.”

The case centred on how much time the singer, whose hit singles include “Whenever, Wherever” and the 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka”, spent in Spain between 2012 and 2014.

Spanish authorities alleged Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll — dubbed the Queen of Latin Pop — spent more than half of that period in Spain and therefore should have paid taxes in the country.

They say she moved to Spain after her relationship with former FC Barcelona star defender Gerard Pique became public in 2011, but maintained official tax residency in the Bahamas until 2015.

There is anxiety in the police over plan to enforce the rule on mandatory retirement by officers.

Those affected are officers above 60 years and those who have spent 35 years in the service.

They are expected to send their letters of retirement to the appropriate police commands, according to a circular by Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun.

However, the affected over-aged officers are trying to resist the move to enforce the order.

The Police Service Commission  (PSC), which has frowned at the officers’ resistance to retirement, said it is contrary to service rules.

There was apprehension among the officers, following the issuance of the internal memo by the Inspector-General that  the over-aged officers  should  proceed on retirement.

Egbetokun said the names of the affected officers will   be published soon.

In the memo circulating online, Egbetokun ordered police formations and commands to extract letters of retirement from  officers who are due for retirement, but are reluctant to leave.

The memo reads: “Cooperating with other government bodies in compliance with the directive of the honourable chairman, Police Service Commission, the IGP directs and draw the attention of all members of the force to the emerging and disturbing trend in the Nigeria Police Force wherein officers upon attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age refuse to proceed on retirement.

“This is contrary to the provisions of the public service rule (PSR) 020810 i & ii which provides that the mandatory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service no officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement of age of 60 or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier all actions taken by the said officers for the Nigeria police are null and void as a result of expiration of service duration accordingly you are to immediately extract a letter of voluntary retirement from such officers.

“The police authorities need to publish all officers that have violated their service retirement age.”

The Head, Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, who confirmed the circular, said the memo is authentic. 

He added: “Those that are due for retirement, the IGP has said they should write and leave the service.”

[TheNation]

THE House of Representatives has summoned 83 ministries, departments, and agencies of the Federal Government as it begins an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over N447.6bn Covid-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022.

Checks in the budgets of the MDAs showed that at least 22 of them got not less than N447.6bn as COVID-19 funds in 2020 alone.

This implies that the COVID-19 intervention fund from 2020 to 2022 was way higher than the N447.6bn received by less than half the number of MDAs invited by the House of Representatives for the probe slated to begin from November 27, 2023, and end on December 4.

The House invited the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Communications and Digital Economy, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, and scores of other Ministries, Department and Agencies.

The MDAs are to appear before the lawmakers to answer questions on alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds distributed among them to fight the global health pandemic.

In an invitation issued by the Chairman of the Committee and a member representing Ede North/Ede South Federal Constituency, Osun State, Bamidele Salam, dated November 20, 2023, the lawmakers asked each of the MDAs to be represented by their “Chief Accounting Officers, Head of Finance, Head of Procurement and any other relevant officer to defend the expenditure contained in their various submissions.”

To appear before the Committee on Monday, November 27, are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, FERMA, Federal Ministries of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Others include the Federal Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mines and Steel Development, Water Resources, Health, National Hospital, Abuja, and National Directorate of Employment.

On Tuesday, November 28, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are expected to appear before the committee for the exercise.

Also billed to appear on Tuesday are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Rural Electrification Agency, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, National Commission on for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Offices, Abuja, and the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

On Wednesday, November 29, it will be the turn of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, Lagos State; National Eye Centre, Kaduna State; National Ear Centre, Kaduna State; Ministries of Aviation, Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja; Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi; Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State; Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State; as well as those in Katsina, Nguru, Yobe State, Asaba, Delta State and Gusau, Zamfara State.

[NaijaTimes]

Telecom companies in Nigeria have decried the N200 billion debt owed by the banks for the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) provided by telecom operators.

According to them, the debt, coupled with the 52 taxes, could cripple their operation in the country if the federal government does not intervene.

The companies under the aegis of the Association of Licenced Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) disclosed that the ICT sector was not immune to harsh operating environment, yet, they pay more taxes than any sector of the Nigerian economy.

The chairman, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, told LEADERSHIP that telecom operators are facing threats to investment, sustainability, and industry expansion due to the fact that sub-nationals are forcing them to comply with tax and levy requests that lack legal foundation, and they have been subjected to repeated taxation.

Adebayo enumerated a number of the levies and taxes, including the ecology tax for gaseous emissions, the sewage, sanitation, and public convenience levies for base stations, the fumigation levies—which are levied annually on rights of way (RoW) renewals and the fire service levy—as well as the fumigation charges that states require base stations to pay.

Adebayo, however, argued that in order to address the ongoing problem of multiple taxation in the Nigerian telecommunications sector, including the removal of the excise duty on telecommunications services that is currently suspended, the industry must work with the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms.

On the N200 billion debt, ALTON chairman. at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, averred that though the regulator is intervening, but it is at a slow pace, as the banks are yet to pay the USSD debt owed to telecom operators, which has now risen to N200 billion from N120 billion in June.

“Telecom operators have not been able to get commercial banks to agree they will pay the accumulated debt from USSD charges they were yet to remit. In September, Umar Garba Danbatta, former executive vice chairman of NCC, had said the deposit money banks agreed to pay the debt. He didn’t, however, say when it will be paid,” he recalled.

He explained that the banks did not pledge to pay or when they planned to pay; they only acknowledged the existence of a debt, adding that, “The debt had grown to N200 billion while they were waiting to make their payment.”

Recall that operators threatened to disconnect the USSD service of banks in June, 2023, a development that would disrupt transactions activities across the financial system and impact millions of users.

In his response, the executive vice chairman, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, promised to create a more conducive environment for investment in the sector, even as he promised to inject new thinking into how the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) would be leveraged to bridge the digital divide in the country.

He assured operators of the federal government’s support.

“The federal government of Nigeria sees the ICT sector as a critical sector of the economy and I have the assurance from the government that we will get all the support. However, we have to pay back by ensuring that the economy grows,” he added.

The EVC however tasked operators on Quality of Service (QoS), while affirming that he will not tolerate any excuses in that regard.

[Leadership]

The immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has recalled some controversial events that occurred under his administration.

In an interview after stepping down as Nigeria’s leader approximately half a year ago, the former President expressed his support for the contentious naira redesign policy during the final stages of his tenure.

He emphasized that his endorsement aimed to safeguard his integrity and to convey to the Nigerian populace that achieving success requires perseverance and dedication, without any quick fixes.

Naija News reports that Buhari stated these while appearing on a state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) program on Monday night where he argued that Nigerians were a difficult set of people to govern.

According to him, most of the citizens know the right thing to do but would mostly refuse to do so, because they think they know better than the person on the saddle.

When asked about the integrity of many of his aides during his eight years in power, Buhari said “It is their problem “, querying what people who criticized him fiercely had done at their levels to fight corruption.

I Could Have Ran Out Of Nigeria

Speaking further during the interview, the former president reiterated that his administration tried as much as possible to be accountable.

Buhari said he was still being ‘harassed’ by people who throng his home daily, noting that if the border with a nearby country had not closed, he would have run out of Nigeria by now.

He added, however, that he was glad he now wakes up anytime he likes. The former president said he doesn’t miss anything after leaving government.

“God allowed me to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge, “ he stressed.

When asked whether he achieved what he set out to achieve after trying to be president four times, Buhari acknowledged the insecurity in Borno State and the northeast when he took over, saying that Boko Haram had been largely degraded at the time he was leaving government.

“Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually your every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure that you are competent enough,“ he said.

The former president also said he was too preoccupied with local matters to be bothered with foreign issues as president. He said his biggest challenge was securing the country.

Buhari said he did not try to compete with Nigeria’s wealthy class by acquiring land, houses, and cars during his time as Nigeria’s leader, explaining that it was the reason he was “living in peace” after exiting government.

Trap

Buhari alleged that there were many attempts to set a trap for him by some individuals who presented him with certain opportunities, but that he avoided the trap because he knew that once they knew he had been compromised, they would take advantage of the situation to milk the country.

He added that they would rather become his boss. He stated that God helped introduce technology in 2015 which enabled him to win the poll because God had seen the grueling pains he experienced after each loss during the times he contested for the presidency.

“Instead of people expressing sympathy, people laughed at me because I didn’t have money, because I couldn’t buy influence in any form, either from influential people or others. And I said ‘God dey’. And he sent the Permanent Voter Card (PVC). Meaning you now have only one vote,“ he stated.

Naira Redesign Policy

Commenting further on the controversial naira policy, Buhari said: “Whether Nigerians believe it or not, we are an underdeveloped country. And in that sort of situation, there’s materialism and sometimes ruthlessly they didn’t care how they made the money.

“I still feel that the only way I could deprive these people was just to make sure that my integrity became unquestionable…I think as a developing country we still have a long way to go.

“The motivation (for introducing the policy) was to try and make Nigerians believe that there is no shortcut to successful leadership.”

Besides, he explained that he wasn’t shocked that he was taken to court by governors from his party at the time to reverse the policy.

[NaijaNews]

Political veteran Joseph Boakai was on Monday declared winner of Liberia’s presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) said after completing the ballot count.

Boakai won with 50.64 percent of the vote, against 49.36 percent of the vote for former international football star Weah, Davidetta Browne Lansanah, president of the commission, told reporters.

Boakai won with only a 20,567-vote margin.

Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday evening, based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations.

The outgoing president and former football star won praise from abroad on Monday for conceding and promoting a non-violent transition in a region marred by coups.

“Liberians have once again demonstrated that democracy is alive in the ECOWAS region and that change is possible through peaceful means,” the Economic Community of West African States said in a statement.

Since 2020, ECOWAS states have seen abrupt regime changes with military forces seizing power by force in four of the fifteen member countries: Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The election six years ago of Weah — the first African footballer to win both FIFA’s World Player of the Year trophy and the Ballon d’Or — had sparked high hopes of change in Liberia, which is still reeling from back-to-back civil wars and the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic.

But critics have accused his government of corruption and him of failing to keep a promise to improve the lives of the poorest.

While his party lost, “Liberia has won,” Weah had said on radio.

Weah said he had spoken to the man he called the “president-elect” to congratulate him and urged his own supporters to accept the election result.

“This is a time for graciousness in defeat,” he said, adding “our time will come again”.

The African Union sent its congratulations to the president-elect on Monday.

AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also called on “all parties to continue to display maturity and embrace dialogue to consolidate democracy”.

President Bola Tinubu met with German Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, where he discussed Nigeria’s determination to pursue German investment in the power and rail sector, among others.  

The President met with Scholz on the sidelines of the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference on Monday.  

He noted that his administration is eager to partner with German companies, such as Siemens AG, in reforming the power sector of Nigeria.  

Recall that former President Buhari established in 2018 Siemens-backed Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) as an attempt to resolve the lingering challenges in the power sector and to expand the capacity for future power needs.  

Siemens Energy was expected to facilitate financing for the project through the German Export Credit Agency (Euler Hermes AG), other ECA’s, and other financing Agencies. 

However, President Tinubu noted that there is a need for a review of the initiative to ensure the speedy execution of targeted projects in the power sector.  

Noting Siemens AG’s positive impact on the quantity and quality of Egypt’s electric power supply, the President declared that, with his leadership, the implementation of the PPI would now proceed with increased urgency and a more deliberate approach to project execution.  

• “For me, I am very much committed to pursuing all aspects of the Siemens Power project and the skill development opportunities that will emerge from that project for our talented youths who can participate in sustaining the industry,” the President told Scholz.  

What Germany is saying 

On his part, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, signalled a willingness to address administrative and financial challenges in the sector, recognizing the governance issues inherited from the previous administration. 

• “I know that there is a lot of work that has been done. There is already a big production of electricity in Nigeria, but it is not getting to the population. Of course, this has to do with the need for a provision of stations and infrastructure on the grid.
• “Siemens has developed the plan and is ready to deepen implementation, but it is now up to your new government to take the follow-up action that you are now committed to taking. On the railway plans, Siemens will be very happy to do this when more progress is made on the power project which has been started already,” he said.  

Speaking on the investment in the rail sector, Scholz said Nigeria can replicate the success of China, noting that the country shared similar opportunities and conditions with the Asia country.  

• “There is nothing too unique about the growth of China. It came down to a lot of investment from overseas that leveraged cheap and skilled labour with adequate internal infrastructure and shipping infrastructure for imports and exports to flow easily. These things are possible in Nigeria. You even have abundant natural resources. Step by step, it is achievable, Mr. President,” he added.  

What you should know 

Germany has shown a great willingness to invest in Nigeria with its Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, visiting the country earlier in October.  

During his visit, Scholz noted Nigeria’s huge capacity for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production. He also pledged to invest in the county’s mineral resources as well as the rail sector.  

Given the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the crisis fuelled by the Russian war on Ukraine, Western European countries have increasingly begun to turn to Africa for their energy sustenance. Nigeria has one of the highest oil reserves in the world, creating an opportunity for both countries to deepen their investment ties. 

[Nairametrics]

Muslim and Christian supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nasarawa State on Monday, commenced a seven-day joint prayer session for the party’s governorship candidate, David Ombugadu, ahead of the Appeal Court judgment on the sacking of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Naija News recalls that the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had, on October 2, 2023, sacked Governor Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared Ombugadu winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Delivering the judgment via Zoom, the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, nullified Sule’s election and held that the petitioners (Ombugadu and the PDP) duly proved their petition before the tribunal.

Speaking with journalists in Lafia, the state capital, the participants said the seven-day prayer session is also an opportunity to ask for God’s protection on the appeal court judges from any evil influence while they discharge their duties.

One of the prayer group leaders, Suleiman Abdullahi, expressed confidence that justice would be served at the appeal court.

He said, “Allah is the creator of the universe. He neither discriminates nor fail in his promises. So, the moves to change the wishes of the people against the overwhelming mandate given to those they want will not stand.

“We genuinely gave our mandate to the PDP candidate, Dr David Ombugadu, to ensure a positive change in Nasarawa State. We will continue to pray to Allah because we know that he will listen to our supplications and do his will in Nasarawa State.”

Another participant, Rev. Emmanuel Bako, said the will of God will prevail, and those insisting on taking the mandate of Ombugadu will be put to shame.

He said, “God Almighty is always ahead of every principality. The will of God shall prevail and shame those people insisting on taking the mandate given to David Ombugadu in Nasarawa State.

“The axe of God is waiting for anyone challenging his power and will in this case. It is said in the Book of Isaiah 58:11 that ‘The Lord will guide his people, satisfy their desire and make their bones strong. They shall be like a watered garden, like spring water, whose work does not fail.”

One Igwe Ambrose, a 65-year-old landlord, has been sentenced to double life imprisonment for sexual assault by the Ikeja Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State.

This was revealed in a statement released Monday and shared on the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency’s X account.

Naija News reports that the landlord allegedly committed the offenses at Shagari Estate in Ipaja between January and June of 2021.

“Ambrose was found guilty of inserting fingers into the private parts of his tenant’s children. The survivors are aged seven and 11. He was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child,” the statement read.

The landlord was described by the judge, Abiola Soladoye, as a “dirty old man” who touched and fingered the survivors’ breasts while feigning to assist them with their schoolwork.

Soladoye sentenced the defendant to life in prison for counts one and two, and seven years each for counts three and four.

Popular Yoruba Nollywood actress, Omawunmi Ajiboye, has debunked claims of a romantic affair with All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Musiliu Akinsanyan, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

Naija News reports that this comes after the movie star laid her mother to rest in Osogbo, Osun state, in grand style and penned a lengthy epistle to appreciate MC Oluomo via her Instagram page while she wrote a sentence to thank her husband, Segun Ogungbe.

Recall that there have been speculations that Omawunmi is romantically linked to MC Oluomo, who allegedly furnished a new apartment for her, which led to her marriage crash, and Segun has returned to his first wife.

In a statement via Instagram on Sunday, the thespian described herself as a virtuous woman, and she would not allow her hard work, tenacity, and personality to be credited to another person.

She admitted that MC Olumo is a philanthropist; however, she has no romantic relationship with him, and it is disheartening for people to always credit her hard work to him.

She wrote: “I need to clear air, I am a virtuous and hardworking woman and i wouldn’t allow my hard work, my tenacity,my name, my sweat and my truth to be robbed. I had sealed with the King of Fuji Music independently years before the burial party and as a norm after the birth of a group called CGI(Connecting Grassroots Initiatives) I had to officially invite the Pioneer of the group in person of MC Oluomo..

“I can categorically say that i have never had a romantical relationship with him prior or during the party i just had . It took me 7 years to give my mother a final befitting burial and which i am proud to do solely …The philanthropist gave me money to support in the presence of the committee a day to the party.(group members can testify). Everything i have done single handedly is always tagged to him and somehow robs me of my hardwork and my sweat .i kept quiet for long as people know him to be a philantropist but i am boldly saying that i do not have any romantical relationship with him and this does not cancel the fact that he has been a good person to me. This is not to say that i did not receive gifts and supports from friends and colleagues like everyone would ..

“As for the adorable father of my children who has refused to say a word on our relationship status and i decided to respect his opinion but when i see the undeserved empathy he gets in a mutual agreement,i feel tempted to talk but still for the sake of the beautiful kids ,i would keep mute until he finds an appropriate time to do otherwise.

“I do not have control over people’s joy as everyone came to the party joyfully and we ended it on a good note . Once again,i appreciate everyone who showed me concern ,called me and told me not to say a word. I am sorry i dissapointed you all but i refuse to be robbed by false news and rumours.

“To rumour mongers and their fans,its always sweet and fun until it gets to your turn,i sincerely hope you maintain same energy by then.. I am omowunmi ajiboye I will never be bullied to silence I will never be pressured into accepting what i know nothing about. If i lie,let God judge me. If this is really my truth,God bless me more and all that i do, amen”