FEATURES
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has berated Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to recognise the court judgment on his reinstatement to office.
Naija News recalls that the duo have been at loggerheads over issues regarding the governorship election in the state.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Shaibu said he was asked to be Obaseki’s deputy to add political value to the party’s ticket because the Governor was not a politician.
Shaibu also stated that it took former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, three months to convince him to support Obaseki to become governor.
He said, “Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki.
“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, he did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him.”
[NaijaNews]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised a significant reduction in deductions from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Aviation Agencies from 50 per cent down to 20 per cent.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that aviation unions had threatened to commence a nationwide protests over the 50 percent deduction from the IGR of the agencies, a policy the workers said undermined operational efficiency and financial stability.
The protests were expected to affect airport operations nationwide, as workers demonstrated their frustration and called for the policy reversal.
However, in a statement shared by one of the aide to the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Saka Gbenga, the reduction showed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the Aviation sector.
According to Saka, the President will thoughtfully address workers’ demands by seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.
“This move aligns with the minister, Festus Keyamo’s assurance to workers’ unions and other stakeholders that President Tinubu is deeply committed to enhancing the Aviation sector. The President aims to thoughtfully address their demands, seeking a balanced, lasting solution that meets both government fiscal needs and the operational requirements of Aviation Agencies.”
However, earlier in the day, the minister on his verified X handle said the concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact the deductions had on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.
“We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry. The ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
“The minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all. We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.”
[Leadership]
Barely 10 months after a court overturned $11 billion damages against Nigeria in the controversial Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) deal, the federal government is facing another legal battle involving a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, which is seeking to enforce a $70 million arbitration award against Nigeria.
But does the federal government stand a chance of emerging as the victor in the current case?
Seasoned analysts weighed the odds in what they described as a mismanaged deal in separate interviews with Weekend Trust on Friday.
Zhongshan recently got an order from a court in France to enforce the award following an aborted contract between the company and the Ogun State Government, which was initiated in 2007.
The order, which authorised the seizure of the three presidential jets under maintenance in France, has since been validated by a United States court, dismissing Nigeria’s sovereign immunity defence to the enforcement of the $70 million award.
The Ogun State government and Zhongshan have been at daggers drawn over the management of an export processing zone in the Gateway state.
In 2010, Zhongshan Fucheng, through its parent company, Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun State, Nigeria.
In 2011, Zhongshan established Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE, to manage the project with the Ogun State government’s permission.
In July 2016, Zhongshan accused the Ogun State government of attempting to terminate its appointment and install a new manager for the free trade zone.
Zhongshan initiated an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria under the bilateral investment treaty between China and Nigeria (China-Nigeria BIT).
The arbitrators ruled in favour of Zhongshan, awarding approximately $70 million in compensation. In January 2022, Zhongshan sought enforcement of the arbitration award.
In addition to the seizure of the presidential jets, a court of appeal in the US has authorised the Chinese company’s final charging orders over two residential properties owned by Nigeria.
The development worsens a crisis that the Nigerian government has been attempting to manage in Europe and prevent from spilling to other jurisdictions.
Nigeria had pleaded state immunity against the arbitration but was denied by a United Kingdom High Court judge, Sara Cockerill, who noted Nigeria’s abuse of the timeframe for appealing arbitral awards.
In the majority judgement issued by Patricia Millett and Julianna Childs, the US court held that the final arbitration award is enforceable under the New York convention since the dispute is between “persons” that share a legal commercial relationship.
The court ruled that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) arbitration exception stripped Nigeria of sovereign immunity in the arbitration award case.
However, in the dissenting judgement, the third judge, Gregory Katsas, argued that when the New York convention was drafted, the word “persons” did not include a sovereign nation.
Katsas held that the action of Ogun State cannot be attributed to Nigeria, adding that the arbitration award “arises solely out of Nigeria’s sovereign acts governed by public international law.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency had accused Zhongshan of attempting to take over Nigeria’s offshore assets through subterfuge.
“The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
“The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government,” a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday read in part.
Also speaking on the development on Thursday, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said Nigeria has initiated both legal and diplomatic steps to ensure the release of three seized presidential aircraft in France and Switzerland.
In the statement by his spokesperson, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Attorney-General said its efforts were grounded in the principle that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used exclusively for sovereign purposes, and therefore immune from attachment.
“The Offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation, have already set in motion both legal and diplomatic steps to ensure the discharge of the inappropriate orders against the aircrafts, which are covered by sovereign immunity,” it said.
The government also maintained that the interim orders against the aircraft were inappropriate, given their status under sovereign immunity.
Trade zone dispute mismanaged – Lawyers
Some lawyers have criticised the handling of the dispute with the Chinese firm that resulted in the confiscation of the country’s presidential aircraft.
Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) bemoaned Nigeria’s tendency to breach international agreements of this nature, urging the federal government to opt for a settlement.
He said, “If there is a dispute and one side has evinced a view for settlement, I think it is important to explore that option, irrespective of the court or arbitration panel that heard the matter.
“The more reason we should opt for settlement is because they are producing what we cannot on that land mapped out for the FTZ.”
In his view, Nkem Okoro Esq, called for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of officials involved in the mishandling of the contract to show that the government of Nigeria is not complicit in the breach and to avoid soiling its image further.
“The only honourable thing for the Nigerian government to do now is the payment of the sum awarded against it by the arbitration panel. At least this way, Nigeria can reassure would-be international investors of the safety of their investments in Nigeria.
“Nigeria breached the agreement it had with the Chinese company; an arbitral award was made against Nigeria, and Nigeria has refused to do the most honourable thing: pay and atone for your shortcomings.
“The seizure of Nigeria’s assets is a colossal and unmitigated embarrassment to the federation, already. To think that rather than paying, Nigeria will be looking for ways to defeat the award is also exacerbating the situation against the international image of Nigeria,” he said.
He said there is no doubt that Nigeria is a party in the dispute because free zones in Nigeria are managed, controlled, and administered by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, which is an agency of the federal government.
A human rights lawyer, Nkereuwem Akpan, Esq, also called for a diplomatic approach to resolving the dispute.
He, however, cautioned that under international law, sovereign states enjoy sovereign immunity from execution, and as such, it would be improper for one state to seize the assets of another, which could lead to chaos if it leads to tit for tat.
Nigeria’s image, foreign investment drive at stake
The Zhongshan matter brings to mind earlier cases of P&ID arbitration ruling over Nigeria tardiness in a failed gas supply and processing contract.
Similarly, in 2019, an Irish engineering firm was awarded $9.6 billion in damages against Nigeria by a UK court over a failed gas project. The firm instructed lawyers to identify Nigerian assets worldwide that could be seized to enforce the record-breaking arbitration award.
A former foreign Affairs Minister and professor of political science, Ambassador Bolaji Akinyemi, said there is a provision in international law which provides that where a nation is involved in commercial activities, its agency will not have diplomatic immunity—an exception to the general rule that states enjoy diplomatic immunity.
He said, “In this particular case, Ogun is not a sovereign state. It is Nigeria that is recognised, and so property belonging to Nigeria is now exposed to this exception to diplomatic immunity.
“I don’t know who the lawyers of Ogun State were when this case came up; the last judgement we had was decided in the United States Court of Appeal. And the judges ruled by a vote of two to one that the Nigerian property does not enjoy diplomatic immunity. This is bad for our image and position internationally. It should never have been allowed to get to this stage.”
Commenting on the development, Dakuku Adol Peterside, former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said the development raised fundamental issues worth interrogating.
He said, coming after the Dangote saga, this is one too many, and the global perception of our country is not good.
“At the time we thought we are beginning to see some increase in foreign direct investment inflow, suddenly, the government is giving out false signals. We already have economic policy challenges; we have foreign exchange volatility and there is a general clout of negative perception about the strength and health of the Nigerian economy.
“Right now, there are institutional weaknesses that investors are grappling with, including the fact that our judiciary doesn’t give people a lot of confidence. Added to all these challenges is the Nigeria-Ogun-Chinese company crisis. There is no way it will not significantly impact investors’ confidence.
“It (the confidence) will weaken, and this is not good for us. Government needs to understand the place of signalling. Perception means a lot to investment. Investment will not go to where it is not safe,” he stated.
Peterside contended that the case reeked of the untidiness that has characterised Nigeria’s international contracts.
He said states and even private companies had found ways of roping in the federal government into their untidy deals.
“In the process, our national reputation has even further cheapened,” he added.
Options available for FG
Prof. Akinyemi urged the federal government to warn all state governors about cancelling contracts signed by their predecessors, whether the agreements involved foreign or domestic companies.
“To me, it is arrogance of power on the part of the Ogun State government. Governors come in and just decide to do anything. They have ruined a lot of domestic companies whose contracts have been cancelled like that,” he added.
Prof. Akinyemi, who is the chairman of the National Think Tank, also admonished the federal government to approach the Chinese government and Chinese companies doing business in Nigeria.
“The Chinese government should call the Chinese company and put pressure on it to settle out of court with Nigeria. That is the important proposal, so that Chinese interest in Nigeria will not be adversely affected by what is going on,” the diplomat said.
On the way forward, Peterside said Nigeria could not continue to be seen as a country whose transactions are opaque and not respectful of contracts, saying these perceptions could deter foreign investors from having anything to do with the country.
Peterside, who is also a former House of Representatives member, advised that the office of the Attorney General of the federation should take a closer look at international contracts entered into by states to insulate sovereign assets from culpability.
Nigeria has a strong case
–Agbakoba
However, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has insisted that Nigeria has a strong defence on two grounds.
He said in international law, there is a compelling reason to argue that attachment of property belonging to a sovereign state such as Nigeria is free from attachment under an order of court.
“In this case, evidence that the aircraft are owned by Nigeria and are strictly used for diplomatic purposes, is in my view a good ground for Nigeria to successfully recover the aircraft from attachment.
“The second strong reason would be that the attachment of the aircraft is said to be in respect of a debt owed by Ogun State, which is a wholly different political entity from the sovereign state of Nigeria. The attached aircraft would, in those circumstances, be unjustified and I think it is reasonable to presume that Nigeria has a very good chance of success,” he stated.
Chinese firm mulls negotiations, releases seized jet
Meanwhile, Zhongshan has said it is open to negotiations with the Nigerian government over the matter. The company was quoted in a statement reported by Premium Times on Thursday that it only sought to assert its rights under international law and was confident in its case.
“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing,” the statement said.
On Friday, the Online Newspaper quoted a Zhongshan spokesperson as saying that the company had released one of the confiscated aircraft.
“Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making.
“It (Zhongshan) has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.
“Zhongshan remains committed to talks with representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, this time serious and substantive on both sides, with a view to reaching a reasonable compromise settlement rapidly,” the official said.
[DailyTrust]
The ousted Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi of planning to hijack the party in the state to fight President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Okocha, however, vowed never to allow Amaechi and his alleged stooge, Emeka Beke have their way against Tinubu.
He spoke to journalists in Abuja while reacting to the court judgment that sacked his committee on August 15.
A High Court in Port Harcourt had sacked the Okocha-led caretaker committee while reinstating Emeka Beke as the APC Chairman.
However, Okocha said: “We imagine how a person of low academic qualifications can preside over a meeting that some of us would attend but the APC leader then said they wanted somebody who had a street boy mentality.
“But the truth was that he wanted a surrogate, a stooge who would do his bidding. We fought but the APC leader was then a minister and his vestiges were here as leaders of the party.
“At the presidential primaries of the APC, Beke was the person who led the Rivers delegation of 56 delegates to vote for Rotimi Amaechi. That was how they scored 56 from the state.
“There is an intention to throw up Amaechi’s man and then he (Amaechi) becomes the APC leader and then uses the APC to fight Mr President in 2027. We will never allow that.”
[DailyPost]
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps, says it has demobilised 54 illegally mobilised graduates of the University of Calabar, to prevent the award of Certificates of National Service to unqualified persons.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Scheme’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, on Friday night.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, adding that the illegal graduates would be prosecuted accordingly.
He said of the 54, nineteen of them initially registered online for mobilization, have been prevented from service, while four (4) Certificates of National Service for other culprits, were not produced by the Scheme.
Recall that the NYSC had earlier on Monday, invalidated the Certificates of 101 illegally mobilised graduates of UNICAL, who were part of the scheme between 2021-2023.
Following the invalidation of the certificates, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), commended the Scheme for exposing fake graduates who were fraudulently mobilised, pledging to take action against staff involved in the mobilisation of fake graduates from the institution.
The NYSC DG disclosed that a bread seller had been illegally mobilized from the University, while commending the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, for hinting the NYSC about the illegal mobilisations.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list and they ought not to have been there. She checked the list the school gave us and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated. I give kudos to the Vice-Chancellor.
“Previously, a bread seller was mobilised on the graduation list from the same institution, there are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates”, the DG said.
He stated further that the Scheme would intensify its collaboration with Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and relevant stakeholders in the country to stop the menace.
Ahmed added that any failure in the mobilisation process from any school falls on the integrity of the management of such an institution, stating, “Those who are responsible for imputing the data of graduates should be people of integrity.”
He called on all employers of labour in the country to verify the authenticity of Certificates of National Service being presented for job placement from the NYSC.
[Punch]
Amnesty International says over 1,000 #EndBadGovernance protesters are in custody nationwide.
Nigerians staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship from August 1–10.
The protesters demanded a reduction in the cost of governance, return to the petrol subsidy regime, food security, and fiscal discipline, among others.
The demonstration, however, turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.
Following the protests, the police announced the arrest of perpetrators in some states.
In a statement posted on its X page on Friday, the international rights watchdog described the prosecution of 441 persons in Kano as an “unfair trial“.
The organisation called on the federal government to ensure the immediate release of all arrested protesters, while ensuring that its obligation towards upholding citizens’ right to freedom of assembly and expression is not undermined.
“The Nigerian authorities are escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters against hunger and corruption,” the organisation said.
“Over 1000 people have been remanded nationwide. Today 441 people were arraigned in Kano, in what is set out to be an unfair trial based on trumped up charges.
“Amnesty International again calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. The government of Nigeria has an obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
[TheCable]
Say, their allowances ‘re scandalous, unacceptable
They ‘re insensitive to the hardship in Nigeria
No positive impact of their laws on people’s living standard
Want their allowances cut down
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Friday stirred fresh controversy concerning the outrageous take-home pay of our federal lawmakers when he chided them for fixing their own salaries and allowances which he described as immoral.
President Obasanjo made the accusation while receiving six members of the House of Representatives who are co-sponsors of bills on single term / rotational presidency led by Ugochinyere Ikenga representing Ideato North and Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo state.
At the meeting, Obasanjo said, “With all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries. But you decide what you pay yourself, the allowances that you give yourselves. You give yourselves all sorts of things, and you know it is not right.
It is immoral, yet you are doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you are beating your chests about it. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got N200 million each.”
The Senate in a statement last Sunday refuted the claims by Obasanjo stating that they were lies. Putting up a defence of the lawmakers however, Mohammed Shehu, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, the body responsible for fixing salaries and allowances of public servants, in a statement last Tuesday said that “each of the 109 senators in the upper chamber receives a total of N1.06m as salary and allowances per month.”
A breakdown of their monthly earnings as prescribed by the Commission showed that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860, consisting of a basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance, N126,650:00; and personal assistant, N42,216:66. Others include domestic staff,126,650:00; entertainment, N50,660:00; utilities, N50,660:00; newspapers/periodicals, N25,330:00; wardrobe, N42,216,66:00; house maintenance, N8,443.33:00; and constituency allowance, N422,166:66.
The Chairman of the Commission in the statement noted that “any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation”.
However, in a riposte to the claim by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission that senators are paid N1m as salary, serving senator, Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South senatorial district on Wednesday disclosed a hitherto closely-guarded secret about the exact amount senators take home every month. Speaking on BBC Hausa Service, Senator Kawu said, his salary and allowances were about N1m and after deductions, it amounted to about N600,000 but his total take home package every month was N21m.
Recall that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central at the Senate had once publicly disclosed that each Senator then, collected a monthly running cost of N13.5m in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the commission which has now been reviewed upward.
Senator Kawu’s disclosure that each senator now earns N21m monthly has elicited sharp reactions from Nigerians who described it as scandalous in the midst of the country’s struggling economy and widespread poverty.
They decried a situation whereby 80% of the citizens cannot afford three square meals per day while a selected few are receiving humongous pay for doing next to nothing. Nigerians lamented that our representatives do not go into political office to serve Nigeria but to make money for themselves to the detriment of the general well being of the country.
They therefore want the relevant government agencies to prosecute members of the National Assembly for contravening the extant laws by fixing their own salaries and allowances.
Our lawmakers are there for themselves, not for the people — Abia monarch
Paramount traditional ruler of Abiriba ancient kingdom of Abia State, HRM Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu (Anachoken Abiriba), said that “Nigeria lawmakers are only after their personal welfare and not bothered about the needs of the masses.
It is regrettable that some of our public office holders had taken Nigeria as their personal estate where only making profits is all that matters to them. It is very sad. Nigerian youths should therefore keep asking questions and demanding that the right things be done for the good of all”.
Leaders should be thinking of how to fix the country — Archbishop Raphael Opoko
The Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Ecclesiastical Diocese, Archbishop Raphael Opoko, said it called for concern if indeed senators go home with such a jumbo allowance every month especially at a time many Nigerians could not afford their daily meal.
According to him, “if it’s indeed true that a Senator collects a monthly allowance of N21 million, and minimum wage for workers is N70,000, then something is definitely wrong with the country.
Our hospitals are not working; the economy is collapsing. Leaders should be thinking of how to fix the country, and not how to collect jumbo allowances. This casts doubt on the quality of persons we have as leaders”.
Those fleecing the nation should be punished—Algoa Morris
Former chairman Civil Liberties Organisation, Bayelsa State, Algoa Morris, said: “Those who have been given the privilege to man public offices have turned such to their cocoa farms. Today Nigeria does not have a national carrier, after they milked and grounded the Nigerian Airways. The NNPCL too is wobbling.
Nigeria should do something about this fleecing of the nation by political office holders. Legislators can work on a part-time basis or their number can be reduced and allowances slashed drastically.
If these people in the National Assembly are patriotic, they should not even take N10m in the name of allowances. It is very sad, unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Our lawmakers are insensitive — Elder Joseph Ambakederimo
Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener South South Reawakening Group said: “It is preposterous that the salary of public officers is being shrouded in secrecy. What are they hiding that is not an open secret already.
It is insensitive for a set of people to appropriate such humongous amount as allowances. These outrageous salaries and allowances drain our limited resources at a time when our finances are low. Therefore the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission should be bold and prosecute those who have gone out of their way to appropriate resources outside of the law to themselves.”
RMAFC are partners with National Assembly — Furoebi Akene
Furoebi Akene, chairman, Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development (CEPAD) said: “Nigeria is known to be notoriously and fantastically corrupt.
They assume every other person is a fool to believe them. They always say the Nigerian populace are toothless who can talk but cannot bite.
Can someone spend hundreds of millions of naira or even over a billion naira to contest elections just to go and earn a million naira a month for four years? The RMAFC cannot tell Nigerians the truth because they are partners in crime with the National Assembly and others”.
Our legislators should cut down their allowances — Mohammed Danlami
Speaker of Arewa Youth Assembly, Mohammed Salihu Danlami said: “It is so sad today that our elected representatives have abused the trust we invested in them by their selfishness. It is quite disheartening to know that those we elected to represent us at the Senate and the House of Representatives and Houses of Assemblies across states, now represent only themselves and their families.
Our Senators and Rep Members should as a matter of urgency, show some solidarity by cutting down their bogus allowances so as to free funds for other human capital projects that can better the lives of the people they represent.
Compromises, corruption responsible for lawmakers’ recklessness — MBF
The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, blamed a governance system that thrives on compromises and corruption for the humongous allowances Nigerian lawmakers take home in relation to their performances and commitment to duty. The National President of the MBF, Dr. Pogu Bitrus who spoke on the issue in Makurdi, said, “nobody is ready to serve Nigeria, people look for offices just to make money and this is really unfortunate.
The problem we have is that we have a governance system that has only survived on compromises, corruption and bribery. The executive allows the legislators to do whatever they like, appropriating money for themselves because of the fear that the executive has for the legislature.
The Revenue Mobilization Commission is supposed to fix salaries, but the lawmakers ignore it and do whatever they feel like and nobody in the executive can do anything about it because the executive wants to survive and to survive it must allow the lawmakers to have their way.
The only way to tackle this problem is for us to go back to the parliamentary system where the Prime Minister is also a member of Parliament who doesn’t have to bribe his colleagues to allow him to be a Prime Minister or to do his job. Also, legislation doesn’t have to be a permanent job”.
The allowances are scandalous, they should be scrapped — Tope Temokun
Tope Temokun, human right activist and lawyer, said that “All the explosive allowances for public office holders and lawmakers should be scrapped. The first sincerity test for the government is to cut the running cost of governance.
Corruption won’t go as far as public office holders see public offices as business. The allowances of political office holders drain the country of blood and oxygen for survival. Politicians break the banks to bankroll elections because they see politics as business. The first thing to do is to cut the earnings of political office holders to make it more of selfless service than business.
The citizens groan under the yoke of hunger because the country’s resources are used to subsidize the extravagant lifestyle of those in government through fraudulent allowances being paid to both elected and appointed public office holders. The allowances are scandalous, they should be scrapped. It’s not just the allowances that eat deep into our Commonwealth, but the luxuries of elected public office holders that we fund.
RMAFC acting criminally in defiance of court orders – Ogwuche
A Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Festus Ogwuche, submitted that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC, should be blamed for the confusion in the remuneration of the federal lawmakers, by acting in defiance of 2021 court order.
According to Ogwuche, “there is a subsisting judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos division presided by Obiozor J in 2021 which compelled the RMAFC to regularly review downward the salaries and allowances of the legislators and bring it in conformity with the economic realities of the day.
That order of court only re-echoed the Constitutional provisions alongside the Commission’s mandate under its establishment. Justice Obiozor had rightly stated in the judgment that given the level of extreme poverty ravaging the land, the failure of the Commission to review the salaries and allowances of the legislators is a gross violation of the Constitution.
As at the date of the judgment, the commission had failed to make any such review for more than ten years. Even upon that well thought out decision, the Commission remained indifferent to the clear orders of the court.
That’s where the crux of the matter lies. Having failed to abide by the decision of the court in the direction of the downward review of the emoluments we now have a situation where the total take home package for the average lawmaker could get to as high as N21m monthly aside the N1m salary”.
We’re tired of a system that prioritizes wealth over welfare — Abiodun Bamgboye
The Acting National Chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria, Abiodun Bamgboye said , “It is a grave injustice for lawmakers to thrive in luxury while the majority of Nigerians struggle to survive.
A government that fails to address the needs of its people is a government that has lost its way. We demand accountability now! Reform is not just necessary, it is imperative. We need a legislative system that reflects the values and struggles of the people.
The growing outrage among Nigerians is a powerful signal. The people are tired of a system that prioritizes wealth over welfare.”
Lawmakers’ allowances not in the best interest of Nigerian workers —Lanre Ogunsuyi
Public analyst, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, described the bloated remuneration of lawmakers in the National Assembly as the height of insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians. Ogunsuyi, said that the ‘bloated salary’ is a shame to the nation, as it is not in the best interest of Nigerian workers.
According to him, “it is a shame of a nation for a group of national workers employed by Nigerians to fix their salaries and allowances in contravention of extant laws which mandated the relevant body to fix. These allowances and benefits are not inclusive of other perks like free medical care, housing, and security details. Their total package should be reviewed to reflect the country’s economic realities”.
Similarly, another public affairs analyst, Mr Debo Ajayi stressed the need for lawmakers to carry their constituents along by interfacing with them through regular communication.
He said, “it’s the height of insensitivity for our leaders not to carry the people along in their legislative duties. The citizens are not foreigners, they are their brothers and sisters. When leaders don’t carry their people along, they are telling them that they don’t care”.
Lawmakers’ allowances not commensurate with their performances — Moruff Balogun
Former Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ijebu Ode branch, Moruff Balogun, said,”The allowances of the lawmakers cannot be matched with their performances. The Nigerian leaders must lead by example for meaningful developments to happen in Nigeria.
They must match their words with actions, and stop throwing dust into the peoples’ eyes. They cannot be living extravagantly and expect those who are led to fold their arms without raising an eyebrow. After the just conducted nationwide protest against hunger, one would expect the leaders to urgently find lasting solutions to the problems associated with the theme of the protest.
No amount of rules and regulations coupled with sanctions can calm a hungry man. It is high time we started the advocacy for the unicameral legislature. The cost of governance is too high, the Constitution should be amended to create room for a unicameral system. The crowd in the National Assembly is not needed”.
Elder Statesman and former Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani said: “Why should our lawmakers earn jumbo pay whereas the laws which they make have never helped the nation socioeconomically, and they are going through hunger and hardship.
Public servants’ salaries, allowances shouldn’t be shrouded in secrecy — Ogunbiyi Olajunwo
Legal practitioner and social justice advocate, Ogunbiyi Olajunwo contended that, “Salaries and allowances of public servants should not be shrouded in secrecy.
The RMAFC needs to be more transparent and come clean to the public. It is unfortunate for our senators to be earning N21m in a month in a country where over 80% of the citizens cannot afford three square meals per day. We, the citizens, need to rise up and demand the truth from RMAFC.”
The real pain is what is looted beyond official entitlements — Zik Gbemre
Zik Gbemre, Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, said “the most critical factor inducing the extreme hardship in the country is the greater chunk of the commonwealth that these lawmakers steal through corrupt budget padding, underground and ghost contracts from government and her juicy agencies and departments, car acquisitions and numerous channels for looting that have grounded the country. Reducing the lawmakers’ official financial entitlement won’t change anything meaningful.
There is so much being looted to corruption beyond bogus salaries. And this is not just about lawmakers in the National Assembly. It cuts across the spectrum of government at all tiers.
There is a need to overhaul every sector and make the government functional. There is no functional system in Nigeria, the entire system has collapsed. Until we have radical leaders with zero tolerance for corruption, nepotism and tribalism, Nigeria will continue to decline and poverty and unemployment will remain unrestrained.”
They are just sharing the national cake among themselves — Emmanuel Kuejubola
A public affairs commentator, Mr Emmanuel Kuejubola said: “It is so unfortunate that the persons we elected to represent us have decided to corner our resources for themselves. The N1 million pay is their salary and that is what is taxable while the remaining N20m is not taxable. Apart from this, there are also the constituency projects.
They are just sharing the national cake among themselves. The National Assembly is an opportunity for some people to make money for themselves. When you pay such huge amounts of money to some persons in an economy that is not productive, it will surely have a negative impact on the country”.
Our legislators should be paid based on the minimum wage — Ogidi
The president of theNetwork of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), Comrade Emmanuel Ogidi described our Senators and members of the House of Representatives as anti-people and advocated that they should be paid based on the national minimum wage.
According to him, “these legislators are defrauding the people in a country where the minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice, where citizens cannot access good medical facilities and where the children of the poor cannot afford basic and proper education, as our higher institutions are now for the children of the rich. Many of the legislators we have today, enjoyed free education during their time owing to good leadership and the resources of this country.
All the money voted for our Senators and members of the House of Representatives which are tagged constituency allowances should be made available for our local governments that engage in grassroot projects. It is not those who are making laws that should be building roads, sinking boreholes or engage in empowerment”.
Nigerians need to know the truth — Chief Oladipo Oyewole
Chief Oladipo Oyewole, Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE,, said, “we believe that this is the moment of truth when our leaders must come clean for us to know the exact situation particularly as the youths are restive and tirelessly asking for reduction in the cost of governance. It is expedient for Nigerians to be told the truth if only to save us any national embarrassment”.
Politicians who breach the laws of RMAFC should be penalized — Adeola Fehintola
An Ibadan based legal practitioner, Mr Adeola Fehintola, said, “it is the height of arbitrariness and reckless lawlessness in a constitutional democracy for parliamentarians to breach the laws they enacted for the people through the 1999 constitution as amended,y.
Excesses like this have drained the purse of the commonwealth and turned our lawmakers to demigods as they are now richer than the state. What they embark on are laws that suit their elitist cravings and luxuries at the expense of the majority of Nigerians who wallow in penury and abject impoverishment.
There is an institution that is given the mandate to determine what should be salaries and allowances of our lawmakers and amendments should be made to check uncontrolled and abuse of awards of what constitutes salaries, allowance and severance allowance by our lawmakers and executive officers as provided by the law.
Now, to evaluate the relationship between the quality and functionality of the representation of these lawmakers can be seen in the fruits of dividends of their laws and oversight functions that have not had positive impacts on the quality of standard of living and state of infrastructure in the country.
It is imperative to make the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission penalize politicians who breach its laws using the anti corruption agencies and Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
Lawmakers’ offices should be identified for micro protest — Esele
Former President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Peter Esele said, “lawmakers’ allowances have been increasing right from the time of Obasanjo as President.
People merely have an increased appetite for aggrandizement. This is not just happening in the National Assembly alone. It is there in the executive and other institutions, it has become a way of life.
As a people, we have to identify the offices of our lawmakers and vent our anger by way of micro-zoning our protest in their offices. That way, we won’t disturb the peace of the society.
There must be respect for our value system and the law. Nigerians must hold the leadership of the National Assembly accountable for what they are earning which does not have a commensurate positive impact on the citizens and the media must stay on this development until the NASS does something about it”.
Role of RMAFC needs re-evaluation — Suleiman Abdul-Azeez
Spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, said, “the fiscal irresponsibility and opacity surrounding the fixing of these allowances are indicative of corruption and misapplication of national resources that could be better utilized for public welfare.
The role of the RMAFC in regulating legislative compensation also needs a re-evaluation to ensure transparency, accountability, and genuine public service.”
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has strongly berated the trend of the repackaging, rebranding, and resale of government palliatives meant for the general populace.
Olukoyede pointed out that such actions compromise the government’s initiatives aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by vulnerable groups.
Naija News reports that the EFCC chairman made these comments during a meeting with Olatunji Bello, the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in Abuja.
In a statement released on Friday, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, conveyed that Olukoyede called upon the FCCPC to collaborate with the EFCC by sharing intelligence to improve operational effectiveness.
The EFCC Chairman acknowledged that the FCCPC had uncovered various issues concerning the misappropriation of palliatives and stressed that a partnership with the anti-graft agency would be instrumental in preventing such misconduct.
Olukoyede said, “Sometimes when the government releases palliatives, they do not reach the intended recipients.
“Instead, some individuals repackage, rebrand, and sell them. There are all sorts of shenanigans in our systems. It is, therefore, crucial that you share your intelligence with us to support your compliance or surveillance departments and overall operations.
“When you have such intelligence, please do not hesitate to inform us. You have been effective in identifying these issues, but sanctions are also necessary.
“The only thing that deters people is sanctions. We are committed to strengthening our collaboration and taking it to new heights to ensure that people feel the impact of your work.”
In his remark, Bello disclosed that the purpose of his visit was to seek greater collaboration with the EFCC to improve the delivery of the FCCPC’s mandate.
He said, “We believe in a collaborative effort. We need to leverage the strengths of your work, particularly in areas related to surveillance and investigation involving consumers. Our duty is to protect the interests of consumers in Nigeria.”
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has berated Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to recognise the court judgment on his reinstatement to office.
Naija News recalls that the duo have been at loggerheads over issues regarding the governorship election in the state.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Shaibu said he was asked to be Obaseki’s deputy to add political value to the party’s ticket because the Governor was not a politician.
Shaibu also stated that it took former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, three months to convince him to support Obaseki to become governor.
He said, “Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki.
“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, he did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him.”
Nigerian rapper, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, widely known as Ruggedman, recently revealed his reasons for distancing himself from the controversial self-proclaimed activist, VeryDarkMan.
During a recent episode of the Echoo Room podcast, Ruggedman explained that his support for VeryDarkMan waned when the activist began delving into people’s personal lives.
He expressed concern that VeryDarkMan’s methods had become less logical and more intrusive.
The rapper compared VeryDarkMan’s approach to that of a police officer resorting to extreme measures prematurely, suggesting that as a professional, there are more appropriate ways to handle such situations.
Ruggedman emphasized that while he initially supported VeryDarkMan for his efforts to hold people accountable for selling products without proper NAFDAC approval, he has become disillusioned with the activist’s recent actions.
Ruggedman said, “I liked VeryDarkMan in the beginning when he started with the whole NAFDAC number thing but when he started going personal into people’s private lives, especially with women. That to me, he is just distracting himself.
“But it is like saying a policeman took a shooting which was his last resort as the first. They will tell you but if you’re a professional you are supposed to be used to it.
“So even if someone says something against you there is a way you should address it. Not your mama, your papa. You don’t catch me doing that but that’s me.
“His approach is what I don’t like anymore. He was calling out people that sell products without a NAFDAC number, that’s amazing but now what do you hear about him?
“Iyabo Ojo and her daughter kind of thing, that’s why I said it is his approach I’m not okay with. So any response he gets from them is probably what he said.
“I think what he said stemmed from what I think was Mohbad’s situation. Where he said the old retired actresses are trying to use the situation as clout. Everyone knows it was Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
“Now you can’t say something like that and don’t expect people to respond. So he started it. That’s what I meant by people’s private lives.”
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Shoplifting Allegations: It Is Ridiculous To Claim That Someone Of My Calibre Is A Thief – Lizzy Anjorin
AFOLABINollywood actress Lizzy Anjorin has said that it is impossible for someone of her calibre to steal gold worth ₦91,000.
The thespian stated this while revisiting the controversial theft case that surfaced on social media months ago.
Anjorin was accused of stealing a gram of gold worth ₦91,000 at Idumota market in Lagos.
However, speaking during an appearance in a podcast, the actress stated that the value of the alleged gold could be compared to a grain of rice.
She dismissed the case, adding that someone of her calibre, who deals in heavy gold and other fashion accessories worth millions, could not stoop so low as to steal gold worth ₦91,000
According to her, “Let’s establish the fact that we are talking about N91,000 gold when a gram of gold was around N150,000. A gram of gold is less than a grain of rice, so how can I go into the market to steal something less than a grain of rice? I am a certified jewellery seller, I sell gold and I sell diamonds. You can tell just by looking at me. I am a certified fabric merchant, and if you watch me closely, you will realise that I am not a simple person when it comes to fashion—I love it big.”
Continuing, she said, “What I am wearing right now is like 350 to 400 grams, and everybody knows I don’t sell small gold jewellery, I sell 19 to 22 carats. I sell the best jewellery. So how can I stoop so low as to steal a gram of gold at Eko Idumota? That is ridiculous. I am not a thief; I will never be a thief. I am just too disciplined and too straightforward to become a thief.”
On July 10, the federal government officially announced the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of food commodities as part of initiatives to curtail the prevailing economic hardship worsened by high prices of commodities.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, said the measure is a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities, which involves the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of food maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
On Wednesday, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced the implementation of the policy after it received a letter on the presidential approval for the initiative to be implemented.
The federal government believes the measure would ameliorate the high cost of food items in the Nigerian market.
‘REDUCING HIGH COST OF ITEMS WHILE LOSING REVENUE’
But analysts are divided over the federal government’s strategy which seeks to address the high cost of food items through the tax waiver.
Olorunfemi Toyin, the country representative of Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), described the policy as a short-term palliative meant to address food security but said it would affect Nigeria’s internally generated revenue (IGR) significantly.
“The revenues that has been suspended for now, would have been money generated to address some challenges in the country, isn’t it? Because what we are saying is that revenue should stop,” Toyin said.
“We are also having problems of internally generated revenue. It can no longer meet our needs. It’s like we are surviving on loss and incurred debt. So for me, it’s very important that there should be a broader strategy beyond these palliative.
“Because for consumers, he’s looking at price reduction, for businesses, it is having them to reduce their production costs and all of that but the global thing is to ensure that we are having very strong plans.”
Also, Toyin said the policy is “not impactful,” as it has a “very low shelf life” in terms of impacts to both businesses and the system.
It is almost detrimental to the economy, according to the expert.
‘TAX WAIVER ON WRONG FOOD COMMODITIES’
In the announcement by Kyari, the federal government limited the tax waiver to maize, husked brown rice, wheat, grain beans, and millet.
However, Emmanuel Oparah Ogu, former president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), said the tax waiver would have “no positive impact” because the main food items that Nigerians need were not included.
“The announcement has not reduced hunger in the country. Then when you talk of other food items, I don’t know another food item that people talk about if not rice,” he said.
“The husked rice is basically for farmers and not for the end users to access. They are not finished product. The announcement that Mr. President made it to please people because that is exactly what you want to hear.
“So, I understand that it is a way of them bringing down the price of food items but I mean, giving waivers to goods that are not the major things is what I don’t understand.”
Ogu urged the government to make all food items “duty-free both from land and sea” as that would go a long way to helping everyone, especially the poor.
‘HIGH FX RATE AFFECTING FOOD COSTS’
With the official foreign exchange rate at N1,564.48 per dollar as of Thursday, there are questions as to whether the tax waiver on imported food items would crash the prices of food since a high FX rate remains a challenge for importers.
The high FX rate has led to imported inflation, which affects goods sold to the end users.
With the naira trading at over N1,500 against the dollar, experts believe that the policy would only succeed in achieving availability — not affordability.
Also speaking on the role of FX in the prices of food items, Ogu said the high exchange rate should have also been considered.
“You know the problem, our politicians are wiser than us. How can you float exchange rates? What stops them from reducing exchange rates? Let them peg it at a particular amount so importers will know what they are doing.”
However, Toyin said the affordability of the food items will not be a challenge as the FX rate has been stable.
‘A QUICK FIX’
On his part, Shakirueen Taiwo, an economist at Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), described the tax waiver as a quick fix.
Taiwo said the goal of the government is basically to reduce the “current level of high food insecurity in the country by reducing the price of goods and services”.
“So it means the government will have to work towards bringing down the cost of food as much as they could. The government has two ways; the quick fix and the short and meantime. Both measures are aimed towards increasing the availability of food,” he said.
“The first is that the government should ensure massive importation of those grains either from neighbouring countries, from developed countries, or developed or international commodity markets.
“The second is that the government must increase our productivity, agricultural productivity in the country. This is the medium to long term.
“That cannot be achieved in the next one or two months. It’s not possible. So government then has to go for the quick fix which is to ensure massive importation of goods and services.
“The government has to be sure that the imported goods are coming at a minimal cost so that the final cost to the end users will also be affordable or at a price lower than the current market price.
“So for this policy at this moment I would say it is good but it is even coming so late. The eradication of hunger will not come with one government policy. We would need to ensure that Nigeria’s agricultural potentials are at optimal level.”
Taiwo added that the government must ensure that the bottlenecks concerning logistics are addressed as quickly as possible, deploy tools, enhance irrigation farming, and roads from the farm to the market must be fixed.
Goodnews ‘Gnewzy’ Emuemu, the fast-rising singer, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.
In April, Gnewzy was abducted along Eklat road in Ughelli, Delta state while heading home from an event.
Eric Many Records, his music label, said Obas9ice, the singer’s manager and brother, “narrowly escaped” the kidnap.
The abductors were said to have contacted Dilly Umenyiora, the record label’s CEO, via mail demanding a $200,000 ransom.
The fast-rising singer was, however, released on May 3.
Narrating his ordeal in a recent interview with HipTV, Gnewzy confirmed that$200,000 was paid to his abductors for his freedom.
The singer also disclosed that his abductors were “dressed in police uniforms”.
“They actually paid a ransom. It was a ransom of about $200,000. I actually went for a radio tour in Delta state. Which is the state where I came from, Ugheli precisely. After the whole tour, to round it up, it was a Sunday, so I said let me just put up a little listening party,” he said.
“It was Sunday, we all got ready for the party, I performed. We left for the apartment that we were in. After a while, my brother said he wanted to pick somebody up. I was like let me go with you.
“We went to where we wanted to pick the person and the person was no longer willing to follow us. We were going home and around a U-turn, they just ran on us and were like come down. They were putting on police uniforms.
“So we got to one certain point. They stopped and dragged my brother out. He was initially trying to struggle with them but they told him they were going to shoot him. He was told to run into the bush or else they would shoot him.
“We were thinking someone was trying to use me to get to my label boss.
“They then covered my face with something. They took me on Sunday and released me on Friday. They even fed me and did not beat me. They gave me food and told me I should not do anything funny or else they would f**k me up.”
Media
“My Boss paid 100,000 dollars to my Kidnappers” - Gnewzy pic.twitter.com/VqadMAJpUx
— HipTv (@HipTv) August 15, 2024
36-year-old Mother Sentenced To 4 years Imprisonment For Engaging In Sexual activity With Two 13-year-old Schoolboys In Her Son's Bedroom
AFOLABIA 36-year-old woman, Natalie Harris has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for engaging in s3xual intercourse with two 13-year-olds in her son's bedroom while he was at school.
The woman started sending s3xual messages to one of the schoolboys on Snapchat before inviting them both to her address.
In a 'total disregard of any moral compass', the mother-of-six developed an 'obsession for s3x with young boys' and wanted 'attention' after a break-up, a court heard.
She was arrested after a video of the thr33some filmed by one of the boys was circulated around their school.
Harris, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, wept in the dock on Thursday as she was jailed for four years, having admitted four counts of engaging in s3xual activity with a child.
A mother of one of the 13-year-old boys told Portsmouth Crown Court that Harris 'has taken away his childhood'.
Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said both boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were 13 at the time of the incident which took place in Waterlooville, near Portsmouth, in November 2022.
Mr Lawson told Portsmouth Crown Court: 'The case came to light in January of last year.
'There was a video that had been circulating around the school both boys attended.
'The police got a call from a concerned parent which showed an adult female engaging in s3xual activity with a boy.'
The court heard the two boys initially denied involvement before one of them eventually told their mother.
Mr Lawson said Harris was identified as the woman in the video via her distinctive hand tattoos.
Her mobile phone was seized by police and a 'thread of messages' between her and one of the boys was found - who she had saved in her contacts as Rachel.
It was heard she told him he 'shouldn't tell anyone' as she could go to prison.
Telling the court how the boy came forward to tell his mum he had been the one who took the video, Mr Lawson said: 'He said in November 2022, around the time of the World Cup, the defendant had started to message him on Snapchat and by text.
'He said the messages became s3xual and invited both boys to go to her house.
'It was clear to both boys they were going there for s3x.'
The court heard that when they arrived at the address, Harris took them to her son's bedroom, where they had s3x for roughly 40 minutes and left before her own boy was due to return from school.
She was arrested and initially claimed 'no knowledge' of who the woman was in the video.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the mother of the boy who came forward said she had seen her son 'fade away' as a result of the 'awful nightmare'.
She added her 'poor boy' has lost interest in several hobbies and now stays indoors as a result.
'My heart just breaks, I couldn't have imagined this happening to my son - he is a child,' she said.
'Natalie has completely turned our family upside down.
'The worst thing about all of this is she has taken away his childhood and I will never forgive her.
'He will never get back the childhood that has been taken from him. This will stay with us now for the rest of our lives.'
Harris, who has since been diagnosed with bipolar and multiple personality disorder - was suffering from a 'manic episode', it was heard.
In mitigation, criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny said Harris was 'deeply remorseful' and 'devastated' about her behaviour.
She said it had been 'triggered' by a break-up with a partner.
On Harris' split with her partner, Judge Sarah Munro KC said: 'You reacted to his departure dramatically.
'In your behaviour, you became extremely promiscuous.'
She said a 'dramatic change' was noted in Harris's mood which included 'an obsession in you for sex with young boys'.
'The boy described how you started to send him messages and invited him to your home,' she said. 'You took them to your son's bedroom and engaged in s3xual activity with both boys.
'They left because it was time for your son to come home from school.'
On the boy who reported the incident, she said: 'The impact upon him has been dreadful. He feels guilty about what happened. You have clearly turned that family upside down and taken his childhood away from him.'
Sentencing her, she continued: 'No sentence I can pass can give him his childhood back or undo the damage you have done to him.'
The judge said the trigger for the 'manic episode' which resulted in 'erratic behaviour' was her split with her partner.
'You felt unloved and you began to act in a way to get attention,' she added. 'In your desire for attention, you gave no consideration on the long-term detrimental impact on these young boys.
'There was significant planning and grooming behaviour used by you, a serious abuse of trust and a very significant disparity in age.'
She added there had been a 'total disregard of any moral compass' and jailed her for four years.
Harris was also made the subject of a ten-year restraining order and a S3xual Harm Prevention Order of the same length.