FEATURES
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has assured that its employment process will be transparent and inclusive.
Kyari assured the 45,689 job applicants that they would take the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBT) as part of the oil company’s recruitment process on Saturday (today).
According to NNPC spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, Kyari, while addressing applicants at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Centenary Resource Centre in Maitama, Abuja, said he was at the centre to ensure the process is smooth, transparent, fair, and credible.
“As an equal opportunity employer, NNPC Ltd. has made special provisions to ensure that applicants with disabilities can take the test without any hindrance,” he said.
The NNPC boss reiterated that only the most qualified candidates among the 45,689 applicants will be selected for employment.
In a related development, in a brief statement on its X handle on Saturday, the national oil company joined in celebrating the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
NNPC promised inclusivity to the persons living with disability who were shortlisted for the recruitment exercise.
“In honour of the International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities, NNPC Limited proudly engaged with our staff living with disabilities and some shortlisted candidates for the ongoing recruitment CBT exams.
“This occasion reaffirms our commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and creating opportunities for everyone. Together, we are fostering a culture of excellence and equal representation,” it read.
Eight suspected armed robbers, including a rusticated operative of the Nigerian Army, have been arrested in Enugu over alleged armed robbery and financial fraud.
According to the Enugu State Police Command, the suspects specialized in interstate armed robbery and financial fraud.
A release by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said their arrest followed coordinated operations involving the Emene Division, Crack and Octopus Tactical Squads, alongside the neighbourhood watch group, adding that items recovered from them were firearms, ammunition, cash, and other stolen items.
Ndukwe gave the names of those arrest as Ismaila Isah (23), Sadik Ahmed (a dismissed soldier, 28), Abbas Usman (33), Mubarak Garba (24), Abubakar Haruna (23), Abubakar Sani (32), Obiri Chukwuebuka (22), and Bright Omeniru (22).
He added that two locally-made pistols loaded with a live and expended cartridge and a cash sum of three hundred thousand, four hundred and fifty naira (₦300,450.00) were recovered.
“Further recovered are ten laptops, land documents, ten mobile phones, assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, four power banks, two SIM cards, footwear, and bags,” he said.
He said, “The operation commenced on November 12, 2024, around 3:30am when operatives from the Emene Division, supported by neighbourhood watch members, responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.
“During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, the said ₦300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.”
He said Ismaila was later transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further investigation, noting that his confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.
According to him, operatives from the Octopus Tactical Squad utilised an intelligence report and arrested Obiri Chukwuebuka and Bright Omeniru in Owerri, Imo State, adding that during interrogations, the suspects admitted to using phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts. He said two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered.
Quoting him, “Investigations reveal that the suspects confessed to committing multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’ mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud. They further confessed to moving and selling the stolen proceeds in Imo and other states.
“Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted to exploiting his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the interstate shipment of the stolen items.”
The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations, said the PPRO.
Embattled Nigerian pastor and founder of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, commonly known as SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has narrated why he flaunts his extravagant lifestyle in the United Kingdom.
This is coming on the heels of his immigration status trial at the UK’s immigration upper tribunal that ruled that the 44-year-old pastor be deported.
The court claimed that Adegboyega had arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but did not leave when it expired, and had sought to remain in the European country on human rights grounds.
However, defending the claim on his extravagant lifestyle in the court, Adegboyega told the judges, Bruce and Rastogi that his wife, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON has been funding him.
He added that his motive for the flaunting was to help young people who are the major congregation in his church believe that there are legitimate ways of making money.
The court ruling obtained by The PUNCH quoted the controversial pastor as saying, “I live with my partner, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON. I spend my time working for the church, for which I am unpaid. I am entirely supported by Mary.
“I have a first-class law degree from Nigeria but I have ‘sacrificed’ my legal career to help those who cannot help themselves.”
The court also heard, “For instance, people have pointed to the fact that he wears designer clothing and drives expensive cars. He was adamant that all of his personal possessions had been paid for by Mary.
“He has never taken a penny from the church. He believes that it is important for him to dress the way that he does because he needs to inspire these young people – they need to understand that there are legitimate ways of making money, for instance through entrepreneurship.”
Reacting to the court’s ruling on his deportation, Adegboyega on Thursday dismissed the allegations, insisting that no amount of persecution would bring him down.
He said, “I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter.
“No panic, I love London city, it is my city and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders, I have survived everything.
“I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well, nothing has changed, nothing will change.”
New details have emerged on why the United Kingdom immigration upper tribunal approved the deportation of Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, commonly known as SPAC Nation.
The 44-year-old pastor, who arrived in the UK on a visitor’s visa in 2005 but did not leave when it expired, had sought to remain in the European country on human rights grounds. He had married a British citizen.
After the Home Office denied his request, he appealed to the first-tier tribunal, which equally turned him down.
Subsequently, he appealed to the upper tribunal on August 15, 2022.
The controversial pastor, through his lawyer, Dele Olawanle, told the tribunal that his church had initiated various intervention programmes to rescue troubled youths on the streets of the UK from gangs and crime.
Adegboyega also argued that his deportation would harm his projects and community influence, which he claimed had been supported and recognised by prominent UK figures, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police.
He also claimed that he had played an instrumental role in setting up a food bank which had provided 136,000 meals for children, adding that he “intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble”.
Adegboyega added that he established a network of safe houses throughout London where he accommodated young people trying to avoid gang conflicts.
But the upper tribunal judges, Bruce and Rastogi, insisted that Adegboyega must return to Nigeria despite his arguments.
In the judgement document obtained by Saturday PUNCH, the court rejected Adegboyega’s appeals, citing his unlawful stay in the UK and exaggeration of his community work claims.
The tribunal ruled that Adegboyega had “grossly inflated” his contributions, describing his claims as “hyperbolic” and unsupported by substantive evidence.
The court noted that the pastor failed to provide corroborative evidence that the UK police endorsed and supported his works.
The court insisted that his work could continue without his presence in the UK and dismissed his marriage to a British citizen as insufficient to counterbalance his immigration violations.
“We do, however, note the absence of corroborative evidence in respect of the most prominent agencies that the appellant (Adegboyega) claims as his supporters.
“There was nothing before us from the Metropolitan Police, Downing Street, the Mayor of London or the Home Office, all institutions which the appellant claims to have enthusiastically endorsed his work,” the court affirmed.
“For instance, there was nothing at all to support his assertions that his presence in London is needed to ‘calm the nerves of people from ethnic minorities’ following the ‘fascist uprising’ of August 2024, or that his presence is an ‘absolute necessity’ to fighting crime. There was no corroboration for his claim to have visited Downing Street on ‘countless occasions’. These are examples of areas of the appellant’s evidence where we are satisfied that he has sought to grossly inflate his influence.
“When we asked him to describe an average day, the appellant told us that he schedules six church events per day, seven days a week. These can be all over London. He visits as many as 20 congregants per week in their own homes, and is often called upon to spend between 3-4 hours talking on a one-to-one basis to a troubled young person. He also told us about the time that he spends supervising and helping some of the many business ventures, or ‘CIC’s set up with SPAC Nation’s help, and to organising the foodbank. Even allowing for his admission that sometimes this packed itinerary causes him to run late, we find it to be implausible that he has the time to undertake all of this work personally. We consider it far more likely that this work is distributed among the many pastors, congregants and supporters of SPAC Nation.”
I depend solely on my wife
Earlier, Adegboyega told the court that he had always depended on his wife, Mary.
“He states that he lives with his partner, Mary Olubukola Alade, who earns £100,000 per year working for AON. He spends his time working for the church, for which he is unpaid. He is entirely supported by Mary.
“He has a first-class law degree from Nigeria but he has ‘sacrificed’ his legal career to help those who cannot help themselves,” the court heard.
Adegboyega also told the tribunal why he flaunted an extravagant lifestyle.
“For instance, people have pointed to the fact that he wears designer clothing and drives expensive cars. He was adamant that all of his personal possessions have been paid for by Mary. He has never taken a penny from the church. He believes that it is important for him to dress the way that he does because he needs to inspire these young people – they need to understand that there are legitimate ways of making money, for instance through entrepreneurship.”
Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, the self-styled pastor has long been at the centre of controversies involving alleged financial misconduct and a lavish lifestyle that have drawn criticism.
The British Broadcasting Corporation released a documentary detailing how Adegboyega, popularly known as PT among his followers, allegedly defrauded his church members in the guise of helping them create their own businesses.
In the documentary, victims claimed that they were “brainwashed” into believing their financial sacrifices would fund community programmes to rescue troubled youths on the streets of UK from gangs and crime, only to find the money allegedly misappropriated to support the pastor’s lavish lifestyle, including designer wardrobes and luxury cars.
But Pastor Tobi did not face any criminal proceedings neither was he convicted of any crime.
The celebrity pastor threw a lavish birthday party in November. The party was attended by popular Nigerian artistes, including Davido and Kcee.
“Let us just have fun as one family tonight and if I get into trouble like I do most times, my lawyer is there right on my table, so nothing can touch me”, Adegboyega said to the cheering audience.
The cleric, who is usually seen in the company of celebrities displaying an affluent and opulent lifestyle,became enmeshed in a scandal when the UK Charity Commission and High Court investigations revealed financial impropriety involving over £1.87m, leading to the closure of his church in 2022.
Responding to the latest ruling on his immigration status on Instagram, Adegboyega dismissed the allegations, insisting that no amount of persecution would bring him down.
He said, “I’m right here at home, no cause for alarm. Naturally, I will dismiss things that have to do with retrogression; every Nigerian should be proud of me. Living in the UK, a city that is well known for pulling people down, I have survived all sorts, so the matter that they are propagating is the smallest matter.
“No panic, I love London city, it is my city and nobody can do anything. Of all the people of colour you know here – pastors and leaders, I have survived everything.
“I’m here, I am at home, nobody should panic for me. I succeeded well in this country despite all challenges and I’m in the league of people you look up to. I have survived that well, nothing has changed, nothing will change.
“I’m here, number one in London City and nothing is going to bring us down.”
Few hours later, another video of Adegboyega surfaced online showing him dancing with others.
He claimed his companies had raised over £1m since the news of his deportation surfaced.
“They have raised over £1m in 24 hours since yesterday’s news. This is a blessing I couldn’t see coming,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Adegboyega still has an option of appealing the upper tribunal judgement at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.
According to the UK Home Office, he must file the appeal within 28 days of being given permission to do so by the upper tribunal.
[PUNCH]
TikTok has moved closer to a potential ban in the United States after a federal court upheld a law that forces the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its business to an American company or face a ban.
In a ruling Friday, the U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected TikTok’s arguments that the legislation violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, mandates that TikTok be sold to a non-Chinese owner by January 19, 2025, while U.S app stores and internet services could be fined for hosting the platform after the deadline.
TikTok is expected to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court,
The incoming U.S. President, Donald Trump, who first tried to ban TikTok during his first term, recently suggested that he no longer wants to ban the app.
In March, Trump posted on Truth Social that he opposed a ban on TikTok as it would rival Facebook, and Zuckerberg, whom Trump has accused without evidence of interfering in the 2020 presidential election.
TikTok’s trouble is rooted in concerns about ByteDance’s potential to share user data with the Chinese government or manipulate TikTok’s algorithm for propaganda purposes.
U.S. government’s lawyers argued that ByteDance’s control over the algorithm poses a national security risk.
The three-judge panel supported the view, noting TikTok’s vast influence.
“In part precisely because of the platform’s expansive reach, Congress and multiple Presidents determined that divesting it from the (People’s Republic of China’s) control is essential to protect our national security,” the judges wrote.
They dismissed TikTok’s claims that the law infringes on free speech.
“What the Act targets is the PRC’s ability to manipulate the content covertly.
“Understood in that way, the Government’s justification is wholly consonant with the First Amendment,” the judges stated.
If the ban proceeds, it will take effect one day before Trump’s inauguration.
Etanabene Benedict, a member of the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the house of representatives, says many of his colleagues are considering defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Benedict spoke on Friday when he was featured on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
On Thursday, four members of the LP in the lower legislative chamber joined the APC.
The lawmakers attributed their defections to the crisis within the party.
The LP had expressed discontent over the defections, saying it would take legal action against the lawmakers.
The party said it would ask Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, to declare the seat of the lawmakers vacant.
Benedict, who represents the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency of Delta, said the legislators defected to the APC as a strategy ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said the lawmakers were not confident of winning reelection in 2027 under the LP platform.
“Nobody believes that if you are elected to office, there is a time limit, and when that time comes, if the people want you again, you’re reelected; if they don’t want you, you go,” he said.
“It is about 2027. The trend of Edo and Ondo is frightening to them, and they do not believe that they are strategically positioned to seek reelection under the umbrella of the Labour Party. That is the main reason.
“There are still many others in the Labour Party that are thinking along that line too. So, if it happens tomorrow, I won’t be surprised.”
Benedict dismissed the lawmakers’ claims of an internal crisis in the LP, saying it was an excuse to justify their exit from the party.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into the alleged abuse of office and diversion of funds in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In a letter written to the National Sports Commission (NSC) dated November 28, 2024 and seen by TheCable, the anti-graft agency has asked the commission to furnish it with the list of all sponsors of the NFF and the Professional Football League (companies and individuals) from 2022 to date.
The letter, signed by Farouk Dogondaji, on behalf of the EFCC chairman, was addressed to the director general of the commission.
“This commission is investigating an alleged case of abuse of office and diversion of public funds in which the need to obtain information from your office becomes imperative,” the letter reads.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly furnish this office with the details of the following information to enable us conclude our investigation.
“Details of the amount donated and the account/ banks into which those funds were lodged.
“Details of the releases made to NFF for the prosecution of the three major football tournaments aside budgetary allocations.
“Details of the amount donated by FIFA for the preparation of Super Falcons for the 2023 Women World Cup and the account /banks into which those funds were lodge.
“Details of the amount donated by CAF for the participating in the final of the 2023 AFCON and the accounts/banks into which those funds were lodged.
“Details of companies appointed as consultants for the Nigeria Football Federation and Professional Football League and any other information that may assist this office in this investigation.”
The agency said the request is made pursuant to section 38 (1) and (2) of the EFCC establishment Act, 2004.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared the federal house of representatives seat of Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of James Ibori, vacant.
Ibori-Suenu, a daughter of Ibori, a former governor of Delta state, announced her defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP national spokesperson, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an election to fill her position.
Ologunagba said by her defection, Ibori-Suenu “willfully” vacated the Ethiope east/Ethiope west federal constituency seat which she represents in Delta state.
“Hon. Ibori-Suenu should therefore stop parading herself as a member of the House of Representatives as such would amount to impersonation with likely criminal consequences,” he said.
“The PDP calls on the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms to note that Hon. Ibori-Suenu has ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives.
“The PDP is communicating to INEC to, within the Constitutionally stipulated time, conduct fresh election to fill the vacancy which now exists in Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency of Delta State as a result of the defection of Hon. Ibori-Suenu to the APC.
Ologunagba said the party has directed the national legal adviser of the PDP to ensure that the “votes and mandate of the people of Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency of Delta State, which they freely gave to the PDP are protected.”
The Nigerian Police have filed fresh cybercrime charges against detained human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The additional 12 count charge was filed on Friday, December 6, 2024, before a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.
The development follows 16 charges earlier filed against the lawyer by the Police on Wednesday.
DAILY POST reports that the human rights lawyer was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.
He was arraigned in a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti the next day on a 16 count charge of defamation of character against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Afe Babalola, who was named in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
In his ruling, the magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun remanded Farotimi in prison custody till December 10.
However, in the new charges, Farotimi is accused of making defamatory statements on Seun Okinbaloye’s podcast, based on content in his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
He was accused of intimidating and maligning Afe Babalola on the podcast.
The lawyer was also charged for publicizing details of legal actions taken against him during a press conference on December 2, 2024, before his arrest on December 3, 2024.
Veteran Nollywood actor Bimbo Manuel is neither a small fry or a new name on the Nigerian film and theatre scene.
He has made a name for himself over the past three decades as a sterling actor as well as a writer, who had written many stage plays for the theatre.
In a recent chat, Manuel expressed that he found something rewarding about his role as Moyosore Lawson in Showmax’s new TV show, ‘Princess on a Hill.’
With his commanding presence that depicts the complex character, whose persona and hidden motives drive much of the story’s suspense, Manuel said portraying the character was incredibly challenging.
“Portraying Moyosore Lawson was incredibly challenging, but it was also an immense joy. Beyond the typical challenges an actor faces with a complex character, there was something deeply rewarding about stepping into his shoes,” he began.
Continuing, Manuel said, “Playing Moyosore Lawson allowed me to showcase myself in a totally different light, something the audience might not be used to seeing from me.”
[TheNation]
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A United States court has sentenced a 39-year-old Nigerian national, Okechukwu Osuji, to eight years’ imprisonment for defrauding organisations and individuals to the tune of $6m.
Osuji was sentenced in New Haven, Connecticut on Wednesday for operating a business email compromise scheme out of multiple countries, including the United States.
Similarly, his Nigerian accomplice, Tolulope Bodunde pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison on October 16, 2024.
The Department of Justice disclosed this on Thursday adding that Osuji was apprehended in Malaysia and extradited to the US in 2022.
According to documents and statements made in court, Osuji and his co-conspirators targeted specific individuals and businesses by impersonating reliable organisations in electronic communications to obtain money.
The documents revealed that Osuji had used his victims as “money mules” to receive fraud proceeds in their bank accounts.
He would then either transfer those funds from the money mule accounts to accounts under the co-conspirators’ control or convert the stolen proceeds to cash for further transfer.
“Over the years-long operation of the scheme, numerous victims were tricked into transferring funds into bank accounts the victims believed were under the control of legitimate recipients as part of normal business operations,” DOJ stated.
The US justice agency asserted that the bank accounts were controlled by Osuji and his accomplices.
It said, “The victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organisation, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.”
The 39-year-old was also involved in exploiting the aged through romance scams to serve as some of the unwitting money mules, including one woman who testified at trial that she was duped into sending her savings and income, social security cheques to an individual she believed to be her romantic partner, but who later happened to be Osuji’s co-conspirators.
On May 1, 2024, a jury in New Haven found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Osuji was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
His alleged co-conspirator, John Wamuigah, remains in Malaysia and is pending extradition proceedings.
[Punch]
As crisis along regional lines looms over President Bola Tinubu’s four tax reform bills before the National Assembly, some northern leaders have changed strategy to ensure that the North was not hurt by the reform.
With some northern lawmakers locked in a series of meetings on the issue, the League of Northern Democrats, LND, yesterday, inaugurated a technical committee to review contents of the bills clause-by-clause, find out provisions that are injurious to the North and suggest alternatives. The committee has one week to handle the task.
Currently, southern senators, as a bloc, are in support of the tax bills while northern senators, most of who are against the move, are consulting.
Also, while the Senate is proceeding with legislative actions on the bills, the House of Representatives has suspended actions on the matter as Northern Reps raise eye brow.
Looming fresh crisis, dichotomy
On Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said that the Senate had not suspended legislative action on the four controversial bills, which was contrary to the decision taken in his absence, on Wednesday, when Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau presided over the plenary.
On Wednesday, Barau said the lawmakers suspended public hearing and legislative work on the bills to allow for wider consultation. He raised a 10-man committee led by Senator Abba Moro to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, and Justice Minister, Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious issues in the bills.
However, the Akpabio-led Senate reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the tax reform bills, on Thursday, stressing that no aspect of the legislative process had been suspended or withdrawn.
A few hours later, senators from the six states of the South-South geo-political zone (where Akpabio hails from) under the aegis of South- South Senators’ Forum threw their weight behind the tax reform bills. They passed a vote confidence in Akpabio; and urged South-South governors to synergise with legislators in order to fine tune the bills and be on the same page.
Also, Southern senators on the banner of Nigerian Southern Senators Forum, NSSF, backed the tax reform, which they said “will foster a fair, equitable and more inclusive tax system and therefore deserve the support of all Nigerians.”
In a joint statement by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, chairman; Senator Victor Umeh, vice chairman; Senator Barinada Mpigi, secretary; Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, assistant secretary; Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, publicity secretary; and Senator Kenneth Eze, treasurer, they said: “What is required now is for the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Tax Committee, to demonstrate, using data, that no sub-national in Nigeria will be at risk of a lower VAT revenues post reforms. This will go a long way in allaying the fears currently being expressed by some states of the federation.”
Northerners commission independent panel
Indeed, worried that the bills could harm the North, if passed as they were,
the League of Northern Democrats raised a technical panel to look at the proposals with a tooth comb.
This was contained in a statement signed by LND’s Spokesman, Dr. Ladan Salihu.
Although names of members of the committee who are said to be mostly lawyers, accountants and experts in related fields were not made public, the panel was given one week to turn in its report.
Salihu said: “Given the current raging concerns and controversies on the Tax Reform Bills currently before our National Assembly, the League of Northern Democrats wishes to inform the Northern public that it has inaugurated a distinguished Technical Committee tasked with reviewing the four tax reform bills clause-by-clause so as to reach an informed position on each clause therein.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to ensuring that laws reflect the principles of justice, equity and prosperity for all Nigerians, with the sole intent to safeguarding the developmental interests of our peoples.
“The committee, composed of dedicated Northern experts in law, public accounting, legislation and academia, has taken to itself one week to conclude a comprehensive review of the bills.
“Their mandate includes identifying provisions that may be injurious or inequitable, proposing necessary amendments, and ensuring that each clause of the bills upholds the constitutional, religious and cultural norms of our people, while promoting national unity and fairness.
“At the conclusion of its assignment, the committee will publicly present its findings in an electronic and tabular format, effectively communicating its recommendations to policymakers, legislators, the media and the Nigerian public.
“The LND assures the public of our confidence in the committee’s ability to produce thorough and well-reasoned recommendations.
“These will aim to maximize benefits for all Nigerians, ensuring that the tax reforms support sustainable development and equitable economic growth across the nation.
“We urge Nigerians to stay tuned for LND’s public presentation, which will provide clear insights into the bills and our proposed policy position.
“The League of Northern Democrats remains steadfast in our mission to advocate for policies that foster justice, prosperity and unity in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.”
Why Reps Suspended Debate Indefinitely
The House of Representatives during the week was expected to commence debate on the tax reform bill but the debate was suspended indefinitely.
The planned debate was called off in a memo signed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, as 73 northern lawmakers kicked against the bills.
Those who rejected the bills include 48 Reps from the North-East, 24 federal lawmakers from Kano and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South Senatorial District.
The memo suspending the debate dated November 30, 2024 was titled: ‘Rescheduling of Special Session on Tax Reform Bills.’
It read: “I am directed by the House leadership to inform all Honourable Members that the special session, initially scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to discuss all the tax reform bills, has been postponed to a later date.
“This rescheduling is due to the need for further and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders. A new date and venue for the session will be communicated in due course.”
Northern lawmakers mount pressure
A leaked video of the closed-door session of the Green Chamber obtained showed the North-East lawmakers in tense debates against the tax reform bills.
The footage shows the member representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno State, saying: “On behalf of the 48 honourable members from the ravaged North-East sub-region, I want to first of all rely on the position of the three previous caucus leaders. In addition to this, the primary responsibility of every government is simply the welfare of its citizens.
“North-East, even before the insurgency, was the poorest region in Nigeria. Today, our people have been turned into beggars. Billionaires and millionaires of yesterday have to queue up in IDP camps in host communities to collect 10kg bags of rice.
“If other parts of the country were in our shoes, even this sitting would not be possible. We have concluded that we are going to make further consultations because there is nothing that is cast in stone.”
Giving an insight into the development during the closed-door session, a lawmaker from the North-West, stated: “As the representatives of the people, we have resolved to continue our consultation on the matter,” adding that “things degenerated almost to a point of rebellion against the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu who presided over the executive session.”
Like our governors northern lawmakers are not convinced
He continued: “From what I can deduce, the Governors of the North are not yet convinced about the arguments in favour of the bills. The bills are against the interest of the North and that is why we are saying, ‘if you think this is not the case, give us more time to consult with our people.’
“The speed with which they want these bills considered and passed is suspicious. This is why our governors are not convinced and we are not convinced either,” he noted.
Last week, the Tajudeen Abbas-led 10th House spent over two hours in executive session to forge a common front on the bills only to emerge to announce the continuation of consultation ahead of the debate on the general principles of the bills, which was suspended afterwards.
Tax reform will protect poor people — NOA DG
Meanwhile the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has assured that the bills would protect the poor.
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo at a press briefing held at the NOA office, Issa-Onilu said the bills when passed would eliminate multiple taxation which has become a problem in the country.
Represented by the agency Director, Report Coordination and Improvement, Olubukola Olorunfemi, he said the bill would enhance the ease of doing business and development.
His words: “The tax reform bills are four different bills that seek to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation. The bills are as follows:The Nigeria Tax Bill. The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill. The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and The Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
“The Nigeria Tax Bill basically amalgamated all the existing laws in which provisions for taxation was made. When passed, this bill will lead to the repeal of 11 laws that contain provisions on imposition and collection of taxes.
“The government is working to stop different levels of authority from taxing people for the same thing. Those earning very little will pay little or no taxes, helping them manage their finances better.
“New digital systems are being introduced to make tax payments easier, faster, and more accountable. Tax revenue will be used to improve essential public services like schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, ensuring citizens see the benefits of their contributions.”
The NOA DG spoke in like manner in Kebbi, where he was represented by the Director Documentation, Translation and Publications, Mr. John Bala Asate in Birnin Kebbi during the flag off of the nationwide sensitisation on security, HIV/AIDS, human rights, get-rich-quick syndrome and tax reform bills.
FG’s sensitisation’s late — Kebbi commissioner
However, Alhaji Abdullahi Zuru, Special Adviser, on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi Governor, told the team that the sensitisation on the tax reform bill was late as it should have been done before the presentation of the bill to the tNational Assembly.
Noting that the bills have generated tension across the country, he said: “Our governor and his colleagues have taken a stand on it, we can’t say anything because his stand is final and we will abide by it”.
Zuru urged the Federal Government to borrow a leaf from Kebbi governor, who he said usually consults widely with stakeholders before presenting any bill that has direct bearing on citizens, and not to begin sensitising after presenting it for consideration.
Afe Babalola, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says he took legal action against Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate, to address the “falsity of his allegations and hold him account for his actions”.
On Tuesday, operatives from the police command in Ekiti arrested Farotimi in Lagos over a petition about alleged defamation and cyberbullying.
Farotimi had, in a statement, alleged that officers attached to the Ekiti police command had perfected plans to abduct him from Lagos.
He accused the command of deploying questionable means to lure him for arrest despite honouring the invitation of the zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos some weeks ago.
The police accused Farotimi of “criminally defaming” Babalola, the legal luminary, in a book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.
On Wednesday, the Ekiti state magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti remanded Farotimi after he was arraigned on a 16-count. The activist pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Since his arrest, there have been strident calls on social media for his release, including from political bigwigs like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has asked Nigerians to join a “nationwide/global protest” against the judiciary over the prosecution of the human rights activist.
However, in a statement on Friday issued by Afe Babalola & Co., his law firm, the erudite lawyer said no amount of street yelling and media tactics would stop the prosecution of Farotimi.
“We acknowledge several concerns and suggestions on this subject and the inference that the firm and its members would be better served by ignoring these published falsehoods,” the statement, signed by Adebayo Adenipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reads.
“However, if we do not take any action to correct the false, reckless, and malicious statements by this author, our silence will necessarily be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
“Afe Babalola & Co is a law-abiding organisation that operates strictly within the law. We are aware of the implications of the steps we are taking and the possibility of spin and manipulation by this author, his acolytes, uninformed members of the public, and others who, like him, view us maliciously.
“Still, we are convinced that the legal steps we take now and in the future are the only way to address the falsity of the author’s allegations and hold him to account for his deliberate assault on the integrity and reputation that our founder, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CFR, SAN, LLD, has built and passed on to us over the past seven decades using nothing but hard work, legal knowledge, and trenchant advocacy.
“The constitution recognises fundamental human rights, and our firm has championed these rights in over sixty years of its existence.
“However, these rights are not absolute; the freedom to speak is not freedom from consequences of speech. And the subject of speech also has a fundamental right to hold the speaker accountable using lawful means.
“Since the matter is sub judice, we do not intend to join issues in the media on the merits of our complaints or the strength of evidence against Mr. Farotimi.
“Unlike him, we believe in the justice delivery system every time—not only when it favours us. In six decades of litigating cases across Nigeria, we have encountered several lawyers who prevailed against us in court.”
“Their existence disproves Mr. Farotimi’s wild accusations and indicates that at the end of this process, only the law will matter—not the media tactic or street yelling.”
[TheCable]
Umahi Defends FG’s Borrowing, Senate Vows to Hold Contractors Accountable for Delayed Projects
Admin
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that if Nigeria should close its widening infrastructure gap, projects cannot be funded by the government alone, but with a combination of bonds and loans.
A statement in Abuja yesterday by the minister’s spokesman, Uchenna Orji, noted that Umahi was speaking during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Works on contractors’ slow pace of work on some road projects.
Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu remains one of the few leaders who have taken the decision to give priority to inherited projects.
While lauding the lawmakers for closely watching the contractors to ensure value for money as well as speedy delivery of all the ongoing road projects, the minister highlighted current impediments, but assured that the President was tackling the situation.
He said: “It’s very rare for a president to come on board and he decided to ignore new projects and decided to take on all the inherited projects and do them at the same time. It’s very rare.
“And we have a country where we want to make an omelette, but we don’t want to strike an egg. Road projects cannot and will never be executed to the satisfaction of the public by using budgetary allocations.
“There must be different kinds of funding. These different kinds of funding must have to come from either bond or loan to do the job. But the public is saying, no, the president is taking a loan.
“But the president is taking a loan to invest in infrastructure development. And that’s what every developed country follows.”
Speaking on the efforts made by the ministry on the Odukpani-Aba-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene road, he disclosed that the thickness of the asphalt pavement has been increased to ensure longevity.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Barinada Mpigi, in his remarks, stated that the Senate was prepared to fully back actions that hold contractors accountable and put an end to practices that delay project delivery timelines.
He warned that it was no longer business as usual for contractors to collect tax payers’ money and delay in completing the projects.
“His (Umahi’s) actions in revoking underperforming agreements and ensuring that public funds are redirected to more capable contractors reflect a deep commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
“This agenda prioritises infrastructure as the backbone of economic revitalisation, and we in the senate will support every step taken to ensure its success,” he noted.
He also decried the hardship contractors’ behaviour has caused road users, stressing that the deplorable condition had resulted in devastating consequences with precious lives lost on the highways.
Mpigi added: “Contractors, including RCC, have received substantial funds, including the N15 billion that was injected into this project, yet delivery remains elusive.
“The other stretch of the East-West Road has contractors like RCC, Setraco, and Gitto who have been paid billions, yet the pace of work is far from acceptable,” the senator added.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Works has given Julius Berger Plc an ultimatum to appear before it.
In a motion moved and adopted during the investigative hearing, the Senate resolved that it would have no option than to issue a warrant of arrest on Julius Berger Plc should it fail to appear before it as scheduled.
Moving the motion, a member of the Committee, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong said: “Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Limited is not here. Now, my understanding is that Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc bid, was selected, and awarded this job.
“Funds from taxpayers across this country were disbursed to them. Our understanding is that they showed up on site for a brief period and have since abandoned the site.
“It is our collective resolve as a committee that under the new minister’s rule, Julius Berger should be produced to this committee in 24 hours, failure of which will lead to our invoking our constitutional powers and issuing a warrant of arrest on messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.”
[Thisday]