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Don’t Be Like Buhari, Join Me Dialogue With Bandits – Sheikh Gumi To Tinubu

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Don’t Be Like Buhari, Join Me Dialogue With Bandits – Sheikh Gumi To Tinubu

In a bid to secure the release of abducted Nigerians, controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has expressed willingness to facilitate comprehensive discussions between the Federal Government and bandits.

Sheikh Gumi urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits.

He was reacting to the refusal of the Kaduna State government to negotiate with the bandits involved in the abduction of 287 school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area.

Last week, bandits abducted over 280 students from Kuriga primary school, and the government.

Reacting, Gumi, in a statement said: “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children abduction but all the cases.

“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on Abuja – Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga school children and others.

“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue be- tween the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me to do so for peace.

“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”

VAT In Nigeria Is Very Low – EU/ECOWAS

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VAT In Nigeria Is Very Low – EU/ECOWAS

The European Union and Economic Community of West African States’ delegation to Nigeria have said that the Value Added Tax system in Nigeria is below the ideal.

The Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the EU and ECOWAS to Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, said this on Monday at the 4th session of the Steering Committee of the Support Programme for Fiscal Transition in West Africa held in Abuja.

De Luca blamed the low compliance with VAT in Nigeria on corruption and poor implementation.

He noted that while some companies may be willing to pay their taxes, the current taxation system in the country does not allow them to do so.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said that the agency would make the taxation system in the country customer-centric so that, individuals and businesses could pay taxes easily.

He also noted that the FIRS would introduce a one-stop shop for all taxes in the country.

VAT is a consumption tax paid when goods are purchased and services rendered. It is a multi-stage tax. VAT is borne by the final consumer. All goods and services are taxable except those specifically exempted by the VAT Act.

De Luca said, “You think VAT works in this country? No, it doesn’t. Fraud makes the business environment unstable for long-term investment. The VAT system is not working because here we have a VAT system that does not allow companies to do what the VAT system is supposed to do- You charge VAT on goods and recover VAT from what you buy,”

He added that many companies in Nigeria may not recover their taxes through consumers, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises.

He noted that the cooperation needed between tax authorities and businesses in Nigeria is lacking hence, the poor VAT experienced in the country.

“The reality of many companies in Nigeria is that there is no certainty that the companies are going to recover the VAT from whatever you buy. Especially for SMEs, it is extremely difficult to have proper VAT compliance.

“The tax system requires a lot of Cooperation between the authorities and the companies but unfortunately, that is not the case here.

“VAT in Nigeria is very low. It is five per cent for everything which does not allow for proper generation of revenue,” he added.

A tax expert, Andrew Onyenakwe, said everyone in Nigeria got tax payments wrong.

While he encouraged individuals and companies to comply with paying taxes, he also blamed corruption in the system for the low compliance by taxpayers.

He added that Nigeria has enough laws to drive taxation but is experiencing poor compliance.

“Talking about tax evasion, we all got it wrong. If we take a sample of ten companies and ask how many of them pay taxes, maybe a few. To start with, how many entities are registered to do business in Nigeria, and how many are paying the correct taxes? So there are so many things involved. Talking about the tax administration agencies, how many of them are doing their jobs?

” The problem is not with the laws but with compliance. What we have around is quasi-compliance. What we are looking for is voluntary compliance.

“Some taxpayers are bothered about transparency and accountability and that discourages them from paying taxes”, Andrew said.

₦4.8bn Fraud: Ibeto Has Returned ₦‎1.5bn, To Pay Balance in 3 Months – EFCC

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₦4.8bn Fraud: Ibeto Has Returned ₦‎1.5bn, To Pay Balance in 3 Months – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that the
Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Cletus Ibeto, has paid back N1.5 billion in two tranches in respect of the N4.8 billion fraud allegations for which he was charged before the court.

Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, disclosed this to Justice Ogala on Monday.

He also told the judge that the defendant paid the money as part of the ongoing plea bargain discussions between the anti-graft agency and
the defendants.

Rotimi explained that the defendants have agreed to pay the balance within the next three months.

Counsel to the defendants, Adebayo Oshodi, did not deny or confirm the claims.

The defendants, Ibeto and his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd, face a 10-count charge bordering on
allegations of conspiracy, fraud, forgery and fraudulent use of documents brought against them by the EFCC.

ALL CONTRACTED COMPANIES ARE LEGALLY REGISTERED AND LAWFULLY ENGAGED – OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT

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ALL CONTRACTED COMPANIES ARE LEGALLY REGISTERED AND LAWFULLY ENGAGED – OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT

The Osun State Government has denied a biased and unfounded report from an online news platform, alleging that the state government awarded a contract to a company untraceable on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Reacting to the report, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi berated the online platform for its jaundiced and one sided report which from all intent and purposes are designed to tarnish the image of the State Government.


While affirming that all contracted companies are duly registered with the CAC, the Commissioner further declared that no serving public official is a owner or director of any of the companies handling the state projects

“There is no truth in all the conjectures put together by the writer. All awarded contracts followed due process and in accordance with all procurement laws and processes.”

“In particular, A’skorj Nigeria Limited which was awarded the contract for the construction of 7 span bridge at Oke Fia intersection, Osogbo, is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and was awarded the contract, having satisfied all the requirements and being the most qualified after the bidding process”, he disclosed.

“The certificate of registration for the company as filed with the Ministry of Works during the bidding process is numbered 1160780. We attached a copy of the registration certificate to this release.

“On the alleged award of contract for the construction of 4 span bridge across Osun river and dual 2 span bridge to the company of the deputy speaker; Raregeode Company Limited, the Commissioner explained that the Deputy Speaker was not a director of the company as at the time of the bidding process. Records showed he resigned from the company in March 2023 after his electoral victory.

“No family member of the Deputy Speaker or the Deputy Speaker himself was involved in any way in the contractual process. In fact, the Deputy Speaker has resigned from the company since he won his election last year.

“The company was selected after a thorough bidding process with respect to all procurement laws and due process. A thorough check with the CAC will confirm that Mr Ireyode was no longer a director in the company

“We believe the fake news from an otherwise reputable platform in need of enforcement of professionalism is the handiwork of the opposition party who are already jittery and worried by the success of several ongoing infrastructure projects across the state. The multi-billion naira infra projects are being implemented with all seriousness and in compliance with procurement and other extant laws.

“We want to reiterate that no amount of distraction and propaganda can stop the government in delivering these projects in allotted time.

“We assure members of the public that there is no smoking gun or any form of favoritism or corruption in awarding contracts by this administration. There is strict adherence to procurement laws and due process”, he concluded.

“you Changed My Life”: Oyinbo Man Gives Nigerian Student N159 Million, New Car –

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“you Changed My Life”: Oyinbo Man Gives Nigerian Student N159 Million, New Car –

“You Changed My Life”: Oyinbo Man Gives Nigerian Student N159 Million, New Car and Macbook Laptop

A Nigerian man is incredibly lucky because favour has found him after he went broke abroad. The man named Kayode was in the library reading when he was found by internet influencer, Zachery Dereniowski.

Zachery was touched when he learned that the man was unable to pay his tuition fees abroad and his house rent. But first, Zachery had begged the man for food, and the man did not waste any time to hand him a pack of food.

Moved by Kayode’s eagerness to give, Zachery handed him the sum of $1000. However, that was just the beginning of blessings for Kayode.

Zachery has returned with more goodies, gifting Kayode $100,000 that’s like N159 million, a brand-new car and a MacBook laptop. The moment moved Kayode to tears of joy as he fell on the ground to thank Zachery and those who donated to make his life better.

Protest Rocks Edo Over Deputy Governor’s Impeachment

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Protest Rocks Edo Over Deputy Governor’s Impeachment

Many indigenes and residents of Edo North Senatorial District have expressed their displeasure over the planned impeachment of the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

Recall that Shaibu fell out with Governor Godwin in 2023 over plans to contest for governor of Edo State.

During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary elect in February, Shaibu organized a parallel poll in his residence where he was declared winner. Asue Ighodalo was declared winner of the main PDP primary election in Edo State.

Last week, the Edo State House of Assembly issued Shaibu an impeachment notice.

But the protesters, who were seen chanting solidarity songs, urged Governor Obaseki to give peace a chance.

Some inscriptions on their placards read: “No to impeachment of Edo deputy governor”, “Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding”, “Give peace a chance”, “We choose peace against impeachment”, and “Edo people reject impeachment of the Deputy Governor”.

The protesters, who trooped out in their numbers, described the move to impeach Shaibu as a political vendatta.

The protesting women, men and youths, under the aegis of Edo North PDP Rescue Movement (ENREM), first converged on the popular Jattu junction in Etsako West Local Government. They later marched on major streets of the communities.

The leader of the protesters, Festus Owu, urged Edo lawmakers to focus on providing good legislation for residents and indigenes, instead of engaging in the fruitless venture of impeachment that would bring no food to the table of hungry citizens.

They urged Governor Obaseki to prevail on the House to discontinue any impeachment move against the deputy governor.

Kaduna: Bandits Moved Children Like ‘herd Of Cows’, How I Escaped – Student

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Kaduna: Bandits Moved Children Like ‘herd Of Cows’, How I Escaped – Student

One of the kidnapped students from Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State who escaped, Mustapha Abubakar, has narrated his ordeal in the hands of their captors, saying he stealthily hid in a shrub like a snake while they were moved by the bandits and escaped.

Abubakar was among the about 280 schoolchildren kidnapped, but he and 27 others were able to return to their respective families.

It was reported that the kidnapped children, both males and females, were between the ages of 5 and 18.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa monitored in Kaduna on Monday, Mustapha Abubakar explained that the bandits moved the children like a herd of cows.

“We trekked in the bush; sometimes we crawled. We were so thirsty that some of the girls were becoming weak and falling down due to tiredness. The bandits were lifting them up and putting some of them on motorcycles.”

“Afterwards, we reached a big river, where we drank water and continued trekking. There was a plane that hovered above us. That was when the bandits ordered us to remove one of our clothes and lie down.”

“Even the bandits were exhausted. They had no food and were eating leaves and wild fruits. They gave us nothing to eat.”

“While we were moving, I noticed a shrub that was brown in colour, like my trouser. I hid inside and crawled like a snake. I was there until it was completely silent before I came out and headed to the bush.”

“I later met an old man who had difficulty walking. I asked him the pathway to the main road or any close place so that I could get water to drink.”

“I had a marathon race. I was exhausted, but I pushed on, as evening time was approaching. I later arrived at Gayan, a community near us, and that was how I eventually escaped,” he said.

UK Bans Overseas Health Workers From Bringing Dependants

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UK Bans Overseas Health Workers From Bringing Dependants

The United Kingdom has banned Health and Care Workers from bringing dependants to the country.

This was made known by the UK Home Office via its verified X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

“From today, care workers entering the UK on Health and Care Worker visas can no longer bring dependants.

“This is part of our plan to deliver the biggest ever cut in migration,” it wrote.

https://punchng.com/breaking-uk-bans-overseas-health-workers-from-bringing-dependants/

Power Outage Looms In Kano As Fire Guts Dan’agundi Transmission Station

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Power Outage Looms In Kano As Fire Guts Dan’agundi Transmission Station

There has been a fire breakout at the Dan-Agundi Transmission Station in Kano on Sunday, affecting several parts of the area.

Online footage shows the Dan-Agundi Transmission station, a crucial power supply chain for Kano City, engulfed in smoke.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire outbreak remains unknown, as residents were anticipating the arrival of firefighters to put out the fire.

According to authorities, the ongoing fire is damaging high-capacity transformers, and emergency responders have not yet arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, TCN is yet to issue an official statement as of the time this report was made.

Industrial Court dismisses allegation of employment swapping against Cross Rivers State

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Industrial Court dismisses allegation of employment swapping against Cross Rivers State

The Presiding Judge, Calabar Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has dismissed Ita Bassey’s allegation of unlawful swapping of employment letter against the Cross Rivers State Government and 2 others for lacking merit in its entirety.

Justice Kado stated that Bassey’s claim of passing the interview is based on wishful thinking and not based on concrete evidence, that apart from Bassey’s list of shortlisted candidates for the interview, she has not produced any document showing her score at the interview for the court to verify the claim of the passing of interview and has not called any member of the panel that interviewed her to give evidence of her score.

From facts, the claimant- Ita Bassey had sought an order mandating the Cross River State Government to issue her a letter of employment forthwith, and the sum of N60,000,000.00 (Sixty Million Naira) as general damages/compensation for the hardship, among others.

Ita Bassey submitted that the Cross River State Government is her employer and she was engaged by the State Universal Basic Education through the online advertisement for recruitment of teachers.

 

She averred that she passed the interview but her appointment letter was not delivered to her even when she sighted it in the office of the State Universal Basic Education, and further alleged that it was given to someone else and all efforts to get her employment letter proved abortive.

In defence, the Cross River State Government and 2 others denied the claim of Ita Bassey of being engaged by the State Universal Basic Education and insisted that Ita Bassey neither passed the interview nor was any employment letter ever issued in her favour.

Counsel also submitted that Bassey failed to establish that she was indeed at any point in time employed by Cross River State Government, and the allegation of employment swapping was investigated by the Police and nothing of such was found, urged the court to dismiss the case in its entirety.

Delivering judgment, the Presiding Judge, Justice Sanusi Kado held that the failure of Ita Bassey to adduce credible evidence of her employment by the production of a letter of her engagement or through conduct is fatal to the case.

The Court held that Ita Bassey has failed to establish any employment relationship evidenced by any written document from which this court could look to determine the rights and obligations of the parties in the suit, and has not also been able to establish any contractual relationship by conduct between her and the Cross River State Government to warrant institution of the suit as it is presently constituted.

 

Visit the judgment portal for full details www.nicnadr.gov.ng/judgement

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