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FIRS to begin tax enforcement nationwide, gives 7 days warning notice to defaulters

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FIRS to begin tax enforcement nationwide, gives 7 days warning notice to defaulters

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said it will soon begin a nationwide tax enforcement at the expiration of a seven-day grace to defaulters to pay their tax liabilities.

The notice, which quoted the acting Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Abiodun Aina, was contained in a statement signed by the Head of Communication, FIRS, Wahab Gbadamosi.

The statement quoted Aina, as saying that the service had concluded plans to begin tax enforcement against defaulters if they continued to fail in fulfilling their tax obligations.

He therefore advised tax defaulters to settle their tax liabilities within seven days of the publication of the notice to avoid any inconveniences or interruptions in their operations.

It stated: “The FIRS hereby informs all taxpayers (individuals, partnerships, enterprises, corporate organisations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies) who are in default of payment of taxes arising from self-assessment, tax audit, tax investigation, transfer pricing audit, demand notices and any other liabilities, that the FIRS will commence a nationwide tax enforcement exercise from December 18, with a view to prosecuting defaulters and recovering all outstanding tax liabilities.”

The enforcement, according to Aina, was pursuant to the provisions of Sections 8, 26 (2), 33 and 35 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment Act, 2007).

The statement also indicated that the taxes covered by the enforcement were Petroleum Profits Tax, Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Withholding Tax, Tertiary Education Tax, NITDA Levy, Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax.

“All taxpayers are therefore strongly advised to settle their tax liabilities within seven days of the notice to avoid any inconveniences or interruptions in your operations,” Aina stated.

 

BREAKING: Oyo: Supreme Court rules on Seyi Makinde’s election

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BREAKING: Oyo: Supreme Court rules on Seyi Makinde’s election

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, upheld Seyi Makinde’s election as Governor of Oyo State.

The appeal was filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebayo Adelabu.

Adelabu lost to Makinde during the March 9, 2019 elections.

Adelabu had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court ruling.

The appellate court after evaluating the evidence brought by Oyo APC and its candidate ruled that the status quo should be maintained.

 

NDLEA burns 14.3 tonnes of cannabis in Ondo

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NDLEA burns 14.3 tonnes of cannabis in Ondo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized and burnt over 14.3 tonnes of illicit drugs and crops in six different camps raided by its operatives in Ondo and Edo states.

 

Mr Haruna Gagara, NDLEA Commandant in Ondo State, told newsmen in Akure that his team also apprehended a notorious cannabis merchant, Ohimai Ayodele, 51, in Uzebba, suspected to be the mastermind of the killing of NDLEA personnel earlier this year.

 

“Ayodele’s men opened fire in an attempt to resist his arrest. Seven of our personnel got injured in the course of the incident and they are currently receiving treatment in a hospital,” said the narcotic chief. Gagara further disclosed that the operatives also arrested a 66-year-old cannabis farmer in a deserted locality along Edo/Ondo border.

 

He said that several cannabis nurseries and transplant farms were discovered and destroyed immediately while weapons were seized.

 

The state commandant said the patrol also invaded Ajobieye forest in Ute, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State in an operation that lasted about eight hours. “

 

This operation led to burning of 1,225 bags of Cannabis Sativa, while 174.5 kilograms and sample of fresh plants were brought for prosecution purposes.

 

I can assure Nigerians that the operation has caused a serious disruption in the drug market and has checked the likely influx of drugs during this Yuletide. “The impact of the operation will be felt in the illicit drug market nationwide because about 80 per cent of cannabis market across the country obtain their cannabis supply from states touched by this operation.

 

The agency is still awaiting drug merchants on the road to intercept cannabis shipments smuggled into the market. We will sustain the current effort,” the NDLEA chief said. Gagara, who led the team, said the exercise, tagged “Operation Thunder Strike IV”, was launched by a joint task force comprising personnel of the agency from Oyo, Ekiti, Edo Ondo and Osun states and men of the Nigerian Army.

 

The commandant said the inteligence-driven operation led to the seizure of tonnes of cannabis already harvested and heaped for onward movement to the illicit drug markets.

 

He said his team visited two communities, Uzebba and Hikin, which were notorious for cultivation of cannabis in Owan Local Government area of Edo State, bordering Ondo State. He commended the efforts of the NDLEA personnel involved in the rigorous exercise and also lauded the Nigeria Army for the collaboration given during the exercise. [NAN]

 

NLC chairman in Cross River kidnapped

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NLC chairman in Cross River kidnapped

The Cross River Police Command have confirmed the kidnap of the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ben Ukpepi, at his residence in Akpabuyo local government area of the state.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Calabar that the NLC chairman was kidnapped at about 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday by suspected kidnappers.

“The story of the kidnap of the NLC Chairman is true. He was kidnapped in Akpabuyo in his house,” said Ms Ugbo, a deputy superintendent of police.

“We got the report this morning. The Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Unit are on top of the situation to rescue him,” she said.

A source who did not want to be named told NAN on the phone that Mr Ukpepi was making a phone call within his residence when the abductors took him away.

“His family have been calling his line, but it has been switched off since last night and his abductors have not called up till now,” the source said.

(NAN)

 

Atiku reacts as Reps reject six-year term for President, Governors

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Atiku Abubakar, former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, has reacted to the rejection of a bill seeking to provide for a single tenure of six years for president and governors.

EQUITYNEWs.NG  had reported that the bill also seeks to provide an unlimited term of six years for members of the National Assembly and state houses of assembly.

The bill, sponsored by John Dyegh from Benue state, scaled second reading at Tuesday’s plenary session.

However, during the debate on the floor of the house on Tuesday, many lawmakers kicked against the bill, arguing that there was nothing wrong with the system Nigeria currently operates.

But reacting, Atiku in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the rejection of the bill.

According to him, the rejection of the bill was a mistake because little attention was paid to its merits.

He stated that ‘the lawmakers have thrown away the baby with the bath water at the expense of the larger interest of the country.

He said, “in view of the challenges facing our current democratic order, especially the culture of rigging that subverts the will of the people, six-year single term would have ended such untoward practices in our electoral process.

“The desperation for second term by the incumbents is the main reason why they go for broke and set the rule book on fire, thereby making free and fair elections impossible by legitimizing rigging at the expense of their challengers that have no access to public funds.
“A situation where the incumbents deploy more public resources to their second term projects than using the funds for people’s welfare encourages massive rigging that undermines electoral integrity.”
“Six-year single term would remove such desperation and enable the incumbents concentrate on the job for which they were elected in the first place.”
“I don’t agree with the logic that eight years would give elected leaders better opportunity to fulfil their campaign promises. An inherently incompetent incumbent will perform below average even if you give him/her 20 years in office or give him or her $20 billion dollars”, Atiku stressed.

“Second term obsession rewards incompetence by allowing failed incumbents to be reelected regardless of their performance record. It also denies political parties the opportunity to replace failed incumbents with better candidates within the parties in the name of right of first refusal”.

He added that eight-year tenure of four years each sacrifices merit because the incumbents are automatically entitled to reelection regardless of their performance records.

Atiku, however, maintained that current holders of the offices under the proposed constitutional review should not be entitled to a six-year term at the expiration of their second term.

 

[Just In] Industrial Court orders Nigerian Customs Service to release retired officer Lateef Adewale Medical report within 30 days

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[Just In] Industrial Court orders Nigerian Customs Service to release retired officer Lateef Adewale Medical report within 30 days

His Lordship, Hon. Justice Elizabeth Oji of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Judicial Division has declared the failure, refusal or negligence of the Nigerian Customs Service to furnish retired officer Lateef Adewale with the Medical Report or Certificate warranting his retirement on medical grounds as unlawful and wrongful.

 

The court ordered Nigerian Customs Service not later than 30 days to forthwith furnish the Mr Adewale with the Medical Report or Certificate warranting his retirement on Medical Grounds on the 20th day of December 2011 to enable access to his Retirement Savings fund.

 

From fact, the claimant-Adewale by evidence showed was retired from service on the medical ground with effect from Monday 19th December 2011 despite presenting certificate of fitness.

 

In 2014, He challenged the retirement in court but the suit was dismissed for being statute-barred and all effort to access the benefits in his Retirement Savings Account were abortive as it was required of him to furnish the PFA with the medical condition warranting the retirement.

 

Furthermore, the claimant approached and wrote the defendant severally to produce the medical certificate upon which he was retired but all to no avail till date, and argued that the law has imposed a legal duty on the defendant which it is expected to perform in the discharge of its responsibility to the claimant urged the court to do Justice.

 

However, the defendant- Nigerian Customs Service was afforded all opportunities to defend the case but despite service of the processes and hearing notices and evidence attesting to the same, the defendant did not file any process nor was it represented at the trial by a Counsel.

 

Delivering judgment, the trial Judge, Justice Elizabeth Oji held that Pension is not merely a statutory right of the claimant but is also a fulfilment of a constitutional promise and further that it becomes a statutory duty on the defendant as are required to enable the claimant to take the benefits of his pension.

 

“I am convinced that the defendant owes it to the claimant to issue that medical certificate to enable the claimant to fulfil the pre-condition for accessing his pension. That is, in my opinion, the just thing to do. I, therefore, find that claimant’s case succeeds.”

 

Cricket star Ben Stokes beats Lewis Hamilton & Raheem Sterling to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year

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Cricket star Ben Stokes beats Lewis Hamilton & Raheem Sterling to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year

World Cricket champion, Ben Stokes has won the BBC Sports Personality of the year beating Formula one champion Lewis Hamilton and Man City striker Raheem Sterling to clinch the coveted award.

 

Stokes, captain of England’s cricket team, was man of the match as England won the World Cup for the first time with a dramatic super over victory against New Zealand at Lord’s. A game he won man of the match.

 

 

Manchester City/England footballer Raheem Sterling, world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Welsh rugby union legend, Alun Wyn Jones, were the nominees for the main award.

In a public vote, Stokes, 28,  beat Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton who finished second while sprinter Dina Asher-Smith came third.

 

Speaking to his fellow nominees and guests at the awards gala, Stokes thanked his teammates for helping him win the award and then showered praises on his wife, Clare.
“First of all, I think congratulations to all the nominees. What you’ve managed to achieve as individuals and do for your sport is simply sensational, so well done to you too.

There’s so many people you feel you have to thank when you’re up here. It’s an individual award, but I play a team sport and one of the great things about that is you get to share special moments with those team-mates, coaches and without that effort you put in, I wouldn’t be up here receiving this award so thank you so much.

“Two years ago was a tough time for me in my life and I’ve had so many people help me through that. My fantastic manager and friend Neil Fairbrother, you’re more than an agent, you’re an incredible man. I don’t know how you’ve put up with Andrew Flintoff and me, you and [Fairbrother’s wife] Audrey, you’re incredible people.

“My parents, they live on the other side of the world, they don’t get to share moments like this, the World Cup and be there with me, but the time you dedicated to me growing up, the selflessness to get me to training camps and around the country, this is for you. I love you so much, thank you.

“To my amazing wife, Clare. Family to me is more important than what I do for a living. It puts perspective on everything, after the good and bad days they are there for me no matter what. My two kids too, they are awesome I love you so much.

“Back to Clare, you’re a rock. You always have been. You always will be. I wish you could come here and share it with me, you deserve it just as much. I love you so much and I’m so proud to call you my wife.

“I’m guessing I should leave it there.”

 

Ben Stokes becomes the first cricketer since 2005 after Andrew Flintoff to win the BBC SPOTY prize.

 

Pakistan’s ex-president Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death

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Pakistan’s ex-president Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death

A Pakistani special court hearing the high treason case against former president General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, December 17th handed the former ruler a death sentence.

 

A three-member bench of the special court headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad announced the decision, in a split judgment.

 

The court, in its short order said that it had analysed complaints, records, arguments and facts in the case for three months. The court added it had found Musharraf, now living in Dubai, guilty of high treason according to Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

 

It was a majority verdict, with three of the two judges giving the decision against Musharraf. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had filed the treason case against Musharraf over his imposition of extra-constitutional emergency in November 2007.

 

The former army chief was indicted in the case in March 2014 after he appeared before the court and rejected all charges. On March 18, 2016, the former president left Pakistan for Dubai for medical treatment after his name was removed from the exit control list on the orders of the Supreme Court.

 

A few months later, the special court had declared him a proclaimed offender and ordered the confiscation of his property owing to his continuous inability to appear. Later, his passport and identity card were also cancelled on orders of the apex court.

 

Virgil Van Dijk beats Sterling, Aubameyang, Mane & others to win Football Supporters’ Association player of the year award

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Virgil Van Dijk beats Sterling, Aubameyang, Mane & others to win Football Supporters’ Association player of the year award

Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk has been named the Football Supporters’ Association player of the year.

 

The Dutch footballer beat his Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane, Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, Leicester striker Jamie Vardy and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to win the award.

 

‘I’m very grateful to get this trophy. It means a lot to me,’ the Holland international said. ‘Thank you to everyone for voting me player of the year, all of the fans around the country.

‘Hopefully, I can keep doing what I’m doing; getting better and helping the team and the club.’

 

More than 340,000 votes were cast by fans, with Van Dijk beating Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling into second place.

 

Van Dijk is now the fourth Liverpool player to win the award in the last seven years, following Mo Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez.

 

2 UniAbuja professors sacked, others demoted over sex scandal, exam malpractices

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2 UniAbuja professors sacked, others demoted over sex scandal, exam malpractices

Two professors have been sacked by the management of University of Abuja for alleged misconduct.

 

One of the academics identified as Prof. Adeniji Adedayo Abiodun of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture was dismissed for inappropriate relationship with a female student while Prof. Agaptus Buzo-Chibuzo Orji of the Department of Science and Environmental Education, Faculty of Education was dismissed for ‘falsification of academic records’, ‘aiding and abetting of examination malpractice’, and also for ‘corruption and dishonesty.’

Two other lecturers were also demoted by the University’s management. The University’s spokeperson, Habib Yakoob said Dr Robert Dajal of the Department of Science and Environmental Education, Faculty of Education was demoted from Associate Professor to Senior Lecturer while Mr. Gana Emmanuel Sunday Defian of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture was demoted by two ranks from Lecturer 1 to Assistant Lecturer “for their complicity in various acts of misconduct inimical to the image of the University.”
Yakoob further revealed that the decisions was reached by the Council of the institution at its 85th Regular Meeting held on December 11 and 12, 2019

 

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