Police Dismiss Officers Who Killed Kolade Johnson

April 4, 2019

Nigeria Police have dismissed two out of the three officers who killed Kolade Johnson on Sunday, March 31, while he was watching a football match with his friends at Mangoro area in Lagos state.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, DSP Bala Elkana said that the three officers were subjected to Orderly Room Trial on three count charges: (1) Discreditable Conduct (2) Unlawful and Unnecessary Exercise of Authority and (3) Damage to Clothing or Other Articles contrary to Paragraph E (iii), Q (ii) and D (i) First Schedule, Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.
The statement said that five witnesses testified, adding that at the conclusion of the trial, the first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan was found guilty of discreditable conduct by acting in a manner prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of members of the Force by shooting and killing Kolade Johnson; unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.

“The Adjudicating Officer, CSP Indyar Apev awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution to the First defaulter. There was no evidence linking the second defaulter, Sergeant Godwin Orji to the shooting. He was, therefore, found not guilty and discharged and acquitted.

“The First defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan is handed over to Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for prosecution in conventional Court.”

Oyo Gov, Ajimobi In Trouble As Traditional Rulers Drag Him Before EFCC

Editorial staff

April 4, 2019

Traditional rulers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have dragged outgoing Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing him of mismanaging the local government funds in the state.

The rulers are Mogaji Moshood Gbola Akere, Mogaji Abass Oloko and Mogaji Ademola Olasomi.

In a petition, dated April 2, 2019, which they sent to the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ibrahim Magu, the rulers accused the governor of using funds meant for local governments without recourse to due process.

They also accused Ajimobi of using the Head of Service, who was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government until last year, Mrs Olawumi Ogunesan, as an instrument in perpetrating illegal acts.

“We the undersigned are the traditional heads of various family compounds in the 25 local government/local council development areas of Ibadanland, which is 52% of the population of Oyo State. We are the grassroot leaders protesting the interests of our people.

“1. The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has been using the Head of Service, Mrs. OlawumiOgunesan, who was until last year, the permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry to run the accounts of the Ministry without recourse to the Law.

“2. There’s a portion of the Local Government Fund regarded as Excess Crude Oil Account, which is kept with Heritage Bank where the Governor’s Son-in-Law is a Senior Manager.

“3. The excess Crude Oil Account is being run without recourse to due Process. There’s a high disregard for the Procurement Act. None of the 33 Councils where there are elected Chairmen and Councilors has passed any Appropriation Law to give the expenditure incurred on the Account any form of Legality. Governor Ajimobi has constituted himself into Law, spending the money through Mrs. Ogunesan and the HLAs with impunity.

“4. In the past 6 months, about N9.9 Billion was taken from the Local Government Account without any legal authorization. The Governor and Mrs. Ogunesan using the Local Government Officials organized a kind of direct Labour in all the 33 Local Governments to undertake procurement contrary to the Procurement Law. It also amounted to misappropriation, because there was no appropriation law backing the Expenditure.

“5. Recently, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, who is also the Head of the Public Works Department, Mr. Gbenga Akintola has been the one saddled with the responsibility of undertaking procurement for the 33 Local Governments and 35 local council development areas. This is against the Law and a further demonstration of the impunity with which the Governor has been spending Local government Funds.

“6. The Governor using the Head of Service, Mrs. Olawumi Ogunesan has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLA) in the 33 local governments to come up with proposals for spending money in the stabilization Accounts of the Local governments, even when it is known that the administration has less than 2 months in the Office.

“7. Currently, there’s a sum of #34.6 billion in the Local Government Account domicile in Heritage Bank. The money has been kept in a fixed deposit account yielding interests to the Governor and Mrs. Ogunesan. As the Governor’s Party lost out in the Governorship Election conducted last Month, plans are underway to spend this money in the twilight of his administration.

“8. It is sad that a huge sum of money to the tune of #34.6 billion could be kept in Heritage Bank, where the Governor and his Cronies are making money through accrued interests and also using the Local Government money to secure the Job of his Son-in-Law. If the moneyhad been judiciously and legally appropriated for the use of the local governments it would have stimulated the economy of the state in many beneficial ways. It further shows the wickedness Of the Governor and the extent of his selfishness,” they alleged.

The chiefs therefore prayed the anti-graft agency to take some steps.

“We pray that the EFCC kindly undertake the following:

“I. EFCC should investigate the accounts of the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the past one year.

“II. The EFCC to investigate the procurement process of all the local governments and the local council development areas in the state.

‘III.The EFCC should also investigate the operations of the Local Government Account with Heritage Bank.

“IV. The EFCC should freeze the Local Government Account with Heritage Bank or any other bank to prevent further dissipation of the funds by the out-going Governor and his agents and/or proxies. We count on your usual effectiveness in matters of this nature.”

Saudi Arabia Insists Nigeria Cannot Be Exempted From Its Death Penalty Law

Editorial staff

April 4, 2019

Saudi Arabia Ambassaor to Nigeria, Bin Mahmoud Bostaji

The government of Saudi Arabia has made it clear that Nigeria cannot be exempted on the application of law against drug trafficking, which prescribes death penalty for the accused after all the evidences have been proved.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria was reacting to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, regarding the execution of a Nigerian woman.

The woman, Mrs Kudirat Adesola Afolabi, a widow and mother of two, was executed on April 1 after being convicted of drug related offence in the Holy land.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria, headed by Ambassador Bin Mahmoud Adnan Bostaji said in the statement: “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not neglect the enforcement of penalty in terms of matters of drug trafficking and is determined to apply the law on any person against whom evidence is established in order to combat drug trafficking and protect its citizens from this menace.”

“The ministry of the foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is always in consultation with foreign embassies and Consulates in the Kingdom, of which are Nigerian embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah, and it provides them with all facilitations and information and allows their staff to visit their nationals that are detained vis-à-vis a variety of charges as are related to the different stages of their detention and prosecution, and this is allowed every time of their request through normal channels.”

The Kingdom reminded Nigeria that it had continued to maintain a legal process whereby penalty for drug trafficking has always been death sentence “and such is applied on all persons convicted without any exceptions, as long as the evidence is established against them, and this is conveyed to every person prior to his trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

It made it clear that death sentence is carried out on the soil of the Kingdom after all proofs and legal evidences have been exhausted against the detained person have been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The statement said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s judicial system is established on objectivity and is dependent, in terms of its rules and regulations, on the Islamic law, which has always restored rights to their owners and done justice to the victims, stressing that all convicted persons on whom the death penalty has been carried out have gone through trials, characterized by legal guarantee of justice to their case.

“All accused persons subjected to the legal process in the Saudi courts of law are allowed access to lawyers to litigate on their behalf, and the Kingdom avails itself the responsibility to provide lawyers for any persons that have no financial ability to do so.”

The Kingdom stressed that in the case of the woman that was executed and for which Abike Dabiri attacked the Kingdom, all legal and judicial procedures were followed.

Presidency Shows How 2019 Campaign Did Not Affect Government Activities

Editorial staff

April 4, 2019

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signing a document in his Villa Office, Abuja

The Presidency has detailed the achievements in governance by President Muhammadu Buhari during the campaign that saw him visiting 36 States of the federation and Abuja, the nation’s federal capital.

A statement today, Thursday, by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the President was able to keep the promise he made to Nigerians that government activities would not suffer as a result of the campaing.

Adesina listed the achievements of the President and his government as follows:

1. MINIMUM WAGE
January 9, 2019: President Buhari inaugurated the Presidential Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of the National Minimum Wage (PTAC), with a mandate to advise the Federal Government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs of implementing the imminent increase in the National Minimum Wage.
The Committee, chaired by Mr. Bismarck Rewane, submitted its report on Monday, March 25, 2019.
Also in January 2019, President Buhari submitted a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly for passage, following the approval of the National Council of State. The Bill is now awaiting presidential assent.

President Buhari: “I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.”

2. FINANCING GOVERNMENT
January 23, 2019: The Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives (SRGI) programme of the Federal Government was launched by Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, in Abuja
SRGI is built on three (3) main planks:

Achieve sustainability in revenue generation
Identify new and enhance the enforcement of existing revenue streams
Achieve cohesion in the revenue ecosystem (people and tools).

The Steering Committee of the SRGI, with membership drawn from all the major revenue-generating agencies, held its inaugural meeting on February 12, 2019.

Continue

EFCC Catalogues Alleged Many Lies Suspended Chief Judge, Onnoghen Told

Editorial staff

April 4, 2019

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed the many lies which it said the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen told to cover up his lack of declaration of many of his assets.

The facts were contained in what was described as a “final address” which the lawyers to the anti graft agency sent to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, through a letter to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

In the letter signed by Ekele Iheanacho and Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, the EFCC catalogued various allegations against Justice Onnoghen, raising questions over the legitimacy of $1,716,000deposited, over time, into his domiciliary account at Standard Chartered Bank and monies found in other accounts.

“It is clear that these huge sums of money were not earned by the Respondent (Onnoghen) as his salaries and allowances”, the EFCC said in its submission.

The letter cited the transactions between a senior advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi and Onnoghen, and the contradictory statements made by the duo over a Mercedes Benz 450 worth N7million bought for Onnoghen by Agi in 2009 and a $30,000 deposited into Onnoghen’s account by Agi.

Justice Onnoghen claimed he gave Agi the money to deposit on his behalf. Agi said he could not recall collecting such ‘huge money’ from Onnoghen. Onnoghen claimed he paid for the Mercedes Benz in tranches, Agi claimed he bought the car on Onnoghen’s behalf outright, with cash.

“I will be surprised if the money Onnoghen gave me was up to $30,000.00 as I cannot remember taking $30,000 USD from Justice Onnoghen. $30,000 USD is big money to take at a go,” Agi was quoted to have said in a testimony to the EFCC.

The Commission also listed five senior lawyers who paid ‘pecuniary gifts’ into Onnoghen’s account at various times in 2015.

Here is the full statement by the EFCC to NJC:

BETWEEN: THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION AND JUSTICE WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN GCON.

THE PETITIONER’S FINAL ADDRESS IN RESPECT OF PETITION ON FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETY, INFIDELITY TO THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES RELATED LAWS AGAINST HON. JUSTICE WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN GCON.

INTRODUCTION

My lords, by petition dated the 4th day of February, 2019 signed by the Ag. Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (hereinafter called, petitioner) to the Chairman, National Judicial Council, allegations of FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETY, INFIDELITY TO THE CONSTITUTION AND OTHER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES RELATED LAWS were leveled against the Respondent. See exhibit P10.

Furthermore, my lords, by another letter dated the 5th day of March, 2019, the Petitioner forwarded additional facts and findings to the Chairman of the Council which letter was referred to this Honourable Committee for necessary action. The petitioner adopted this additional facts and finding before this Committee and was admitted and marked exhibit P10A.

My lords, at the hearing of this petition, the petitioner called 7 witnesses and tendered documentary evidence which were admitted and marked as shown in the table below:

S/N PARTICULARS OF THE EXHIBIT EXHIBIT NUMBER

1 RESPONDENT’S ACCOUNT HERITAGE BANKC P1

2 LETTER FROM HERITAGE BANK DATED 24/10/16 FORWARDING THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT OF THE RESPONDENT TO EFCC P2

3 RESPONDENTS UNION BANK SALARY ACCOUNT P3

4 RESPONDENT’S STANDARD CHARTERED BANK STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT –

I. Naira Account (015001062693) – P4

II. Naira Account (0100260075400) – P4A

III. GBP Account (2850160075400) – P4B

IV. USD Account (8700260075400) – P4C1 & 4C2

V. Euro Account (9350160075400) – P4D

VI. Investment Portfolio Statements – P4E

P4-P4E

5 UBA STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT OF NGOZI LAURA P5

6 INTERNAL MEMO FROM PROTOCOL UNIT SUPREME COURT TO THE CHEIF REGISTRAR DATED 11 Oct. 2018 P6

7 CIRCULAR TO ALL HEADS COURT DATED 28 MAY 2007 P7

8 LETTER FROM THE SUPREME COURT DATED 19TH FEBRUARY, 2019 TO EFCC WITH ATTACHED REGISTERED OF CASH SIGNED FOR AND RECEIVED BY THE RESPONDENT P8

9 FEDERAL TREASURY (CIRCULAR ON E-PAYMENT) DATED 22ND OCTOBER, 2008 P9

10 PETITION DATED 4TH FEBRUARY,2019 P10

11 EFCC LETTTER DATED 5TH MARCH,2019FORWARDING ADDITIONAL FACTS TO NJC LETTER P10A

12 RESPONDENT’S STATEMENT TO CCB P11

13 RESPONDENT’S ASSET DECLARATION FORMS P12

14 SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT (CHIEF I. OHAKIM& ANOR V CHIEF MARTIN AGBASO& ANOR) (2010) NWLR (PT1226) 172 S.C, Suit No. SC3/2010 P13

15 STATEMENT OF JAMES ONOJA, SAN TO EFCC DATED 11TH AND 12TH MARCH 2019 P14 & P 15

16 STATEMENT OF IKPEAZU ONYEACHI, SAN TO EFCC DATED 4TH MARCH 2019 P16

17 Statement of Paul Usoro, SAN to EFCC Dated 4th March, 2019 P17

18 Statement of Emeka Etiaba, SAN to EFCC Dated 4th March, 2019 P18

19 Statement of Joe Agi, SAN to EFCC Dated 6th Feb. 2019 P19

20 Statement of Joe Agi, SAN to EFCC Dated 7th Feb. 2019 P20

21 Statement of Joe Agi, SAN to EFCC Dated 1 March 2019 P21

It is also worthy of note that exhibits P17-P21 were tendered by the Respondent through PW7 Hary Erin, the Investigating Officer of the Petitioner.

My lords, the Respondent called the Acting Director of Finance and Account of the Supreme Court and also testified on his own behalf. In the course of his defence, the Respondent tendered documentary evidence through DW1 and himself. The exhibits are as shown in the table below:

S/N PARTICULARS OF THE EVIDENCE EXHIBIT NUMBER

1 Financial Regulations of the FRN p.80-81, Rule 1411, 1412 (II) & (III) Dated January 2009 R1

2 Foreign Currency (Domiciliary Accounts) Act Cap 151, LFN 1985 R2

3 Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree N0. 17, 1995 R3

4 Judgment of the FCT High Court in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/21/2016 delivered 2017 R4

5 Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/A/371c/2017 delivered 2018 R5

6 Respondent’s response to the first petition dated 4th February, 2019 R6

7 Respondent’s response to EFCC’S Petition dated 19th February, 2019 R7

8 Respondent’s response to EFCC’S ADDITIONAL FACT R8

9 Wedding Invitation for the Respondent’s Daughter R9

10 PURPORTED PRINT OUT FROM THE EFCC WEBSITE R10

ISSUE FOR DETERMINATION

We respectively submit that the sole issue for the determination of this Honourable Committee is whether in view of the evidence adduced by the Petitioner, it can be said that the Respondent has not breached the Code of conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ARGUMENT ON THE ISSUE

My lords, it is our humble submission that from the evidence on record, it cannot be said that the Respondent has not breached the Code of Conducts for Judicial Officers. My lords by virtue of his appointment as a Judicial Officer, the Respondent has a duty to actively participate in establishing, maintaining, enforcing and observing a high standard of conduct that will ensure and preserve transparently the integrity of the Judiciary. The Respondent is also duty bond, in the performance of his duties to adhere and observe strictly the rules set out in the Code of conduct for Judicial Officer and failure to do so automatically constitutes misconduct. We humbly refer my lords to the Preamble to the Code of Conduct for Judicial

It is must be stated that the Code of Conduct for the Judicial Officers serves as the minimum standard of conduct to be observed by each and every judicial Officers. My lords, this explains why the preamble to the code provides: “therefore, this code of conduct for Judicial Offices of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby adopted to serve as the minimum standard of conduct to be observed by each and every Judicial officer as defined in this code.”

Source: NAN.

Killing Of Kolade Johnson By Police Disturbs Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

April 3, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the Killing by the police in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, of one Kolade Johnson in Lagos.

A statement by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as expressing his deep condolences to the family of the deceased.

The President acknowledged the genuine outrage regarding the activities of SARS and reassures the public that swift actions have already been taken.

“Suspects are in custody and an orderly room trial is set to commence immediately, following which indicted officers will be prosecuted in court.”

According to President Buhari, “Government will not tolerate in any way the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights. Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will certainly be visited with the full weight of the law.”

Recall that following directives from the Presidency in 2018 to overhaul the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, steps were taken by the Police leadership to restructure and reform SARS. The President recognizes that a lot more remains to be done and this effort must be sustained.

He reassured that his administration will continue to ensure that all officers in the Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

Buhari Govt To Invest N5.5 Billion To Turn 60,000 Youths Into Self-Employed

Greenbarge Reporters

April 3, 2019

The Muhammadu Buhari led federal government has enunciated an ambitious plan of training a total of over 60,000 Nigerian youths across the six geographical zones for the purpose of making them to be self-employed entrepreneurs.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today, Wednesday, presided over by the President, resolved to pursue the novel programme, which will cost over N5.5 Billion, with vigour.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma said that it is part of the Buhari government’s social investment programme.

The minister said that the immediate target of the programme are 12,000 young Nigerians of between the ages of 18-25 years.

“It is meant to give them trainings and devices. The trainings intend to transform the 12,000 beneficiaries from unemployed, under-employed trainees to employed citizens and entrepreneurs.”

He said that the 12,000 beneficiaries are expected to build and imbibe technical proficiency such as assembling, repairs, maintenance as well as technology skills and digital literacy across a wide range of electronic brands, products and technology in others.

According to Udoma, the devices have been categorised into three areas – mobile devices, computing devices and commonly used electronic devices irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.

“It’s a programme that is open to all unemployed youths across the six geopolitical zones. Each of the 12,000 targeted beneficiaries will be empowered to train 5 youths via a training platform which means they will need to translate the jobs to 60,000 additional jobs because each of the 12,000 is empowered to train five other youths via a training platform and engage them on his or her platform. “The project is awarded to Messrs Softcam. It’s of nine months’ duration. Softcam will be working with officials of Social Investment Programme.

“It will cost N259,000 per youth for the training and N207,000 for work tools. Thereafter, once they are trained, they will set up their businesses. Each of the 12,000 beneficiaries will set up his/her business. The cost is N5, 595, 865 billion

“The idea is to ensure that our youths are trained and capable of handling all these electronic equipment.”

IMF Thumbs Up For Nigeria’s Economy, Says “It’s Recovering”

Editorial staff

April 3, 2019

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that the Nigerian economy is recovering with increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and falling inflation at the end of 2018.

The Executive Board of the IMF, who said this in a report at the conclusion of the Board’s consultation with Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s economy is recovering.”

In the report, according to a statement issued in Washington, DC by a spokesperson for the Fund, Lucie Fouda, the Fund noted: “real GDP increased by 1.9 per cent in 2018, up from 0.8 per cent in 2017, on the back of improvements in manufacturing and services, supported by spillovers from higher oil prices, ongoing convergence in exchange rates and strides to improve the business environment.

“Headline inflation fell to 11.4 per cent at end-2018, reflecting declining food price inflation, weak consumer demand, a relatively stable exchange rate and tight monetary policy during most of 2018, but remains outside of the central bank’s target range of 6-9 per cent.

“Record holdings of mostly short-term local debt and equity and a current account surplus lifted gross international reserves to a peak in April 2018, while the three-times oversubscribed November 2018 Eurobond helped cushion the impact of outflows later in the year.”

IMF said, however, that persisting structural and policy challenges continue to constrain growth to levels below those needed to reduce vulnerabilities, lessen poverty and improve weak human development outcomes, such as in health and education.

The Fund said that a large infrastructure gap, low revenue mobilisation, governance and institutional weaknesses, continued foreign exchange restrictions, and banking sector vulnerabilities were dampening long-term foreign and domestic investment and keeping the economy reliant on volatile oil prices and production.

“Under current policies, the outlook remains therefore muted. Over the medium term, absent strong reforms, growth would hover around 2½ per cent, implying no per capita growth as the economy faces limited increases in oil production and insufficient adjustment four years after the oil price shock.

“Monetary policy focused on exchange rate stability would help contain inflation but worsen competitiveness if greater flexibility is not accommodated when needed. High financing costs, on the back of little fiscal adjustment, would continue to constrain private sector credit, and the interest-to-revenue ratio would remain high.

“Risks are moderately tilted downwards. On the upside, oil prices could rise, prompted by global political disruptions or supply bottlenecks. Bold reform efforts, following the election cycle, could boost confidence and investments, especially given relatively conservative baseline projections.

“On the downside, additional delays in reform implementation, a persistent fall in oil prices, reduced oil production, increased security tensions, or tighter global financial market conditions could undermine growth, provoke a market sell-off, and put additional pressure on reserves and/or the exchange rate.”

The Executive Directors, in their assessment, welcomed Nigeria’s ongoing economic recovery, accompanied by reduced inflation and strengthened reserve buffers.

They noted, however, that the medium-term outlook remains muted, with risks tilted to the downside.

In addition, long standing structural and policy challenges need to be tackled more decisively to reduce vulnerabilities, raise per capita growth, and bring down poverty, they said.

Directors, therefore, urged the authorities to redouble their reform efforts, and supported their intention to accelerate implementation of their Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

They welcomed the Nigerian authorities’ tax reform plan to increase non-oil revenue, including through tax policy and administration measures.

They stressed the importance of strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation, including through additional excises, a comprehensive Value Added Tax reform, and elimination of tax incentives.

Securing oil revenues through reforms of state owned enterprises and measures to improve the governance of the oil sector will also be crucial, they said.

Directors highlighted the importance of shifting the expenditure mix toward priority areas.

They welcomed, in this context, the significant increase in public investment but underlined the need for greater investment efficiency, while also recommending increasing funding for health and education.

They noted that phasing out implicit fuel subsidies while strengthening social safety nets to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable would help reduce the poverty gap and free up additional fiscal space.

With inflation still above the Central Bank target, Directors generally considered that a tight monetary policy stance is appropriate.

They also urged ending direct Central Bank intervention in the economy to allow focus on the central bank’s price stability mandate.

Directors commended the authorities’ commitment to unify the exchange rate and welcomed the increasing convergence of foreign exchange windows.

They noted that a unified market based exchange rate and a more flexible exchange rate regime would support inflation targeting.

Directors also stressed that elimination of exchange restrictions and multiple currency practices would remove distortions and facilitate economic diversification.

They welcomed the decline in nonperforming loans and the improved prudential banking ratios but noted that restructured loans and undercapitalised banks continue to weigh on financial sector performance.

Directors also recommended establishing a credible time bound recapitalisation plan for weak banks and a timeline for phasing out the state backed asset management company AMCON.

Directors urged the authorities to reinvigorate implementation of structural reforms to diversify the economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

They pointed to the importance of improving the business environment, implementing the power sector recovery programme, deepening financial inclusion, reforming the health and education sectors, and implementing policies to reduce gender inequities.

Directors welcomed improvements in the quality and availability of economic statistics and encouraged continued efforts to address remaining gaps, including through regular funding.

Source: NAN.,

PDP Describes APC, Others As Oppressive Forces, As Gov Wike Wins Re-Election In Rivers

Editorial staff

April 3, 2019

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Action Congress (AAC) and “compromised security agencies” as oppressive forces.

Reacting to the re-election today, Wednesday, of Governor Nyesom Wike in the Rivers Governorship election, the PDP said: “Governor Wike’s record 700,000 votes margin of victory over the disgraced combined anti-people forces of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Action Congress (AAC) and compromised security agencies speaks volume of the resilience of the people of Rivers State in the face of intimidations, harassment and manipulations by oppressive forces.

“The victory reinforces the confidence of the people in the resoluteness of asserting their democratic choice of leadership as well as standing in defence of their mandate to the end.”

A statement today, Wednesday by the PDP spokesman, Kola Kola Ologbondiyan said that governor Wike’s victory had demonstrated that the will of the people “will always prevail against every form of suppression as were eminently manifested in the desperation by the APC leaders, particularly, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to forcefully and violently take over control of the state against the wish of the people.”

The party remembered those who were killed “by agents of the oppressors during the election,” adding that they did not die in vain.

“And those who shed their innocent blood will surely be brought to book.”

Nigeria Immigration Boss Angry With Politicians, ‘Big Men’ Defying Checks At Borders

Editorial staff

April 3, 2019

Nigeria Immigration Service boss, Muhammad Babandede

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, is angry with big time politicians and those he called ‘big men’ who are in the habit of passing through the borders without submitting themselves to checks.

“There are people who cross our borders without appearing before immigration. In recent time, some politicians and big men think they can pass through the borders without passing through immigration officers.

“It is an offence under the Act, you are liable to punishment regardless of whoever you are. You and the officer involved will be prosecuted because officers don’t have immunity, because it is a law that a person must present himself and pass through immigration.”

The Immigration boss, who spoke in Abuja during the decoration of 14 Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) who were recently promoted, admitted that politicians have been evading immigration checks lately even as he vowed that such would no longer be tolerated as any officer or “big man” caught would face stiff punishment.

Babandede disclosed that 15 persons who falsely claimed to have lost their e-passports are being prosecuted.

He advised the new ACGs, the CG to be more dedicated and supervise those who are working under them.

“You must be very vigilant and watch people who cross our borders.”

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