A total of 62,275 Nigerians who performed this year’s hajj have been airlifted back to Nigeria as at this evening. The last flight by MaxAir, departed Jeddah to Sokoto via Bauchi at 8.20pm local time with 496 pilgrims, made up of 283 Bauchi pilgrims, 130 Kebbi state pilgrims, 83 Sokoto state pilgrims and 15 officials. Information made available to Greenbarge Reporters by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), shows that no fewer than five air lines participating in the airlift of the returning pilgrims have made 158 trips so far. Meanwhile, there are still over 2,000 pilgrims that are still in the Holy land, waiting to be airlifted back to Nigeria. [myad]
Former Chairman of Punch newspapers, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, has offered a word of advice to online publishers, warning that this emerging form of practicing journalism carried with heavy responsibilities. Ogunshola said that in the same way the traditional media practioners have always faced the consequences of their actions whether good or bad, the online media practitioners must also be ready to face such challenges. The former Punch chairman, who spoke today at the launch of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, put together by professional journalists who have taken to online publishing, insisted that there should be minimum standards under which online publishers should descend, if they want to be taken serious. He said that online news platforms must also be able to attract the same level of confidence people have in some of the newspapers that have credibility and balance. Speaking against the backdrop of the attention he paid to the online arm of the Punch titles when he was chairman of the newspaper, he said: “I am one of those supportive of online media. At Punch as chairman, I recognised online. I wanted it alongside the hard copy. It is not for making money. “So if you think online publishing can make you rich, that is a mistake. Businesses where people are rich is where you have barrier to entrance. With phones, you can do online publishing, hence there is no barrier of entrance. “Almost anybody can do it as you do not require too much money to start it. Since almost everybody can start it, you are not likely to make too much money from it. “So my encouragement is that in doing online publishing, you must have other goals, the main one being the interest to serve other purposes.” Ogunshola said it was the failure to realise this that has led to some who claimed to be online publishers to go into blackmailing, adding: “some go into online publishing trying to make money by blackmailing individuals, thus giving online publishing a bad name.” Ogunshola said it was in the light of this that he became excited when told about the existence of GOCOP. He said that he wished it had taken off long before the cyber crime law came into effect, arguing that he is not against the law punishing anyone that has erred knowingly. He is of the belief that just like some traditional newspapers that die after a while, some of the online newspapers will also soon die, adding: “but if you have a cause for which you are publishing, you should be able to stay afloat. But if you are looking for wealth, you won’t be able to make it.” The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in a goodwill message, said that online newspapers have been of immense benefit to lawmakers. Dogara, who was represented by Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, said it has helped to bridge the gap between lawmakers and their constituencies. He said that there was the need to identify real journalists who are into the online business even as he encouraged newsmen to “use news that will promote democracy.” Dogara also said the consciousness that there are online publications had gone a long way in checking corruption, adding: “People now know they are being watched. And since part of the 8th legislative agenda is to fight corruption and with the realisation that you cannot do it without the media, it is imperative for the House to work with online publishers.” Dogara called on journalists to help educate Nigerians about the functions and roles of the legislative arm of government. The Director General of the Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwakwo, congratulated GOCOP for the launching, saying that the online news platform is a critical component of the development of the country. He said that over 55 per cent of what happen to a nation’s economy is about perception and that since that perception is largely created by the media, there is the need for online publishers to assist in doing global marketing for the country and the economy. Among other guests at the occasion were the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina; the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Eke; Bisi Kazeem, the representative of the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; the Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility of Airtel, Emeka Oparah; and Head of Communications, United Bank for Africa, Charles Aigbe. [myad]
An Executive member of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami has sounded a note of warning to Nigerians who are in the habit of writing petition against public officers just for the fun of it or for the purpose of vendetta. Ozi Salami, who represented the chairman of the Commission, Barrister Ekpo Nta at the formal launching of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) at Eko Hotel and Suits today, said that such false peddlers would no longer be allowed to go scot free. “If you accuse any public officer of corruption and the commission investigates only to find out that the officer is innocent, we will prosecute you (the accuser).” The ICPC representative particularly addressed journalists and online practitioners, whom he cautioned against falling into false peddlers just so that they would attract traffic to their sites. Ozi-Salami was happy that professional journalists and editors have now come together to form a common front to sanitise the system, even as he tasked them to continue to respect the original tenets of journalism. He recommended to the online publishers to be whistle-blowers on corruption without being unnecessarily sensational. This was even as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and the Chairman of Zinox Group, Stan Leo Eke, emphasised the need for the online publishers to carry out the business with all sense of responsibility and commitment to journalism. Adesina and Eke spoke also at the launching GOCOP. Adesina said the government of President Buhari knows the importance of online journalism hence it is passionate about the standardisation of its practice. In a speech he titled: “Let your light shine,” the President’s spokesman said that the nation cannot do without online publishing despite the realisation that it can lift up or pull down an administration. He said the change that was witnessed in the country in the last elections had a chunk of the support from online publishing, even as he said that online today has been ridden by the good, the bad and ugly. According to Adesina, practitioners have a great task of correcting the lapses noticed among online publishers by continuously doing peer reviews. He said that due to the challenges with online news platforms, people still do not trust them, adding that those who make use of online news platforms, take in the information provided but still wait till the following day for the “traditional media to validate it. “That is the challenge the online media must overcome.” Adesina said among other challenges are concocted stories and the use of foul language, adding: “People believe that operating online gives them the liberty to use uncouth language. He advised on peer review and that the practitioners should be ready to defend any falsehood they write. “Those who see online publishing as licence to do what is not right should be ready to pay for it. This association should able to do a separation. Bad coin tends to drive good coin out of circulation.” On his part, Eke, who was the Guest Speaker, said that in this age and time, no one can avoid online media. He said that about 29 years ago when he launched desktop publishing, he told those who cared to listen that it was either “you are in it or out, but yet a lot of people still do not understand that online publishing, and by extension business, has come to stay.” Eke said the future wealth of the country lies online, stressing that with the distress in the economy, Nigerians should not be blind to the future wealth. He said that a lot of people took exception to his comment during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan that the failure of the government to pay attention to online publications was going to cost them the election. He said the greatest fear was that if the Jonathan government returned to power, he may not be allowed to live peacefully in the country again, adding: “a lot of people forget that creating wealth is not about being in a particular location but what you have in your head.” He said the administration forgot they rode on the back of the online media to come into power and they paid for it, adding: “President Muhammadu Buhari might be analogue, but he used the online to get elected.” He advised the Buhari administration to pay attention to the education sector not minding what it will cost and also work with major telecommunications service providers to provide Nigerians free internet service. [myad]
The Lagos State Government has made it clear that any business outfit that fails to pay the appropriate taxes to the government would not only be prosecuted but banned from operating in the state.
This came as the state Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) closed down no fewer than six companies which had consistently failed to pay taxes to the state government amounting to cumulative total of over N50 million.
The defaulting companies are Nicon Town Management Company with a tax liability of N36,053,652.89, Marketing Mix and Company Limited with a liability of N10,712,914.15, Hope Valley International Clinic with a liability of 2,389,885.28, BEC Consultants Nigeria Limited with a tax liability of N792,563.47, Goldmine Global Services Limited owing N505,812.73 and Brown Brommel Limited with a liability of N368,159.63.
According to the officials of the state government, these companies have refused to pay their taxes for periods ranging from one to five years (2007 to 2012).
A statement today by the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said the companies were sealed in pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 LFN (as amended in 2011) and will not be re-opened for business until all unremitted taxes are paid to the State Government.
He warned defaulting companies, especially employers of labour that the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has zero tolerance for tax evasion, adding that LIRS is set to begin criminal prosecution of all tax defaulters in Lagos State to ensure that culprits are made to face the full wrath of the law.
The LIRS boss said that under the Personal Income Tax Act, a taxable person is statutorily required to file a return of income for the preceding year at the expiration of 90days from the commencement of every year of assessment, whilst any employer of labour is required to file all emoluments paid to its employees for the preceding year, not later than 31st of January each year.
“In addition to that, employers will also be required to furnish the LIRS with the salary projection of all staff for the current year. The implication of which is that a taxable person or corporate organisations who have not filed their tax returns with LIRS by the stipulated date is in breach of the provisions of the law, which is a criminal offence that is punishable under the tax laws.”
He listed such infractions to include, non deduction of taxes (PAYE, Withholding tax etc), non remittance of PAYE taxes deducted from employees, non deduction/remittance of taxes by casual workers, non-filing of tax returns at the stipulated statutory period, under declaration of income, concealment of relevant information (Income, fringe benefits etc) with a view to evading tax, failure to process Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (e-TCC) cards for employees as a result of non remittance of tax deducted from their emoluments.
Ogunsanwo explained that the LIRS has spent the last ten years on advocacy, publicity and enlightenment programmes on the statutory obligations of the citizenry to voluntarily comply by paying their taxes promptly as prescribed in the constitution of the country and the applicable tax legislations, but in spite of the efforts, many corporate organisations and individuals still engage in several infractions. [myad]
Five people who were suspected to be the masterminds of the bombings in both Kuje and Nyanya, satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory, have been charged to court in Abuja.
They are Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru.
While Abulwaheed Nasiru pleaded guilty to being in possession of materials to make a bomb, the other four pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge against them.
This was even as Abulwaheed Nasiru insisted that the materials to make bomb belonged to his friend, who is currently at large.
The charges against the suspects included conspiracy to carry out a bomb attack utilizing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), resulting in the death of scores of citizens and the injury of several others, as well as the possession of materials which could be used to make IEDs.
It was alleged that at the time they were arrested, the five suspects were in possession of 27 detonator parts and several chemical compounds which are used to make IEDs. All of these charges are punishable under Section 2 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act of 2013.
The Prosecution Counsel, Musiliu Dire, asked the court to adjourn the matter to allow him to produce witnesses to testify on the case. In his own submission, the Defense Counsel, Nuremi Suleiman, requested the transfer of his clients from police custody to Kuje prison citing the ‘inhuman treatment’ his clients faced in police custody.
The Judge, Abdul Kafarati accepted Mr. Suleiman’s submission and ruled that the suspects should be remanded in Kuje prison even as he adjourned the case to November 17th and 24th. [myad]
Twenty Igbos agitating for the Republic of Biafra, for which civil war was fought in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970, have been charged to court for treason, and sent on remand in prison until October 27 when counsels would be expected to argue for their bail.
The Chief Magistrate in Port Harcourt, Andrew Jaja insisted that they should go on remand until the date the case for bail is adjourned.
The suspects were alleged to have taken part in the protest by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, in Port Harcourt.
Those who were charged to court and sent on remand are: Benson Sunday (21), Emmanuel Ali (25), Ukeme Monday (32), Chibuzo Ezechina (33), Charles Eze (29), Egbo Okechukwu (24), Chibona Ifion (47), John Douglas (20), Ezenwa Alphonus (51), Wori Endurance (30), Chinomere Nwolu (25), Henry Eze (36),Friday Uzunwa (22), Igodo Abio (34), Akaniyene Uwem (22), Eni Iboro (27), Obinna Stephen (26), Monday Ocha (37), Obinna Ibekwe (27), and Kingsley Ezengorie (24)
They were charged for treasonable felony after allegedly destroying the national flag hoisted at the premises of a bank during their protest and chanting hate songs against the Nigerian state.
The three- count charge against them read in part: “That…on October 20 2015, at about 2:00p.m., at Ikwerre Road in Port Harcourt, the suspects and others now at large, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2), of the criminal code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
“That… on same date and time did without lawful authority demonstrate and chant war song that Hausa is not part of Biafra, which caused panic in the neighbourhood, instilled fear on reasonable grounds with intent to intimidate or cause panic within the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(1) of the criminal code, Cap c38 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
“That…all the suspects and others now at large on the same place and time, did wilfully and unlawfully damage the Nigeria flag, which was hoisted at Zenith Bank Plc. Ikoku Branch in Port Harcourt, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of criminal code, Cap c38 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”
They were not allowed to take plea but were all represented by different counsels.
Chief Magistrate Andrew-Jaja said that though there were arguments from various counsels to grant them bail, he was not convinced.
State counsel, Ayo A. Ajaghe, who prosecuted the case argued against their bail applications, saying that the magistrate’s court lacked powers to hear the matter.
According to the counsel, the offence for which they were charged was treasonable and attracts capital punishment if convicted.
He said they should not be allowed to go because they were allegedly moving to tear the country apart.
It was leant that another batch of 24 persons were brought to the state CID for similar offence. It is not clear when they will be charged to court. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the first made-in-Nigeria gas pipeline which has been put together at the cost of 150 US Dollars by SCC Nigeria Limited. The project is sited in Ushafa, the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The new ultra-modern steel pipe manufacturing mill was commissioned and the rolling out ceremony of completed NNPC gas pipelines was inaugurated today by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal on behalf of the President.
Speaking at the occasion, President Buhari gave assurance that his government will continue to promote and protect all efforts targeted at achieving industrial growth and improving the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
He said that the government will continue to carry out regular review of fiscal policy measures which will safeguard local investment to the detriment of importation of products and services that are at times of very low quality.
This was even as he challenged oil companies operating in the country to design, develop and produce new specification of pipes that will meet international standard for low pressure and shallow water application in the oil and gas industry.
According to President Buhari, some local companies have placed order for about 100km of pipelines to SCC which will sustain the employment of Nigerians and create more opportunities for training.
“Nigerian workers should be happy because once the industry begins to accept made in Nigeria product and place demand on Nigerian pipe mill like the SCC mill, it would just be a matter of time for tens of thousands of job to be generated directly and indirectly from operations of the SCC and other such facilities.
“In the face of our increasing demands for steel pipes which today stand at 1.2 million tons annually, the SCC pipe mill is expected to satisfy closed to 10 percent of the nation’s oil and gas pipe demands which is about one hundred thousand tons annually.
“This development is a great mile stone in our collective effort to promote and increase content in the oil and gas sector and to fast-track effort at transferring technology and technical capacity to Nigerian engineers and artisans as well as conserve the much needed foreign exchang.
“I therefore commend the SCC in this regards because having started operation with only 50 expatriate staff a few years ago, today you have about 250 Nigerians employed in the same factory with only four expatriates. I particularly note your concern about the shortage of steel raw materials in Nigeria; obviously, the comatose Ajaokuta steel company cannot satisfy our need.”
Earlier, SCC Director, Dr. Patrick Dele Cole, said that the company is committed to partner with the federal government in order to develop local industry and boost economic, human and entrepreneurial growth and sustenance in Nigeria. [myad]
All shops occupied by Igbo people at the Moferere Market, Akure have closed down as the face-off between the Monarch, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, and the leader of the Igbo community in the town, Mr. Gregory Iloehike rages on. This is even as the monarch has outlawed the title of Eze Ndi Igbo in Akureland.
The Deji is believed to have also ordered the title to be reviewed as ne of the conditions to end the crisis and also to allow Igbo traders the freedom to continue operating their businesses in the community.
The Akure council of traditional rulers dethroned the Igbo leader last week and stopped his followers from operating their businesses following an alleged rude behaviour by Iloehike to the Akure paramount ruler at the Deji’s palace during the Igbo leader’s meeting with Oba Aladelusi.
Oba Aladelusi also asked the dethroned Eze to apologise for his unruly behavior in at least three national dailies as well as go on air to also tender an apology.
He was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the monarch and the Deji-in-Council.
Oba Adelusi also directed that the Igbo leader should stop wearing any form of crown and must comply with all the directives of the palace.
It was learnt that the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, met with the two leaders separately on Tuesday evening at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, when he reportedly pleaded with the Akure traditional ruler to forgive the embattled Igbo leader.
At the meeting, it was gathered that the governor maintained that the Igbo leader could not go against the tradition and custom of the land as there was no basis or constitutional backing for such attitude.
Mimiko, however, thanked the youths of the town, praising them for their maturity and peaceful disposition towards the matter.
The traditional ruler insisted that before the matter is resolved the Igbo must meet all the conditions. [myad]
In spite of all the odds placed on his way, Ex-Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has finally sailed through senate screening, thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating him and considering it as a rare honour to address the Senators whether or not he is approved to serve as minister. Amaechi was screened alongside five other ministerial nominees listed on the Order Paper issued for the day. Speaking before questions began to come from the Senator, the former Governor said he was humbled to have been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve as a minister if confirmed. He also said it was a rare privilege to address the Senators whether or not he becomes Minister. Amaechi highlighted few of the achievements recorded during his tenure as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and as Governor. However, it was not a smooth sail for the embattled Amaechi as attempt by the Minority Leader, PDP Senator Godswil Akpabio and Majority Leader, APC’s Alli Ndume, to allow him ‘to take a bow and go’ was resisted by Senators who were aggrieved by the manner Senator Ndume presented it, referring to them as “You People.” Senator Akpabio had said on behalf of PDP Senators that they would not have any question for the nominee. To settle the uproar caused by Ndume’s presentation, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, apologized on behalf of the Majority Leader and thereafter allowed that nominees be asked questions. Amaechi nomination for Senatorial screening has been dogged by controversies, occasioned by petition sent to the Senate by Integrity Group in Rivers State. The petitioner relied on the report of a Panel of Inquiry that purportedly indicted Mr. Amaechi of corruption while serving as Rivers Governor, the petitioner had asked the Senate not screen him. Despite the fact that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Senator Sam Anyanwu, had dismissed the petition on the basis that it is still in court, the Senate kept postponing his screening. [myad]
Akwa Ibom state seems to have been thrown into confusion and panic as the electoral tribunal in Abuja, today, ordered a re-run of gubernatorial election in 18 out the state’s 31 local government areas. With such directive, Governor Udom Emmanuel who was declared the winner under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the April 28 governorship election, may have been rattled. The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Umana Okon Umana went ahead to challeng the outcome. Governor Emmanuel took over from Godswill Akpabio who also ruled the state under PDP. No date has been set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the re-run poll. [myad]
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A total of 62,275 Nigerians who performed this year’s hajj have been airlifted back to Nigeria as at this evening.
