A retired Chief Superintendent of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Imam Aminu, accused of forging certificates, including a university degree, with which he was employed in the Service, has been dragged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The Commission, in a four-count charge brought before Justice A.O. Abang of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 18, sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja averred that the accused person had forged a National Diploma Certificate in Public Administration from the Kaduna State Polytechnic and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Calabar.
ICPC counsel, Mashkur Salisu Esq, told the court of how the defendant had used the aforementioned forged certificates to enlist into NIS as well as advanced his career to the rank of a Chief Superintendent.
ICPC in a Charge No: CR/821/2021 told the court that the former Immigration Officer’s action was contrary to Section 364 of the Penal Code, and if he is found guilty, he shall be liable to a prison term of not less than 14 years.
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty to the four counts. The prosecution counsel thereafter asked for a date for hearing and for the accused to be remanded in Kuje prison pending hearing. Counsel to the defendant however moved the bail application in favour of the accused.
The trial Court thereafter granted Aminu bail in the sum of N500,000.00 and a surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. He was also ordered to deposit his travel documents at the court’s registry.
The case has been adjourned to the 9th of November 2021 for commencement of trial.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said that it has used its home-grown digital tax administration solution, known as TaxPro-Max to generate over N664 Billion in June 2021, the highest ever generated sum in a single month since the outbreak of Covid-19.
The Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Nami made this know today, September 21, while highlighting the theme: “The Taxation of the Digital Economy: Exploring Untapped Revenue Sources In Africa,” at the 17th General Assembly and 10th Anniversary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF).
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of WATAF and consists of all heads of tax administrations of the fifteen member states.
“At the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria’s premier tax authority, we have recently deployed our integrated tax administration system known as the TaxPro Max, to ease tax administration and compliance.
“This cost saving, effective solution that was developed in-house by staff of the FIRS, is a user-friendly technological platform which is accessible by tax officers and taxpayers alike, for most tax operations.
“Following the deployment of the TaxPro Max in June 2021, the Service generated over N664 billion representing the highest revenue generated by the FIRS in a single month since the outbreak of COVID-19.”
He stressed that the TaxPro Max has brought about efficiency in the tax system and increased tax collection rates.
“We believe that with the simplification of tax remittances through the deployment of TaxPro Max and the resultant efficiency, the Service is geared towards recording increased collection rates, which will further enhance government revenue and improve transparency in tax administration.
“The TaxPro Max is a home-grown solution developed by staff of the FIRS. It was introduced as part of the Service’s effort at modernising tax administration in Nigeria and for the ease of Tax compliance. This platform, among other features, enables seamless registration, filing, payment of taxes and automatic credit of withholding tax as well as other credits to the Taxpayer’s account.
“TaxPro-Max also provides a single-view to Taxpayers for all transactions with the Service. It was fully deployed nationwide, effective 7th June 2021 as the channel for filing Naira-denominated tax returns.”
The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) has an objective to contribute to the efficacy of tax administration and improved public service delivery in support of development of countries in West Africa. It was inaugurated on September 12, 2011, in Abuja.
Imo state police command has announced the killing of a leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), 34 year old Obinwanne Iwu, by residents of Umuagbavo Oru Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of the state for allegedly looting shop.
The police said that others in the group who participated in the looting while enforcing a sit-at-home order, fled the scene thereby escaping People’s anger.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Michael Abattam said that the deceased Obinwanne was an escapee IPOB member from Nigeria Correctional Service in Imo State.
“Shops were opened and people were going about their lawful businesses when one Obinwanne Iwu ‘m’ age 34 years, a native Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, an escapee of Imo Correctional Centre Owerri and a member of the proscribed IPOB/ESN terror group, came to the market with members of his gang attacking, looting opened shops and forcing people to lock up their shops and preventing them from doing their legitimate businesses.
“Shouting at the top of their voices “today is Monday and everybody must obey the sit at home order.
“This did not go down well with the people who resisted it in its entirety. “In the pandemonium that ensued, angry mobs in their numbers held the leader of the gang, one Obinwanne Iwu, tied his hands behind, while others fled the scene into hiding.
“In the process, he was mercilessly beaten to death, before the police patrol team arrived the scene” the statement partly read.
The command said that all efforts to arrest the suspects proved abortive as they fled upon sighting the police patrol team.
While condemning the act, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini appealed to the residents to avoid taking laws into their hands. “The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini psc, while condemning the barbaric act, advised members of the public to always hand over suspects to the Police for proper investigation and prosecution. Instead of taking the laws into their hands. “He then, set up an investigating team from the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID) of the command to commence investigation into the mob action.”
Spokesman of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osita Nwanisobi has fingered those he described as being neck-deep in rent-seeking practices in the parallel forex market as responsible for the recent call on the Governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele to resign.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Monday evening, Osita Nwanisobi said that those behind such calls are only pursuing their selfish agenda.
He emphasized that the Governor’s refusal to recognize such practices as significant segment of the country’s forex market infuriated such people.
He made it clear that CBN would not be distracted in its mandate and would therefore not yield to the selfish tendencies of a few to the detriment of the majority.
He therefore called on the banking public to disregard claims aimed at impugning the reputation of the Bank, insisting that the Bank remained committed to carrying out its mandate for the good of the Nigerian people.
Osita Nwanisobi also assured that the CBN remains committed to meeting the foreign exchange request of travelers with legitimate needs as they relate to travel allowances, payment of tuition and medical fees among other invisibles.
He said that there is enough supply of foreign exchange to the banks to meet legitimate demands for foreign exchange.
Osita Nwanisobi insisted that no customer requiring foreign exchange for genuine transactions would be turned back by their banks, even as he advised the banking public to insist on their rights to be attended to as long as they possess all the requisite documents to validate their request.
On the willingness of the Bank to meet the demands of customers, the spokesman said that the CBN would not hesitate to approve foreign exchange for customers with legitimate demands that exceed transaction limit insofar as the application is supported with specified requirements.
He restated the decision of the Bank not to revisit the issue of allocation of foreign exchange to the operators of Bureau de Change (BDC), adding that such a practice is not sustainable in the long run, considering that many of the BDCs had since deviated from the purpose for which they were issued licenses in the first instance.
He insisted that the rate in the CBN-unrecognized parallel market is not the reference rate of the Naira, even as he called on Nigerians to be wary of the activities of speculators who sought to manipulate the market for unpatriotic reasons.
Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said that the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) when executed as designed, can fetch the nation foreign exchange in excess of $700 million yearly from the Backward Integration component of the plan.
Dangote made this known while receiving in his office, some businessmen who were on a visit to Dangote Sugar company in Lagos.
He however warned that the BIP scheme must be protected to insulate the Nigerian economy to be able to achieve the twin objectives of local manufacturing and job creation.
“If the national sugar master plan is followed strictly and the players all follow the rules, the country will be better for it as Nigeria will save between $600 million and $700 million annually as forex.”
Dangote also told the visitors that the Dangote Group is scaling up its social intervention in communities hosting its companies across the country.
He said that efforts are being made to impact positively on the host communities saying his companies had expended billions of naira in states where these investments are located.
Dangote explained that the Corporate Social Responsibility projects undertaken by his companies was in addition to efforts by his Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, which is presently giving out micro-grants to vulnerable women in all the 774 local governments across the country.
It would be recalled that the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo who was on a working tour of the Dangote’s expansive Savannah Sugar Company (SSCL) Ltd in Numan, Adamawa State and Tunga sugar project site in Nasarawa State, had described the projects as “huge, impressive and amazing.”
The minister said about the Dangote’s sugar plantation in Nasarawa State: “It’s a very impressive sight. Amazingly, such a project exists in this place.
“What we’ve seen so far from all the plantations we’ve been to are very impressive. We are impressed with the level of work they are doing.”
Group Executive Director, Government and Strategic Relations Mansur Ahmed had described Nasarawa State as one of the easiest states in the country to do business.
General Manager for the BIP, Dangote Sugar, John Beverley had said when the factory was fully operational, it would have the capacity to crush 12,000 tons of cane per day, while 90MW power would be generated for both the company’s use and host communities.
Last month, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly lawmakers who visited the Sugar Project site said they were highly elated and would give any legislative support to make the project a success.
Group General Manager Alhaji Bello Dan-Musa had told the visiting lawmakers that when phase II of the project is completed, it would make it the largest integrated plant in Africa.
The Nigerian Army has raised an alarm over the commencement of massive recruitment by terrorists, especially leadership of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), of new members.
Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyeama Nwachukwu, made this known today, September 20, at the headquarters of the Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai Maimalari, during a tour in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“I will like to mention that the ISWAP, very recently, has been depleted by the surrendering of their members, as well as a conflict between them. They’ve embarked on what I will call a massive recruitment drive and I consider it very important to engage the media to block this recruitment.
Nwachukwu wanted members of the public to be on the lookout within their immediate environment.
On Thursday, September 16, 2021, headquarters of News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja was formally renamed Wada Maida House, a befitting honour to a veteran journalist, who worked most of his life for the agency. Until his death, August 17, 2020, Malam Wada Abdullahi Maida, 70, was the Chairman of the NAN Board.
Before then, Wada, as he was popularly and preferably known, was Managing Director of the news agency for eight years, after working as Editor-In-Chief. The former Editor-In-Chief, who was a pioneer staff in 1978 with eight others, following the establishment of NAN in 1976, also served variously as Zonal Editor, Kaduna, in charge of Western States, Political Editor and Western Europe Correspondent, London.
Wada’s career trajectory reflects the history of NAN in its 45 years of existence. For the period of his appointment as Chief Press Secretary to then military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in 1984, and retirement to start a private media business of consulting and publishing a newspaper, Peoples’ Daily, Wada’s his image continued to looms large. He influenced many appointments and recruitments, facilitated access to government, states and federal, and used his international network to the advantage of NAN.
To Wada’s credit, his predecessors and successors, NAN remains the most webbed media institution in Nigeria, with a reputation for accuracy and balance in reporting. NAN has hundreds of reporters across 30 states and a metro office in Lagos, many district offices covering major towns and villages, and foreign offices, that until recently, were active as European Office in London, North American and UN Office, New York, West African Bureau, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, North Africa, African Union Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and South African Office, Johannesburg.
Wada played a major role in the structuring and sustenance of the agency’s global spread to gather news to enrich the content of bulletins and increase subscribers, which include almost all media houses in Nigeria, partnerships and exchange agreements with Reuters, AFP, Xinhua Chinese News Agency, DPA of Germany, Pan African News Agency and Rossiya Segnodya of Russia.
Among some significant milestones and legacies, the former Managing Director ensured that the agency owns its operational buildings in New York, Johannesburg and Abidjan and a five-storey marble edifice in Abuja, which he supervised completion and upgrade of working tools. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the naming of the headquarters after the former Chairman on November 26, 2020.
Conveying the approval, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said it was in recognition of the immense contributions of Wada to the growth of the agency.
“I write to convey my approval for the naming of the NAN headquarters building after the late Wada Maida, who served the agency in many capacities, including Foreign Correspondent, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director.
“It is my sincere belief that the decision to honour the late Wada Maida is well thought out and that he deserves such a great honour, considering his immense contributions to the development of NAN,” he said.
At the ceremony, Mohammed commended management and staff of NAN for immortalizing Wada. “Wada played a strong role in NAN. The man who built this edifice deserves to be immortalised.’’
“He believed journalism served a higher purpose for peace, harmony and development. If a country goes down everything goes down, with it,’’ Mohammed said. “I appeal to media houses to put Nigeria first. Yes, we have challenges but this administration is working.’’
Wada’s love for journalism started in Secondary School, says his longtime friend and colleague, Sen. Ibrahim Ida. Ida disclosed that the former Managing Director was named Abdullahi Maida at birth, and only got Wada as a pet name while growing up. Wada, taken from “Wadata’’ meant influence and affluence.
The Guest of Honour and Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, said the naming of the NAN House after Wada was well deserved, considering his contribution to the development of journalism in the country and penchant for helping others.
“You can live for 120 years in this world, but what matters is the courage you brought to life and how many people you touched. With this naming, Wada’s life will continue to the end of time.
“That’s a life worth living. He lived for others. Anytime he visited me it was because of the needs of others and his community, not for personal reasons,’’ he said.
Masari noted that the former Managing Director of NAN contributed to the emergence of many media houses, both print and broadcast, in the country, particularly in the Northern part, adding that “the whole of Katsina remains proud of his achievements and many would have made it to Abuja for the ceremony, if they were informed.’’
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, described Wada as “an elder brother, mentor and a facilitator.”
“He lived a life of patience & integrity. We should learn to be patient. Good things will come as we wait. Wada thought us not to rush the story; to be thorough. I recall, as editors, we will always wait for the NAN bulletin before our newspapers will go to bed.’’
The passion for reporting, editing, publishing and Public Relations saw Wada through trainings in London School of journalism, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aberdeen College of Technology and University of Salford, Manchester and Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He was once President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, and later became a Fellow of the guild.
He was a member of other associations like the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Commonwealth Press Union, Amnesty International, Executive Director of International Press Institute and Chairman of Pan African News Agency (PANA) and Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation.
Wada’s contemporaries in the newsroom, who are also veterans in journalism, his mentees, some former administrators in NAN and other media houses across the country, traditional rulers and political leaders, friends and family were all at the renaming event.
The Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, affirmed that Wada’s leadership guided him to get a first degree and a Master’s degree while working and the former pioneer staff also encouraged him to get a Ph.D, if he wanted.
Ponle said the agency had suffered financial hardship over some years, forcing it to scale down some operations and dream projects for expansion, while thanking Wada’s vision for the progress recorded.
Wada’s family led by his wife, Hajiya Amina and son, Dr Aminu Maida, joined in unveiling the signage, and received a plaque from Governor Masari.
Aminu, witty, reticent and unassuming like his father, thanked President Buhari and the Federal Government for the honour done to his father, telling everyone that the entire family remains grateful to NAN.
“NAN will continue to be part of our family, and we will always be part of NAN,’’ he said.
Like the Wada Maida House in Central Area, the former Managing Director of NAN continues to stand tall in our memory and a physical structure.
Oche Egwa is a Senior Editor in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced that it had recorded a total crude oil and gas export sales of $219.75 million in May 2021, representing 180.29 percent increase on sales from the previous month of April 2021.
This is contained in the May 2021 edition of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report, according to a statement today, September 20, by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Garba Deen Muhammad.
According to the report, crude oil export sales contributed $181.19 million (82.45 percent) of the dollar transactions compared with $4.22 million contribution in the previous month, while the export gas sales component stood at $38.56 million in May 2021.
The report also showed that between May 2020 and May 2021, the Corporation exported crude oil and gas worth $1.64 billion.
In the gas sector, the report showed that natural gas production in the month under review increased by 6.19 percent at 222.23billion cubic feet (bcf) compared with output in the previous month, translating to an average production of 7,177.53million standard cubic feet (mmscf) of gas per day.
For the period May 2020 to May 2021, a total of 2,898.34bcf of gas was produced representing an average daily production of 7,322.94mmscf during the period.
Period-to-date production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) contributed about 60.94 percent, 20.04 percent and 18.99 percent respectively.
Out of the 216.29bcf of gas produced in May 2021, a total of 133.56bcf was commercialized, consisting of 44.02bcf and 89.54bcf for the domestic and export markets respectively.
This translates to a total supply of 1,419.83mmscfd of gas to the domestic market and 2,893.66mmscfd to the export market for the month.
This implies that 61.75 percentbof the average daily gas produced was commercialized while the balance of 38.25 percent was either re-injected, used as upstream fuel or flared.
In the Downstream sector, the report indicates that the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a downstream subsidiary of the NNPC, posted a total sum of ₦295.72 billion from the sales of petroleum products in the month of May 2021 compared with ₦220.13 billion sales in April 2021.
Furthermore, total revenues generated from the sales of petroleum products for the period of May 2020 to May 2021 stood at ₦2.345 trillion where Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contributed about 99.61% of the total sales with a value of ₦2.336 trillion.
In terms of volume, the figure translates to a total of 2.241billion litres of white products sold and distributed by PPMC in the month of May 2021 compared with 1.673billion litres in the month of April 2021.
Total sales of petroleum products for the period May 2020 to May 2021 stood at 18.651billion litres and PMS accounted for 99.69 percent of total volume.
In May 2021, 64 pipeline points were vandalized representing 39.13 percent increase from the 46 points recorded in April 2021. The Port Harcourt area accounted for 65 percent and Mosimi and Kaduna Areas accounted for 30 percent and 5 percent respectively of the vandalized points.
NNPC in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders continuously strive to reduce and eventually eliminate this menace.
The 70th edition of the NNPC MFOR highlights the Corporation’s activities for the period of May 2020 to May 2021.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, commenced a seven day seclusion, starting from yesterday, September 19, in the process leading to the annual ‘Olojo’ Festival in the ancient city.
‘Olojo’ in Yoruba means ‘the day of the first dawn’, but in the lores of Ile-Ife, the Olojo Festival is an annual cultural festival created to celebrate the day Almighty God created the earth. Speaking before going incommunicado, Oba Ogunwusi said that he would dedicate this year’s seven-day seclusion to pray for a better Nigeria. The Ooni said that Nigerians had every cause to thank God in view of the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the rest of the world. “When we compare what have been happening in other nations, we have every cause to glorify God, for He has been so faithful to us by delivering us from the power of Coronavirus. “Our efforts to protect people from the pandemic by providing fumigators for 36 states and Abuja, the FCT cannot be over-emphasised. “But we shouldn’t relent in our efforts to see to the welfare of people generally that’s why am dedicating my sixth seclusion on the throne to pray for our leaders. “Seclusion is so significant that I cannot joke with, because I inherited it from my ancestors thousands years ago,” Ooni explained. The Oba said that he would also use his period seclusion to pray for God to touch the hearts of Nigerian politicians to stop playing games with people’s lives and be sensitive to people’s yearnings. “Our politicians in this country have the same value, same character, politicians, but am going into seclusion to pray for our leaders to have change of mind, so that things could get better. “Our leaders should be ready to serve us genuinely, as promised during their campaigns, so am going there to pray to my ancestors to touch their hearts, for them to make life more bearable to us.
“We cannot continue like this, things need to change and there cannot be any change without the hands of God, for the prayer of the righteous availeth much,” the Ooni said. Source: NAN.
The Ghanian Government has concluded plan to sign agreement with W.E.B du Bois Museum Foundation, to transform the current du Bois Memorial Centre and burial site in Accra, Ghana into a state-of-art museum complex and world-class destination for scholars and heritage tourists.
Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director, W.E.B. du Bois Museum Foundation, who disclosed this in a statement today, September 19 in Abuja, Nigeria, said Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, would offer remarks at the signing as the historic agreement would grant authority for the W.E.B du Bois Museum Foundation to construct a multi-million dollar museum complex to preserve Dr. Du Bois’ legacy over a 50-year period.
According to him, the complex will be designed by Sir David Adjaye, renowned Ghanaian architect and designer of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
“The Du Bois Memorial Centre in Accra where Dr. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois, are buried, opened to the public in 1985, but in recent years had required additional upkeep and maintenance.
“The Du Bois Museum Complex aims to transform the Center and create a living museum that revives the transformative spirit and vision of Dr. Du Bois for a unified ancestral home for Africans in the diaspora around the world.
“The complex will serve as a historic memorial site where visitors can honour his life and legacy, connect to their cultural and ancestral roots, and serve as an impetus to inspire solidarity between people of African descent.
“At the signing, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, will offer remarks on the significance of the agreement in strengthening historical, cultural, and economic ties between Ghana and the United States and Diaspora Africans.
“This agreement will build on the government’s “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” campaigns that encourage the return of African Diaspora from around the world.
“The Du Bois Museum Complex will usher in a renewed commitment to building an international treasure and historic memorial honouring the legacy of Dr. Du Bois, and fostering unity among the African Diaspora through a vibrant cultural and research center,” Aryiku said.
According to him, speakers at the signing will include leading political, financial, and cultural leaders from the U.S. and Ghana, including Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Republic of Ghana; Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director, W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation; Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director, Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
Others are Kwame Anthony Appiah, novelist and professor of philosophy and ethics, New York University and board member, W.E.B Du Bois Museum Foundation; and Daniel Rose, Chairman, W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, philanthropist, and leading real estate developer of several award-winning properties.
Dr. Du Bois, a civil rights pioneer and one of the world’s leading black intellectuals and thinkers, became a citizen of Ghana and resided in the country until his death in 1963. Du Bois’ vision of a continent of free and independent African nations was a major influence on Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah
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