Home Blog Page 625

Keren-Happuch: call for justice lingers, 3 years after

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Keren-Happuch: call for justice lingers, 3 years after

CALLS for justice have continued to trail the rape and death of 14-year-old Keren-Happuch Akpagher, a boarding student of Premier Academy, Lugbe, in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At a book launch held in Abuja on Wednesday, April 10, stakeholders also challenged the Nigerian government to ensure justice in the case of Ochanya Ogbanje, who was raped to death by relatives, and other victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) whose killers have yet to be apprehended to date.

Journalist and founder of the Men Against Rape Foundation in Abuja, Lemmy Ughegbe, launched the book titled “Tears from the Grave,” written in memory of Akpagher, who died in June 2021 from rape.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Grace Ike, who was present at the event, charged lawmakers to hasten the establishment of sexual offences courts to check issues related to SGBV in the country.

Keren-Happuch Akpagher

Keren-Happuch Akpagher’s mother received the devastating news of her daughter’s death on Saturday, June 22, 2021. She had been confirmed dead at Queen’s Hospital, Wuse, following the discovery of a condom and dead spermatozoa in her vagina.

The student’s death sparked outrage among members of the public and led to a series of protests across the FCT.

Following her death, the FCT Police Command began investigations into her rape and death.

However, her mother, Vivienne Akpagher and a Coalition for Gender-Based Violence Responders (CGBVR) had alleged that the case was being undermined by the command as an unfair advantage was being allegedly conferred on the school.

In 2022, The ICIR visited the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID)’s Gender Unit for updates on the case.

An official of the unit who spoke anonymously to The ICIR said DNA samples of suspected teachers had been taken and that investigations were ongoing into the case.

“We have taken the samples of all the teachers involved. We have visited the school itself, and we have taken statements from all those necessary, including the doctors and first responders who attended to her.

“We are awaiting the results of the DNA which will give us further directions. For now, that is where we are. The investigation report will be ready very soon,” he said.

He also noted that the FCIID Gender unit intended to take DNA samples of two male students of the school whose parents were uncooperative.

However, there has been no news of her rapist three years later.

Ochanya Ogbanje

Ochanya Ogbanje was a 13-year-old JSS 1 student of the Federal Government Girls College Gboko in Benue State at the time of her death.

She died in 2018 after being diagnosed with Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) attributed to serial rape allegedly carried out by her aunt’s husband, Andrew Ogbuja, who also worked as a university lecturer, and his son, Victor.

Ogbuja was arraigned on four counts bordering on sexually abusing the deceased during the period of five years that she lived with them.

While Ogbuja was arrested and remanded in prison during his trial, his son Victor disappeared and remained at large throughout the period.

Ochanya’s aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, was also arraigned before a Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State and in 2022, sentenced to five months in jail for negligence that led to the rape and death of the deceased.

The Federal High Court’s ruling coincided with the final judgement of the Benue State High Court, where Ogbuja was being arraigned.

While her aunt was convicted of negligence, Ogbuja was acquitted and discharged by the State High Court following a ruling that there was no evidence linking him to the rape of the deceased.

Many other girls in Nigeria have been raped in the same way by relatives, guardians, teachers or other perpetrators.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one out of four girls and one out of ten boys are victims of sexual violence in Nigeria.

Despite the high rate of sexual violence in the country, which Amnesty International described as a pandemic, conviction rates for rape cases in Nigeria have remained low.

Anxiety as CBN sacks 50 more staff, 117 disengaged in 20 days

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Anxiety as CBN sacks 50 more staff, 117 disengaged in 20 days

THERE is growing apprehension among the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staff as 50 additional employees were sacked on Monday, adding to the long list of ongoing disengagement at the apex bank.

The sacking under the leadership of CBN governor Olayemi Cardoso cuts across 29 departments as the organisation restructures to shift away from the development finance role, it was learnt.

So far, 117 staff have been disengaged by the CBN in the past 20 days.

Read Also:

“Even some of us working, we don’t know what the next chapter holds for anyone currently in the organisation,” a senior staff member who pleaded anonymity told The ICIR on Tuesday.

At the Banker’s meeting in 2023 in Lagos, Cardoso said the apex bank would not handle further development finance intervention roles as done previously to enable it to focus on its core monetary policy roles.

For instance, Daily Trust reports that the dismissals are likely connected to the CBN’s refocus from development finance interventions.

Cardoso had previously voiced concerns about such interventions, arguing that they take the bank outside its core function and could distort the economy.

The termination of appointments affected directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and lower-ranking staff.

Disengagement letters were dispatched to affected staff from March 15 and has continued weekly.

Besides, modalities for disengagement were not made known by the management, insiders told our correspondent.

THE ICIR reached out to the acting Director of Corporate Communication, Hakama Sidi Ali, on the development for her reaction. She did not pick up her call or return the text messages to her line.

A senior management source, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the sacking spree would continue till the end of April.

In January, the CBN’s management announced that some departments in the organisation would be moved to Lagos State to promote efficiency at the institution.

Some Nigerians, especially in the North, protested the decision, claiming it was a ploy to move the apex bank out of the nation’s capital.

What CBN’s policies and procedures manual says

Section 16.0 of the CBN’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM) titled  ‘Cessation of Employment’, specifies that in every case of separation from the employment of the bank, it is the objective of CBN to make separations as amicable as possible for both the employee and the bank.

Section 16.3.5 notes that an employee’s Normal Retirement Date in CBN should coincide with the date the employee is 60 years old or has put in 35 years of service.

“Early retirement can be considered when the employee has served for at least 10 years and is only granted at the discretion of management,” it says.

According to the manual, the bank feels that the retirement of an employee should be an occasion for celebration and recognition of the individual’s contributions to the bank.

However, section 16.4, which specifies the condition for redundancy, stipulates that redundancy means involuntary and permanent loss of employment as a result of excess human resources.

It explains that the redundancy processes are designed to provide a framework to manage change, where that change involves termination of employment.

“Adversely affected employees are given the opportunity for early separation from the bank.

“Consultation with the Joint Consultative Council is essential, and a fair process is mandatory.  Employees who are adversely affected may appeal decisions made by the head of human resources,” it says.

The manual notes further that the grounds for redundancy require that employment may be terminated for economic, technological, structural, or similar reasons.

The ICIR reports that it remains unclear the conditions under which the affected staff were disengaged.

‘We finally lost him,’ Actors Guild confirms Nollywood actor, Jnr Pope’s death

Itoro ETUKUDO
-
0
‘We finally lost him,’ Actors Guild confirms Nollywood actor, Jnr Pope’s death

HOPES that Nollywood actor Junior Pope Odonwodo, also known as Jnr Pope, would survive a boat accident he was involved in on Wednesday, April 10, has been dashed.

The president of the Actor’s Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, announced that he was rescued in a now-deleted post on Thursday, April 10. Rollas said the actor was alive and responding to treatment.

“What God cannot do does not exist. Junior Pope is alive. He is taking treatment in the hospital,” the post read.

Read Also:

 

However, in the early hours of Thursday, March 11,  Rollas took to his Instagram page to announce the update concerning the actor, stating that his joy was short-lived as the actor didn’t make it. 

“It is so so sad that our joy was short-lived. My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.

“God knows the best. We finally lost him. Mr Friday’s corpse has been identified, but three other corpses are yet to be found,” he wrote in his post.

The deceased had gone to shoot a film titled “Another Side of Life”, produced by Adamma Luke when the boat he was travelling in capsized. He drowned with four crew members.

Prayers for the deceased revival flooded social media Thursday evening after people were made to believe that he was still alive. 

Nigerians have taken to social media to mourn his demise, while some blame the death on the movie producer. Some of the reactions on X are quoted in this report.

“Nollywood, I think you all need to cease production and come together and pray seriously. This is not normal. Like what is happening??” – @adesewa_22

“Everything he was just saying shattered. No rescue team, no divers and no life jacket, the producer and director should be arrested”.-@_osime_

“I am too speechless. I cannot imagine. I cannot even speak. It feels like I know him personally. Too young. All that is in my head is the wife and kids. God, please”. – @coachjacbell

“This is too sad. I hope his family didn’t learn of his demise on the internet. God comfort his family.” -@titismeeth

Actors Guid reacts

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), through its president, Emeka Rollas, has declared April 11 “No Shoot Day” for all actors and producers in the industry and suspended Adamma Luke, the producer of the movie that led to the tragic occurrence.

“Following the tragic incident of boat mishap that claimed the life of Mr John Paul Odonwodo aka Junior Pope and four other crew members at the waterside of River Niger Cable point Asaba on 10 April 2024 on a movie set titled ‘The other side of Life’ produced by Adanma Luke, the leadership of the Guild has taken the following decisions:

  • All films that involve riverine areas and boat riding are at this moment suspended indefinitely.
  • No shoot on all locations Nationwide on Thursday, 11 April 2024.
  • The film titled ‘Another Side of Life’ is suspended indefinitely.
  • No actor is allowed to work with Adamma Luke as a producer till further notice.

“While we keep searching for the bodies of the remaining persons, may their souls Rest In Peace,” his statement read,” the guild said.

Junior Pope joined Nollywood in 2006 and rose to fame after starring in the hit movie Secret Adventures, directed by Tchidi Chikere.

He starred in over 150 Nollywood movies including, ‘Secret Adventures’ ‘Bitter Generation’, ‘Vengeance of Bullet’, ‘The Cat’, ‘The Generals’, ‘Wrong Initiation’, among others.

He won several awards, including the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards in 2010, Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.

Wadume’s grand reception: are Nigerians promoting criminality?

Ijeoma OPARA
-
1
Wadume’s grand reception: are Nigerians promoting criminality?

WHEN suspected kidnapper Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, was convicted in 2022, many Nigerians saw his sentencing as only a slap on the wrist and an encouragement of criminality.

Before his conviction, Wadume had been widely known as a kidnap kingpin who operated within the northern region of Nigeria. He was arraigned on multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, escaping from lawful custody, and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms, among others.

The arrest, which led to his conviction, took place in 2019 and was his second in two weeks, as he had escaped a previous arrest with the help of some Nigerian soldiers.

During the escape, the police team conveying him to Abuja for interrogation was attacked by a group of soldiers manning a checkpoint within Taraba state.

Three of the policemen and two civilians were killed in the process. Five other policemen were also left severely injured. Two weeks later, Wadume was rearrested and, in 2020, arraigned before the court on a 16 counts charge, along with 18 others.

By July 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, convicting him of only two of the charges brought against him.

While he was found guilty of unlawfully dealing in firearms and escaping from lawful custody, the court ruled that the prosecution could not prove the other charges brought against him, including murder, kidnapping and terrorism.

The seven-year prison sentence was described as inadequate by several Nigerian groups.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) faulted the ruling and demanded a fresh prosecution for him and others convicted with him.

“The fresh conviction of Evans, a kidnap kingpin is salutary, but when compared to the Taraba kidnapping kingpin, Wadume, the judgment from the Federal High Court is a mockery of the judiciary and the entire wheel of justice in Nigeria.

“The judiciary is allegedly aiding kidnapping because whilst Evans offences attracted far heavier sanctions which we are not particularly opposed to, Wadume, who was arraigned for exactly the same crime of kidnapping, amongst others, got lighter punishment after the years of secrecy that shrouded his trial,” HURIWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko had said.

Others questioned the secrecy behind Wadume’s trial and called for all soldiers involved to be brought to book.

Freedom after two years

A little less than two years after his conviction, Wadume regained his freedom and returned to his hometown in Ibbi, Taraba state.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Abubakar confirmed his release to journalists on Monday, saying he had served his full sentence and left custody on Saturday, April 6.

Umar was quoted as saying, “He (Wadume) has served his full term and was released from custody (on) Saturday in Abuja.”

A heroic welcome

As Wadume returned to his hometown in Taraba, a large crowd gathered by the riverside through which he arrived and they welcomed him amid fanfare.

Upon his return, residents of Ibbi were reported to have been in a festive mood, driving him around town, beating drums, and singing his praises.

Wadume also made his way to the residence of the traditional ruler, where he paid homage to the chief and thanked him and other community members for standing by him.

His traditional ruler, Garba Salihu, also warmly welcomed him, saying some of the allegations brought before Wadume were politically motivated.

“We are hoping that he will not go back to criminality. He came to the palace and pledged his loyalty as a changed person. Even repented Boko Haram are allowed to reintegrate into the community, so we have to accept him and take proactive steps to secure our community. He is back as a repented person and remember, he belongs to this community and the name of our community was associated with criminality during that incident.

“As someone who has a lot of followers, we believe that by re-integrating, he will work with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the peace of the community. Wadume was not a hardened criminal, but someone with dubious character, but the issue of kidnapping was framed against him, and even politics came in, that was why the court could not convict him on some of the charges that were preferred against him,” Salihu said.

Grand reception sparks criticisms

Wadume’s reception at Ibbi has generated controversies among Nigerians. Many saw the development as a weakness of the judiciary and an encouragement of criminal activities by citizens.

Reacting to the incident, a social media user on X, Bigwig Austin, said “I’m not surprised, tomorrow he can even be president of Nigeria and will draw support from length and breadth of Nigeria. We’ve seen this happen before!”

READ ALSO:

Another user, Farooq, queried, “So the police officers that soldiers killed as a result of trying to arrest this criminal all was for nothing?”

The ICIR reports that the criticisms trailing the judgement he got from the court and grand reception offered him by his community are influenced by Nigeria’s high crime rate, which is one of the highest in Africa, as abductions, terrorism, and other crimes have plagued the country for years.

NAFDAC recalls ‘toxic’ drug expiring this month after selling for at least 2 years in Nigeria

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
NAFDAC recalls ‘toxic’ drug expiring this month after selling for at least 2 years in Nigeria

THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has recalled Benylin Paediatrics Syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson following recent toxicity findings in the laboratory on the product.

Benylin Paediatric syrup is commonly used to relieve cough and congestive symptoms in children aged two to 12. It also treats hay fever and other allergic conditions in the same age group.

In a statement disclosed on its website on Wednesday, April 10, NAFDAC said laboratory analysis of the product showed that it contained an alarming level of diethylene glycol, which causes acute oral toxicity in laboratory animals.

“Benylin Paediatric syrup is indicated for the relief of cough and its congestive symptoms and for the treatment of hay fever and other allergic conditions in children aged two to 12 years.

Read Also:

“Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which may lead to death,” it noted.

The agency revealed that the drug, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in Cape Town, South Africa, and with batch number 329304 was produced in May 2021 and would expire this month (April 2024).

The ICIR reports that given this analysis, the product could have been on shelves nationwide for at least two years.

The NAFDAC said it had contacted the marketing authorisation holder (Johnson and Johnson company, West Africa) to initiate the batch recall, adding that the notice would also be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System.

It also urged importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance throughout the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of substandard (contaminated) regulated products.

Screenshot of the table by NAFDAC showing the drug's details
Screenshot of the table by NAFDAC showing the drug’s details

“Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned product is advised to immediately discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you witness any adverse reaction/event after the use of this product in any children, you are advised to direct such patients to immediate medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email:sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng

“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of the medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the use of the e-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” it added.

ONA opens entry for 2024 journalism awards

Itoro ETUKUDO
-
0
ONA opens entry for 2024 journalism awards

THE Online News Association (ONA) is currently accepting entries for its 2024 Online Journalism Awards, recognising excellence in digital reporting.

The award is open worldwide for online journalists, digital news organisations and student journalists.

Read also: 

This year’s competition features one new category- Excellence in AI innovation. Other categories include, breaking news, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, public service, climate change and more.

It offers several awards totaling US$57,000 courtesy of The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, The University of Oregon Journalism and Communication’s Agora Journalism Centre, Mckinsey Publishing, the Knight Foundation and SmartNews.

Entries must be works published between May 26, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Although English translations are strongly recommended, works may be submitted in any language.

The entry fee for ONA members is US$125, while non-members are to pay US$200. US$15 for student members and US$30 for non-members students. ONA members and non-members working in micro-newsrooms are to pay US$50.

Interested persons can apply here. The deadline for entries is May 9.

Eid-el-Fitri: Police, NSCDC, others beef up security in worship centres in FCT

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Eid-el-Fitri: Police, NSCDC, others beef up security in worship centres in FCT

AS Muslim faithfuls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) join other Ummah worldwide to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri today, Wednesday, April 10, security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) provided adequate security across prayer grounds in the city.

The ICIR observed a massive deployment of personnel from the organisations in mosques and Eid grounds, with officers conducting patrols and surveillance to forestall any untoward incidents.

The personnel were more concentrated on Airport Road, between Lugbe and the City Gate, before the National Stadium, where thousands of residents trooped to the National Eid Ground to offer prayers.

Officers and men of the agencies filed on the highway, controlling movements with dozens of their vehicles.

The situation was not different in Kuje, Bwari and other area councils of the nation’s capital, where they were joined by officers of the Directorate of Road Traffic Safety Services (DRTSS) to ensure a free flow of human and vehicular movement.

Similarly, in Berger and Kubwa, which are part of the city, The ICIR observed the presence of police and FRSC officers.

There was also a significant security presence at Apo Legislative Quarters, where Muslims observed their Eid prayer.

The Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Benneth C. Igweh, in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 9, reiterated the security agencies’ commitment to maintaining peace and order, urging members of the public to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious activities.

He noted that the police proactively deployed the material and human resources available to the command across the nooks and crannies of the FCT.

“The deployment, which is aimed at ensuring that residents of FCT enjoy a peaceful and serene atmosphere before, during and after the Eid celebration, is characterized by visibility policing and the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts at various prayer grounds and event centres, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol,” he said.

Eid-el-Fitri marks the beginning of Shaawal, after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Now

 

Former Appeal Court justice, Belgore is dead

Bankole ABE
-
0
Former Appeal Court justice, Belgore is dead

A FORMER Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore, is dead.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, Kwara State, Kamaldeen Gambari, broke the news of his death on Tuesday. April 9.

Gambari reportedly posted about the death on social media.

Read Also:

Belgore retired from the Appeal court on April 18, 2023, after reaching 70.

He was born on April 18, 1953. He studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, from 1975 to 1978, where he obtained an LL.B (Hons.) with a Specialisation in Islamic Law.

He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos (Barrister-At-Law (BL) 1978/79 Session and was enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1979.

According to records, the late jurist was appointed a Notary Public in 1987 and served in several positions, including Chairman of the Special Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal in Abuja and Judge of the High Court of Justice, Kwara State, from August 1990 to 2006.

In addition, he was seconded to the Republic of the Gambia’s judiciary, where he was appointed as the court’s justice of appeal. Later, he was promoted to acting justice of the Gambia Supreme Court, which he held until December 2005.

The late Belgore was sworn in as Justice of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria, on June 8, 2006, after being appointed on April 27, 2006. In 2008, he was assigned to the Court of Appeal’s Sharia Panel as Presiding Justice, and in 2015, he was again appointed to the position of Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, this time to the Ekiti Division.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed condolences on his passing.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement on Wednesday, April 10, said, “The governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the entire Ilorin Emirate, the bar and the bench, and the Belgores, who have lost a rare gem.

“Justice Belgore was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many to lean on,” the statement reads.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council and the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed his condolences in a separate message, describing Belgore’s passing as a significant loss for both the Ilorin Emirate and the country.

Tax: Experts seek states’ support for presidential reforms to end ‘touting’

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Tax: Experts seek states’ support for presidential reforms to end ‘touting’

TAX experts have urged state governors to support the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax reforms to halt activities of unofficial state actors who extort taxpayers via ‘touting’.

This was the submission of tax experts who spoke on Monday, April 8, at the weekly ‘Let’s Talk Tax’ programme, organised by the The ICIR in collaboration with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and support of the International Budget Partnership (IBP).

The last edition’s topic was “Understanding the Tax Payment Mechanism” (where, to whom, and how should you pay your tax?).

Read Also:

The tax experts posited that if the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax reforms led by Taiwo Oyedele must make the needed headway and succeed in its reforms, the Governor’s Forum must be involved in the reforms.

“The Federal Government needs the states’ support for the reforms to work. Where the majority of the activities of the unofficial state actors are at the sub-national level, there must be buy-in of the state governors,” a tax consultant and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Emeka Okoroeze, said on the programme.

“In most cases, it’s political proxies that the state governors use for tax collections. In most cases, there are cases of multiple taxation and touting, “he added.

He suggested automation of state tax payments, which would be streamlined to guard against unofficial state actors who rip off revenue from the state coffers.

“Automation helps to improve revenue collection systems. The state governors must provide the digital infrastructure to support digital payment systems and have a one-stop shop centre (centralised platform) for their tax collection.”

In his opinion, a tax specialist, Timothy Usman, said states’ Joint Tax Board scheme should take a clue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service and enforce tax-promax digitisation or adopt a similar programme in their states.

He further advocated a ‘tax awareness campaign’ by state officials to sensitise taxpayers on payable taxes.

“Each state should have a tax system that is structured in such a way that taxpayers know whom to pay to at each point without allowing touting especially among rural market businesses.

Notably, the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms was charged with redefining Nigeria’s tax system and providing practical support to the government in implementing and delivering recommended changes.

The committee has already presented an interim report to President Bola Tinubu, but not much has been heard about it since it submitted the report in February.

Most Nigerians are worried that unofficial state actors are getting the revenue that the state government ought to get because of poor oversight in most states.

Unofficial state actors’ undue interference in Nigeria’s tax system is also disrupting the ease of doing business and dissuading both local and foreign investors while stalling trade facilitation in the country.

The ICIR reported how Rivers State Government lost N55 billion in transport tax to private pockets.

The report noted that a large chunk of the tax went into the accounts of a transport union and its members while touts appropriated part of it.

Ondo 2024: APC clears Aiyedatiwa, Oke, 14 others 

Bankole ABE
-
0

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) vetting committee has cleared Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and 15 other aspirants ahead of the main screening on Thursday, April 11. 

The vetting committee headed by Abdulkarim Kana, a professor, also dismissed the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Aiyedatiwa by one of the aspirants, Gbenga Edema.

According to the committee, Aiyedatiwa presented a genuine academic certificate to the party.

Read Also:

Available information as of Tuesday, April 9, showed that the aspirants who purchased and turned in forms in addition to Aiyedatiwa are Francis Faduyile, Adewale Akinterinwa, Oladiran Iyantan, Isaacs Kekemeke, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Odimayo Okunjimi and Jimoh Ibrahim.

Others include Waheed-Adekojo Funmilayo, Olamide Ohunyeye, Olugbenga Edema, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Olusola Oke, Omogoroye Judith, Mayo Akinfolarin, and Morayo Lebi.

The committee report noted that, based on its findings, all aspirants should be cleared to participate in the screening exercise.

“The vetting committee is confident that the vetting process has been conducted with integrity and transparency.

“The committee’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring that only qualified and credible aspirants are presented for the party primaries, in line with the party’s commitment to internal democracy and good governance,” the report said.

In a petition, one of the aspirants, Edema, had pleaded with the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Working Committee (NWC) to investigate the certificate forgery allegation levelled against Aiyedatiwa.

The governor, through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), refuted the allegation, stating that Aiyedatiwa took the West African School Certificate Examination and his results were authentic.

Adegboruwa said in a letter that deliberate efforts had been made to confirm the accusations against the governor, which were false.

As a result, the lawyer requested that the publications about the governor’s certificate be immediately withdrawn and that a public apology be published in three prominent newspapers.

 In addition, he sought compensation for the ‘fabrications’ that were published concerning the governor.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as Ondo state governor on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, following the death of his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died in the early hours of the same day after a prolonged illness. 

1...624625626...3,440Page 625 of 3,440