September 2020 – Page 27

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Uzodimma’s law to detain citizens at will,illegal – Prof. Obiaraeri

Prof. Obiaraeri. N. O has stated that gov Hope Uzodimma assent to a law that detains and arrest Imo citizens at will is Unconstitutional and Scandalous. This was contained in a paper he presented on the said sections which he posted on his Facebook Wall. TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has assented to the Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2020. Meanwhile, opinions are divided as to the correct import of Sections 484 & 485 of the Law. For clarity of purpose, the two provisions provide: Section 484 : “Where any person is ordered to be detained during the Governor’s pleasure he shall notwithstanding anything in this Law or in any other written law contained be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Governor may direct and whilst so detained shall be deemed to be in legal custody”. Section 485 provides: (1) A person detained during the Governor’s pleasure may at any time be discharged by the Governor on license (2) A license under subsection (1) of this section may be in such form and may contain such conditions as the Governor may direct. (3) A license under this section may at anytime be revoked or varied by the Governor and where license has been revoked the person to whom the license relates shall proceed to such place as the Governor may direct and if he fails to do so, may be arrested without warrant and taken to such place.” In a paper presentation dated 16th day of September, 2020 by Prof. Obiaraeri. N.O on the topic “novel provisions in THE Imo state administration of CRIMINAL justice law, 2020”, he contends that the provisions are illegal. “No doubt these provisions of section 484 of ISACJL, 2020 are not only draconian but scandalous as they vest too much farcical and absolute powers on the Governor contrary to the express provisions of the International Bill of Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended. “It is left to see how these kinds of monstrous provisions that do not deserve any pride of place in a democratic society and rule of law setting will survive the long standing decisions of the courts, especially the apex Supreme Court of Nigeria, that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the citizen guaranteed in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution as amended are sacrosanct, inalienable, inderogable and imprescriptible.” He said.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

BREAKING: FG apologises for asking all bank, other account holders to re-register

The Federal Government has apologised for asking all account holders in the country’ s financial institutions to register their details again . The PUNCH reports that the FG earlier asked all account holders in banks, including insurance companies, to fill and submit a Self -Confirmation form. The order was given despite the possession of the Bank Verification Number and the National Identification Number by account holders on Thursday. Failure to do so , the Nigerian government threatened to block access to defaulters’ accounts or impose a monetary penalty . The order to fill another Self -Confirmation form, despite the existing BVN and NIN , had attracted condemnations on social media. However, in a tweet on Friday, the government apologised for misinformation. It tweeted , “ We apologise for the misleading tweets ( now deleted ) that went up yesterday, regarding the completion of self -certification forms by Reportable Persons . The message contained in the @ firsNigeria Notice does not apply to everybody . FIRS will issue appropriate clarification shortly . ” We apologize for the misleading tweets ( now deleted ) that went up yesterday, regarding the completion of self -certification forms by Reportable Persons . The message contained in the @ firsNigeria Notice does not apply to everybody . FIRS will issue appropriate clarification shortly pic. twitter. com/KBiPh 0lCwJ — Government of Nigeria (@ NigeriaGov) September 18, 2020 In a press statement , the Federal Inland Revenue Service explained that only “ reportable persons” are expected to submit the form The statement read , “ This is to clarify the publication for financial institutions account holders in Nigeria to complete the self – certification form , pursuant to the Income Tax ( Common Reporting Standard ) Regulations 2019 which is for the fulfilment of Automatic Exchange of Information Requirements. “ The Self Certification form is basically to be administered on Reportable persons holding accounts in Financial institutions that are regarded as “ Reportable Financial Institutions ” under the CRS . “ Reportable persons are often non- residents. And other persons who have a residence for tax purposes in more than one jurisdiction or Country . “ Financial Institutions are expected to administer the Self Certification form on such account holders when the information at its disposal indicates that the Account holder is a person resident for tax purpose in more than one jurisdiction . “ The information that indicates an account holder is a resident for tax purposes in more than one jurisdiction , is expected to be available to Financial Institutions during the account opening processes for the KYC and AML purpose . ” Earlier, the Nigerian government said all persons holding accounts in different financial institutions are required to complete and submit the form to each one of their institutions . It had tweeted , “ This is to notify the general public that all account holders in Financial Institutions ( Banks , Insurance Companies, etc ) are required to obtain, complete , and submit Self – Certification Forms to their respective Financial Institutions . “ Failure to comply with the requirement to administer or execute this form attracts sanctions which may include monetary penalty or inability to operate the account (The Punch)

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Soldier fighting Boko Haram in Yobe, kills self, leaves note for wife

A lance corporal attached to the army’s 27 task force brigade in Buni Gari, Gujba local government area of Yobe state, has reportedly killed himself. A source revealed to TheCable that the soldier suddenly took his gun, aimed at his head and pulled the trigger. “He shot himself in the head, and he died immediately, before other soldiers could even rush to help,” a military source said. The soldier was also said to have left a note for his wife. His body has been evacuated and sources said investigation into what led to the incident is in progress. Sagir Musa, army spokesperson, was not immediately available to comment over the matter.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Tanzania seeks stronger trade, diplomatic ties with Nigeria

Dr Benson Alfred Bana, High Commissioner of Tanzania in Nigeria, on Thursday called for stronger trade cooperation and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and his country. Bana, who is also Head of Mission of Tanzania to Nigeria, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abuja. He said the relations between the two countries were built on mutual grounds, adding that more needed to be done to attract foreign direct investment from Nigeria to his country. According to him, there is the need to promote intra-African trade under the auspices of the African Free Trade Movement to bring about improved cultural relations and attract foreign direct investment. “I want Tanzanians to come to Nigeria, go as far as Maiduguri, Sokoto, Abia, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. “I want Nigerians to be able to travel to Tanzania for their weddings, kitchen parties, and leisure. “I want the number of Nigerians travelling to Tanzania to increase from 16,000 in 2018 to 18,000 per year. “I want to make sure that the likes of Dangote take their capital to Tanzania to invest in mining. “I want them to invest in education, leisure, tourism industry, automobile engineering, and to invest in fishing. “Fish farming is an area where we want to come and learn from Nigerians, to become self-sufficient in food production. “Secondly, we wish to promote trade. At the moment, the trade volume between Tanzania and the Federal Government of Nigeria is still at the lowest level,” he said. According to the envoy, Tanzania is working closely with Nigerian tour operators and is still interested in working with organisations to promote trade and tourism as well as take advantage of investment opportunities. He decried the low level of tourism to Tanzania by Nigerians, given Nigeria’s population as the largest country in Africa, saying that efforts were on to revive Air Tanzania operations to achieve the goal. Bana stated that Tanzania is also interested in strengthening educational relations with Nigeria. “At the educational level we are keen to promote a relationship. We are willing to promoting Swahili, which is our lingua franca. It is our nation’s language and a unifying language,” he added.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Woman kills stepson in Kano, lands in trouble

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Kano State, has arrested a 29-year-old housewife, Jamila Abubakar, over alleged murder of her stepson, Muhammad Bashir. Mr Shehu Umar, NAPTIP Zonal Commander in charge of Kano State, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano. Umar disclosed that the suspect was apprehended on Thursday after she beat her seven-year-old stepson to death at Tarauni Kasuwa area of Kano metropolis. He recalled that the Agency had invited the suspect over alleged child abuse after the deceased was rescued from the suspect in the past few months. The Coordinator said: “We received information that the deceased rescued few months ago was allegedly clubbed to death by his stepmother. “On receiving the information, operatives of NAPTIP swung into action and arrested the suspect.” He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect confined the decease in a room without food when they left home for their daily engagements. “The suspect was invited and the victim rescued by our team. The Agency provided shelter and medication to the victim before reuniting him with his father. “The couple wrote an undertaking that the boy will not be confine again,” noting that they also promised to take care of the child protection and wellbeing when they set out for their normal businesses.” Umar added that the case has been transferred to the Police Command in Kano for discrete investigation and prosecution. (NAN)

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Edo 2020: Tension, tight security as poll holds tomorrow

*INEC distributes sensitive materials *Security agencies in show of force *IGP orders restriction of vehicular movement *1,735,910 voters to decide candidtes’ fate *PDP storms INEC headquarters, demands assurance of credible polls *With 31,000 security operatives, there must not be rigging, violence – ADP *Obaseki hails Buhari’s call for peaceful, transparent election *Buni tasks stakeholders on peaceful exercise *Wike urges US, UK to name election riggers *APC campaign commends residents, express worry over security AFTER almost three months of campaigns laced with violence, mud-slinging and exchange of brick-bats among the major contenders, there is tension in Edo State as the governorship election holds tomorrow. No fewer than 35,000 security personnel, including 31,000 policemen, have been deployed to ensure safe and credible exercise. Some stakeholders, yesterday, harped on the need for an election devoid of rigging and violence. Indeed, there was tight security around the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Benin City, for the better part of yesterday which caused gridlock at Ring Road, the City Centre and adjoining roads, including Airport Road, Sakponba Road, Sapele Road, Akpakpava Road and others. As the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, commenced movement of sensitive electoral materials, which arrived on Wednesday evening, a police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, was parked at the entrance of the Bank. Only journalists with identity cards were allowed into the premises to witness the movement of sensitive materials. At the time of filing this report, 11 trucks had been loaded and driven out of the CBN premises while the dispatching exercises continued. Of the 2,210,534 registered voters, only 1,735,910, who collected their permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, are eligible to vote in tomorrow’s election. Distribution of sensitive election materials Addressing Journalists at the premises of the CBN, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo State, Mr Timidi Wariowei, said the distribution commenced with the farthest local government areas. “So far, we have loaded about 11 local governments. We started from Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Owan East and Owan West among others “Some have gone and others are completely loaded and are sorting out their security escort and very soon materials will move to all the local governments. “From the local government, the materials will move to Registration Areas Centres, RACs, and from the RACs they will move to the polling units and voting points on Saturday morning. “As you can see, we are fully ready for the election. This is the high point of our preparation, that is moving the materials from the CBN to local government areas”, he said The materials arrived at the CBN office on Wednesday and they were inspected by Wariowei and party chieftains. Security agencies in show of force To show their readiness, security agencies yesterday carried out its last joint exercise before the election tagged “Operation Show of Force” which is to alert Edo residents of the security agencies preparedness for election. Not fewer than 70 patrol vehicles loaded with fully armed men from the various security agencies paraded strategic streets and roads across Benin City. The Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, who spoke to news men during the exercise, restated the agencies’ commitment to ensure that the election was peaceful, fair, free and credible He urged voters to come out en mass on Saturday and vote as their lives and property would be protected. Some of the security agencies that participated in the exercise include the Nigerian Army, Police Mobile Force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service, and the Directorate of State Services (DSS). Others were the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Air force, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The exercise commenced from the police command Headquarters through Sapele road, Country home road and Ugbo road. Other routes covered were the GRA, Adesuwa road, Ihama road and the entire stretch of the Airport road, Akenzua road, Ehaekpen street, TV road, Five junction, Uselu-Lagos road, Upper Mission road and the ring road. IGP orders restriction of vehicular movement Also, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohanmmed Adamu, has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement ‘’from 11:59 PM on Friday, 18th September, 2020 – 6pm on Saturday, 19th September, 2020,’’ Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, said yesterday He said: ‘’The IGP notes that the restriction order is informed by the need to prevent the free flow, circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs and checkmate the movement of political thugs and touts and other criminally-minded individuals especially from contiguous States from hijacking and disrupting the electoral processes. “He enjoins citizens to go out en-mass on the day of the election and vote, noting that the Police and other security agencies have been sufficiently mobilized to provide a safe, secure and conducive environment for the election. ‘’While regretting any inconveniences the restriction order may cause the citizens, the IGP enjoins the citizens to see the restriction as part of necessary sacrifices towards the enthronement of democracy. “He, however, warns that the Force will not sit idly-by and watch citizens who may want to engage in any criminal act – violent and destructive acts, snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, and other act(s) capable of compromising the electoral processes. With over 30,000 security operatives, there must be no rigging, violence – ADP With the deployment of 31,000 police personnel to Edo, the Action Democratic Party, ADP, said Nigerians would not accept anything less than a credible poll and called on the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted not only in Edo but also in Ondo State. ADP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, said ensuring credible polls in Edo and Ondo will show Buhari’s loyalty and readiness to leave good legacy to Nigerians as he departs power in 2023. The party also called on the United Kingdom, European Union and United States of America to increase the penalty

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Hike: Electricity consumers to pay N417.09bn in four months

Following the recent increase in electricity tariffs , the 11 distribution companies in the country are allowed to collect a total of N 417. 09bn from their customers from September to December . The Discos had early this month announced what they called ‘ new service reflective tariff’ , which took effect from September 1, with the tariffs being charged residential consumers receiving a minimum of 12 hours of power supply rising by over 70 per cent. The amounts recoverable by the Discos through the allowed end -user tariffs range from 61 per cent to 90 per cent of the total revenue required , according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. The tariff shortfall , which is the difference between the Discos ’ revenue requirement and the amounts they are allowed to recover from their customers by the regulator , will be funded by the Federal Government . The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government would fund a tariff shortfall of N 104. 5bn that will be recorded by the Discos in the four – month period , according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Ikeja Disco is allowed to recover N 66. 52bn ( 90 per cent of its total revenue requirement) from September to December , a NERC document showed . Eko Disco is allowed to recover N 48. 46bn ( 86 per cent); Kano Disco, N 34. 13bn ( 84 per cent); Abuja Disco, N 49. 16bn ( 83 per cent); and Enugu Disco, N 38. 81bn ( 82 per cent) . The amounts recoverable by Kaduna Disco is N 35. 22bn ( 82 per cent : Ibadan Disco, N 54. 61bn ( 78 per cent ); Benin Disco, N 34. 94bn ( 74 per cent); and Yola Disco, N 13. 34bn ( 71 per cent ) . Port Harcourt and Jos Discos are allowed to recover N 23. 63bn ( 68 per cent) and N 18. 27bn ( 61 per cent) respectively . NERC said the Power Sector Recovery Plan provided for a gradual transition to cost -reflective tariffs with safeguards for the less privileged in the society , adding that full cost -reflective tariffs would be charged by July 2021. “ The Federal Government , under the PSRP Financing Plan , has committed to fund the revenue gap arising from the difference between cost -reflective tariffs determined by the commission and the actual end -user tariffs during the transition to cost -reflective tariffs, ” it added . According to the commission, all the Discos are obligated to settle their market invoices in full as adjusted and netted off by applicable tariff shortfall approved by the commission. It said the Discos would be liable to relevant penalties /sanctions for failure to meet the minimum remittance requirement in any payment cycle in accordance with the terms of its respective contracts with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading and the Market Operator, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria . The Discos only collect an estimated 24 per cent of the tariff revenue, while the balance goes to the TCN, generation companies and other industry stakeholders , according to the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

333 ghost workers drawing salaries in Niger

Niger State Government has discovered 333 dead civil servants are still receiving salaries in the state, barely a week after it announced the dismissal of 80 civil servants The civil servants, who have been confirmed dead, have been on the payroll of the state for the past two years. Commissioner for Works Ibrahim Panti, Chairman of the Screening Committee made this known in an interview with newsmen in Minna. He also said that N207 million was discovered to have been paid as salaries to these deceased workers during the period.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Flood sacks 70 communities, displaces 50,000 in Kogi

Flash floods from River Niger have submerged over 70 communities and displaced over 50,000 people from their houses in different parts of Kogi State. Residents of some of the communities who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday said that the communities had experienced massive flooding in the last five days. They said at a stakeholders’ meeting that the flood had wreaked havoc in the affected areas. The one-day meeting was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in partnership with the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA). A resident, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who is also the Desk Officer in charge of ecological and emergency matters in Kogi Local Government Council, said that 66 communities were submerged by flood in the area. Abdullahi said that over 50,000 people had been forced to evacuate their homes and were now being accommodated in schools, filling stations and other makeshift buildings. He said that some of the victims in Edeha and Koton Karfe communities had been sleeping on roads and other open places. He said that schools had been closed as they had been converted to temporary camps for the victims, calling for urgent intervention from the government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He said that the victims had lost their means of livelihood as their farms and livestock were also washed away by the rampaging floods.

Post Date : September 18, 2020

Northern group hails DSS on internal security

The Northern Youth Initiative for Peace and Good Governance (NYIPGG) has praised the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, describing him as a pragmatic defender and efficient security regulator of the nation’s internal security. National President of the group, Umar Lawal said the State Security Service has performed well in counter-intelligence, internal security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance, as well as investigating some other types of grave crimes against the state. Lawal also hailed the Service’s efforts in ensuring the protection of senior government officials, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, and state governors. He said the initiatives had over the years, watched the pragmatic inputs of the DSS boss aimed at providing security via a nimble leadership guideline. “The storm which had overwhelmed security apparatus in recent years seem to be on the lowest statistically now with your efforts. Although your efforts are not known to many, we will keep appreciating your silent versatile arrest of challenging scenarios from its birth.