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Kwara IRS denies victimising Igbo traders

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Kwara IRS denies victimising Igbo traders

Kwara Internal Revenue Services has debunked the alleged victimisation of Igbo business owners in the state over noncompliance with tax payment laws.

The clarification was contained in a press statement signed by the Head, Corporate Affairs of the agency, Funmilola Oguntunbi, and made available to the press in Ilorin, the state capital on Saturday

The agency explained that the alleged victimisation of Igbo traders by the agency published by an online platform  (not According Online) against the personality of the state governor, Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq and KW-IRS was a falsehood that targeted ethnic sentiment to gain undue public sentiment.

The statement read, “The attention of the Service has been drawn to a false, malicious, and inciting publication on 31st July 2024 by one online publication, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, against the personality of the Governor of Kwara State and the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service respectively.

“We are tempted to believe that this false narrative was at the instance of some members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), which has recently instituted a legal action against the Service on 12th July 2024 on the same subject matter before the Kwara State High Court.

“In suit KWS/308/24 – NWANKWO SYLVESTER & 90 ORS VS KWARA STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE & 2 ORS. This action of twisting the facts through a media publication is, therefore, in bad faith.

”In response to the deliberate misinformation, we clarify as follows: Contrary to the unfounded allegation contained in the publication, at no time did the Governor of Kwara State explicitly or impliedly direct the Service to victimise or act in a particular way towards anyone based on their religion, ethnicity, or other personal social identity.”

While maintaining that the execution of tax judgment against traders in the state was non-discriminatory, KW-IRS said, “the execution of judgments was effected on six judgment debtors/taxpayers. Three of them are Igbo traders, while the remaining three are Yoruba traders.”

The judgment on debtors, according to the agency included, “Electrical appliances, Boutique dealers and a dealer in Automobile spare parts who were all Igbo traders with their shops located at Ibrahim Taiwo road area while three Yoruba traders/judgment debtors included a dealer in phone accessories, Trader and another providing Educational Services, also at Ibrahim Taiwo Road.

“The Service has adopted a non-discriminatory policy on prohibition of Associations on assessment and collection of personal income tax in compliance with relevant provisions of the federal law which is the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended. The Service will not join issues with the publisher and cohort over issues that are already pending for adjudication before a court of competent jurisdiction as doing same will be Sub Judice.

“Against this background, and as a reputable Agency that firmly believes in the principles of the rule of law and judicial process, we would not allow anyone to drag the Service’s hard-earned reputation in the mud.

“We advise ICIR and those behind the unpatriotic publication to refrain from heating up the polity by subjecting matters already before a competent court to a court of public opinion where players sometimes intentionally choose which facts to state and which facts to suppress in the pursuit of their agenda. We urge the platform to refrain from interfering with the constitutional powers and functions of the Court”, it said.

Police discovers 6 grenades abandoned by terrorists in Borno

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Police discovers 6 grenades abandoned by terrorists in Borno

Police operatives in Borno State have discovered six projectile grenades allegedly abandoned by Boko Haram terrorists at Ajilari Cross area in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Lawal, who disclosed this on Saturday while providing a situation report to journalists in Maiduguri, said the projectiles were discovered on Friday.
He said the personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD), Base 13, deployed to the scene to assess the grenades and discovered that they were manufactured with incendiary chemicals.
READ ALSO: Protest: One killed, 11 injured in Borno explosion
He said the affected area was thoroughly screened and the projectiles were recovered intact.
The CP said: “In a separate incident, 20 suspects were arrested for burning tyres and inciting disturbances in Maiduguri.
“They are currently under interrogation and investigation for transparent prosecution.”
Lawal revealed that another violent incident occurred on the same day in Bassam Galomari Village, Gubio II Ward, Gubio local government area of the state.
The post Police discovers 6 grenades abandoned by terrorists in Borno appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Makinde commends Oyo residents for peaceful protest

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Makinde commends Oyo residents for peaceful protest

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed his appreciation to all youths and parents in the state for ensuring peaceful demonstrations across the state against hunger and hardship in the country.

The governor made this known in a statement on Saturday issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, following the sustenance of the peaceful protest which began on Thursday, 1st of August.

The statement said Makinde was among the first set of leaders across Nigeria to publicly embrace the constitutionality of the #EndHungerProtest, with an admonition that the protest must be peaceful to achieve the desired result.

Makinde further appealed to Nigerians to be law-abiding and to ensure that their agitation was without rancour and incitement throughout the period.

The governor praised the people and, most especially the youths, for keeping their end of the bargain as they expected the Federal Government to make life better for all and sundry.

Makinde equally called on Nigerians in states where various degrees of violence had been recorded during the protest, to allow peace to reign as the search for good governance continued.

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NYSC to reject HND graduates without mandatory one-year industrial training

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NYSC to reject HND graduates without mandatory one-year industrial training

The National Youth Service Corps has warned that graduates of polytechnic and mono-technics without evidence of mandatory one-year Industrial Training will not participate in national service.

NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos.

Baderinwa said that NYSC had issued a circular to that effect.

Baderinwa said, “It has been noticed in recent times that some graduates of polytechnics and mlnotechnics do not observe the mandatory one-year IT before being admitted for HND programme.

“The one-year IT is a prerequisite for HND.

“They must undergo the one-year IT with evidence of completion before going for HND, and institutions must confirm this before admitting them for HND.

“The directive will take effect from the next orientation camp, and we will not register any candidate who did not complete or undergo the process.”

She said that the measure would promote the sanctity of Nigeria’s education system.

According to the co-ordinator, prospective corps members, who are HND graduates, will be required to present evidence of completion of the IT before being registered at any  NYSC orientation camp.

NAN.

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Adamawa plans mass vaccination against cattle disease

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Adamawa plans mass vaccination against cattle disease

The Adamawa Government is intensifying surveillance and planning a massive vaccination campaign against Hemorrhagic Septicaemia, a disease suspected to have caused the death of more than 1,000 cows in neighbouring Taraba.

Permanent Secretary, Dr Suleiman Aminu, Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture, disclosed this to newsmen on Saturday in Yola.

According to him, the disease is suspected to have killed over 1,000 cows in the Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba, which borders Adamawa.

“With the confirmed cases of the disease in Gembu, Taraba, and its spread to other LGs, the ministry has summoned all Divisional Veterinary Officers to intensify efforts and conduct thorough examinations to prevent the disease from reaching Adamawa.

“Although samples are still being tested at the National Veterinary Research Institute Laboratory in Vom, Plateau, our Taraba counterparts have confirmed that a mass vaccination will soon commence across the state,” he added.

Aminu explained that the disease was bacterial, primarily affecting cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs.

He noted that Symptoms include high fever, swelling, especially on the neck, depression, and difficulty in breathing, and can cause death in less than 24 hours.

He mentioned that the ministry has already sent a memo to Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri for approval to purchase drugs for mass vaccinations.
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He appealed to Adamawa residents to remain vigilant and report suspected cases to the ministry, veterinary clinics, or officials.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the affected LGAs in Taraba are bordering Toungo, Ganye, Jada, Mayo-Belwa, Demsa, Numan, and Lamurde local government areas of Adamawa.

NAN.

NSCDC nabs 108 suspected looters in Kano

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NSCDC nabs 108 suspected looters in Kano

The Kano State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has detained 108 suspects allegedly involved in vandalising government and public properties during the nationwide hunger protests in the state.

The State Commandant of the corps, Mohammed Lawal-Falala, disclosed this on Saturday while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Kano.

He said the suspects were apprehended at different locations following credible intelligence from men of the NSCDC’s intelligence and investigation departments with various items found in their possession.

According to him, some of the suspects were from neighbouring states while some were Nigeriens.

The commandant said that NSCDC was the leading agency responsible for protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in the country.

“We have been working assiduously to arrest the suspects and recover the stolen properties,” Lawal-Falala said.

He said that the suspects allegedly vandalised and looted facilities at the soon-to-be-inaugurated Digital Industrial Park, belonging to the Nigerian

Communication Communication.

The commandant further said that some of the items recovered from the suspects included: LCD TVs, executive chairs, door and window frames as well as drawers.

He listed the other items to include: State Road dual carriageway iron demarcating shields and a 50 KVA Mikano Generator for streetlight at Dorayi Quarters, Gwale Local Government Area.

He said the suspects would be charged to Court upon the completion of investigation.

“I want to restate my stance that the NSCDC Kano command under my watch is committed to protecting lives  and property in the state,” Lawal-Falala said

He appealed to the public to cooperate with the corps by providing credible information to enable it achieve the mandate of securing a safer and secure environment.

The commandant warned scrap buyers to avoid buying stolen properties, adding that the corps was working with sister security agencies and other key stakeholders to recover all stolen properties during the protests.

NAN.

Stop this massacre, NLC urges govt

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Stop this massacre, NLC urges govt

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Saturday called on the Federal and State Governments to stop the “massacre” of citizens during the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.

The NLC, in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero which was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, said the deployment of security operatives to the venue where citizens were peacefully protesting instead of deploying them against bandits was thoughtless.

Ajaero said the police, not the citizens introduced violence to the peaceful protests.

 

Protesters have continued to hit the streets in Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and other states as they call for, among others, the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and the skyrocketing price of goods and services in the country.

The ‘End Hunger’ protest has, however, been marred with reported lootings by hoodlums in Kano and other northern regions with the police going after the culprits to recover some items.

In the statement, Ajaero said, “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at 40+ in two days of managing the EndHunger protest across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to call to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but massacre of citizens. Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado.

“As the lead agency in internal security management, the police bear the burden of this massacre. Kaduna State police command under the watch of Compol Audu Ali Dabigi represents the worst-case scenario in which one of the fleeing protesters was heard on camera desperately appealing to deployed police personnel to not shoot until his voice was drowned by a hail of bullets with the resultant death of a protester on the spot and several injured.

“In the same breadth, Edo State Police Command under the personal command of COMPOL Funsho Adegboroye represents the best in crowd management as he could be heard interacting and cajoling the protesters and almost effortlessly bringing them under control.

“It might be convenient to argue that the two states do have different socio-cultural milieus, however, an incontestable truth common to both, and indeed, all the states is that human life is sacred and should never be taken.
We are deeply saddened by this  wanton taking of life by trigger-happy police personnel.”

Speaking further, Ajaero recalled Abuja protesters’ experience with security operatives.

“In Asokoro, Abuja under the command of Compol  Bennett Igweh, protesters were heard querying why the police were shelling or tear-gassing them as they were marching solemnly without breaking a twig. One noticeable pattern was that once police personnel introduced violence, all hell broke loose in fulfilment of the credo that violence begets violence.

“We pause to ask, what happened to all the years of training or experience? No lessons learnt or was this a case of loss of human values on an industrial scale? Don’t our police personnel watch their colleagues in other parts of the world manage equally challenging (if not worse) situations?

“For a start, we demand that the cops with blood stains on their hands be fished out for appropriate disciplinary action. Ditto their commanders.

“Secondly, adequate compensations should be paid to the families of casualties while  the government should be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured.”

The NLC warned that if the police failed to put a hold on violence, its members would be forced to act in protection of the ordinary citizens.

“In the days ahead, we look forward to a better crowd control mechanism even as the new directive from the IGP would sound to some of the personnel as a license to kill without reason.

“We will be monitoring closely as the situation unfolds.  The police as the lead-agency vested with power and authority on issues of internal security should not only lead by (a good) example but an inspiration to other services.

“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter,  they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place. And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens,” the statement added.

Protesters threaten to storm Lagos streets

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Protesters threaten to storm Lagos streets

#EndBadGovernanceInNIgeria protesters in Lagos have vowed they will storm the streets from Monday to begin a new phase of the ongoing protest if the government does not grant their demands.

One of the coordinators of the protest, Mr Hassan Soweto, a member of the Youth Rights Campaign, said this while addressing the gathering at the Gani Fawehinmi Park on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a court order obtained before the start of the nationwide action had restricted all protests in the state to the park.

The protesters would be defying the court order if they carry out the threat.

Soweto said protesters would cease occupying the park in Ojota and start marching through the streets if their demands were not met by Sunday night .

The activist said that they had since been restricted to the park, adding that they would take their march to Alausa, the seat of the Lagos government if government did not act.

He said there would  be no protest at the park on Sunday, urging residents to go to their places of worship to pray for peace in the land.

Soweto called on the police to check the activities of suspected hoodlums, trying to cause problems at the park.

NAN observed that the police barricaded the service lane on Ikorodu Road for the protesters, leaving the BRT and two other lanes for motorists.

It also observed that there were more vehicles on the road on Saturday, compared to the low vehicular traffic on Thursday and Friday.

NAN further observed that commercial activities have picked-up in Ojota and environs as more shops opened for business.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, was still on the ground, leading other security agents to provide protection for the protesters for the third day.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, told NAN that no protester was arrested on Friday.

NAN.

Police restrict movement in Kano as youths continue protest

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Police restrict movement in Kano as youths continue protest

Hundreds of protesters mostly underaged boys gathered in Kano on Saturday morning on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Our correspondent observed that the youths trooped out in areas such as Kurna Asabe, Jain and Brigade to continue the protests.
The State Police Commissioner, Salman Dogo Garba, informed out correspondent that some youths, hiding under a program organized by an unnamed politician at the Nassarawa Palace of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, stormed the streets, chanting anti-government songs.
He said, “It is true that some group of people who took the advantage of a program organized by one politician took to the streets in continuation of their violent protests but we have suppressed them.”
Our correspondent who went through Audu Bako Secretariat in an attempt to get to the State NUJ Office situated at Firm Center, was turned back despite identifying himself as journalist.
Similarly, at the Ahmadu Bello Way, armed policemen blocked the entire road, insisting that nobody will pass through.
An officer who shouted on top of his voice, stressed that there was curfew in the town and nobody will be allowed to go anywhere, including journalists.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had imposed a 24-hour-curfew in Kano after protesters went on rampage on August 1, looting and setting public buildings ablaze.
Police restrict movement in Kano as youths continue protest

Address protesters’ demands, Osun lawmaker tells FG

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Address protesters’ demands, Osun lawmaker tells FG

The Osun State House of Assembly member, Adewumi Adeyemi, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to address the pressing concerns driving the ongoing protests across Nigeria.

In a statement on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital, Adeyemi acknowledged the widespread coconcerns about hunger, inflation, insecurity, unemployment, and other issues affecting many Nigerians.

He also also advised President Bola Tinubu to communicate directly and frequently with citizens, show empathy, and acknowledge the concerns of the protesters.

The lawmaker also urged the President to outline actions taken and planned, promote constructive dialogue, foster unity and cooperation, and be visible and accessible.

He said, “The right to peacefully protest and express grievances is a cornerstone of our democracy, and these voices must be heard and respected.

“These protests are also a call for accountability and action from all of us in government.

“At the state level, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, we are committed to working together to explore and implement local solutions that can provide some relief to our communities.

“The challenges of hunger, rising prices, security issues, and fuel subsidy removal are critical and demand urgent attention.”

The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to implement measures to curb inflation, provide economic relief, strengthen security measures, and create job opportunities.

He also condemned any form of violence, looting, or destruction of property and emphasised the need for constructive dialogue and cooperation to find sustainable solutions.

“I urge the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to address these pressing concerns.

“By focusing on these key points, you can demonstrate leadership, build trust, and foster a sense of hope and collective action among the citizens.

“Let us work together to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous Nigeria for all,” he added.

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