Police on Thursday arraigned five men at the Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, over alleged possession of rifles and live ammunition.
The five men – Muhammadu Ibrahim (23), Abdullahi Aliyu (30), Usman Abubakar (28), Abubakar Umoru (25) and Arowolo Olatunbosun (34) – were arraigned for conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.
Magistrate Olasinmibo Sanusi-Zubair did not take the defendants’ pleas for lack of jurisdiction.
She, however, directed the police to return the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
Sanusi-Zubair, thereafter, adjourned the case to September 30 for mention and remanded the defendants in a correctional facility in the state.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Oladejo Balogun, had earlier told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 16 at Moniya, Ibadan.
He said the defendants were found in possession of one AK-47 rifle, one LAR rifle, and 17 live ammunition.
The prosecutor added that the offences contravened Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms Laws of Nigeria, 2004.
The post Police arraigns five men for alleged possession of firearms in Oyo appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Police arraigns five men for alleged possession of firearms in Oyo
Brazil edge tipid S’Falcons in opening game
Super Falcons of Nigeria have lost 1:0 to Brazil in their opening game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Alleged economic sabotage: Senate summons petroleum minister, NNPCL, CBN, NPA, others
The Senate through its ad hoc committee mandated to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, has summoned various stakeholders in the sector for interrogation.
The 15-man committee led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), made this known to journalists on Thursday at a press briefing on the scope of the assignment and the readiness to unveil the alleged saboteurs in the sector.
Key among the stakeholders in the petroleum sector summoned to appear before the committee at a public hearing fixed for September 10 to September 12, 2024, are the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA.
Others are Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, international oil companies, IOCs, Dangote Group, Capital Oil, and modular refineries, among others.
The committee was set up by the Senate in plenary on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, through a resolution adopted after exhaustive debate by senators on a motion sponsored by Senator Azuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) on the importation of hazardous products and dumping of substandard diesel in Nigeria.
In his speech at the press briefing, Senator Bamidele said: “The rationale for this news conference is pure and simple. It mainly borders on the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, including the recent accusations and counters, of importation of petroleum products into the country.
“Given its consequences on our domestic economy, the Senate, under the able leadership of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, constituted this 15-man ad hoc committee to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry on July 3, 2024.
“Specifically, the committee, as mandated by the Senate, would examine the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes, if any, being exploited to get toxic cargoes into the country.
“Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSP) arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability.
“Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years.
“Enquire from the NNPCL the state/status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products.
“Engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry with a view to identifying possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the surveillance and monitoring structures in place to enable Nigeria to detect violations of best practice standards in the importation of products before they enter the domestic supply chains.
“Also engage with the NNPCL with a view to understanding the extent of its determination and timelines for the start-up of government-funded oil refineries.
“Investigate how institutions across the importation and distribution chain failed to conduct quality sampling, shipped in products without auditing, and performed port validations by the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.”
Consequently, according to the chairman, the 15-man committee has resolved to carry out the investigations holistically and thoroughly and has written to all the relevant stakeholders in the sector for submission of relevant documents and appearance before it during the public hearing, fixed for September 10 to September 12, 2024.
In their separate remarks at the press briefing, all the members of the committee vowed to unravel the rot in the sector and declared that it would no longer be business as usual.
According to them, their integrity is at stake and there would be no room for sacred cows, declaring “that warrant of arrest would be issued on any head of agency who refuses to honour invitation for appearance.”
Members of the committee include senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Abdullahi Yahaya, Mohammed Minguno, Adeola Olamilekan, Diket Plang, Harry Banigo, Khabeeb Mustapha, Adams Oshiomhole, Jonah Eteng, Adetokunbo Abiru, Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Ya’u, Abdul Ningi and Ifeanyi Ubah.
Alleged economic sabotage: Senate summons petroleum minister, NNPCL, CBN, NPA, others
Ohanaeze presidency, nine other facts about Iwuanyanwu
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is dead.
His death was confirmed in a statement on Thursday by his son, Jide.
The statement read, “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.”
In this report, The According highlights 10 things to know about the late Ohanaeze chief, including how he led the Igbo group.
1. Iwuanyanwu was born on Friday, September 4, 1942 to Pa Bernard Iwuanyanwu and Madam Hulder Iwuanyanwu of in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
2. The businessman believed to be one of the richest Igbo men attended St. Patrick’s School, Nkpokwu (later renamed Rukpokwu), Port Harcourt, for his Standard one to four, from 1948 to 1952.
For his Standard five and six, he was transferred to Holy Trinity Primary School in Holy Trinity Church, Umuapara (later renamed Rumuapara, now in Obiakpo Local Government Area, Rivers State). In 1963, he was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied civil engineering.
3. Iwuanyanwu assumed office on April 30, 2023, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide shortly after the Imeobi Ohanaeze ratified his nomination.
4. He was the founder of the defunct Champion Newspaper.
5. Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club, now Heartland FC, was named after him because of his love for sports and his contribution to the club.
6. He had his businesses: Hardel & Enic Construction Company, Enic Advertising Ltd, and Magil Industries Limited, in Owerri, Imo State capital.
7. The activities of his signature philanthropic act birthed the duo of Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance and Iwuanyanwu Foundation, both non-profit organisations that cut across the nook and cranny of Nigeria.
8. He contested for the presidency three times under the Nigeria National Congress, which later became the National Republican Convention, the All People’s Party, and the United Nigeria Congress Party.
9. Iwuanyanwu once said in an interview that his saddest moment in life was when he lost his wife, Uduora Iwuanyanwu, who he dated at the university for six years and married for over 40 years. In 2013, he married Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem.
10. Imo airport was reportedly conceived by him and presented to then-military administrator General Ike Nwachukwu.
Impersonator defrauds job seeker of N210,000, arrested in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, Aminu Mohammed, for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian Army personnel for two years in Magaji Quarters, Bauchi Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday, stating that the suspect’s actions violated Sections 110(1) and 251 of the Criminal Code.
According to Wakil, the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate Divisional Police “C” Division on Monday, following a complaint filed against him.
The suspect allegedly collected N210,000 from an unsuspecting individual, promising to assist in securing a job with the Nigerian Army.
Wakil revealed that the suspect directed his victim to meet his friend, currently at large, to facilitate entry into the Nigerian Military School in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“However, after spending eight days in Zaria, the victim could not meet the individual who was supposed to take him to the training school,” Wakil said.
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspect had no prior military service or affiliation.
However, he had obtained a pair of camouflage trousers from a serving military personnel friend.
The state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
”This is to uncover more facts that will aid in prosecution, ” he added.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Osun, Delta fine Google, Meta for tax evasion
The tax authorities in Osun and Delta states have fined Google Nigeria and Meta Platforms, Inc, $150 mllion and $200 million respectively for alleged non-remittance of Withholding Tax.
The fine is specifically for the Withholding Tax allegedly deducted from content creators and entertainers in the two states from 2020 till date.
This is contained in separate letters signed by Messrs Sola Adewunmi, and Solomon Ighrakpata, Executive Chairmen, Osun and Delta States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) respectively.
The letters, also signed by Ademola Odetunde, Chief Operating Officer, LafriquePromedia Ltd., the revenue collection agent for the states, were made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
According to Odetunde, LafriquePromedia is also consulting for the IRS of Plateau, which is also facing the same challenge and coming up with similar demand.
He said that the companies were issued a 14-day notice of compliance, effective July 12 and July 19 respectively, from the affected states.
He said that the companies, upon the receipt of those letters, would face the consequences for non-compliance.
Odetunde said that the states were demanding for the payment of $50 million and $200 million respectively, being assessed withholding tax deducted, but not remitted by the companies, at the rate of five per cent to the states.
He said that the revenue or payment were from digital services provided to content creators, practitioners in the entertainment and creative sector within Delta and Osun states.
”By this demands and notices for compliance, we hereby advise your companies to comply with our demands through our revenue agent within the next 14 days.
”We want to bring your attention to the fact that the concept of WHT is a form of advance payment of income tax, which is deductable at source on payment made for certain commercial transactions by Nigerian customers.
”Same must be remitted to the appropriate tax authorities – Federal, by corporate bodies, or State Internal Revenue Service, by individual, enterprises and partnership within 21 days after the end of the month the transaction was made,” he said.
According to him, the companies, as an operator of Social Media Platform within the Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape, are mandated to withhold tax in line with the provisions of the extant law.
Odetunde, who is also a legal practitioner, added that the law required non-resident companies providing digital services in Nigeria to withhold tax.
He said that this also meant that the companies were required by law to collect and remit WHT on digital services provided to customers within the Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape.
He recalled that the concept of withholding tax was introduced to curb tax leakages, gather information of commercial activities being carried out by both resident and non-resident businesses.
Withholding tax is mostly used for collecting tax on non-residents’ income in Nigeria where cross border enforcement is impracticable.
Odetunde said the procedure for implementing withholding tax for non-resident companies operating digital services within Osun and Delta states’ digital landscape included the deduction of such tax from payments for specified activities.
He said the procedure also included services provided to content creators and online practitioners within Osun and Delta states as well as remittances of the tax to the relevant tax authorities through its designated agent.
The legal practitioner also said that the submission of withholding tax schedules to the relevant tax authorities showing details of the beneficiaries such as the name and address of the recipient, was part of the procedure.
It also included the gross amount of the transaction, the amount of the tax and the percentage that had been deducted among other things.
Odetunde said: ”We observed that over the years your companies willfully refused, failed and neglected to remit the withheld tax to the local tax authority for Osun and Delta states, Nigeria.
”Take further notice that, when a non-resident company deducts WHT from payment for digital services provided to customers within Osun and Delta states digital landscape.
”Without remitting the same to the local tax authorities, which is Osun and Delta States Internal Revenue Services, a criminal offence has been committed by such non-resident company.
”The law permits us to prosecute the offending non-resident companies and take necessary steps to recover the WHT.”
Odetunde warned the companies to also note that the penalty for non-compliance for companies, including non-resident companies, upon conviction, included a fine of 10 per cent of the amount not deducted or deducted but not remitted.
He said: ”This shall be added thereto, plus interest at the prevailing commercial rate presently at 21 per cent, while the officers of a non-compliant corporate taxpayer may be imprisoned or fined or both, if found guilty of tax crime.
”We do hope that this polite demand notice for compliance will jolt your company to do the needful without further delay.
According to Odetunde, the revenue agent has been writing to the companies since Oct. 13, 2023 in respect of the matter, to no avail.
(NAN)
Gallant Super Falcons lose to Brazil in Olympics opener
Super Falcons of Nigeria put up a fine performance in their opening Group C game of the Paris Olympic Games on Thursday night.
More to follow…
The post Gallant Super Falcons lose to Brazil in Olympics opener appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Airports must be efficiently managed – Reps committee chairman
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, said the nation’s airports are national assets that must be managed efficiently to avoid unmitigated damages.
Airports, he said, should be handled by experts for the purpose of safety and economic development.
He stated this while addressing the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development officials during an investigative hearing on Thursday in Abuja.
The officials made themselves available for a joint audit investigative session on enhancing accountability and competence at Nigerian airports.
The investigative hearing was sequel to the resolutions passed by the House in plenary on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, where the lower legislative chamber wanted to ascertain the competency of the nation’s airports.
The lawmaker said: “Airports are a critical security zone that requires that personnel and contract staff working there be qualified and competent to ensure the safety of equipment and all users of the gateways both locally and internationally.
“As parliament, we are worried about the functionality of the infrastructure and all the technical equipment available in all the country’s airports.”
He stressed that legislators are ready to work with the executive to ensure that what is necessary will be done to ensure that standards are maintained in the industry.
The chairman urged the minister, Festus Keyamo, and heads of agencies and units under the ministry to be frank in their submissions to the lawmakers for further legislative attention.
Airports must be efficiently managed – Reps committee chairman
LG chairmen misusing FAAC funds face jail term, FG warns
The Federal Government has threatened jail term for Local Government Area chairmen tampering with the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee funds.
This was made known by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Thursday.
Fagbemi, at the 17th-anniversary annual lecture event of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria in Abuja, said none of the chairmen have immunity and would be jailed if they tamper with the funds meant for the development of their areas.
He said, “Well, we have a situation on our hands; I know that it is still there; the conduct of elections is to be undertaken by the states.
“But the distinction is this: don’t forget, the governors have immunity, the local government council chairmen or councillors, they have no immunity, so they have to choose between dealing with the funds of the local government as they like and risking going to jail. The choice is theirs (LG chairmen).
“If they want to tamper with these funds and end up in jail, it is their choice. If they want to write their names in letters of gold, activities like construction or road upgrades must be returned to the local government. They don’t all have to come to Abuja.
“If they stay at the local government, we will be able to reduce the level of insecurity that we have in Nigeria today. What obtains offshore is that the security agents are able to perform optimally because of information that comes to them from members of the public and usually it is from the grassroots.”
Details later…
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Six things Nigerians may not know about the late Ohanaeze president-general, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
The President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is dead.
Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday after a brief illness.
He was 82 years old.
The deceased’s son, Jide, confirmed his death in a statement.
The statement read: “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Engr Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. “He was aged 82.”
On a parting shot, TVN compiled a few things the citizens, especially the younger generations may not know about the departed elder statesman.
– The Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970 interrupted Iwuanyanwu’s studies. During the war, he was drafted into the Biafra Research and Production (RaP) Directorate headed by a nuclear physicist, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuka Nwosu
– He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as an engineer and became a member of the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria on April 12, 1972.
– The deceased was the chairman of a conglomerate of over 20 companies namely Hardel and Enic Construction Company, Enic Advertising Limited, Magil Industries Limited; National Post Newspapers; Sunrise Insurance Brokers; Oriental Shipping Lines Limited; Paradise City Hotel, Calabar and Oriental Airlines and Daily Champion Newspapers.
– Iwuanyanwu was the National Chairman of the Nigeria National Congress (NNC) which later fused into the National Republican Convention (NRC) when former military president Ibrahim Babangida lifted the ban on politics in 1990.
– He vied for the country’s presidency three times in the past. First under the NRC in 1991. He later emerged as running mate to the late Adamu Ciroma. However, the presidential primaries of NRC and the rival Social Democratic Party (SDP) were annulled by the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) over allegations of fraud in 1992. The other times were in 1995 and when the country returned to civil rule in 1999.
– The elder statesman founded one of the biggest football clubs in Nigeria’s history, Iwuanyawu National (now Heartland of Owerri).
– The club dominated the Nigerian soccer scene in the mid-80s and early ’90s alongside the now-defunct Leventis United of Ibadan and Abiola Babes of Abeokuta.
The post Six things Nigerians may not know about the late Ohanaeze president-general, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.