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  • Alleged Misconduct: NAPTIP sacks Deputy Director, 4 officers

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five of its personnel, including a Deputy Director, for alleged misconduct.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Vincent Adekoye, a Press Officer of the agency on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Adekoye said the misconduct ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives, and leaking confidential information to suspects.

    Others are alleged violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absent from duty without Official leave.

    He said that these offence are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

    He said that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.

    He said that the disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25.

    Adekoye said that at the meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

  • Police dismiss Sergeant over N98,000 extortion

    The Police Command in Lagos State has announced the dismissal of Sergeant Ekpo Shimuyere attached to Shogunle Division for extorting a young man of N98,000.

    The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin told newsmen on Wednesday that the Provost Department of the command had already derobed the dismissed sergeant.

    According to him, the dismissed sergeant collected the phone of his victim and used a POS operator to transfer N98,000 out of the N100,000 in the young man’s bank account.

    Hundeyin said that the action of the policeman was contrary to the ethics of the profession.

    “Police got the complaint from the victim and the officer denied the crime when he was contacted. The command placed him under detention so that he will not tamper with the evidence.

    “We wrote to his bank and obtained his statement of account. We were able to trace the money to where the POS operator transferred it to before transferring the money to the officer’s account.

    “We followed due process to get his account. The victim was invited in the course of investigation, and he testified.

    “The POS operator was also invited, and he said the officer requested him to transfer the money from the victim’s account to another one,” Hudenyi added.

    He said that the Sergeant was consequently subjected to Orderly Room trial in line with extant laws.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, have reviewed the orderly room procedure of the officer with Force No. 461654, attached to Sogunle Police Division and have approved the punishment of dismissal from the Force,” he said.

    Hundeyin said that the commissioner warned officers and men against any form of corruption, stressing that the dismissal was to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He further warned that the command would continue to punish any police officer found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

  • FIRS: Nigeria’s Tax-To-GDP rises to 10.86%

    Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 10.88 percent from between 5-6 per cent in the last 12 years. 

    The new ratio was communicated to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), via a letter signed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the FIRS, using data from 2010 see to 2021.

    Special Assistant Media and Communications to the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, in a statement to journalists Wednesday stated that the revision took into account revenue items hitherto not previously included in the computations; particularly, relevant revenue collected by other agencies of government.

    Tax-to-GDP ratio is a measure of a nation’s tax revenue relative to the size of her economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The ratio is a useful tool for assessing the “health” of a country’s tax system, and highlighting its tax potentials relative to the size of the economy. It is the ultimate measure of the effectiveness of a nation’s tax system compared to other countries.

    Reacting to the news, FIRS Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, explained that sources which previously put the country’s Tax-to-GDP ratio at between 5% and 6% did not consider tax revenue accruing to other government agencies in their computation. Particularly, revenues collected by agencies other than the FIRS, Customs and States Internal Revenue Service were excluded. 

    According to Nami, the situation was peculiar to Nigeria as most other countries operate a harmonised tax system (all or most tax revenues are collected by one agency of government) with single-point tax revenue reporting.  As such, all relevant tax revenues are included in the computation of the Tax-to-GDP ratio.

    “In order to correctly state the Tax-to-GDP ratio, the FIRS initiated a review and re-computation of the ratio for 2010 to 2021. In recomputing the ratio, key indicators that were previously left out were taken into account. This resulted into a revised Tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.86% for 2021 as against 6% hitherto reported,” the statement noted.

    The FIRS boss noted that  Nigeria’s Tax-to-GDP ratio should have been higher than 10.86% but for certain economic and fiscal policy factors, including tax waivers and leakages occasioned by the country’s fragmented tax system.

    “It is important to note that the Tax-to-GDP ratio for Nigeria should be higher, but for the impact of tax waivers contained in our various tax laws (including exemptions to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises brought-in by Finance Act, 2019), low tax morale, leakages occasioned by the country’s fragmented tax system and the impact of the rebasing of the GDP in 2014”, he explained.

    The Service helmsman implored the government to consider reviewing its policies on tax waivers thereby guaranteeing increased revenue to prosecute its programmes and positively move the needle of the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.

    The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, in his letter to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, described the revision as a facelift to the Tax-to-GDP ratio for Nigeria in comparison with other countries.

    He further noted that the NBS had “carefully and diligently reviewed the methodology used for computing the revised estimates, as well as the various items that have been included in the new computation,” and that the NBS as an outcome of its review and meetings with FIRS has adopted the new Tax-to-GDP computation.

  • Nigerians groan as Presidency, NNPCL hike fuel pump price to N555PL

    Details of the Tuesday meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari,  has emerged as the company has rolled out template for new pump price per litre nationwide.

    Malam Kyari had on Tuesday had a closed door meeting with President Tinubu, following the controversy generated by inaugural speech comment on removal of fuel subsidy.

    Template for hike in fuel pump price per litre as categorized according to geopolitical zone effective, 31 May, 2023.

    Under the new prices depending on geopolitical zone, a price per litre will not cost less than N488  but will cost at most N555.

    The NNPCL has also directed dealers to reflect the new pump price in the respective geopolitical zones effective today, 31 May, 2023, in line with the released price templated.

    “Please implement meter change as approved effective today 31st May 2023. Wayne is to attend to all locations as relates to their area of coverage in our network”, the directive stated.

    A statement by Garba Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Limited said as it strives to provide quality service which the company was known for, prices would continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics.

    “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump price of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with the current market realities.

    “We assure you that NNPC Ltd. is committed to ensuring ceaseless supply of products.

    “The Company sincerely regrets any inconvenience this development might have caused,” Muhammad said.

    He appreciated the continued patronage, support and understanding of its customers through this time of change and growth.

    The sudden increase in pump price per litre contradicted President Tinubu’s explanations of his inuagural speech comment on immediate removal of fuel Subsidy.

    He had on Tuesday said that the removal would take effect end of June, 2023, in attempt to allay fears and tempers heightened by acute shortage of fuel and hike in prices by dealers following his inaugural speech comment of fuel Subsidy removal.

    Nationwide, following his inaugural speech, queues have returned to the fueling stations. While dealers who are open for operations have hike their pump price up to between N600-N700 per litre, just as most filling stations closed shop.

    Commuters nationwide have been stranded as transporters have hiked the fares resulting to chaotic situation just two days on assumption of office by President Tinubu.

    Reports indicate that motorists who had queued up overnight for fuel now refused to buy at the newly reflected high pump price per litre.

  • Adegoke’s Murder: Hotel receptionist bags 2-year jail term

    The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced Miss Adedeji Adesola, the receptionist that received the late Timothy Adegoke when he lodged in the Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife in the evening of November 6, 2021, to two years imprisonment for altering the receipt issued to the deceased.

    Adesola’s sentence was pronounced at the sitting of the court on Wednesday by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo.

    She was said to have fabricated another receipt for the purpose of concealing traces of Adegoke’s lodgement at the hotel.

    The presiding judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, had on Tuesday, found Adesola guilty of doctoring the hotel receipt issued to the deceased, fabricating another, and concealing evidence charged against her.

    They further said the two years should start counting from the first day she was detained since the commencement of the matter.

    On Tuesday, the court convicted the founder of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, and three staff of the hotel of conspiracy to murder and murder of the post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

    Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, had on Tuesday sentenced Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke.

    Adedoyin, alongside six of his hotel workers — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola — were docked on an 18-count, including conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke.

    Other counts included an attempt to commit a felony, administering an extrajudicial oath, tampering with evidence, manufacturing evidence, indecent tempering with the deceased body, and interference with the deceased body among others.

    The court, however, discharged and acquitted three defendants, Magdalene, Chiefuna (2nd defendant), Oluwole Lawrence, (4th defendant), and Adebayo Kunle) 6th defendant), on the charges preferred against them.

    Justice Ojo, in her judgement, convicted Adedoyin on charges 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16 which border on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, conspiracy to administer extra judicial oath, indecent tempering with the deceased body, tampering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence.

    She also convicted the 3rd and fifth defendants, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

    According to her, there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but added that the circumstantial evidence against them is strong and compelling against them.

    She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on counts 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke).

  • Japan aims to spend $25bn on childcare

    Japanese Prime Minister has increased the annual childcare budget by around 3.5 trillion yen (25 billion U.S. dollars) during a three-year intensive period to address the country’s declining birth rate.

    Fumio Kishida unveiled the increased size of spending, which was slightly more than previously suggested, at a meeting of cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.

    Goto told a press conference after their meeting that Kishida instructed him to boost funding to prevent child poverty and abuse, expand support for children with disabilities, and reduce the financial burden of higher education.

    Goto said the government will compile a draft plan based on Wednesday’s instruction and aims to commence coordination with members of the ruling parties.

    The Japanese government had previously considered securing around three trillion yen per year to cover the expansion of childcare allowances and other related benefits from fiscal 2024.

    The number of babies born in Japan in 2022 slipped to a record low, falling under 800,000 for the first time since records began in 1899.

    The drop comes much earlier than the government expected.

  • Presidential Tribunal: Counsel member’s ill- health stalls Obi, LP’s petition hearing

    Presidential Tribunal: Counsel member’s ill- health stalls Obi, LP’s petition hearing

    Hearing in the election petition of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi was stalled at the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to the petitioners, Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN told the court that he was constrained to ask for an adjournment due to unforseen circumstances.

    “My lords, our plan was to continue our case but we had an unexpected development at the secretariat.

    “The unexpected development has to do with the  Illness of two of our key staff members for which reason I am constrained to pray for an adjournment until tomorrow.”

    When the presiding judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani asked for the response of Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) he said he was not opposing the application.

    “My lords I thought learned counsel would have given us heads up on this, however, in the circumstance,  I am constrained not to object and this will count as a day out of their three weeks.”

    Counsel to the All Progressives Congress, (APC)_ Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and that of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima also did not object to the application.

    Justice Tsammani then adjourned the matter until Thursday saying today would be counted as a day within the petitioners’ three weeks.

    Speaking to newsmen, Kalu said that the set back would not affect his client’s case.

    He said that his team would use the remaining days to prove his client’s case.

    Having told the PEPC that they would need three weeks to prove their case, the petitioners now have 19 days to go.

  • Hoarding/Profiteering: Gov Diri warns marketers as fuel price hits N600

    Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has warned oil marketers in the state against hoarding and profiteering on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

    The warning is sequel to the sudden hike by fuel marketers of PMS to N600 per litre, following President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement in his inaugural address that fuel subsidy was gone.

    Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah on Wednesday, warned that his administration would take stern measures against any filling station that flouted the directive. 

    He said the state government had received reports that some filling stations in the state capital had hiked the pump price of petrol above the usual price of between N193 and N250 per litre to N500 per litre and above.

    “Marketers in the state are said to have reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday that the Federal Government subsidy on petrol is gone.

    “The Presidency, however, issued a clarification statement on Tuesday that the removal of the subsidy was yet to take effect,” the statement read in part.

    The governor said it was wicked for oil marketers to swiftly seek to profiteer at the detriment of the people following a mere pronouncement that had not taken effect.

    Diri noted that the pump price of petrol is a significant determinant of the cost of goods and services in the country.

    The governor assured that his administration would not allow the people of Bayelsa to suffer undue hardship from the profiteering activities of some greedy businessmen.

    Diri said he had directed the state Ministry of Mineral Resources and the petroleum task force in the state to shut any filling station hoarding the product or caught selling above the usual pump price.

    He said: “I have directed the relevant Ministry and the state’s task force on petroleum to ensure that all filling stations sell petrol within the usual price range.

    “I have equally directed that any filling station that flouts this directive or fails to revert to the usual price be shut down. We will take further stern measures against any station that defaults.

    “This directive takes immediate effect,” Diri said.

  • Hoarding: NSCDC reads riot act to fuel marketers

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned petroleum products markerters against making life difficult for citizens by hoarding and hiking the pump prices.

    The Commandant of the Corps in Zamfara, Mr Muhammad Muazu, issued the warning in a statement by the command’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Ikor Oche, and made available to newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday.

    According to him, the Corps has observed with dismay the unwarranted artificial scarcity of petroleum products created by marketers sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement of the removal of subsidy on the products.

    Muazu described the act as sabotage and attempt to scuttle the smooth take off of the new administration in the country.

    He explained that NSCDC was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a free supply of petroleum products to the right destination without diversion or hoarding.

    The commandant therefore assured that the Corps would deal with any filling station found hoarding or causing artificial scarcity in accordance with the law.

    He warned all petroleum dealers to desist from making life unbearable for the citizens.

  • FG moves date for National Awards

    The Federal Government has changed the date for the collection of the National Honour Award for the recipients to yet undisclosed date.

    Mrs Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, made the disclosure in a circular issued by Mrs Julie Jacobs, Director of Information in the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The date for the collection of the award certificates and medals was earlier fixed for the recipients to pick them up on Thursday June 1.

    According to Roberts, due to circumstances beyond the control of the ministry, the date for the collection of the instruments of the award as already published in some national dailies is not feasible.

    She said a new date for the exercise would be communicated to the concerned recipients in due course.

    “All award recipients are to send copies of their citations/resumes to the Secretary, National Honours Awards Committee, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (FMSDIGA) on or before June 9.

    “The soft copies should be sent to the following e-mail addresses: umaruahmadu82@yahoo.com, doobisag@yahoo.com in the following format: ” A. biodata:, title:, surname:, other names:, gender:,, phone no.:, email:, state of origin:, address:.

    “B. citation and biography (not more than 500 words):, early life:, educational qualifications:, career/achievements:, personal life hobbies etc.): and C. passport photograph:

    The permanent secretary, however, apologised on behalf of the ministry for any inconvenience the change of date might have caused the recipients.

    “For further enquiries or clarification, please contact the Secretary, National Honours Awards Committee on the following Tel. Nos: 08059382659 and 08034508837,” she said.