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Imo Govt Goes Tough On Tax Evaders, Seal Defaulting Hotels In Owerri

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Imo State Board of Internal Revenue Services seal Hotels

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Acting Chairman of the Imo State Board of Internal Revenue Services IIRS, Remigius Okoye, has insisted that clamping down on some hotels and other tax defaulting outfits in the State ,remain the only option left.

The Source reports that at the weekend, about  eight high profile hotels and other business concerns  within the Owerri metropolis were sealed for alleged failure of their managements  to honour their statutory tax/rents obligations to the State .

The hotels that fell under the hammer of the State’s revenue collection agency include Hotel Arizona, Benconn Hotels Zeeworld Hotels and Zoey Ibis Royale .

Others were Lavianto Hotel ,Titanic View Hotel and suites and Heroes Luxury Apartment.

Owerri, the Imo State capital, is famous, particularly in the South East region, for playing host to several Middle and high brow hotels and others within the hospitality industry chain.

A substantial part of its annual Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, is derived from its robust hospitality industry.

Okoye, the IIRS Chief, said the hotels and other business premises that were sealed during its operations failed to pay their taxes, despite given enough room and notices.

He described the actions of the hoteliers and other defaulters as  inimical to the economic health of the state.

According to the IIRS Chairman ,before the debt management and enforcement team moved into action, several letters of reminder and warnings were served on the defaulters.

He warned that the revenue collection agency is poised to enforce strict adherence to the payments of all Government  statutory rents/ taxes.

Okoye maintained that the  ongoing enforcement  will not seize until maximum compliance level in tax collection is achieved.

While urging all taxable individuals and entities to be alive to their civic responsibilities, the IIRS boss also noted that the enforcement is aimed at shoring up the  internally generated revenue profile of the state for the purpose of effective service delivery by the Government.

“The IIRS warns that any establishment found to be evading payments of taxes will face severe sanctions, including sealing of business premises and prosecution. Okoye”, stated.

Police Moves To Free Abducted Medical Students

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kayode Egbetokun - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered immediate deployment of extensive human and technical resources to bolster the efforts of the Benue State Command to set free abducted 20 medical students in Otukpo, Benue state.

He condemned the kidnapping of 20 medical students in Otukpo, Benue State on Thursday.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force PRO disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

The students were en route to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students in Enugu when they were abducted.

Describing the act as appalling, callous, and utterly unacceptable, the IGP assured the public of the police force’s full commitment to their safe rescue.

“This includes the mobilization of additional tactical units from the Force Intelligence Department’s Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) and the Force Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).

“Advanced helicopters, drones, and specialized tactical vehicles have also been deployed to facilitate a thorough search and ensure the swift rescue of the abducted students.

“The Nigeria Police Force stands in solidarity with the victims and their families during this difficult time.”

The IGP emphasized the determination of the force to exhaust every possible means in the pursuit of the perpetrators and to continue the fight against kidnapping and other forms of criminality in Nigeria.

Egbetokun appealed to the general public for assistance, urging anyone with useful information or actionable intelligence to come forward.

“Individuals are encouraged to contact the nearest police station, the state command control number, or the Force Headquarters via [email protected] and other helplines.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians and will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law across the country.”

Hard drugs And Human Trafficking Through Nigerian Seaports: USA, France, NDLEA, Maritime Stakeholders, Brain Storm

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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NDLEA and Maritime Stakeholders

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The United States of America, USA, and French Embassies are among hordes of other Diplomatic Missions in  Nigeria that have signified their participation in a Maritime Summit on Drug Smuggling and Human Trafficking in the country.

Similarly, regulatory agencies, such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, have expressed their readiness to be part of the Summit scheduled to hold on Thursday August 22, 2024, at the Eko Hotels ,in Lagos .

Worried about the rising incidents of large quantities of prohibited drugs and other unwholesome products  imported into the country of recent, the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria MASPAN and the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron AMANO, opted to organize the Summit to enable stakeholders come up with lasting solutions.

At a media briefing held  in Lagos at the weekend, Chairman of the planning Committee, Emmanuel Maiguwa,informed that the primary aim of the Summit is to  brain storm  on how best to stem the ugly trend of large consignments of banned substances found on ships arriving the shores of Nigeria,as well as increasing cases of stowaways on ships departing the country’s Seaports .

“Ships have been detained for several  months while, their crew were placed on trial and forced to remain without seeing their families for several years in cases drug smuggling .

“At the end of this Conference,we hope that stakeholders will arrive at workable solutions and mandate a working group to ensure the actualization of the resolutions reached .

“On the part of Human Trafficking ,cases of stowaways, especially, at Lagos Ports ,have continued to cause delays to vessels when they are found before  departure.

“Cases where discoveries were not made before departure have continued to burden ship owners because of the very complex administrative protocols involved in handling stowaways on ships”, Maiguwa lamented .

He noted that organizing the talk shop has become imperative ,going by the negatively disruptive effects smuggling ,and human trafficking are having on shipping operations in the country.

” The goal is to align with critical agencies,and stakeholders in ensuring that drug and human trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced to the barest minimum,if not eradicated ,perpetrators penalized ,in a way that innocent parties are not made to pay the price and the industry is not deprived of its growth potentials” he further noted .

The Summit billed to be chaired by the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy ,Gboyega Oyetola ,is also to be attended by both local and international shipping outfits .

Edo 2024: PDP, APC At Loggerheads Over Allegation Of Plot To Truncate Election

By
Akinwale Kasali
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APC and PDP

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than 40 days to the Edo State Governorship Election, the two top political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress,  APC, have continued to trade words, alleging plots and counter plots to compromise the forthcoming Election.

The PDP had alleged that intelligence reports it received have it that the APC is plotting to cause unrest in the State and destabilize the electoral process.

A statement by the Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council, Rev. Olu Martins, called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, and the State Commissioner of Police to look into the case of some suspected “rogue policemen” from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja who the party alleged may have been paid huge sums by the APC to harass, attack and kidnap PDP chieftains across the three (3) senatorial districts of the State.

The statement reads, “These suspected rogue mufti-wearing police officers led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa , have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, harassing and arresting PDP chieftains across the State.

“Since they began their sinister operations, they have arrested Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Counselor Representing Ward 10, in Esan North East Local Government Area of the State, and a few other people who we currently don’t have their details.”

Olu Martins continued: “We are also aware that they have a long list of major PDP chieftains across the State’s three senatorial districts who they are planning to abduct for the political purpose of weakening the PDP ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated for September 21, 2024.

“Some names believed to be on this list include the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area (LGA), Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, among others, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

Countering PDP’s claims the APC, in a statement by Director of Publicity,  Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, called for the arrest of Mr Emmanuel Odigie and investigate his claim on national television that people are calling for the military to take over the government and his claims that he was aware of plans by the federal government using the Vice President, the Senate President and the Chief of Staff to the president to compromise the Edo election in favour of the APC.

The APC stressed that, “More worrisome is the allegation that the presidency has concluded plans to rig the election in favour of Senator Monday Okpebholo. Odigie also claimed during his Arise interview, that “…some forces in the Presidency including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have perfected plans with some notable APC leaders in Edo State to rig the forthcoming September 21st Governorship Election in Edo State while President Tinubu will be on a disguised trip out of the country.

“Like a fly destined to follow a corpse into the grave, Odigie told his bewildered audience that some so-called integrity group members were present in every meeting where these plans were held.

“In the light of the danger that Mr. Emmanuel Odigie has become, the APC and indeed Nigerians are requesting for a thorough investigation of all his allegations – including those he made against the President and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Inspector General of Police.

“This arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Odigie will thwart whatever plans his integrity group has put in place to destabilize Nigeria. It will go a long way to also ensure the sanctity of the ballot box in Nigeria, including the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State.”

Cleric Kills Five Persons For Money Rituals, Nabbed By Police

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Crime

By Akinwale Kasali

If not for the vigilance of residents of the community in Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, who smelt offensive odour oozing out of a building belonging to the 40-year-old Cleric, Police would not have had a clue of the heinous act taking place.

The Cleric, who lived elsewhere, was said to usually visit the House at odd hours, making residents suspicious of his activities.

Ayede, a resident of the area informed the Police of the suspicious activities of the Cleric, prompting the Police to swiftly swing into action.

Explaining in details the activities of the serial killer, the Oyo State Police Commissioner, CP Ayodele Sonubi, while parading the suspect in Ibadan, alongside eight suspected serial ritual killers and 15 others over alleged murder, robbery and rape, Sonubi said the Command got information about the act of one of the suspected serial ritual killers on August 10 when it was reported by one Ayede and immediately swung into action.

The Commissioner also said that the man usually visited the house at odd hours.

CP Sonubi said: “Operatives from Moniya Divisional Police Headquarters swung into action and moved to the scene, where a dry well was seen at the compound of the house.

“Upon close observation, gory sights of what had the semblance of mutilated human bodies were spotted inside the well.

“Eventually, the remains of three unidentified bodies were removed to the State Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.”

The CP said that the suspect was arrested, adding that aside from confessing to the crime, he also mentioned the names of some of his accomplices in the killing of people for money ritual, who were now at large.

Sonubi said that the suspect and others at large had in April lured a 28-year-old man to the same scene at Moniya, severed his head and legs, and sold them to two other suspects.

He said that the suspect further confessed that on August 7, he and others now at large stabbed a 17-year-old boy to death and severed his head and legs, which were sold to a female suspect for N70,000.

He added: “On August 11, at about 0630hrs, an execution of search warrant was conducted in the houses and premises of the suspects where the victim’s fresh flesh was recovered.

“In the course of the investigation, other suspects were arrested and they confessed that they bought different types of human parts for a money ritual from the 40-year-old suspect.”

In an interview, the suspect, who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, said that he started killing people for money rituals in 2024 and that he had killed no fewer than five people.

He said that he always collected N200,000 from anybody who gave him  money ritual job.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects included dried human skull, charm, 89 bags of cannabis sativa, motorcycle and cutlass, among others.

Three Crushed To Death In Emene, Enugu State

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Nigerian Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Enugu Police Command has arrested a truck who crushed no fewer than three persons to death. Two others were severely injured in the ghastly road mishap in Emene ,on the outskirts of Enugu on Friday night, August 16, 2024 .

No official statement has been issued on the possible cause(s) of the accident involving the truck belonging to a construction firm and a mini-commuter bus.

But some eye witness accounts said the truck which was coming from the Adoration road, by railway crossing rammed into the stationary bus said to be off-loading passengers.

Three of the seven passengers on board were killed on the spot, while two others sustained serious injuries.

The injured were rushed to a medical facility close by- Annunciation Hospital in Emene, while the dead were deposited in the mortuary.

Witnesses said they cannot precisely point to what led to the incident, as the truck was neither speeding, nor has a  brake failure established.

However, some witnesses  expressed fears that the arrested truck driver might be left off the hook by the Police, thereby stalling any chance of knowing what actually  happened, as well as securing justice for the  victims.

The ownership of the truck- a construction company, is the major reason for their apprehension.

Most of the witnesses believe that, the truck driver is to be blamed for the avoidable accident.

Neither the Police nor  Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has officially reacted to the sad incident at the time of reporting.

How Bread Seller, 54 Other UNICAL Graduates, Were Illegally Mobilized For  Youth Service – DG NYSC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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University of Calabar - UNICAL

By Akinwale Kasali

The University of Calabar, UNICAL, Cross River State is in the news, again, for bad reasons.

The Institution that was enmeshed in se&ual harassment by, allegedly, one of its Professors and s&x for marks scandal has also seen 54 of its graduates  expelled by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for illegal mobilization for National Service. One of the 54 is a bread seller who had not seen the four walls of a University.

NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, made this disclosure in  a statement Saturday, on his behalf  by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa.

He stated that the affected Corps Members would be prosecuted accordingly.

In addition to the expulsion, 19 other individuals who attempted to register online for mobilization were prevented from doing so.

Also, four certificates of National Service were withheld due to irregularities.

This development came after the NYSC voided 101 certificates of National Service earlier, bringing the total number of affected certificates to 178.

The NYSC Director-General commended the Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Professor Florence Obi, for reporting the illegal mobilization of unqualified graduates from her institution.

General Ahmed emphasized that the NYSC would intensify its collaboration with all Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and relevant stakeholders to prevent future occurrences.

He also urged employers to verify the authenticity of the certificates of national service presented by job applicants.

The statement quoted Ahmed as saying, “The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list that ought not to have been there.

“I give kudos to the Vice-Chancellor. Previously, a bread seller was mobilized on the graduation list from the same institution.

“There are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates.

“Those who are responsible for inputting the data of graduates should be people of integrity”

Kano Receives Highest Ecological Fund Of N2.1 Billion In One Year – NBS

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abba Yusuf - Governor of Kano State
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State

By Ayodele Oni

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) revealed that Kano State received the highest ecological fund allocation among Nigeria’s 36 states, totaling N2.1 billion from June 2023 to June 2024.

The funds, distributed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), are intended to address environmental issues such as desertification, flooding, and erosion.

The ecological fund, established in 1981, is sourced from the Federation Account at a rate of 2 percent and is managed by the Ecological Fund Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Over the past years, the federal government disbursed N39.62 billion in ecological funds across the states, with Kano’s allocation averaging N175 million per month.

Borno State, affected by environmental damage due to insurgency, followed with N1.68 billion, averaging N140 million per month.

Other states that received significant allocations include Lagos State, with N1.81 billion, averaging N150.83 million monthly; Kaduna, with N1.4 billion, averaging N116.67 million per month; and Sokoto, which obtained N1.49 billion, also averaging N124.17 million per month.

States such as Kwara and Bayelsa received lower allocations, with N602.3 million and N598.79 million, respectively. Edo and Abia each received just over N630 million.

These allocations reflect the varying ecological challenges across the country, with funds distributed according to the severity of issues in each State.

Health Commissioners’ Forum Vows To Ensure Effective Health Delivery Services In LGs

By
Ayodele Oni
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Dr Oyebanji Filani - Commissioner for Health Ekiti State

By Ayodele Oni

Health Commissioners from the 36 States of Nigeria and Secretary of Health of the Federal Capital Territory, have vowed to ensure that health related services do not suffer in local councils areas following Supreme Court judgement on autonomy.

The pledge was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the third quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum (NHCF) held in Abuja.

The communiqué, was signed by Oyebanji Filani, Chairperson and commissioner for Health, Ekiti State and Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, Secretary, and commissioner for Health, Kwara State.

The  Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening primary healthcare, (PHC) as the cornerstone of the Nigerian healthcare system.

“Emphasis was placed on ensuring adequate staffing, training, and the provision of essential medicines and equipment to improve service delivery at the grassroots level.

“They considered the recent Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Financial Autonomy appraising implications for PHC Financing in Nigeria.

“A sub-committee was constituted to develop a position paper in consultation with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW).”

The Commissioners commended President President Bola Tinubu for approving the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration and his significant investment in the healthcare system.

They recognized the critical shortage of skilled healthcare workers as highlighted in the HRH assessment commissioned by the NHCF, and thus the need for innovative strategies to attract, train and retain healthcare professionals across the country.

On the recent outbreak of cholera, diphtheria and Mpox, the commissioners reviewed the preparedness and response strategies of their respective states.

They commended the leadership of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) with calls for the continued support to States.

They reiterated their commitment to sustained preparedness, enhanced surveillance and response, including pre-positioning of drugs, supplies and rapid response teams to contain any future outbreaks effectively.

Uzodimma, NDPHC Meet On Speedy Completion Of Electricity Projects In Imo

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma and Niger Delta Power Holding Company Meet

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Friday held another crucial strategy meeting with the leadership of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) on how to ramp up issues around stable power supply in Imo State.

The Governor is not leaving anything to chance since he got the approval of the federal government to leverage the NDPHC as a vehicle to generate, supply and distribute power in Imo State.

The meeting, Friday, was crucial to the extent that all NDPHC contractors handling various electricity projects in Imo State – Orashi Electricity Company and her technical partners – were in attendance.

Among other strategic discussions, the meeting evaluated the strategies on how to facilitate the completion of all on-going power project in Imo State with the sole purpose of  stabilising electricity supply in the State.

The meeting was in the know of the consequences of stimulating economic activities in Imo State which were brought to their knees due to the parlous activities of the power distribution firm providing the residents with electricity for now.

Engineer Chiedu Ugbo, the Managing Director of NDPHC led his other colleagues and the contractors to the meeting.

He spoke about how resolute Governor Uzodimma has remained in his quest to provide stable electricity to Imo State since discussions were opened with NDPHC, promising that they are conscious of the timeline given to them by the Governor.

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