N120M Tavelling Allowance ! Craze Country !! How much ex-Deputy Governor got as allowances – Kano

The Kano State Government has denied allegations of non-payment of entitlements by the former deputy governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar.

The government while reacting to Abubakar’s resignation noted that based on available records, in 2017 alone, the sum of over N120, 000, 000.00 was paid to former deputy Governor as traveling allowance both within and outside the country, while in 2018, over N30, 000, 000.00 million was paid to him for various traveling allowances.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba and made available to reporters also stated that in July the sum of N7, 409, 575.00 was released to the former deputy governor to travel to the United Kingdom to receive an Honourary Degree from the University of Reading

The sum of N7, 800, 000.00 was also said to have been paid the deputy governor, who doubles as Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation as his travelling allowance to Khartoum, Sudan for the convocation ceremony of the University of Africa.

“Also,for a trip to the United Kingdom for the World Education Forum, the sum of N8, 509, 000.00 was paid to him; while his trip to Saudi Arabia for his daughters’ graduation was also sponsored by the state government, among other privileges extended to him’’,

The state government also challenged the former deputy governor on allegations that the state government has committed resources to sponsor rally in support of his removal from office, pointing out that,the gravity of the allegation may prompt the government to take appropriate action.

‘’The former deputy governor ought to have landed safely and quietly instead of making unsubstantiated allegations just to draw attention,‘’

The statement further stated that for fear of ominous impeachment process by the Kano state House of Assembly, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, has hurriedly tendered his resignation, following the decision by 30 out of the 40 legislators to commence impeachment proceeding against him over false, unfounded allegations and undermining the state government.

The deputy governor was also accused of making unguarded comments capable of causing disaffection particularly in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the state in general.

The government  also debunked allegation over threat to his life and that of members of his immediate family which it regarded as unbecoming considering his position as number two citizen with a provision for statutory security detail. - The Nation

EFCC to grill Ekweremadu again, goes after wife

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to quiz the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s wife.

The anti-graft agency also disclosed that it was aware Ekweremadu had been discharged from hospital on Saturday, adding that his interrogation will resume.

The Enugu-born politician was earlier allowed to go for medical care.

A source told Nation: “Our detectives need to interrogate Ekweremadu’s wife in relation to the activities of a suspected slush company.

“We may quiz her any moment from now. And we told the Deputy President of the Senate why we require the attention of his wife too.

“We have linked another property to Ekweremadu, bringing the assets to 62. We are digging more and contrary to what his media aide is saying, the Deputy President of the Senate is well informed of issues isolated for him to clear.

“We do not want to join issues on the pages of newspapers but if the media aide prefers propaganda, we will release the fact-sheet on Ekweremadu for Nigerians to appreciate the extent of our investigation on him.

“A hospital has confirmed the discharge of Ekweremadu on Saturday. We are resuming his interrogation immediately because he is now fit.” - Daily Post

PL news : Man City favourites to win back-to-back titles - Gabriel Jesus

 Jesus believes Manchester City are favourites to retain their Premier League crown after defeating Chelsea in the Community Shield.

City geared up for the Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Chelsea thanks to Sergio Aguero's brace at Wembley on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's record-breaking City won the title by 19 points ahead of neighbours Manchester United last season.

And Brazil star Jesus – who recently signed a new five-year contract – believes that City are favourites to go back-to-back this term.

"[Manchester City] can be considered as favourites because we are the current champions," Jesus told reporters.

"But we can't just achieve this on the field, we have to focus on the season, the other teams have strengthened, it will be difficult for all teams.

"For us, it's logical that the teams that will come against us will play against the defending champions, they will want to win anyhow and they will be more motivated to beat us.

"We have to do what we did last season, and remember the good things we did and the things that unfortunately didn't work out, learn from it and make this season better than the previous."

City open their Premier League defence against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. - Goal

FIRS demands evidence of remittance of $2m tax by General Electric

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has demanded evidence that General Electric International Operations Nigeria Ltd remitted the excessive tax it withheld from Arco Group Plc, a Nigerian oil servicing company, for nine years.

TheCable had reported that GE withheld tax of over $3 million from its payments to Arco for services rendered between 2006 and 2015.

GE deducted 10% as withholding tax for a servicing contract from 2006 to 2015 — as against the 5% stipulated by Nigerian laws.

Arco had petitioned FIRS seeking explanation over the deductions, and Tunde Fowler, the executive chairman, wrote to confirm that the rate for technical services was 5% while the one for rental accommodation was 10%.

Not satisfied with Fowler’s response, GE engaged the services of tax consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, who insisted that what Arco offered was “technical services” and the appropriate rate was 10%.

PwC contended that Arco’s services rendered by manpower were technical in nature because of the involvement of “craftsmen” and “technical specialists”.

In the letter written by Chijioke Uwaegbute, PwC’s director of tax and regulatory services, the consultants said in the event that FIRS maintained its position that 5% was the applicable rate, the revenue service should confirm the treatment of the excessive deductions.

Fowler, in his response date July 26, 2018, said the FIRS circular in question classified the supply of personnel, personnel protective equipment and uniforms, office equipment and furniture, vehicles and fuelling as contained in the contract document could only be charged 5% withholding tax (WHT).

The deductible rate for site accommodation or rent, he said, was 10%.

Fowler then demanded evidence that GE remitted the WHT deducted from Arco over the nine-year period.

Arco can apply for a refund of the excess deduction, he said, “so long there is evidence of remittance to FIRS account”.

He further said GE must make available to Arco “all outstanding WHT Credit Notes in respect of remittances made in its favour”.

General Electric previously told TheCable it would not comment “due to the confidentiality provisions” governing the contract it had with Arco.

The sums in contention are €56,577.61, $2,923,642.36  and N360,482,041.19. - TheCable

 

210 held as task force seizes 125 motorcycles

About 210 miscreants/street urchins have been nabbed and 125 motorcycles impounded by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (task force) around Iludun Town, New Oko-Oba, Agege.

The operatives also demolished 98 shanties built on drainage alignment and road set-backs in the area.

Task force Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who led the operation, said the suspects were those dislodged by the agency along the railway line behind abattoir at Agege.

The suspects, he said, robbed the public of their valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelleries.

“It was an eye-sore as these dislodged miscreants and street urchins were freely smoking and selling Indian hemp around residential premises where you have under-age school girls and boys,” he said.

The suspects, he said, had been charged to court on the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal. - The Nation

SAD !!! 30-year-old wife stabs husband to death

A 30-year-old hospital worker, Olumide Ayeni, has been killed by his wife, Damilola.

The incident occurred on Friday around 11:25pm at 8 Bamgbose Street near Tinubu on Lagos Island.

The late Ayeni worked at the Pharmacy Fee Paying Section of the Lagos Island General Hospital.

He had two girls from two women before marrying Damilola, who gave birth to a child on May 7, which was Ayeni’s birthday.

Damilola was said to have caught her husband with another woman at a party.

The Nation learnt that she called him on phone but he reportedly ignored her call. She was said to have gone  to report him to his mother.

Ayeni’s mother, The Nation gathered, had settled the couple’s quarrel a number of times. But on this occasion, she reportedly spurned Damilola “over her incessant display of jealousy.”

The act, it was said, aggravated Damilola’s anger and she confronted her husband when he returned home.

Damilola reportedly picked a knife and stabbed her husband in the chest and other parts of the body during the argument.

Ayeni was rushed to Lagos Island General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The late Ayeni’s Facebook account showed that he married Damilola on February 15.

An eyewitness said Damilola, on hearing that her husband was dead, blamed the devil for her action.

“They just christened their new baby not quite long. What could have led Damilola to such a callous act is something I cannot fathom. Though, we all know that she is a jealous woman,” he said.

A friend who craved anonymity, described the late Ayeni as a Pharmacy Attendant at the hospital.

“He was stabbed twice – in the chest and upper part of the chest. He went to a party and his jealous wife sneaked to that party to check on him. This is not the first time his wife will fight him. She had at once threatened him with a knife before their neighbour intervened. The woman should be around 23 years old. Ayeni had two girls from separate women before settling down with Damilola, who had a child for him on May 7. It was unfortunate that my friend is dead,” he said.

Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent  (CSP) told The Nation that the matter was reported at the Lion Building Police Station around 1:15am on Saturday.

He said Damilola had been arrested.

Ayeni’s body, Oti said, has been deposited at the Lagos Island General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Oti said: “On Saturday around 1:15am, Sunday Omowale Ayeni of 8 Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island reported at the Lion Building Police Station that on Friday at about 11:25pm, his 36-year-old son Olumide Ayeni of 78 Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island was allegedly stabbed by his wife, Damilola with a knife on the left side of the chest. The victim was rushed to Lagos Island General Hospital where he later died. Damilola Ayeni has been arrested and detained. Ayeni’s body was deposited at the Lagos Island General Hospital morgue for autopsy and preliminary investigation is in progress with a view to transfer the case to the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland for discrete investigation soon.

“According to the woman (Damilola), the deceased called her on phone sometime in the evening and she missed his call. When he came back home around 1am, he queried her whereabouts when he called her phone in the evening. He accused her of infidelity and charged towards her with a knife. She then picked the kitchen knife and stabbed him in self-defence.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Imohimi Edgal, Oti said, urged couples to always seek amicable ways of resolving their disputes.

The CP, he said, lamented the increasing rate of domestic violence leading to death of either the husband or the wife.

The situation whereby couples violently attack themselves during disputes is not healthy for the society, he said. - The Nation

Offa robbery: Court orders ‘proper’ service of summons on Saraki

A court sitting in Abuja has served a service of summons on Senate President Bukola Saraki over the April 5 robbery incident in Offa, Kwara state.

According to The Nation, Abdullahi Ogbede of the Grade 1 area court, ACO estate, issued the summons following a complaint made against Saraki by Oluwatosin Ojaomo, an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist.
Ojaomo filed the suit over Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation sent to him by the police, in relation to the ongoing Offa robbery investigation.

The complaint read: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:
“That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law. Whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”
During the hearing of the complaint on Friday, ES Marcus, Ojaomo’s lawyer, told the court that the defendant was absent in court despite the efforts made by an official of the court to serve the defendant with the summons issued on July 31.

Following Marcus’ complaint, Abdullahi Kutigi, the court’s official, said he was prevented by security personnel at the national assembly from serving the defendant when he visited the place.
Ogbede said since there was no evidence that proper service had been effected on the defendant, it was difficult for the court to take any further steps on the case.

He then ruled that the summons should be properly serviced on the senate president. He adjourned the case to September 10.
“The process was not served on the defendant. So, it is ordered that a proper service shall be made on the defendant. This matter is adjourned the 10th of September for mention,” Ogbede said. - TheCable