FG saves N68bn on Personnel Cost, Captures 511 MDAs under IPPIS

By Kehinde Olawale

The Federal Government has disclosed that it saved N68 billion on personnel cost in 2017, increasing aggregate savings since 2007 to date to N288 billion.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, disclosed the statistics on Wednesday, during her presentation of “Status Update on the Implementation of Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approved Projects” at the Council’s meeting.

At the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Adeosun explained, were funds that would have otherwise gone unaccounted for which, she added, were now free for the Government to fund capital projects.

She said the savings were achieved despite increased in personnel, including employment of 10,000 by the Nigerian Police.

She confirmed that a total of 511 Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had been captured under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), with staff count of 607,843.

“As at 20th March,  2018 the number of MDAs on IPPIS Payroll is 469 with 316,158 Staff Count with gross salary of N43,979,383,997.78 and 42 Police Commands and Formations paid on IPPIS Platform in February, 2018 with Staff Count of 291,685 and gross salary of N22,276,669,257.21.

“Staff of Para-Military Agencies (Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prison Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) enrolled to date is 100,822 for which a trial payroll of N11,456,278,859.00 have been sent for review and update for April,  2018 payroll,” Adeosun said.

She added that the introduction of the IPPIS had resulted in the reduction of ghost workers syndrome, enforcement of compliance with due process on employment of staff in MDAs, and prompt and timely payment of salaries and remittances of third parties payments.

She noted further that the IPPIS had become an assured source of internally generated revenue through payee to States and Federal Government.

The Finance Minister called for adequate funding of the IPPIS project to achieve it’s lofty objectives and to enable replacement of the obsolete infrastructure.

She also canvassed the need for a legislation to impose sanctions on non-compliance MDAs to achieve speedy and successful service delivery.

“There is need to kit IPPIS stakeholders to overcome challenges for effective and efficient service delivery at all times,” Adeosun recommended.

Lagos LUC crisis intensifies.. as NBA promises defaulters with 3,000 lawyers

By Kehinde Olawale

Even after Lagos State Government announced downward review of Land Use Charge (LUC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked property owners in the state not to pay the new tax regime, promising to defend anyone accused by government of defaulting with 3,000 Lawyers.

The legal practitioners described introduction of LUC, even after 50 percent reduction, as undemocratic, illegal, excessively oppressive, arbitrary and parochial.

Addressing a press conference tagged, ‘Land Use Charge: Matters Arising:  ‘Governor Ambode Toxic Tax Must Go’, (GATT) Must Go’, the Chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana, made the appeal on Wednesday in Ikeja.

The legal practitioners went a step further, promising to defend in court any residents that defied the government directives with over 3,000 lawyers should it embark on prosecution.

“No Lagosians should be in any hurry to pay the GATT. No payment should be made until the government listens and bows to the peoples will.”

It also called on the parliament to within seven days publish in the newspapers the proposed draft of the Reviewed LUC Law of Lagos State for interested residents and stakeholders to study for adequate participation in public hearings that will precede any amendment and which amendment should be delayed until May 2018.

He further threatened that if Lagos government failed, NBA Ikeja will go on the street again on Thursday 29th March, 2018.

The lawyer said: “So when the government says it is slashing cost, they are only deceiving people: the amounts prescribed are mere fantasies of their imagination.

“We reiterate our rejection of the Land Use Charge, high litigation cost in the court, boreholes levies, car registration and all such other oppressive, illegal, extortionate charge of Lagos State.

“The Land Use Charge Law 2018 as known now must be repealed. Lagosians, from our own understanding and interactions are not against taxation in Lagos State and are not even against increase in taxation.

“However, the conditions for their acceptance of taxes are: transparent, gradual, reasonable and legally utilized.”

FG airlifts 104 Dapchi girls, two others to Abuja

By Kehinde Olawale

Following release of 104 Dapchi school girls in Yobe State by Boko Haram, the Federal Government has airlifted the freed girls to Abuja, for possibly meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also airlifted by a military plane were a girl and a boy that were freed by insurgents on Wednesday after spending several days in captivity.

Briefing journalists in Maiduguri, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stressed that the 106 persons were freed unconditionally.

The minister emphasis came barely hours after news filtered in that the Federal Government paid ransom worth over 5 million Euros and swapped detained Boko Haram commanders for the freed girls.

According to him, 106 abducted persons, comprising 104 Daphi schoolgirls, one other girl and a boy were freed by insurgents after negotiation.

He said: ”It is not true that we paid ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls, neither was there a prisoner swap to secure their release. What happened was that the abduction itself was a breach of the ceasefire talks between the insurgents and the government; hence it became a moral burden on the abductors. Any report that we paid ransom or engaged in prisoner swap is false.”

Meanwhile, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas has handed over the freed persons to the President’s delegation at Nigerian Air Force base in Maiduguri.

Other members of the delegation led by Mohammed were Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (retd); the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim and a member of House of Representatives from Dapchi, Goni Bukar.

Anti-graft war: 2018 will be hell for offenders-EFCC boss

By Kehinde Olawale

Following claim that the anti-graft war embarked upon by the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration had not been effective, the Acting chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said that in 2018,the agency would redouble its efforts to ensure that it will be hell on earth for anyone found engaging in corrupt practices.

Magu in an interview yesterday after joining other Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Adebule, wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, Lagos State Chief Judge, Olufunmilayo Opeyemi-Oke and other dignitaries to commission the first Special courts for corruption, economic crimes and sexual offences in the country.

The acting chairman of the anti-graft agency stressed that the fight against corruption in the country does not require kid glove, considering the effect of corrupt public office holders’ action have on the country.

“We will fight corruption like it has never been fight before this year (2018). I am telling you. This year is going to be hell for anyone apprehended for engaging in corrupt act.”

Magu, however, lamented that what had been affecting their activities was lack of adequate support from the Nigerian media to reduce corruption in the country.

“And I want urge the Nigerian media to please join us in the fight against corruption. This is because most of the reporters are misguided.

“Collect whatever they give you because it is your money. And do the right thing, joining us in the fight against corruption. We all have the responsibility, individually and collectively, to fight corruption in Nigeria.

“I don’t expect everyone to fight corruption the way EFCC is fighting it in Nigeria. Whatever we could do to end corruption in the country,” he added.

1,100 corruption, rape cases pending in Lagos High Courts

.as Osinbajo, Ambode commissions first Special Court for corruption, sexual offences

By Kehinde Olawale

No fewer than 1,100 cases on financial crimes and sexual offences cases are currently pending before the High Courts in Lagos State, the State Chief Justice, Olufunmilayo Opeyemi-Oke has disclosed.

Opeyemi-Oke hinted that of the 1,100 cases pending before the courts in the state, over 500 involves financial crime cases while 600 were on sexual offences especially on rape and defilement.

The Chief Justice disclosed the statistics yesterday shortly before the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, and wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, led other dignitaries to commission the first Special courts for corruption, economic crimes and sexual offences in the country.

According to her, the Lagos State Judiciary, in fulfillment of the Chief Justice of the Federation’s directive on fight against corruption, designated four courts as special offences to hear only corruption and financial crime cases in the state.

“We believe strongly that the special court shall fast track the trial of these types of cases and encourage the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other relevant bodies, to expedite investigation and prosecution of such cases.

“Presently, there are over 500 cases of financial crimes pending before the High Court, the bulk of which have been assigned to the special offences court.

“However, the number of reported sexual offences cases in Lagos State has increased significantly. At present, there are about 600 pending sexual offences cases in the High Court and these do not include those filed in the magistrate courts.

“Although there are legislative instrument in our law books to combat the menace of domestic and sexual violence, they have become almost ineffective in curbing the rising tide of sexual assault.

“This is because many of the incidents are not reported by the victims nor do they seek redress for fear of reprisal attacks or stigmatization. Thus, many of the victims suffer in silence, traumatized and left to cope with emotional and psychological scars,” she added.

..these figures are frightened-Osinbajo, Ambode

Apparently not comfortable by the statistics reel out by the Chief Judge, Ambode and Osinbajo, lamented that the statistics were frightened, saying, the statistics is frightened.

Osinbajo said: “Statistics only show half of the true picture. Beyond the statistics, we must remember that behind the figures were the faces of women and the girls that were survivors of these crimes. This building will make no meaning if we fail to ensure that justice reign for the survivors of the crime.”

Ambode hinted: “Between 2015 and now, the State Government through Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, and Mirabel Centre have handled over 400 cases.”

He lamented that sexual offences have become global issue that required that the administration design measures to combat it within its domain, stressing, they are pleased to establish the special courts.

“These courts are indication of our commitment at making Lagos uncomfortable for the perpetrators of such offences and our judiciary that has always led the vanguard of combating crimes in its own way, is resolved to discourage same.”

Fraud: EFCC sues CCT chairman, Umar, over N11.8m bribe

By Kehinde Olawale

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dragged the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, to the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged N11.8 million bribe.

According top the anti-graft agency, two-count charge preferred against the chairman were bordering on bribery and prevention of justice.

In the case filed by the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Festus Keyamo, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the Charge No: CR/109/18, it is between the Federal Republic of Nigeria (complainant) and Danladi Yakubu Umar (defendant).

The first count charge read: “That you, Danladi Yakubu  Umar, being the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and presiding over a case with Charge No. CCT/ABJ/03/12, involving one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, sometime in 2012, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did ask for the sum of N10,000,000.00  from the said Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, for a favour to be afterwards shown to him in relation to the pending Charge (No. CCT/ABJ/03/12) in discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12(1)(a) & (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003.”

The second count charge read: “That you, Danladi Yakubu Umar, being the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and presiding over a case with Charge No. CCT/ABJ/03/12, involving one Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, sometime in 2012, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive the sum of N1,800,000.00  from the said Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo, through your Personal Assistant by name Alhaji Gambo Abdullahi, for a favour to be afterwards shown to him in relation to the pending Charge (No. CCT/ABJ/03/12) in discharge of your official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12(1)(a) & (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003.”

Teen narrates how uncle raped her 5-times in Lagos

By Kehinde Olawale

A 12 year old sexually abused house help, fleeing home with his master’s two sons and intercepted in Mile 2 area of Lagos by officers of the Rapid  Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that her master, 36, raped her five times in less than seven month she stayed in his house.

The girl, whose name was given as Benita, a primary school leaver from Imo State, was intercepted at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday at Mile 2, after alighting from a commercial bus from Olodi Apapa trying to board another bus to Maza Maza.

The RRS officers on sighting her with two children, age between 6 and 4 years invited her for questioning, disclosing that the officers that she was heading to Maza Maza to board a night bus to Imo State. Puzzled, the officers dug deeper. It was at this point she disclosed to the officers that her Uncle who brought her to Lagos to continue her education, while she assists his wife domestically had carnal knowledge of her five times.

The suspect, Chigozie Osuocha, of 83, Muibi Street, Olodi – Apapa, was lured to RRS Headquarter in Alausa, Ikeja through his telephone number provided by his 6 – year old boy.

Benita stated that any time her Uncle, Chidozie, want to lay with her, he would come home early, lock his three children out of his one room self-contained apartment and sleep with her.

She added that although she was not comfortable with living in his house, stressing that all the things his Uncle promised her parents before living the village and those that he promised her before sleeping with her are yet to be fulfilled.

She further revealed that she had to tell his Uncle’s 6 year old son who asked her what his father did to her each time he locked his three children out of the apartment.

‘I confessed to the boy what was happening. The boy told his mother. His wife confronted me and I confirmed all that her husband had done to me. She threatened to pack out. But they resolved it after he promised it wont happened again.

I have been staying with his three children at home while they go about their businesses. He has refused to enrol me in school since July, 2017’, she explained.

She added, ‘I equally reported all that Uncle did to me to his brother in Lagos. His brother had informed their father in the village about it’.

‘I took his two sons with me while I left the last child at home. They saw me packing my things out of the house, the children asked me where I was going and I told them I was returning to the village. They started crying they were going to follow me. I took them along with me after stealing the N60,000 he said I should give his wife’, she said.

‘We got down in Mile 2. I didn’t know those police officers were monitoring me. One of them crossed the express and asked me some questions about the children with me. At a point, I told him I was running away to the village because my Uncle was sleeping with me’, she stated.

When confronted with the allegation given by Benita, the suspect confessed that he was lured by the devil adding that he had slept with her only five times.

He explained that he sought the girl’s parent permission in the village to bring her to Lagos to continue her education while also assisting his wife with domestic chores.

He stated further that ‘I brought her to Lagos in July 2017. I started sleeping with her in December, 2017, I slept with her three times in December.

My wife got to know of my sleeping with her and she threatened to move out of the house with my three children. I begged her and we resolved the issue.

I came home yesterday and I gave her N60,000 to help me give my wife. It was this money she carried and she wanted to travel with to the village with along with my two boys’, he stated.

Commenting on the development, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti confirmed the incident stressing that the girl had been transferred immediately to the  Family Support Unit of the Command.

Tinubu’s nephew, Deji, for burial on Tuesday

By Kehinde Olawale

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Deji Tinubu, would be buried on Tuesday.

Tinubu slumped and died last Thursday while playing a novelty five-aside football match at the Epe Chalet during a three day retreat for Executive members and Permanent Secretary.

According to the scheduled released by the family, Service of Songs holds at Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG City of David, V.I, Monday, 29th at 5.00pm while the burial is slated for the next day in Ikoyi.

Tinubu, who was recently deployed by Ambode to the ministry during his last cabinet reshuffle, was confirmed dead minutes after he slumped by medical experts at the Epe General Hospital.

Fraud: FG suspends two tax officers, investigates 200 links on defaulters

By Kehinde Olawale

The Federal Government has begun investigation into over 200 whistleblowing tips on tax officials and taxpayers which involves under declaration of taxes as well as demand by taxpayers and receipt of gratifications by tax officials.

Also, it has commenced the process of sanitising the tax administration and revenue collection system of dishonest operatives, suspending two officials of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS in Delta and Benue states based on verified tips from Whistle-blowers.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja while presiding over the meeting of the Whistleblower Unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), stressed that sanitization of the tax administration and revenue collection system was part of the government’s efforts at enhancing willingness of citizens to pay their taxes.

The Minister said, “The Ministry is currently analysing over 200 additional whistleblowing tips including recordings between tax officials and potential taxpayers in which various practices, designed to reduce tax payable, were detailed.

“These practices include demands for personal gratification by tax officers, promises to procure backdated tax clearance certificates, and offers to conspire to reduce taxes payable.”

In order to deal with the influx of the whistleblowing tips, the Minister has directed the reorganization of the Whistleblower Unit to fast track reports relating to those in the revenue generating agencies.

“Encouraging our citizens to pay taxes is a matter of law but it is also a matter of trust. Those who work in our tax offices must therefore demonstrate the highest level of integrity.

“The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari understands that to reduce our reliance on oil means every citizen must pay their taxes as and when due.

“However, people will not be encouraged to pay if they believe that those involved in the assessment are not transparent or are dishonest. We will continue to sanitise the system and also improve our controls,” the Minister stated.

She assured that the Ministry would continue to root out fraudsters from compromising the integrity of the tax administration and revenue collection system.

She lauded members of the public for volunteering valuable information including voice recordings and other evidence to the Whistleblower Unit in the Ministry.

The Minister further enjoined members of the public to desist from the procurement of tax certificates that were not consistent their true income.

She warned against relying on such documents and therefore advised those who might have procured such tax certificates in the past to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to regularise their tax profile.

She added, “We have cases of procurement of tax clearance certificates with no corresponding records or assessments in the tax offices. In such cases, although payments have been made but there are no underlying assessment. So automatically, we will flag such companies for investigation.

“The data analysis being undertaken within the Federal Ministry of Finance is readily   exposing those who have obtained tax clearance certificates that are either forged or are not consistent with their true income levels.”

Tinubu’s nephew, Deji, last moment before death

By Kehinde Olawale 

As if he had premonition of his death, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Deji Tinubu, was full of smile and exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues at the three-day Executive member and Permanent Secretary Retreat in Epe Local Government.

After the opening ceremony of their three-day retreat on Thursday, Deji was the first to come out of the banquet hall of the Jubilee Chalets, Epe, showing no sign of sickness nor fatique, even as he had length discussion with his colleagues, apparently on how best to achieve his new task, boosting commerce in the state.

The ace broadcaster, who was nephew to the National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, was said to have paid rapt attention to the issues discussed at the retreat considering his new office which required that he ensure commerce in the state witness massive improvement.

The special adviser, who dressed in blue shirt, was before the five-aside football match, filled with the excitement to show his soccer skills to his colleagues.

Before the match, the deceased was sighted at about 4:30 pm charting with his boss, Ambode, on the forthcoming Lagos City Marathon, scheduled for February 10th.

It was learned that he jugged to the location where the Governor was seated, a trait which many described as his own sign of expressing his finesses level to his colleagues which he gained due to constant exercise and weekly engagement in football matches.

According to the Commissioner for Tourism, Steve Ayorinde, the deceased and nine others players which include over five medical doctors  and several nurses on the sideline watching the game with keen interest.

According to eyewitness present at the pitch, the deceased was busy exhibiting his skills when he slumped and was rushed to the Epe General Hospital by the medical team deployed to the venue to conduct health checkups for the participants.

Tinubu, who was recently deployed by Ambode to the ministry during his last cabinet reshuffle, was confirmed dead minutes later by medical experts at the Epe General Hospital.

Confirming his death, the state government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, expressed “shock and disbelief’ over the sudden death of Mr. Tinubu and has reached out to his immediate family to commiserate on this huge loss to the family and the citizens of Lagos State.

“We are still in shock. All of us at the State Executive Council are in disbelief. He was a good and committed patriot who brought his passion to his job. He was a gentleman who maintained excellent team spirit. We shall miss him,” he said.

According to him, Doctors and nurses rushed to give him first aid and he was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Epe where he was confirmed dead.

“An autopsy is expected to be carried out while burial arrangements will be announced by the family,” Bamigbetan added.

The late Deji was the son of late Kafaru Tinubu, one of Nigeria’s foremost police officers while his mother was Bintu Tinubu.

..Ambode cancels retreat

Meanwhile, the State Government has cancelled the ongoing 3-day retreat after the tragic death of the Special Adviser, as a mark of respect for the departed soul.

Hours after his death, Ambode ordered that the retreat which was aimed at charting new cause for the state for the year, be cancelled and his colleagues return home.