Category: News

According to Sahara Reporters, Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, in a statement he made to them said that the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Command had gone to the station specifically to apprehend a journalist connected to a Ponzi fraud scheme, who had failed to respond to the Commission’s prior invitation.

Oyewale said the presenter was taken into custody, provided a statement, and was released shortly thereafter, stressing  that no equipment was removed from the station, contradicting earlier claims of seized property.

He said, “All the report that our people (EFCC) moved to the newsroom and carted their equipment, there’s nothing like that.

“What happened is this, the fellow that was arrested is a suspect in Ponzi scheme where over 103 people were defrauded and unfortunately the fellow happened to be a staff of that Radio Station.

“Investigative head; they have written letter to her and all of that but she did not respond and because of the severity of the matter, the number of people involved, just imagine somebody a journalist getting involved in Ponzi scheme.

“So they have to arrest her, brought her to our office to make a statement and they released her immediately. No equipment was taken, nothing was taken. It is normal way of our work. It is unfortunate that she is a journalist but whether a journalist or whoever a suspect is a suspect. I am even worried that media staff would engage in such kind of thing.”

Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu Council, Comrade Sam Udekwe, condemned the action of the Commission,  insisting that “we’re not in military era”.

Speaking at the 30th Nigeria Economic Summit, Oyedele said the new tax policy, already contained in the Economic Stabilization Bill currently at the National Assembly, states that Nigerians earning above N1.5 million will pay more tax in the coming months.

He said only 17% of Nigerians and 30% of businesses pay taxes. He attributed this to the lack of trust in the Nigerian government. He stressed that Nigeria is working to close its 70-75% tax gap.

“Many people don’t like to pay taxes, but they often fail to realise that those taxes will eventually benefit them,” Oyedele said.

“We have been very intentional about reducing the tax burden on businesses. For instance, today, whatever VAT you pay on assets—whether you’re building a factory, purchasing a laptop, or buying vehicles—is borne entirely by the business. This increases your costs, which in turn raises prices. However, with our reforms, you will receive a 100% credit on services and assets.”

He continued, “Additionally, your corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 30% to 25%, which is significant. These bills are currently with the National Assembly, and we plan to implement them from January 2025.”

“Those in this room may not appreciate this because there are wealthy individuals present. If you earn 1.5 million naira a month, your personal income tax bill will increase. Those at the lower end will be completely exempt. However, for those earning more, the rate will increase incrementally, reaching 25% for the highest earners.

“Today, if you earn 100 million naira a month, few are paying the effective 19% personal income tax rate. We are raising this to 25% for the wealthy, which is crucial.”

He elaborated on the economic landscape: “Around 80% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket comprises essential needs such as food, health, education, accommodation, and transportation. On average, households spend 32% of their income on these basics. For lower-income households, this figure approaches 100%. To alleviate this burden, we are reducing the VAT on these essentials to 0%. This means not only is there no VAT, but any VAT incurred during the production of these items will be refunded by the government.”

Mr. Oyedele also addressed the broader context of taxation, stating, “To view taxation in isolation is a mistake. Taxation is an outcome of economic activities. We collect taxes to enhance the lives and livelihoods of the people. Any policy that negatively impacts people’s lives should be rectified. We need to fix the policy, not the people.”

He acknowledged the complexity of Nigeria’s tax system, noting, “There are approximately 60 official taxes and over 200 unofficial taxes, including taxes on deceased individuals.”

“The solution isn’t simply to distribute food or cash,” he added.

“We must harmonise our tax collection processes. We are committed to improving how we collect taxes.”

Earlier this month, Oyedele announced the publication of the 2024 Withholding Tax Regulations in the official gazette.

In September of this year, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills proposed by Oyedele’s committee. These bills targeted 15 tax, fiscal, and establishment laws in Nigeria. Newscentral

On Monday evening, EFCC raided Urban 94.5FM; disrupting a live broadcast to whisk away a broadcaster, Favour Ekoh in the process.

The staff of the station were forced to sit on the floor during the invasion and some of their broadcasting equipments tampered with.

Reacting to the development, the chairman of NUJ, Enugu Council, Comrade Sam Udekwe, said the action of the Commission is condemnable, insisting that we’re not in military era.

In a release signed by the secretary of the Council, Dame Ifeoma Amuta and made available to the media, Comrade Udekwe described the act as unprofessional no matter the seriousness of the investigation being carried out noting “it is only times of military seizure of power that we experience such act of forceful disruption of broadcast transmission of this kind. No matter what offence, it’s the individual that may have committed it as alleged and should be gone after in a due process and not extending it to public facilities like radio on air”.

The NUJ Chairman while calling for a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain whether it was truly carried out by men on official duty, asked the EFCC to apologise to the station and general public for the embarrassment and unethical act.

He observed that it has become a recurring decimal for men in uniform meting out different degrees of intimidation to media workers without proper redress at the end of the day and called for a stop to the official neglect.

As at press time, PACESETTER is yet to sight an official statement from the Commission.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted drugs valued at N22.7 billion in separate operations at Lagos and Rivers seaports.

The seizures included over 32 million tramadol pills at Lekki Deep Seaport and 1.4 million bottles of codeine syrup at Apapa and Port Harcourt ports, in a major blow to transnational drug cartels.

Femi Babafemi, spokesman for the agency, said, “The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to twenty-two billion, seven hundred and forty million, nine hundred and fifty-eight thousand naira (N22,740,958,000).”

He explained that the illicit consignments were seized from containers watch-listed by the NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with personnel from Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday, 7th and Friday, 11th October 2024.

Babafemi added, “Following a fresh wave of interdiction operations targeting transnational drug cartels, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, also arrested a Thailand returnee, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, for importing 13.30 kilograms of heroin worth over N3.192 billion.

“Oguejiofor was arrested on Monday, 7th October 2024, while attempting to smuggle the illicit drug out of the airport, concealed in six backpacks and packed into two large suitcases.

“The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, had left Thailand on 3rd October on a Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos. His luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination.

“After arriving in Lagos on 5th October, he contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he could pick it up as rush baggage in an attempt to bypass security checks. However, NDLEA officers intercepted him at the point of exit.

“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each, with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn into all six backpacks.

“The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg. In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels.

“He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.”

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, 12th October, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets of tramadol (200mg) at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.

In Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West Local Government Area, where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050kg were recovered. A suspect, Monday Akele, 38, was arrested on Friday, 11th October, in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East Local Government Area, where 110kg of the same substance was seized.

Meanwhile, NDLEA’s Commands and formations across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and communities. Notable activities include WADA enlightenment lectures to students and staff of Sacred Heart Girls International Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Bida, Niger State; and Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja, among others.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men involved in these operations for their dedication, adding that their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction is greatly appreciated. Vanguard

In a lengthy post titled ‘Reversing the Sudden Fuel Price Increase’ published on his official handle on X, Obi said Nigerians are groaning under the extremely difficult economic conditions which he alleged was largely caused by the federal government.

He alluded to wrong policy choices, adding that increasing prices of PMS by the national oil company, NNPCL was a wrong move.

“As Nigerians continue to groan under extremely difficult economic conditions, largely caused by the Federal Government’s wrong policy choices, the NNPCL has once again raised the price of fuel (PMS) without providing any explanation.

“This is both unfortunate and insensitive, considering the wide-ranging negative consequences for our economic survival and well-being.

“This is neither how an economy’s resources should be managed nor how a nation should be governed. In this new measure, there is neither sound economics nor necessary compassion.

“We are told that the NNPCL is now a limited liability company, regulated by agencies such as the NUPRC and NMDPRA, yet there seems to be growing confusion about the roles and responsibilities of the NNPCL and these regulating bodies.

“Interestingly, both the NNPCL and the regulatory agencies are supposed to be under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria serving as the substantive Minister.

“Who, in this arrangement, is regulating who? With the unprecedented but avoidable hardship that Nigerians are enduring, the responsibility for providing a full explanation, offering alternative options, and most importantly, reversing the sudden price hike falls squarely on the Honorable Minister of Petroleum Resources/President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We hope and pray that he acts in the best interest of the majority of Nigerians, who are living under unnecessarily precarious conditions, and that he does so before his return from his working vacation.

“To casually inflict such a draconian measure on the populace from the comfort of an annual vacation amounts to taking the people’s welfare lightly and for granted. A New and more compassionate Nigeria is indeed Possible!”

Obi’s outburst comes in the wake of NNPCL’s most recent adjustment of the petrol pump price in its retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja.

NNPCL outlets in Lagos sold a litre of petrol for ₦998 from the initial price of ₦855. In Abuja, it went to ₦1,030 from ₦897. In other filling stations, the price of the product goes for as much as ₦1,050 in some parts of Lagos State. Channels TV

In a statement on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, revealed that the incident occurred in Mu’azu village, Dan Gwanki ward, Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area, on October 8, 2024.

According to the police, Mas’ud went to his family home armed with a petrol canister and doused his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, with fuel before igniting her.

Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, she succumbed to the injuries. A medical doctor later confirmed her death, and her body was released to relatives for burial by Islamic rites.

The police arrested Mas’ud and transferred him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, citing that his grandmother had upset him by repeatedly expressing concerns about his physical appearance and health. Mas’ud said he had warned her several times and finally resorted to violence.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has been undergoing treatment for mental illness at Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.

The state Commissioner of Police, A.T. Abdullahi, has ordered a thorough investigation to ensure justice.

In a statement made in Abuja on Friday, Ndume voiced his worries about the sharp increase in fuel prices, which recently reached N1,030 per litre at NNPC Limited stations. This rise comes in the thick of the economic challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and other government policies.

The Senator blamed some individuals in the government for undermining President Tinubu’s administration. He claimed these “bad elements” are pushing for tough economic reforms and poor policies instead of working to reduce inflation and stabilise the exchange rate.

Ndume believes that Tinubu has good intentions for the country but warned that some advisers are misleading him.

He urged the President to take action as soon as he returns, advising him to ignore those who are not acting in the nation’s best interests and to focus on easing the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians. He stressed the need for quick measures to help restore people’s purchasing power.

“I personally believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria and Nigerians. I know this because I know what he stands for. But some of his advisers who don’t mean well for the people of this country give him wrong advic3.

“I’m appealing to him to resist these bad people who want to pitch the people against his administration. The hardship these people are inflicting on Nigerians is becoming unbearable.

“As soon as the President returns to Nigeria, I urge him to look into these issues and address them urgently. The purchasing power of Nigerians is too poor, and they can’t afford the things that are being pushed on them every day by enemies of state,” he said.