News
Northern Elders Again Reject Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill, Back 19 Governors, Monarchs On Withdrawal
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has endorsed the stand taken by the Northern States Governors’ Forum in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, about the proposed Tax Reform Bill by President Bola Tinubu.
The 19 state governors in the Northern region had aired their strong displeasure on the recent Tax Reform Bill the Federal Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
The governors particularly rejected the proposed shift to a Derivation-based Model for Value Added Tax distribution.
They claimed that the proposed model would be at the disadvantage of the northern states and other less industrial regions.
The governors, under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, voiced their strong opposition in a communique issued after a strategic meeting in Kaduna in October.
However, NEF Board of Trustees during its Second Bi-Annual Meeting on Wednesday November 20th, 2024 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, reaffirmed the NEF’s strong opposition to this pernicious policy.
According to a statement, NEF maintained, that, in its present form, the Tax Reform Bill is conceived in bad faith, poorly packaged and it is a palpable threat to their unity and national cohesion.
The forum in a communique signed by Professor Ango Abdullahi, its Convener and released on Saturday, condemned the conspicuous loss of voice on the burning issue by the elected lawmakers in the National Assembly from the region.
The communique partly reads; “The meeting unanimously endorsed the patriotic stand taken on the raging national debate about the Tax Reform Bill by the Northern States Governors’ Forum in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, just as it reaffirmed the NEF’s strong opposition to this pernicious policy.
“In addition, the meeting seriously maintained, that, in its present form, the Tax Reform Bill is conceived in bad faith, poorly packaged and it is a palpable threat to our unity and national cohesion. The Meeting proceeded by drawing attention to the brazen cavalier way and suspicious manner in which the Tax Reform Bill was imposed on the nation, without allowing the inputs of critical stakeholders, even as it kept members of the National Economic Council in the dark, thus; confirming the sinister intentions of those promoting this outrageous Bill.
“The Board-in-session, condemned in very strong terms, the conspicuous loss of voice on this burning issue by the overwhelming number of elected politicians in the National Assembly from the region, and fiercely warned, that indeed, the days are fast gone, when such conspiratorial connivance against the vital and strategic interest of the region, either by those within or outside the region, would be condoned or even tolerated.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has nabbed a renowned business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
Her legal team made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, her lawyer had reportedly told the Federal High Court in Abuja that she had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.
The court also directed that she must be present before it on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.
The Chairman of Ward 1 of the Labour Party (LP) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Okasime Olowojoba, has been kidnapped while traveling along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road.
The incident occurred on Saturday near Sasaro, a location notorious for frequent cases of abduction. Olowojoba, who also works as a realtor, was reportedly returning to Igarra after visiting Auchi to pick up his children following their holiday break.
According to reports, the assailants initially seized everyone in the vehicle — Olowojoba, his children, and a house help — but later freed the children and the domestic aide, taking only Olowojoba deep into the forest.
A family member speaking with Vanguard on Monday revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.
The source explained, “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba was returning with his children when he was ambushed and kidnapped around Sasaro. The lack of network service throughout Saturday delayed any contact with the kidnappers until Sunday afternoon.”
“The attackers abandoned the vehicle at the scene and took him away. His brother later confirmed that a N50 million ransom has been demanded. We also heard reports of additional abductions in the same area on Sunday,” the source added.
Efforts to reach the Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Vanguard
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1 billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele over the hardships that trailed the 2023 Naira redesign policy.
The judge threw out the suit instituted by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Uthman Isa Tochukwu on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution of the case.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo said that he was convinced that the plaintiff had deliberately abandoned his own case due to his persistent absence in court without legal representation and any explanation.
The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023 had dragged the former President, Attorney General of the Federation, former governor of the CBN, CBN and two commercial banks before the court claiming that they inflicted series of hardships on him during the redesign of the Naira.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Bala Dakum, the plaintiff alleged that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and dignity of his person were violently breached.
Specifically, the legal practitioner claimed his movement was curtailed while his money in the two commercial banks could not be assessed during the hardship occasioned by the redesign of the Naira in January and March 2023.
He therefore prayed the court to award N1 billion damages against the defendants to be paid to him for the breach of his fundamental rights.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both the plaintiff and his counsel were not in court and did not offer any excuse for their absence.
Counsel to the 3rd and 4th defendants (Emefiele and CBN) Mr Chikelue Amasiani drew the attention of Justice Ekwo to the persistent absence of the plaintiff and his counsel in court during past proceedings.
He prayed the judge to strike out the suit and that the plaintiff can come back to revive the case when ready to show seriousness.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed with the lawyer and struck out the suit.
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