News
‘North will not be party to Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills’ – Borno Gov, Zulum
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has voiced the North’s opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reforms Bill currently before the National Assembly.
In an interview on BBC News Hausa, which was posted on X, Zulum stressed that the North will not be party to the proposed legislation.
He emphasized the detrimental effects the bill would have on the North and other regions in the country.
Zulum warned that the tax reforms would lead to economic decline, hunger, poverty, and insecurity, especially in the northern region.
The governor also questioned the rush by the National Assembly to ensure swift passage of the bill, contrasting it with the prolonged delay of the Petroleum Bill in the National Assembly.
Expressing further concerns on affordability and sustainability, he says, “Our agitation is that we know if passed into law, we will not be able to pay and if, we pay once, the next year, it will become trouble because we won’t be able to pay again.
“Let’s not create problems and leave them behind for our future generations.”
According to him, Lagos State has also expressed concerns about the bill, citing potential economic difficulties thereby underscoring the widespread concern across regional lines.
The governor appealed to President Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, citing the North’s significant contribution of about 60 percent votes to his presidential victory.
Zulum urged Tinubu to consider the region’s concerns with compassion.
“We believe this Bill, if passed into Law will completely destroy or kill the North as a whole. We are calling on all relevant stakeholders including President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to raise up and look into this matter.
“It will not only affect the North, but the Eastern and Western even the South-South regions. States like Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo will have problems too. They are equally saying it will also take Lagos State backward and if that’s the case, we all don’t want Lagos to go backward.
“Therefore, let’s leave things the way they are currently.”
Addressing members of the National Assembly, Zulum said, “Do not betray the trust of your constituents by passing the bill. Opposing the bill does not imply opposition to the government but rather a commitment to protecting regional interests.
“My position is that we should all be careful, we have families, grand children, brothers, sisters in our communities, our states to look out for.”
“Therefore, whatsoever that will not favour the North, our states – we – the Northern Governors – have met and discussed our position on it and will not be party to this Bill.
“The President should stop listening to comments that those from the North hated him. Let us be careful, no one should be deceived. This is politics, we voted him, this issue of tax will not remove us from our positions,” Zulum insisted.
Recall the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, had explained that the Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly are critical to improving the lives of Nigerians and were not proposed by Tinubu to undermine any part of the country.
News
Mahama’s inauguration: Ghanaian police IG controls traffic
Being a typically busy day in Accra, due to the inauguration of the President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama, and his vice, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the traffic situation especially around the Independence Square is expected to be challenging.
And, although he had already deployed many police personnel to the grounds of the inauguration to ensure security, law, and order, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, was forced at a point to help in the work itself.
In images shared by Daily Graphic on Facebook, the IGP was captured directing traffic at a certain part of the city.
This is believed to have happened as he headed to the Black Star Square to join other invited guests and dignitaries for the inauguration of John Mahama as the president of Ghana.
“The IGP stepped out of his car en route to the inauguration grounds to direct traffic,” the caption of the post on Facebook said.
The momentous and historic occasion has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally.
It is expected to be attended by 21 Heads of State, alongside three vice presidents, four ministers, and 24 envoys.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Information, the swearing-in ceremony will also feature a number of dignitaries from across the world, including 21 Heads of State from Africa and beyond.
Other dignitaries from across all sectors of the economy, including foreign leaders and security service personnel are also in attendance.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
News
ICPC drags El-rufai’s ex-Chief of Staff to court over alleged money laundering
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged former Chief of Staff, to former Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, to the Federal High Court.
Saidu who was also a one-time Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State during the El Rufai’s administration, was charged along with one Ibrahim Muktar, ‘’a public officer in the employment of Ministry of Finance,’’ on Tuesday.
According to charge No FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are being accused of a two-count charges of Money Laundering, contrary to earlier claim that Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu had been exonerated of all charges after 10 months of investigation.
The court document stated that sometime in March 2022 or thereabouts, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, who at that time Commissioner of Finance, ‘’did accept cash payment of the sum of N155,000,000.00 from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section2(a) and punishable under the Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’
The ICPC also alleged that in the same March 2022 or thereabouts, Bashir Saidu ‘’indirectly took control of the sum of N155, 000,000.00 received in cash for and on behalf of you by one Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar, which fund you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: corruption and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.’’
Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 states that ‘’any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection(2) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than fourteen years or a fine not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.’’
The charge which was signed by the Assistant Chief Legal Officer of ICPC, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, was filed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Holden in Kaduna.
News
Enugu State Government System Hacked, Over N1 Billion Stolen — Police reveals
Police authorities on Tuesday, revealed how a cyber criminal hacked into the system of the Enugu State Government and stole the whooping sum of N1,097,700,300 from its coffers.
The police said it took the swift intervention of the operatives of its departments, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), to trace the hacker and recover the stolen money.
The spokesman of the Force, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja during a press briefing, gave the name of the suspected hacker as Onuma Osita.
The police image maker told newsmen that the hacker had already been taken into custody while the funds estimated to be $754,977 had been recovered and returned to the state government purse.
Adejobi said, “NPF-NCCC investigated a report by the Enugu State Government against one Onuma Osita who defrauded the Enugu State Government of over N1bn in a procurement fraud.
-
News15 hours ago
Retired military personnel block Finance Ministry
-
News16 hours ago
With 18,500 arrests, 2.6mkg drugs seized in 2024, our successes justify global support – Marwa+Photos
-
News19 hours ago
Democracy in wrong hands: Museveni’s Son, Gen. Kainerugaba, Threatens To Behead Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine
-
News15 hours ago
SAD! 53 killed by earthquake in China’s Tibet region
-
News20 hours ago
Edo govt crackdown on elected Council chairmen: HoR Minority caucus blows hot, says it’s desecration of democracy
-
News10 hours ago
PDP Angry Over Staff’s Assault on Journalist, Reaffirms Commitment to Press Freedom
-
News19 hours ago
FCT minister uncovers company behind Highway Manhole theft , ‘Stolen Items’ Recovered As Investigation Unfolds
-
News13 hours ago
Atiku demands apology from APC Following Morka’s Threats To Peter Obi