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Tag: Abubakar Malami

  • BREAKING: FG declares all bandits in Nigeria as terrorists

    BREAKING: FG declares all bandits in Nigeria as terrorists

    At last the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared all bandits in the country as terrorists.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the declaration is contained in a government gazette announced by the Attorney General to the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.

    This was officially released by the FG on Wednesday, coming after public outcry by Nigerians that bandits should be declared terrorists.

    “Notice is hereby given that by the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar groups in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed, pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.

    “Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution,” the declaration reads.

  • [Video] Watch Moment Police CSP defies Gov. Sanwo-Olu orders

    [Video] Watch Moment Police CSP defies Gov. Sanwo-Olu orders

    A yet to be identified Chief Superintendent of Police has openly defied the order of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to vacate the Magodo Phase 2 Estate area of the state today, January 4.

    The residents of the estate had taken to the street on Tuesday morning, January 4, to protest the continuous presence of policemen in the estate. A few weeks ago, police officers numbering about 50 stormed the estate in the company of some persons believed to be landgrabbers to demolish the houses. They say they were acting on a court order obtained from the Supreme court. They were however stopped but they have since laid siege in the estate.

    On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Sanwo-Olu led some members of his cabinet to the estate to speak with the protesting residents. While at the estate, the governor asked the police officers led by a CSP to vacate the estate but the CSP however told the governor that he and his armed colleagues were at the estate on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

     

     

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  • State of emergency: Anambra House of Assembly calls for Malami’s head

    State of emergency: Anambra House of Assembly calls for Malami’s head

    The Anambra State House of Assembly has called for the immediate sack of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Special Assistant on Social Media and Special Duties to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Caleb Okechukwu made this known in a statement on Thursday.

    The statement follows a House’s resolution in which the Assembly urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reinforce police and security operatives for the protection of the good people of Anambra State.

    Read statement below:

    STATE OF EMERGENCY: Anambra State House of Assembly has today, Thursday, October 7, 2021., in a motion of Urgent Public Importance resolved as follows;

    1. That the Anambra State House of Assembly rejects and condemns the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami that the possibility of declaring a State of Emergency in Anambra State cannot be ruled out.

    2. Calls on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Malami to tender an unreserved apology to Anambra State immediately over his unwarranted suggestion of a State of Emergency in Anambra State.

    3. The house also calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to sack Mr Malami as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice if he fails to tender an apology to Anambra State or resigns.

    4. Urges the President of the Federation of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to reinforce police and security operatives for the protection of the good people of Anambra State.

    TNG reports the plenary was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uche Victor Okafor, and 27 House members were in attendance.

  • FG insists FIRS must collect VAT

    FG insists FIRS must collect VAT

    The Federal Government has said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will continue to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) following the ruling of the Court of Appeal on the matter.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made this known in New York while speaking on the disagreement over the collection of VAT between FIRS and Rivers Government.

    The chief law officer of the federation explained that the ruling of the Court of Appeal that FIRS and the Rivers Government maintain status quo, favoured FIRS.

    He said that it was Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that had been collecting the VAT before the dispute arose, over which the Rivers government approached the High Court.

    “The position of not only the Federal Government but indeed the judiciary is the fact that status quo associated with the collecting of VAT should be maintained,” Malami said.

    “And as far as the judicial system is concerned, the status quo as at the time the parties approached the court, it was the Federal Inland Revenue Service that was indeed collecting the value added tax.

    “So with that in mind, the Federal Government has succeeded in obtaining an order that establishes the sustenance of the status quo, which status quo is that the Federal Inland Revenue Service should continue collection.

    “This is pending the determination of the cases that were instituted by states, particularly the Rivers State Government and the Lagos State government. The cases are being determined by the court.”

    The Rivers government had urged the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s Sept. 10 ruling ordering it and FIRS to maintain status quo on the issue of VAT collection.

    A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal headed by Haruna Tsammani, issued the order being challenged at the Supreme Court by the Rivers government.

    The state also urged the apex court to disband the panel of the appelate court, which gave the interim order and ordered another one to be constituted to hear the case.

    “But one thing of interest is the fact that the Federal Government had indeed taken cognisance of the fact that where there exists a dispute between a State and Federal Government, it is the Supreme Court that should naturally have the jurisdiction to determine the dispute between the state and the federation.

    “And we are taking steps to consider the possibility of instituting an action before the Supreme Court for the purpose of having this matter determined once and for all,’’ Malami said.

  • Fiscal restructuring: Malami writes 36 States Governors over Stamp Duty

    Fiscal restructuring: Malami writes 36 States Governors over Stamp Duty

    The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has written letters to Governors of the 36 states of the Federation for the purpose of compliance with audit and recovery of back years of stamp duty from Jan. 15, 2016 to June 30, 2020.

    Dr Umar Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Minister disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “Pursuant to Mr President’s approval and directives, I also wish to request Your Excellency to direct the State Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Regulatory Institutions of Financial Sector to engage and grant access to the appointed Recovery Agents for the purpose of the Audit and Recovery of Stamp Duty to ensure that all established liabilities are remitted as appropriate,” the letter reads in part.

    Malami noted that the recoveries are being conducted for the Federal Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Financial Institutions and at this stage liabilities are being established, and no actual recovery has been made.

    According to him, Section 111 of the Stamp Duty Act grants the Attorney General of the Federation an exclusive power to recover any outstanding payment or remittances related to stamp duty.

    The letters were written pursuant to the provision of Section 111 of the Stamp Duty Act which provides that “all duties, fines, penalties and debts due to the government of the federation imposed by this Act shall be recoverable in a summarily manner in the name of the Attorney General of the Federation or the State”.

    He said that what he did was to activate those powers, conduct the audit and recovery of back years stamp duty in collaboration with stakeholders.

    He noted that the federal government had set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Audit and Recovery of Back years Stamp Duties from Jan. 15, 2016 to June 30, 2020.

    “Members of the committee were drawn from office of the Minister in collaboration with relevant Agencies including the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    “Others include office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, among others”.

    He said that in view of the need to provide a comprehensive overview of the process and to proper understand the task, the minister organised a meeting with Attorneys General of States.

    This, he said, is for them to have similar powers with respect to stamp duty of Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Financial Institutions in their respective states.

  • BREAKING: Buhari sends sackload of NDDC forensic audit report to Ministry of Justice

    BREAKING: Buhari sends sackload of NDDC forensic audit report to Ministry of Justice

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that the sackload of the final report of the forensic audit carried out on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be sent to the Ministry of Justice.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Buhari gave the order on Thursday after receiving sackload of the final forensic audit report from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    The NDDC forensic audit report, the documents of which were conveyed in sacks, were received by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on behalf of the President.

    Read remarks by Malami at the presentation of the report below:

    I welcome you all to the presentation of the Report on the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Commission (NDDC), which report I am to receive on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

    2. You will recall the President had ordered for a holistic forensic audit of the activities of the Commission from inception to August 2019 in response to the yearnings of the people the Niger Delta Region to reposition it for effective service delivery. It is imperative to state that, the call for the audit by the people of the Niger Delta Region arose from the huge gaps between resources invested in the region vis a vis the huge gap in infrastructural, human and economic development.

    3. It is on record that between 2001 and 2019, the Federal Government has approved N3, 375, 735,776,794.93 Three Trillion, Three Hundred and Seventy Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Naira, Ninety Three Kobo as budgetary allocation and N2,420,948,894,191.00 Two Trillion, Four Hundred and Twenty Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty Million, and, Eight Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety One Naira as Income from Statutory and Non Statutory Sources, which brings the total figure to the sum of approximately Six Trillion Naira given to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    4. Consequently, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the engagement of a Lead Forensic Auditor, as well as 16 reputable Audit Firms to conduct the audit exercise.

    5. The President is delighted that the auditors have now completed this exercise and the Report is today being presented.

    6. Furthermore, the President is not oblivious of the interest generated by Stakeholders towards the forensic audit exercise and the agitation for the constitution of the Board of the NDDC. However, this Administration is determined to address challenges militating against the delivery of the mandate of the NDDC to the people of the Niger Delta Region.

    7. It is in the broader context of the foregoing developments that the President recently signed into Law the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which has been a contentious issue over the years for successive Governments, to bring about the prudence and accountability in the Petroleum Sector and to give a sense of participation and ownership to the Host communities.

    8. The Report on the forensic audit of the NNDC and your recommendations will therefore be critically analysed for necessary action and implementation. We owe it a duty to the people of the Niger Delta Region to improve their standard of living through the provision of adequate infrastructural and socio-economic development.

    9. The welfare and socio- economic inclusion of the Niger Delta Region is paramount to the development and security of the Region and by extension the Country. Funds spent on development activities should as a consequence promote political and socio-economic stability in the Region. Citizens affected by these development projects should also exhibit the ability to contribute to the continuous progress of their immediate and wider communities by engaging in constructive activities that will sustain and supports these development projects.

    10. It is evident that considerable resources have been channeled by the Federal Government to the development of the Niger Delta from 2001 to 2019. It is therefore important for the Federal Government and the public to be properly informed of what has been spent and how that has been spent. The essence of the forensic audit is to ensure probity and accountability in the use of public funds. It is against this background that the Federal Government will without hesitation strategically implement all aspects of the audit exercise that will promote probity and greater prosperity for the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria as whole.

    11. The Federal Government is particularly concerned with the colossal loss occasioned by uncompleted and unverified development projects in the Niger Delta Region, in spite of the huge resources made available to uplift the living standard of the citizens. We have on record over 13,777 projects, the execution of which is substantially compromised. The Federal Government is also concerned with the multitudes of Niger Delta Development Commission’s bank accounts amounting to 362 and lack of proper reconciliation of accounts.

    12. The Federal Government will in consequence apply the law to remedy the deficiencies outlined in the audit report as appropriate. This will include but not limited to initiation of criminal investigations, prosecution, recovery of funds not properly utilized for the public purposes for which they were meant for review of the laws to reposition and restructure the NDDC for the efficiency of better service delivery amongst others. In all these instances of actions, legal due processes will strictly be complied with.

    13. The President has directed that the forensic audit report be forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for a legal review and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government will be engaged in doing justice to the findings accordingly.

    14. I appreciate the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, his colleague Sen. Omotayo Alasoadura, the Interim Administrator, Management and Staff of the NNDC for their support towards the completion of the audit exercise.

    15. My appreciation also goes to the Lead Forensic Auditors and the 16 Field Audit Firms for completing this exercise, as well as the Security Committee for securing the lives and properties of the Audit Firms throughout the duration of the forensic audit exercise.

    16. Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

  • UK Diplomat meets Nigeria’s Attorney General over Twitter ban

    UK Diplomat meets Nigeria’s Attorney General over Twitter ban

    United Kingdom Diplomat, Ms. Catriona Laing, who is the High Commissioner of Great Britain in Nigeria on Thursday met with Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

    The meeting which lasted for almost an hour discussed bilateral issues relating to amongst others the suspension of Twitter in the country.

    Malami said the government has established a committee on the matter and that the company has approached the government over the issue.

    He maintained that the interest of Nigeria matters most for any company that wants to do business in the country.

    “If you want to operate as a business entity in Nigeria, you must do so within the context of Nigerian laws. Nothing offensive or that breaches the Nigerian laws should be entertained”.

    Malami said public interest has been the uppermost consideration within which the context of freedom of expressions should be regulated

    He noted that reasonable restrictions to freedom of expressions are locally and internationally recognized.

    “Our government is not averse to freedom. Freedom is not borderless.

    “Freedom of expression must not be used in such a manner that incites citizens to violence or calls for an overthrow of a democratically elected government.

    “There are bounds to freedom within the laws,” he said.

    Meanwhile, in her remarks, the British High Commissioner thanked the Minister for clarifying on the matter.

  • Open grazing: Reps shut down attempt to discuss Malami’s comments

    Open grazing: Reps shut down attempt to discuss Malami’s comments

    …as Rivers State Lawmaker lambasts AGF

    … says comparing open grazing to motor spare parts business is bad politics

    The House of Representatives on Thursday shut down an attempt to debate the comments made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami on open grazing, on the floor of the House.

    Rep Solomon Bob from Rivers State had raised a point of order of privilege to bring the attention of the House to the comment which he said was capable of fueling crisis in the country.

    Bob had described Malami’s comment on the ban as “disingenuous, irresponsible and loaded with incendiary trope and ethnic slur”, Bob wanted the parliament to call Malami to order.

    However, the presiding officer, deputy Speaker, Ahmd Idris Wase immediately requested to know the specific order in their Rule Book.

    Bob, a lawyer and member representing Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State cited Order 6 matters of privilege and its relevant subsections.

    Having got the green light to speak, he brought up the issue of Malami’s comment, praying the House to call him to order.

    Sending hid move,the Deputy Speaker stopped him midway on the ground that he was going outside of the order which he relied upon.

    He pleaded Wase’s understanding to drive home his points and perhaps, be ruled out of order eventually.

    “The order which you are bringing this matter is wrong. It’s either you bring it as a full motion to be debated, but coming under matters of privilege is wrong so take your seat”, Wase said.

    When contacted later, Bob lambasted Malami and reiterated that the AGF’s comments lacked any basis in law but were instead capable of exacerbating the tense situation in the country.

    He said Section 41 of the constitution which the minister alluded to deals with freedom of movement of human persons, not animals, and that comparing that with spare parts business is “bad politics which is akin to preparing the ground for violent attacks on dealers in the business in the northern parts of the country”.

    Bob cautioned the AGF to be mindful of his role under the constitution as the chief law officer of the federation and refrain from “divisive utterances that cast him as sectional and part

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that 17 Southern Governors about two weeks ago in one of the resolutions after a meeting in Asaba, Delta State capital banned open grazing in the region.

    The Governors saw the move as one of the ways of tackling the escalating insecurity in the country.

    But in a certain television programme on Wednesday night, the AGF picked holes with the resolution, saying the governors decision “doesn’t hold water”, in the context of human rights as enshrined in the constitution.

    Making a comparison, Malami said the situation was like banning auto spare parts business in the north.

    He said: “It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedom expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian?” he queried.

    “For example, it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north”, the minister noted.

  • BREAKING: Finally, Nigeria receives £4.2m Ibori loot

    BREAKING: Finally, Nigeria receives £4.2m Ibori loot

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has received GBP4,214,017.66 of the loot associated with the family members of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami confirmed the receipt on Tuesday.

    This was contained in a statement released by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    According to the statement the amount has been credited into the designated Federal Government account with naira equivalent value of the amount as of 10th May, 2021.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the repatriation of the Ibori loot on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The development, according to Malami, was a demonstration of the recognition of the reputation Nigeria earns through records of management of recovered stolen Nigerian stolen in the execution of public oriented projects.

  • FG to resuscitate special terrorism prosecution courts, says Malami

    FG to resuscitate special terrorism prosecution courts, says Malami

    The Federal Government will soon resuscitate Special Terrorism Prosecution Courts, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has said.

    Malami made this known in a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations on Thursday in Abuja.

    The move, Malami said is geared towards the Federal Government’s commitment to end insecurity in the country.

    “The federal government is committed to ending insecurity in the country, and added that the courts are to bring to book all those found guilty in connection with terrorism so as to serve as deterrence to others.

    “In addition to the prosecution of 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers, the measures taken by the government will counter the twin trouble of insurgency and insecurity in the country’’.

    Malami also, while felicitating with Muslim faithful all over the world on the occasion of the year’s Eid Al-Fitr, noted that Ramadan fast comes with numerous lessons.

    “The lessons include sincerity, honesty, commitment, sacrifice, selflessness, introspection and empathy, among others’’.

    He therefore urged Muslims, as they celebrate, to continue to be law-abiding, have sober reflections and exhibit the imbibed lessons learnt during the period of Ramadan fast.

    The Minister saluted the commitment of clerics in enlightening their followers on various issues during the month of fast, urging them to maintain the tempo, even beyond the period of Ramadan.