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Tag: AGF

  • Onnoghen: Agbakoba sues AGF, NJC, seeks declaratory reliefs

    Onnoghen: Agbakoba sues AGF, NJC, seeks declaratory reliefs

    A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has approached a Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    In the suit, Agbakoba joined the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) as first and second defendants.

    His application is brought pursuant to Order 3 rule 9 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009.

    The plaintiff wants the court to decide, whether by the combined interpretation of Section 153 (1)(i) and Section 292 (1) (a) (i) of the Constitution, Justice Onnoghen can be suspended from office without the recommendation of the NJC or the President acting on an address supported by two third majority of the Senate.

    Agbakoba seeks from the court: “A Declaration that by the combined interpretation of the above Sections of the Constitution as (amended) Justice Onnoghen cannot be suspended or removed from office except on the recommendation of the NJC or the President acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the Senate.”

    He also seeks further order or orders as the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

  • Extradition: EFCC submits Interpol, other documents on Diezani to AGF

    Extradition: EFCC submits Interpol, other documents on Diezani to AGF

    Documents for former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s extradition has been submitted to the Attorney-Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Besides a comprehensive investigative report on the ex-minister, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the document included a Red Alert watch-list by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL), and court judgments on the forfeiture of some prime assets by Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, the extradition process would soon begin.

    The source said: “ We are hastening up the process for the extradition of the ex-minister of Petroleum Resources from the United Kingdom. The EFCC has made the extradition a priority goal in 2019.

    “We have submitted documents to the AGF, including investigative report, court judgments on forfeiture of assets by Diezani and his assets, judicial decisions on some of his co-accused persons, and the INTERPOL alert on her.

    “She has finally forfeited some prized assets. The assets lost to the Federal Government by the ex-Minister include a multi-storey building in Banana Island Foreshore Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos; a real estate comprising six flats in Ikoyi and an estate of 21 mixed housing in Yaba, Lagos.

    “Many properties allegedly linked with Diezani have also been placed under interim forfeiture by the anti-graft commission

    “ All is set for her extradition from the United Kingdom. It is left to the AGF, who is constitutionally empowered to see the extradition process through.”

    The source added: “ We have fulfilled the conditions precedent to bring her back home for trial.

    ”The extradition of the ex-minister is on our priority list for the year. “

    “ This commission has also filed before the Apo Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory five charges of conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications against Alison-Madueke and a co-defendant, Mr. Jide Omokore, who is a former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company.”

    Justice Valentine Ashi on December 3, 2018, granted leave to the EFCC to arraign the two defendants.

    “ On December 4, the court granted an ex parte application by the EFCC and issued an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, to enable the police and other security agencies to arrest her within 72 hours.”

  • Suspension: NHIS boss sues health minister, AGF, agency

    The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, has sued the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the NHIS over his suspension by the governing council of the board.

    In the suit with the number, FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018 filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Yusuf asked the court to rule among others that the governing council of the NHIS had no powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend him from office.

    Yusuf instituted the suit through his lawyer, Uchechukwu Obi (SAN), on Monday.

    The embattled NHIS boss asked the court to state that the council had no powers under sections 6 and 7 of the Act to discipline him or to investigate allegations made against him as they purported to do by their internal memorandum on October 19, 2018.

    The suit asked the court to declare that “only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and no other, upon the recommendation of the minister of health can discipline, investigate, suspend or remove him from office.”

    The plaintiff prayed the court to set aside his purported suspension from the NHIS by the board of the agency was null and void.

    He asked the court to determine if the minister could suspend him without the express approval of the President.

    The NHIS boss had been under investigation for several allegations of fraud.

    He was among others accused of perpetrating fraud to the tune of N919m and was suspended by the minister of health in July last year.

    However, he was controversially reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2019 but was again suspended by the governing council of the NHIS on October 19.

    Yusuf has, however, been supported by the Presidency and has continued to resume at work sparking a series of protests by unionists.

     

  • Married man posts lover’s nude photo on Facebook, bags 2-year jail term

    Married man posts lover’s nude photo on Facebook, bags 2-year jail term

    A married man, Ayan Olubunmi, was on Wednesday handed a two year jail term with a fine of N500,000 by a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti for posting nude pictures of his ex-lover, Arare Monica, on Facebook.
    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who handed down the sentence, said he had been lenient with the convict.
    The suit marked FHC/AD/17c/2017 was between Attorney General of the Federation and Olubunmi.
    Counsel to the AGF, Mrs A.Oyewole told the court that Olubunmi had earlier threatened to post nude pictures of his ex- girlfriend, Monica, on the social media sometimes in 2017, when the lady told him she was no longer interested in their relationship.
    According to the counsel, Monica, a single lady, had pleaded with Olubunmi, who is married with children, not to carry out his threat, consequent upon which the convict requested that a sum of N200,000 be paid to him as inducement so as not to expose the nude pictures.
    She said in spite of that, Olubunmi went ahead post the pictures when it dawned on him that Monica could not pay the money in record time.
    Justice Taiwo while delivering his judgement, said Olubunmi was found guilty of committing the crime, after considering all evidences made available to the court.
    He said the evidences were weighty and incontrovertible enough to prove that the accused actually willfully and maliciously committed the crime.
    Describing the crime as “disgraceful, very despicable and barbaric”, Justice Taiwo said Olubunmi was guilty of violating Section 24 (1) of the Cyber Crime Act, 2015 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
    The judge therefore sentenced the culprit to two years imprisonment with a fine of N500,000, to be paid into the coffers of the Federal Government.
    He added that the jail term took immediate effect, stressing that the court was lenient in sentencing the culprit as the punishment for his crime attracts a fine of N7 million and three year jail term.
    This, the judge said was in recognition of the plea of the defense counsel that his client has a family to look after and a first offender.
    The judge however lamented that those who made the law attaching a punishment of N7 million and three year jail term to the persons guilty of such crimes did not make provisions for compensation for the victim.
    He therefore called for appropriate amendment to the law to make provisions for compensation to victims.
    “I find the act of the convict highly disgraceful, very despicable and barbaric to say the least, he has behaved true to the saying that hell knows no fury than a lover ‘s scorn
    “I must say that the defendant who already has a wife and children at home could find it easy to demean and embarrass another woman who was having an amorous affair with him,” the judge said.
     

  • FIRS threatens to hand over 114 debtor companies to AGF

    The Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) has uncovered 114 companies that claimed that they are not aware of lands allocated to them.
    However, the FIRS has confirmed from the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) that these lands were actually allocated to these companies and the Service has vowed to hand over these false claims to the Attorney General of the Federation for further action on the controversial lands.
    These disclosure was made by the Executive Chairman of the FIRS Mr. Tunde Fowler at the African Union high level panel on illicit financial flows from Africa which held in Abuja on Thursday.
    According to Fowler, “114 Companies claimed they were unaware of land allocated to them but AGIS has confirmed the ownership for all the cases referred to them and we will soon hand these cases over to the Attorney General on the way forward.”
    Highlighting the benefits of curbing Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria in particular, Fowler revealed that the “total tax debt recovered From January 2017 to 31st August 2018 is N3,631,949,050, broken down as From Nov 2016 – Dec 2017 Total collected – N1.9 Billion From Jan 2018 – Date N1.731 Billion.”
    With regards to the Issuance of tax notification obligation to Company Income Tax (CIT) Non-Compliant Companies that own properties and Identified Non-Filers for Abuja, Fowler stated that it issued 2,672 Demand Notices; 653 those Now Filing and N2.983 Billion as total payments for Demand Notices for Abuja Properties
    Fowler identified the Component of Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria to include: Commercial Activities which are illegal flows from business activities that leads to hiding wealth, evading or aggressively avoiding tax, and dodging customs duties and domestic levies; Criminal activities: IFFs are often driven by criminal activities with the purpose of keeping the transactions from the view of law enforcement agencies or revenue authorities; Corruption: Money acquired through bribery and abuse of office by public officials are enormous and can be used to further develop different projects, and also increase taxation revenue collection.
    Other are, nature of IFF in Nigeria Payments of expatriates staff emolument and remuneration and failure to declare for personal income tax purposes such emoluments to the relevant tax authorities in Nigeria; Laundering of funds (often sourced illegally) through Real Estates transactions to acquire property in choice locations outside Nigeria; Illegal transfer of money out of Nigeria, via unapproved channels; Mispricing of goods and services transferred between interrelated Nigeria based companies (e.g. MNEs) and Individuals to offshore based entities and individuals; Profit Shifting – for instance through excessive interest payments on foreign and locally sourced loans and Mis-invoicing of imports and exports.
    Earlier, Mr Thabo Mbeki, former South African President and Chairman, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s High Level Panel on IFF said that Africa looses about $80 billion annually through IFFs.
    Mbeki, who is also a former South African President, said the huge sums came from proceeds of commercial transactions through multinational companies, criminal activities and corruption.
    According to him, illicit financial flow had posed developmental challenges on the continent, in terms of draining hard currency reserve, reduced tax collection, deepening income gap, depleting investment and weakened governance.
    He harped on the need to strengthen institutions like the Revenue Service Agencies, Customs Services and the legislation, to enable them tackle better, incidences of money laundering as well as other forms of IFFs.
    Meanwhile the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed said that IFFs have robbed Africa of the wealth and resources needed to invest in infrastructure, education, hospitals, electricity and many other necessities for sustainable and inclusive economic development.
    Ahmed was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.
    “The quest for Africa’s economic development will be accelerated if funds illegally acquired, stolen and hidden abroad by illicit finance flow perpetrators are repatriated.
    “Our development will no doubt receive a leap if Multinational Corporations desist from illicit activities of aggressive transfer pricing, base erosion, profit shifting and trade mispricing.
    “As indicated in the 2015 High Level Panel Report, the challenge of combatting IFFs is particularly pronounced in countries such as Nigeria, due to the dominance of the extractive industries in the economy.
    “In this regard, the work of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which I used to head, as well as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, whose operations the Ministry of Finance oversees, are relevant,” she said.
    Ahmed also said that to address IFFs within the context of taxation, the FIRS, several years ago, introduced Transfer Pricing Regulations to curb the incidence of aggressive transfer pricing practices and enthrone the “Arms-length” Principle in the cross-border trade practices of multinational corporations, as well as indigenous firms.
    In addition, she said that the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) initiative which ended in June 2018, was a tax amnesty programme aimed at raising tax revenues, regularizing the tax status of citizens and bringing concealed tax assets into the national tax base.
    “Furthermore, the Federal Government is collaborating with several countries in terms of sharing information on Nigerians who own properties and bank accounts abroad.
    ” We also run a programme for the Automatic Exchange of Tax Information with the United Kingdom.
    “In addition, we have signed agreements on the Multilateral Competent Authority on the Common Reporting Standard which is a platform for exchange of financial accounts information.
    “This will come into effect as soon as the legal framework is finalized,” she said.
    Ahmed also informed the panel that in July 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill into law.
    She said that the NFIU would ensure autonomous and independent agency monitoring of cross-border financial flows with a view to identifying and intercepting suspicious transfers.
    The Unit is also empowered to fight the funding of criminal activities, money laundering and terrorism through the international and domestic financial system.
    “To aid us in our efforts, it will be appreciated if the HLP will share its experiences in domesticating international best practices in the key sectors of our economy with respect to IFFs.
    “In this regard, Nigeria stands to gain much from initiatives such as the European Union’s country-by-country reporting (CbCR) transparency measures. By requiring companies that are of a particular size or operate in certain industries to publish operational and tax data for each country in which they do business.
    “Governments such as ours would be better equipped to check the incidence of aggressive tax-planning strategies, adopt more targeted and risk-based tax audits, and persuade large multinational corporations to voluntarily reduce the magnitude of their tax avoidance,” she said.
    Also, the Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami said that Nigeria had put in place institutions, legislations and technology expertise to minimize IFFs in the country.
    “We established the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Financial Intelligence Unit, and backed them with laws, to ensure that Nigeria wins the fight against corruption and IFFs.
    “We have also deployed technology in this fight. For example, we have deployed BVN in the banking sector, to identify the real owners of bank accounts.
    “Also, the TSA and the IPPIS were deployed to ensure that the Federal Government resources are prudently managed,” he said.

  • Saraki not exonerated from Offa robbery probe – AGF, IG insist

    All might not be over for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki over his alleged involvement in the Offa robbery incident that happened earlier this year.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said there was nowhere Saraki was cleared in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) rendered on the interim report of investigation submitted for the DPP’s advice by the police, as being claimed.

    They stated that instead, the DPP, having analysed the interim report of investigation by the police, suggested areas of further investigation as regard claims by some of those being held over the crime, particularly as it relates to the source of the weapons used and where the operation was plotted.

    The AGF, the IGP and the NPF noted that pursuant to the advice by the DPP, further investigation has been conducted, following which a more detailed investigation report has since been submitted to the DPP for his further opinion.

    They said it was premature for anyone to claim that Saraki had been exonerated as “investigation is still ongoing on the case”. They denied the claim that the decision to question Saraki over the case was political and intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation.

    They said the information linking Saraki to the case was provided by some individuals arrested in relation to the case, who claim to be political thugs to the Senate President.

    The AGF, the NPF and the IGP spoke in their separate counter affidavits filed in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by some 10 individuals, who claimed to be acting for the Senate President. The suit is pending before Justice M. A. Nasir of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, Abuja.

    The applicants – Anthony Onukaogu, Lawrence Umudu, Bamidele Ojo, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Ogechi Duruaku, Veronica Onoja, Chidiebere Achebe, Chika Onyiorah, Chigozie Eburuo and Patrick Uzim – claimed in the suit, that the decision by the police to question Saraki in relation to the robbery was instigated by his political enemies; intended to blackmail him and dent the Senate President’s reputation.

    Besides filing separate counter-affidavits, the respondents – AGF, NPF and the IGP – also filed motions and notices of objection, challenging the applicants’ locus standi, the court’s jurisdiction and the propriety of court’s interim order of injunction, made on August 8 by Justice Nasir, restraining the respondents from further inviting Saraki in relation to investigation on the robbery case.

    On Thursday, Tijani Ganzali (for the AGF), O. M. Atoyebi (for the NPF) and S. Jibrin (for the IGP) informed the court about the various processes they filed on behalf of their clients, which they were yet to serve on the applicants.

    The applicants’ lawyer, E. C. Nweke, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the respondents’ processes, which he said were to be served on him in court on Thursday. Justice Nasir, upon agreement by parties, adjourned the matter till September 3 for hearing.

    The AGF said in his counter affidavit that contrary to the applicants’ claim in paragraph 23 of their affidavit, the police interim investigation report on the Offa, Kwara State robbery and other alleged crimes, “as it affects Senator Bukola Saraki, revealed that further thorough investigation be made so as to ascertain whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th April 2018 at Offa, Kwara State was carried out at his instance, knowledge or approval.

    “Or whether the weapons used for the robbery attack were supplied by him (Saraki); and other possible areas which will aid the establishment of prima facie case against whoever is involved. The interim investigation report is not a conclusive investigation and does not put an end to the investigation of Senator Bukola Saraki, hence the investigation to ascertain direct or any possible link of Senator Bukola Saraki and the robbery incident is still on going.

    “That the Interim Investigation Report does not in any way exonerate Senator Bukola Saraki from any further investigation. As a matter of fact, Senator Bukola Saraki has no immunity whatsoever from investigation, arrest, detention or prosecution where reasonable suspicion is established.

    “Contrary to paragraphs 8, 14, 17 and 21 of the applicants’ affidavit, neither the position of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Nigerian Senate President nor his political portfolio is a barrier to any investigation by the 2nd and 3rd respondents (NPF and IGP) if he is suspected of having committed any crime.

    “There was never a time Senator Bukola Saraki, in the cause of his investigation in relation to the Offa, Kwara State robbery incident, that he was detained in breach of the provisions of the law. All invitations made by the 2nd and 3rd respondents to Senator Bukola Saraki, in respect of the Offa robbery are in an effort to ascertain the veracity of the allegation made against him in accordance with the spirit of right to fair hearing.

    “The 2nd and 3rd respondents have the statutory duty to investigate Senator Bukola Saraki or any other person linked to the alleged commission of any offence. The investigation and/or invitation of the Senator Bukola Saraki is not in any way malicious or aimed at tarnishing his image,” the AGF said.

    The IGP, in his counter affidavit, gave an insight into what informed police’s decision to question Saraki over the robbery incident and why it was wrong for the Senate President to rush to conclusion based on the interim report submitted to the DPP by the police.

    The IGP stated that following the April 5, 2018 case of multiple bank robberies involving six banks, attack on police station and murder of thirty-one (31) individuals, including nine (9) police officers in Offa, the police arrested some suspects, including Ayoade Akinnibosun, lbikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Ibrahim, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, and recorded their statements in which they allegedly admitted involvement in the crime.

    The IGP added: “One of the suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, confessed to being a political thug to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed. The said Ayoade Akinibosun equally stated that some of the arms and ammunition used in the armed robbery operation were procured by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    “Based on the statement of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the Senate President was invited to make statement to respond to the allegations and he eventually made a statement to the Police. After initial investigation, the police forwarded the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the DPP rendered a legal advice in which it was concluded that some of the suspects have cases of armed robbery and unlawful possession of Firearms to answer.

    “As regards the Senate President, the DPP’s legal advice states in paragraph f as follows ‘for the Senate President—this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects, Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out.’

    “The DPP’s advice, in same paragraph f, states that the areas to be covered include, but not limited to the following: (i) establish whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th of April 2018 at Offa were carried out at their instance, knowledge and approval, (ii) whether the weapons used for the robbery attack aforementioned were supplied by either the Senate President, Bukola Saraki or the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed Maigida (iii) any other area or areas that may assist in establishing a prima facie case of aiding and abetting crime or accessory after the fact.

    “Based on the advice of the DPP and after more investigations, the Senate President was invited again to make statement and he made another statement and the case file was duplicated and forwarded back to the Attorney-General of the Federation for advice. As soon as the advice of the DPP is out, anybody indicted will be charged to court as required by law,” the IGP said.

     

  • Offa Robbery: Police lack evidence to prosecute Saraki, Ahmed, others – AGF Malami

    The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has told the police that it lacked enough evidence to link and prosecute Senate President Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to the armed robbery attack that left 31 persons dead in Offa, Kwara State, in April.

    The AGF advised in a June 22 letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, that the police would need to ramp up their investigation and also painstakingly explore all critical areas before identifying the Senate President as a suspect in the carnage, much less filing charges against him.

    Yusuf Abdulwahab, Mr Ahmed’s chief of staff who was amongst state officials arrested for allegedly conspiring with the prime suspects, was also cleared, with the prosecutor saying “no evidence is credible enough to sustain any charge based on any offence known to law against him.”

    The attorney-general’s office said only six prime suspects should be charged to court for armed robbery and murder which could draw capital punishment upon conviction. Olalekan Alabi, a personal assistant to Ahmed, was also recommended for trial, but only on lesser charges of illegal possession of arms.

    Recall that Saraki hinted at the existence of the letter on Monday night as part of a fierce response to the IGP’s latest summon to him. The Senate President said the invitation, which he was asked to honour by 8:00 a.m. today, was unnecessary because the Director of Public Prosecutions had already informed the police that there were no sufficient bases to keep dragging him into the armed robbery investigation.

    “I am aware that following a request made by the Police on June 13, 2018 to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation had written a legal advice dated June 22, 2018, in which he stated on page 5, paragraph (f) that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged office and the suspects,” Saraki said in the Monday night statement.

    At least five banks were raided and substantial amount of cash carted away when armed robbers stormed the polytechnic town on April 5. The police initially said 17 people were killed in the attack, including nine police officers, but continued to revise the figure upwards, apparently as some of those receiving treatments for critical wounds were passing on.

    The letter obtained by newsmen on Tuesday, which was signed for the AGF by DPP Mohammed Umar confirmed exactly what the Senate President disclosed.

    Umar examined the crime and the suspects the police lined up in their first information report submitted to the attorney-general’s office for prosecution, and came up with legal and technical suggestions about how to properly build a case that would not be discarded at a glance when the potential criminal trial gets underway.

    “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects,” the prosecutor said.

  • Nigerian Police in crisis for migrating to IPPIS, says AGF

    The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris says the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is encountering challenges because it has just migrated personnel salaries to the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS) platform.

    He said this in a statement issued by Mr Oise Johnson, the Head, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) on Thursday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that aggrieved policemen, had in May staged a protest at the OAGF, to demand explanation on discrepancies in their salaries after moving from GIFMIS to IPPIS platform.

    Idris said this when he received Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, the National Coordinator of SERVICOM, and other management team.

    He said given their numerical strength and other peculiarities associated with the NPF, there were bound to be some challenges.

    “On IPPIS, we have presently about 480 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and over 685,000 personnel being paid without hitches or complaints, why will it be only the police that are complaining?”

    He, however, assured that the challenges were being resolved.

    “These challenges are being resolved through the multiple help desks established in the Treasury and other police commands across the nation”, he said.

    On the issue of shortfall in payments, Idris said that they may not be unconnected to a number of statutory deductions which were on the platform.

    The deductions he said includes the National Housing Fund (NHF), which is 2.5 per cent of basic salary and tax which is also calculated according to one’s earnings, but were previously not properly deducted.

    The accountant-general reassured Nigerians, especially those working in the public service, of the commitment of the Treasury to partner with all stakeholders to actualise a seamless implementation of IPPIS.

    He added that plans were underway to commence migration of the military onto the IPPIS platform.

    Idris, therefore, called for the understanding and corporation of all stakeholders to improve Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms in the country, adding that his office was fully committed to full implementation as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said that the office, being a service oriented organisation, was also committed to delivering on Federal Government’s plans and programmes.

    “Our implementation of PFM reforms; IPPIS, Treasury Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), just to mention a few, is largely being driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    “It is a clear demonstration of our commitment to efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in delivering service in line with international best practice.”

    Earlier, Akajemeli expressed satisfaction with activities of the Office of the accountant-general of the Federation in the discharge.

    “We want to appreciate and commend you for the timely release of funds and salaries and for the good job you are doing to entrench transparency and accountability in the running of government business.

    “We also appreciate all the reforms which you are implementing and we attest that they are in line with the SERVICOM principles and practices, transparency, improved efficiency, service delivery and value for money.’’

    She disclosed that in view of the observations SERVICOM had made while monitoring service delivery in the MDAs, it intends to institute a reward system for all MDAs that excel in service delivery to the Nigerian people.

    According to her, SERVICOM will soon make public the criteria for the awards and urged all public officers to ensure that true service to the people remained their guiding principle.

    NAN

  • AGF, Malami declares Senate’s suspension of Omo-Agege illegal

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Abubakar Malami, (SAN) told the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday that the suspension of Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege was unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.

    Malami, who is the 3rd defendant in the ongoing suit brought by Omo-Agege challenging his suspension from the Senate, made his position known through his counsel, Mr Dayo Apata.

    Apata, who doubles as the Solicitor-General of the Federation, in his submission, said that the role of the AGF was to defend and protect the constitution, adding that he had to react to any issue that had to do with the constitution.

    “According to Section 4(8), 39, 40 of the Constitution and Articles of the African Charter on Human Rights, all the actions of the senate relating to the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) are unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.”

    The solicitor-general urged the court to hold that the senate’s actions were unlawful.

    Mr Mahmud Magaji (SAN), counsel to the Senate and the Senate President, in his submission, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the senator had himself, participated in the suspension of other senators.

    “The plaintiff is not an ordinary senator but a lawyer and a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    “He has participated in several committee meetings leading to the suspension of other senators such as Ndume, so he who lives by the sword, should die by the sword.

    “He who has participated in the suspension of his colleagues cannot now run to the court for protection.

    “He swore to an oath to be bound by the rules of the senate, including the standing orders,” Magaji said.

    Mr Alex Iziyon (SAN), counsel to Omo-Agege in his submission, prayed the court to consider what had been done by the senate as an affront to the dignity of the court.

    Iziyon argued that the court had the powers to pull down what has been done by the senate.

    He said this was on the grounds that while the matter was still pending in court, the senate went ahead and slammed the 90 legislative days suspension on his client.

    Having listened to submissions from all the counsel, the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the matter until May 10 to deliver judgment.

    Earlier, the court refused an application by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and Sen. Bala Ibn Na’allah, Chairman and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and other Petitions.

    The senators had applied to be joined as parties in the suit but the court refused on the grounds that they were not necessary parties in the suit.

    Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to both senators, had urged the court to allow them to be joined as parties by virtue of the fact that they were chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

    “They are necessary parties in this suit because it is the report their committee produced that the plaintiff seeks to impugned and set aside.

    “Moreover, whatever decision the court takes will affect them and members of the committee because their personal conduct is being questioned,” Erokoro said.

    Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the senate.

    He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator.

  • Omo-Agege’s suspension: APC chieftain wants AGF to intervene

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Prince Christopher Agaga has taken the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami to task over the violations of the country’s constitution that led to the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from the Senate.

    Agaga in a statement made available to the press condemned the Senate’s decision to suppress the right of Senator Omo-Agege to expression. He said the decision meant that the Urhobo ethnic group has been left without representation.

    “For as long as the Minister of Justice does not rise to the occasion to proactively stop the constitution from being desecrated and shredded so long shall we have this regime of impunity that has now become the forte of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives as a cog in the wheel to the growth of democratic culture, governance and development of the country,” Agaga said.

    He went further to say that “Now we are having on our hands a repeat too many to condone, in the latest imperial action of the Senate, in suspending an elected senator who is the voice and mouthpiece of more than two million people of Delta Central Senatorial District with a backlash that could debilitate the weak fabric of our federation especially with the perception of constituents hard hit by the suspension order that they are being technically excised from Nigeria, there cannot be a more apposite time than this for the Minister to rise up to the challenge by initiating legal measures to arrest the ugly and disgusting situation with a view to reassuring the people of Delta central senatorial district who have vowed to protect their rights recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Africa Charter on Human and people’s right that they are valued and recognized as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    “In the past that was the trend that helped grow democratic culture and values as witnessed by instituting of court cases by state governments against federal government and vice versa on issues they considered as encroachment on constitutional provisions.

    “This is the time to go back to the regime of deploying legal measures to curb the excesses of people and organs/ institutions of government. This option is far more rewarding than the Gestapo approach of using anti corruption agencies to harass and intimidate people the hallmark of president Obasanjo’s government still flickering in this government with little success to show for it because President Muhammadu Buhari is not gifted with a sadistic temperament for such abusive actions.

    “Nigerians can still remember the number of Senate presidents, governors and PDP national chairmen illegally removed from office by Obasanjo’s barbaric practices. We therefore call on the Attorney General to always do the needful to protect our democracy and restrain people from advocating and calling for autocratic measures of Obasanjo that should be trashed forever,” the statement further read.