TheNewsGuru

Tag: Edo Government

  • Edo Government seals UNIBEN over tax evasion

    Edo State Government has sealed some offices at the University of Benin, including the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, over alleged tax evasion.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the offices were sealed in the early hours of Monday by officials of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).

    The other affected offices were the Bursary, Open Registry and Senate Chamber.

    Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the university, said that it was not true that the institution was sealed.

    She added: “As you can see, I am in my office working. My boss is also in her office working. The office was not sealed.”

    Some staff members of the institution, who spoke on the development, said that tax deductions were made from their salaries monthly.

    Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the workers wondered why the taxes were not remitted to the state government after they were deducted from their salaries. They blamed the default in tax remittances to the government on the past administration, given that the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, assumed office on December 2.

    NAN reports that when contacted, the officials of BIR, who sealed the offices, declined to give details on the action.

  • Edo Government lied, we never declared BUA MD wanted – Police

    Sequel to a statement released by Robin Crusoe, spokesman to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State purported declaring the Managing Director of Obu Cement Company, a subsidiary of BUA Group, Yusuf Binji, wanted, the Nigerian Police have reacted insisting it never made such declaration.

    The statement claimed that Binji sponsored attacks on the governor’s convoy at Okpella.

    The state government has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between BUA and rival Dangote Group over ownership and operation of a mining site in the area.

    In November, the state government directed that the disputed site be shut down pending the resolution of court disputes on the matter. The BUA challenged that decision in court.

    However, on Tuesday Mr. Obaseki visited the BUA premises and ordered its forceful shutdown, while two staff of the company were whisked away on his orders.

    A new dimension was introduced Thursday evening with the statement from Mr. Crusoe which alleged that BUA was maintaining a militia in Okpella, which was used in attacking the governor.

    Mr. Crusoe said the police had since declared Mr. Binji wanted.

    However, the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, on Friday denied the claim.

    He said neither the police headquarters nor the state command of the police has issued such an order on Mr. Binji.

    Mr. Moshood, a chief superintendent of police, also said he was unaware that Mr. Obaseki was attacked, as alleged by the state government.

    “But if it is true that the governor is attacked then the state command should investigate,” he said.