TheNewsGuru

Tag: Senate

  • N30trn revenue scam: More companies are complying – Senate

    The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport has vowed to continue its ongoing investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue scam in the import and export chain.

    The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, made this known while briefing newsmen after its investigative meeting with some of the companies on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said the interest of the Senate in the investigation was to assist the executive in recovering monies trapped in the import and export chain.

    He said “there are allegations that the investigation is borne out of personal interest.

    ”Once a senate committee passes a resolution such as this, it cannot be termed as decision of a single senator.

    “You may not like my face as a person but it is important to look at the credibility of the work we are doing.

    “We need to sanitise the import and export circle to ensure that trade is facilitated and non-oil revenue is recovered and strengthened.

    “In that manner, government will not rely so much on oil.”

    The lawmaker further said that while some had alleged that the investigation was a sham, some of the indicted companies had started refunding monies running into billions of Naira to Federal Government.

    ”As a result of this investigation, banks which are the authorised dealers in the export and import chain have been making effort to remit everything collected by them to the Central Bank.

    ”We are doing this on a friendly note because we do not want to send a wrong signal to the market.

    ”Although more funds other than the N120 billion I announced sometime ago have been recovered, we do not want to send wrong signal.

    “We are limited to speak further on how much has been recovered so far.

    ”However, we will definitely come up with figures recovered at the end of the investigation.”

    Uzodinma explained that the committee was saving the figures till the end of the investigation because some of the companies were quoted on the Capital Market.

    According to him, revealing the figures will send panic to the market.

    He also explained that the committee resorted to interfacing with individual companies rather than meeting with them in group to enable them to open up to the committee.

    Uzodinma said the strategy had yielded positive result, particularly in recovering trapped funds.

    “The companies are now free to admit and some of them have promised to make payments.

    ”Today alone, three companies came with receipts of payment.

    ”If we did not embark on this investigation, we would not make these recoveries.

    ”Through this investigation, we have helped the Federal Government to recover some money and we are sure that government will recover more money because we have detailed information that will aid more recovery.

    ”The companies are no longer contesting most of the documents of infractions we confronted them with.”

    The chairman called for the support of relevant stakeholders including the media in the ongoing investigation.

    He explained that the country would not be able to make the necessary progress if Nigerians were not committed in ensuring that national interest was continually protected.

    He said though Nigeria was populated enough be known as giant of Africa, there was need for commensurate commitment by Nigerians.

     

  • Buhari mourns Kanti-Bello, commiserates with family, Senate, people of Katsina

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja condoled with the Kanti-Bello family as well as the government and people of Katsina State on the death of Sen. Mahmud Kanti-Bello.

    President Buhari, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the Senate over the passage of their distinguished colleague and former Senate Chief Whip.

    The President noted that as Senator representing Katsina Central Constituency/Daura Senatorial zone from 2003-2011, the deceased was a very outspoken and courageous patriot, who worked hard to ensure that all levels of government in the country were responsible and accountable.

    According to him, Kanti-Bello’s effective representation of his people at the national level and commitment to the unity of Nigeria will be long remembered and honoured; and will continue to serve as inspiration to many others.

    President Buhari urged the Kanti-Bello’s family, friends and associates to honour his memory by continually upholding the values of honesty and accountability, which served as his reference point throughout his public service.

    He prayed that Almighty Allah would comfort all who mourned him and grant his soul eternal rest.

    Kanti-Bello, a prominent member of the then ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), was in the Senate from 2003 to 2011.

    He dumped the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections but was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the party’s ticket to return to the Senate .

    The deceased had served as General Manager of Katsina Steel Rolling Mills for over 10 years and contested for the governorship of Katsina State in 1993 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Late Kanti-Bello, who served two-terms in the upper legislative chamber, died on Tuesday, at the age of 72.

     

     

    NAN

  • N30 trillion revenue loss: ‘N120 billion already recovered’ – Senate

    The Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport has directed Dana Group and 12 other companies, allegedly involved in N30 trillion revenue scam, to appear before it or face the full wrath of the law on Monday.

    The chairman of the committee, Hope Uzodinma, who made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the committee was giving the companies “the last opportunity to appear before it”.

    The companies are A-kehnal Integrated & Logistics Limited, Don Climax/Skyaim, Gagsel International, Africa Tiles & Ceramics and Network Oil & Gas.

    Others are IBG Investment Limited, BUA International limited, Huawei Technologies, Indorama Petrochemicals, StarComms Plc, African Industries and African Wire and Allied.

    Mr. Uzodinma said the investigative hearing had so far led to the recovery of more than N120 billion from erring companies and vowed to follow up on others.

    He further said the committee had resolved to direct the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to start issuing Demand Notice to companies found culpable in the ongoing investigation.

    According to him, the demand notice is to ensure the companies return monies due to the Federal Government.

    He said companies found to have been involved in round tripping and money laundering would be charged to court.

    “The committee has only taken the first batch of the companies invited.

    “Only 61 companies have been interrogated and over 2,000 companies are still expected to appear before us.

    ”During the committee sitting on Friday, 18th August most of the companies’ representatives heaped praises on the committee for what they described as a thorough job,” he said.

     

  • 30tn revenue loss: Appear before us on Monday or face sanctions, Senate tells Dana Group, 12 others

    The Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport yesterday gave Dana Group and 12 other companies allegedly involved in N30 trillion revenue scam up till Monday to appear before it or face the full wrath of the law.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, said the committee was giving the companies the last opportunity to appear before it.

    The companies are A-kehnal Integrated & Logistics Limited, Don Climax/Skyaim, Gagsel International, Africa Tiles & Ceramics and Network Oil & Gas.

    Others are IBG Investment Limited, BUA International limited, Huawei Technologies, Indorama Petrochemicals, StarComms Plc, African Industries and African Wire and Allied.

    Uzodinma revealed that the investigation has so far led to the recovery of more than N120 billion from erring companies and vowed to follow up on others .

    He further disclosed that the committee had resolved to direct the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to start issuing Demand Notice (DM) to companies found culpable in the ongoing investigation.

    According to him, the demand notice is to ensure the companies return monies due the Federal Government.

    He added that companies found to have been involved in round tripping and money laundering would be charged to court with immediate effect.

    ”The committee has only taken the first batch of the companies invited.

    ”Only 61 companies have been interrogated and over 2000 companies are still expected to appear before us.

    ”During the committee sitting on Friday, 18th August most of the company representatives heaped praises on the committee for what they described as a thorough job,” he said.

  • Probe of revenue leakage not done in secret – Senate

    The Senate on Wednesday said ongoing probe into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakage in the country’s import and export value chain was not shrouded in secrecy as alleged in some quarters.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the probe covers activities in the value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    The Chairman of Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, which is conducting the investigation, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, told journalists in Abuja that some firms that allegedly involved in the process had made “confessions.”

    He assured that no amount of blackmail would deter the committee from carrying out its constitutional role, particularly with regard to issues that had direct impact on Nigerians.

    Uzodinma said: “If there is anybody who is still in doubt whether there are recoverable revenues of government in the hands of these companies, by the admission of some of them, it means that the person should better wake up.

    “We call on all Nigerians to support the Senate. We are all very serious men and women.

    “We are professionals in different fields of endeavour and when we have decided to come here to serve the country, we mean every word of it.

    “What we are doing and showing by this investigation is that the country can be better and that we can move from where we are now to where we expect the country to be.”

    He dismissed insinuations that the committee’s investigation was shrouded in secrecy, saying it was unfounded.

    He, however, said the committee was being careful in disclosing some details as the investigation was still ongoing and that making the details public now may jeopardise the process.

    “We are not shrouding anything in secrecy.

    “The public is interested in this investigation and you know the Stock Exchange is an important platform for trade in Nigeria.

    “We don’t want to create unnecessary panic in the market as some of the companies are public-quoted.

    “There is a signal we will let to the market that will destroy the image and integrity of these companies.

    “We have not arrived at any conclusion because the investigation is still on. On the final day, we will do a full blown news briefing so that Nigeria will know the outcome of our exercise,’’ Uzodinma added.

     

  • Special Report: Despite economic recession, Senate, Reps lavish N7.4bn on official vehicles in one year

    By Olaotan Falade

    Despite the prevailing national economic woes and the escalated sufferings of the average Nigerian, the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) have spent a total of N7,434,000,000 on official vehicles from 2016 to 2017, TheNewsGuru.com authoritatively reports.

    While the Senate took delivery of 36 exotic Sports Utility Vehicles, SUV, valued at N36,500,000 each in April 2016, TheNewsGuru.com reports that the lower chamber also followed suit by ordering for Peugeot 508 series for its 360 members valued at N17,000,000 each.

    The total figure stood at N1,314,000,000 (for Senates’ 36 SUVs) and N6,120,000,000 (for Reps’ 360 Peugeot 508 vehicles). The grand total of these amounted to a whopping N7,434,000,000.

    While the Senate has taken total delivery of its 36 SUVs to be shared among its 109 members, the House has so far taken delivery of over 200 units of the vehicles, with an utmost assurance that the remaining 160 will be delivered before year end.

    Defending their rights to the vehicles, the leadership of both chambers said as lawmakers, they needed peace of mind to perform their duties while insisting that other arms of government and even State House of Assemblies also enjoy such lavish priviledges.

    Speaking last year in defence of the purchase of the cars after the public outcry that greeted it, Chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir Said:“A lot has been happening within the last two days concerning the issue of cars, car loan, appropriation and cost of the cars and we feel it necessary to come out and inform the public about it.

    “This is so, so that people can have a better understanding of the whole thing to avoid wrong perception as being created among Nigerians.

    “First, I would like to say that we bought 108 cars is totally wrong; it is not correct. We bought 36 cars. “These 36 cars, each senator in each state is either a Chairman or a Vice Chairman and we gave one car to each state to share as utility car. So, we don’t have money to buy 108 cars,’’ he said.

    “We had a close session and they agreed that we should give one car per state; we sat down and agreed who needs the car most and that was what happened. “Then, the issue of the cost of the car; the cost of the car is N36.5 million. The car we bought is Land Cruiser VXR V8, not V6.

    “The showroom price is about N31 million minimum and then when you add 10 per cent tax it becomes 36.5 million. “In fact you can go to the internet and download it; it is very simple, we can give you the website, and you can see them. “So, I think what we have purchased the car for is very reasonable,’’ he added.

    The chairman also denied allegations that the senate purchased the cars without appropriation. According to him, on the issue of buying cars without appropriation, it is totally wrong because this has been appropriated in the 2015 budget. “So, we used what we have in the 2015 budget to buy the 36 cars so that it can go round to each state.’’

    On speculations that lawmakers earlier accessed loans for the purchase of cars, Gobir explained that no lawmaker accessed any form of loan for the purchase of car.

    He defended insinuation of senate’s insensitivity in spending such money on cars in the present economic challenges, saying that buying 36 cars as against 109 was informed by senate’s concern for state of the economy.

    “We are supposed to buy 109 cars but because of the paucity of funds, because of our sensitivity and concern for lack of funds, we bought only 36 to go round per state.’’

    He decried the level of criticism on the National Assembly in spite of efforts to cut down on cost to meet present economic reality. He said, “come to think of it, there is no minister that hasn’t got about three, four cars – one Land Cruiser, maybe a back-up and two Hilux cars.

    “There is no director in the civil service that hasn’t got a car. There is no permanent secretary that hasn’t got a Land Cruiser. “In fact, every House of Assembly member has either a Prado or a Land Cruiser and here is a senator you say he cannot have one Land Cruiser.’’

    In a similar vein, the House of Representatives too also defended the procurement of the vehicles insisting that its leadership was sensitive enough not to order the cars at once but in batches owing to the dwindling economy.

    Speaking with reporters at the weekend, House spokesman Abdulrazaq Namdas explained that installment supply of the vehicles was due to the financial challenges facing the House leadership.

    “About 200 vehicles have been supplied so far and members would take possession of theirs by the end of the year.

    “We never promised to supply the 360 vehicles at once because of the financial constraints.

    “The budget implementation hasn’t commenced and that is the reason for the installment supply of the vehicles. But, since it was provided for in the budget, every member will get theirs before the year runs out.

    “Complaints by some members is normal because the House is huge and it is normal for some to complain. But, since we are getting the cars in batches, it will be impossible for everyone to get at once.

    “Allegation that women lawmakers and committee chairmen were given first was also not true.

    “As a matter of fact, it was the decision of the leadership to provide for the new members first. So, you may have a new member having while a committee chairman like myself don’t have yet.

    “The distribution was not meant to marginalise anyone; the leadership wasn’t choosy about the distribution. Everyone will be adequately taken care of before the year runs out.”

    On why the House had to procure the cars for its members, Namdas pleaded for the understanding of Nigerians, saying there was a level that Nigerians would not want their lawmakers to descend to.

    According to him, Nigerians would want their representatives to be deserving of their status.

    “Definitely, chief executive and directors in government institutions and agencies have official vehicles attached to them. Why would lawmakers not enjoy same privilege?

    “Meanwhile, not even our principal officers will have more than one of the same vehicle and these vehicles are to last for four years and not yearly as we have in other arms of government.

    “Our job here is to make laws for good governance and that is what we are doing and we need peace of mind and the goodwill of Nigerians to accomplish this,” he added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that on paper, the cars are the property of the National Assembly, but the tradition over time is that lawmakers take them along with them on completion of their tenure after paying a fraction of the unit cost.

    It was learnt that the management of the National Assembly would evaluate the cars after four years and deduct an agreed sum from the severance package of members.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that besides the utility vehicles, members also get a repayable loan to buy personal cars.

     

     

  • Court merges suits seeking to stop Melaye’s recall from Senate

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday consolidated two different suits seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from initiating the process of recalling Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi).

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba allowed for the suits filed by Mr. Melaye and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to be consolidated, to avoid having conflicting judgments since the subject matter of both suits were similar.

    The application to consolidate the APC suit to the one filed by Melaye was brought by counsel to party, O.D. Atoyebi.

    Dimgba said that he was mindful to grant the application which was formerly before Justice John Tsoho, in order to avoid conflicting judgments.

    He, therefore, directed the APC lawyer to serve all processes on all the parties.

    Dimgba had earlier granted the application of some interested parties seeking to join the suit as defendants and plaintiff respectively.

    Olowo Cornelius, John Ajorin and Yusuf Adamu (the petitioners) had sought to be joined as co-defendants, while Michael Olowoleyemo, applied to be joined as co-plaintiff.

    Ruling on the applications argued by Anthony Adeniyi for parties seeking to be joined as defendants, the court held that joining the parties was for “effectual and complete” adjudication of the matter.

    Justice Dimgba said that it was in the interest of justice that the parties be joined since the issue at stake affected their interests.

    He adjourned the matter until August 11 to hear the substantive matter.

    It would be recalled that INEC commenced Melaye’s recall process following the receipt of a petition from members of his constituency demanding his recall.

    Melaye, however, approached the court seeking an order stopping INEC from going ahead with the recall process, pending the determination of a suit he had filed challenging his recall.

    Melaye, in the suit, alleged irregularities and fraud in the petition.

    The APC filed a similar suit, seeking to stop INEC from recalling Melaye, which was adjourned until September 29.

    NAN

     

  • Judge us by facts, not sentiments, Senate tells Nigerians

    Judge us by facts, not sentiments, Senate tells Nigerians

    … Says eight Senate is highest performing Senate in the history of Nigeria

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has urged Nigerians to judge the Senate by its achievements and facts and not by sentiments or propaganda.

    Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Senator Abdullahi stated that “given the unprecedented performance of the 8th Senate despite distractions since it was inaugurated on the June 9, 2015, the 8th Senate “remains the highest performing Senate in the history of the country.”

    The plead was contained in a statement released by the Office of the Senate President.

    Abdullahi said, “The facts speak for themselves,” Abdullahi said.

    “This 8th Senate has already passed 128 Bills in 26 months. This is weighed against the 5th Senate that passed 129 bills in four years; the 6th Senate that passed 72 bills in four years and the 7th Senate that passed 128 bills in four years.

    “When it comes to public petitions, in just 26 months, again, we have cleared 82 petitions. This is juxtaposed against the 6th and 7th Senate that cleared only six petitions in four years.”

    Abdullahi was quoted to have also listed “some of the noteworthy achievements of the 8th Senate, highlighting the fact that it had passed several historic Bills that had tripped up previous parliaments like the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).”

    He said, “This is the same Senate that broke the Petroleum Industry Bill’s jinx in two years. This is also the same chamber that passed a comprehensive Electoral Reform Bill within 18-months of its inauguration.

    “I can keep on listing out our achievements,” the spokesman said, “We also finished the Constitution Review process a full two years before the next election cycle; we have also passed seven economic priority Bills that will create more opportunities for private sector participation in our economy, and put millions of Nigerians back to work.

    “Additionally, let’s not forget the ‘Made in Nigeria’ amendment that we passed with our review of the Public Procurement Act. This amendment will create a myriad of opportunities for Nigerian-owned businesses, by ensuring that they get first-option priority in the government’s procurement process.

    “Moving forward, although we have already passed four anti-corruption Bills to strengthen our nation’s capacity to fight graft, we are still committed to passing as many laws as we need to cut and curb corruption in Nigeria.

    “In this regard, when we hear people judge us by the propaganda of adverse elements in our polity, we would like to ask them to do their research and follow our work themselves, so that they can judge us by facts, not sentiments,” he said.

  • Alleged N30trn Revenue Scam: Senate orders arrest of 30 firms’ executives

    The Senate has directed the Police to arrest chief executives of 30 firms, including Crown Flour Mills and Glo Mobile, for failing to appear before its committee probing national revenue loss.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the companies are alleged to have been involved in the N30 trillion-revenue believed to have been lost by the country in its maritime sector.

    The other companies are British American Tobacco, CCECC, Dana Group, Olam Int. Ltd., Hong Xing Steel Co. Ltd., Visafone, African Wire, Star Comments and Allied Ltd. and Aarti Steel Nig. Ltd.

    Others are Abyem-Diva Int. Ltd., Gagasel Int., Friesland Capina, Etco Nig., Edic Chemicals and Allied Distributors, De United Foods, Don Climax Group, Skill G Nig. Ltd., Premium Seafood and La Rauf Nig. Ltd.

    Also involved are Standard Metallurgical Co. Ltd., Kam Industries, IBG Investment Ltd., Orazulike Trading Co. Ltd., Popular Foods Ltd., A-Kelnal Integrated & Logistics Services, African Industries, African Tiles & Ceramics and ZTE Nigeria.

    The Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, handling the investigation had invited 63 firms accused of complicity in the scam but only 33 honoured the invitation.

    The order to arrest the companies’ officials was announced by Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, at the committee’s meeting on Friday in Abuja.

    He said the refusal of the officials to honour the invitation in spite of several reminders was disrespect for the National Assembly.

    Uzodinma warned that the 8th Senate would not tolerate such behaviour from anybody or institution, particularly in the present situation that involved Federal Government funds.

    According to him, investigations carried out by the joint committee showed several forms of infractions that have cost the country huge amount of money in revenue loss.

    He said such development in a country currently in recession was a disservice to it.

    ”It is no longer going to be business as usual.

    ”We have directed the Nigeria Police to arrest the heads of the firms and bring them before us.

    ”If we can suspend our recess as lawmakers to see to the end of this investigation, I see no reason why the firms that have been indicted will not come to defend themselves,” he said.

    The chairman asked the firms that honoured the invitation to go through the documents given to them and return next week for defence.

    The Senate had mandated the joint committee to carry out extensive investigation into alleged N30 trillion revenue leakages in the import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.

    The committee had already interfaced with commercial banks indicted in the matter as well as relevant government agencies.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • 282 missing vessels: NPA faults Senate claims

    282 missing vessels: NPA faults Senate claims

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has faulted claims by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Senator Hope Uzodinma, that 282 ships went ‘missing’ from the port between 2010 and 2016; and asked the committee to provide more information to enable it respond to the allegation

    In a statement signed by the authority’s Head of Public Affairs, Mallam Ibrahim Nasiru, NPA said the Senate Committee handed over documents containing a list of 29 items, which are a combination of vessels and details of individual Bill of Ladings of consignments carried by different vessels to representatives of NPA for review.

    NPA said it received another set of 10 volumes of items numbering 1-1,252 alleged to have been transported by vessels said to have called at Nigerian ports.

    The documents, it stated, were delivered to it by the Nigerian Shippers Council on the instructions of the Senate Committee.

    NPA said after reviewing the documents, it discovered that “of the 29 items handed over to the NPA on July 20, 2017, only five vessels were identifiable.

    “We discovered that the other 24 items are repetitions of the five vessels that were identified. A report to this effect with relevant supporting documents evidencing payment of all charges for the five vessels has been forwarded to the Senate Committee as requested.”

    On the latest set of documents it received through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NPA said it was unable to conduct a meaningful review, as the documents failed to provide the data that will enable verification.

    The Senate Committee documents, according to NPA, did not have the names of the vessels, dates of arrival of the vessels, ports of call, names of terminals where the vessels berthed or rotation number.

    “The authority has conveyed these observations to the Senate Committee and looks forward to receiving the required information to enable full investigation.

    “On the whole, NPA restates its commitment to every single effort aimed at sanitising operations at the ports and will cooperate with all stakeholders and arms of government in the achievement of same,” the statement added

    Meanwhile, some maritime analysts have also faulted the Senate’s claim saying that it was move to blackmail the NPA over the Calabar dredging project which was contracted to Senator Hope Uzodimma.