₦airaland Forum

A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order of interim forfeiture of 11 high-end designer items confiscated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha.

The items – five luxury sunglasses, five luxury wristwatches and an iPhone 8 – were seized from Mompha at his arrest by the EFCC on October 19, 2019 at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Justice Lewis Allagoa made the order after hearing an ex-parte application argued by EFCC counsel Chinenye Ugwoke.

He ruled that the order subsists pending the EFCC’s investigation of the respondents in the suit, Mompha and his company Ismalob Global Investment Ltd.

The judge made the order on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.

Mompha – a social media celebrity – and Ismalob Global Investment, have since November 25, 2019, been facing a 14-count N32.9 billion money laundering charge before Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Lagos.

The 11 luxury items are a Dsquared sunglass; Tomford – TF586 sunglass; Cartier – B17C76B sunglass; Montblanc – MB0045S sunglass and a Louis Vuitton- Z1186E sunglass.

The five wristwatches are a Rolex Oyster Perpetual; Audemars Piguet; Audemars Piguet- J46220; XY Hublot – 1321920; and an XY Hublot- 924206.

The iPhone 8’s serial number is C8PVF1LKJC6C.

The EFCC supported its application with an affidavit by an investigating officer with the anti-graft agency’s Advance Fee Fraud Section (AFF) section, Mr Bot Dachung.

Dachung stated that “the purpose of this application is to prevent the Respondents from tempering and/or dissipating the properties listed in the schedule to this application which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

He added: “If the properties listed in the schedule to this application are not temporarily and timeously forfeited, efforts of the ongoing investigation relating to internet/cyber-related crimes and possible prosecution would be brought to a nought.”

The EFCC told the judge that the items were “found in the possession of the 1st Respondent (Mompha), which property/asset is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and presently in the lawful custody of the Applicant.”

According to the agency, a preliminary investigation revealed various intelligence reports linking Mompha with chains of internet/cybercrime activities.

It further alleged that there “have been concerted ongoing investigation activities against the Respondents with respect to the 1st Respondent’s (alleged) involvement in cybercrime activities.

“The properties listed in the schedule to this application were recovered from the 1st Respondent upon his arrest by the Operatives of the Applicant, hence this application.

“That efforts and attempts have been made by the 1st Respondent through his legal representatives to retrieve the said properties listed in the schedule to this application.”

In a bench ruling, Justice Allagoa granted the order as prayed.

Justice Liman on October 12, 2020, dismissed Mompha’s ‘no case’ application in his case with the EFCC.

The judge held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against Mompha, requiring him to explain himself.

Federal Government has explained that taking COVID-19 vaccine is a choice and not a compulsory exercise, even though it is expected that every Nigerian should get vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

The explanation came against the backdrop of criticisms that followed media reports that effective December 1 2021, federal civil servants would be expected to present their vaccine cards or risk not being allowed into their work places.

Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, at a press conference, yesterday, in Abuja, however, clarified that federal civil servants were not under obligation to take the vaccine, but that they must show negative COVID-19 PCR test.

“The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), on Wednesday, announced interventions to, not only protect the most vulnerable people in our society, but to also ensure that the work place is safe for all citizens. Clearly, there is loss of productivity and its impact on socio-economic development when workers are unable to come to work on a regular, and consistent basis due to outbreaks of an infectious disease such as COVID-19.

“Following advice by public health experts, the PSC announced that all Federal Government employees should make a choice as to how they can contribute towards making the work environment COVID-19-free. The logical choice is between taking the vaccine and showing the evidence or presenting proof that one is COVID-19-free by showing a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior. This provision is applicable to all Federal Government institutions. The decision to release the advisory was not taken lightly. It is part of the PSC and Federal Ministry of Health’s mantra to always use scientific evidence to make decisions for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

On the question of availability of vaccines, he said they had already done a comprehensive analysis and forecast of COVID-19 vaccines and it was confirmed that there’s enough vaccines to cover more than the population of Federal Government employees.

“Based on delivery forecasts from the COVAX facility and African Union, Nigeria will have adequate vaccines to cover more that 50 per cent of eligible populations by the end of the first quarter of 2022. In order words, please do not worry about the availability of vaccines because we have the supply chain figured out already,” he said.

He also explained that NPHCDA is committed to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and it had put in place plans for the establishment of mass vaccination sites across the country.

“The objective is to vaccinate a high volume of individuals through large sites such as federal institutions, shopping malls, religious centres, sporting events, conference centres, and markets etc. This will require strong collaboration between NPHCDA, state governments, religious bodies, school authorities and governing bodies of malls and large sporting events.

“As we expand the vaccination sites, we encourage all eligible Nigerians to avail themselves for vaccination. We have commenced the process of decentralising COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, to include private health care providers. This is to expand access and increase utilisation of the vaccines which will not affect free vaccination policy.

“We are working with relevant security agencies to make examples of these individuals who may wish to buy or sell the cards by naming and shaming them. We are also enhancing the security features of our vaccination cards in order to limit forgeries,” he said.

lozanni:
Ewu Gambia

gambia:
Just waste them asap, these ones will become monsters when they grow up.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is an honest man. Whatever he tells you, please take it serious. You can even take it to the bank, as it’s a cheque that will never bounce.

DaddyRochie1642:
La believe this story La Collapse

thebosstrevor1:
Stop the excessive masturbation. Masturbation is one of the causes of anxiety in men.

The federal government says all television stations across the country will be directed to adopt the use of sign language interpreters.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2021 annual lecture organised by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in partnership with the Albino Foundation and the European Union (EU).

According to NAN, Lai was responding to a complaint by Monsurat Abdulwasiu, a former leader of the women’s wing of the association of the deaf.

Speaking through an interpreter, Abdulwasiu said persons with disabilities have suffered exclusion as they only look at images during news hours without understanding the message.

“Only the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has a sign language interpreter during one of its news hours. In the other media platforms, there are no sign language interpreters. Even in the healthcare sector, no sign language in Nigerian hospitals,” she said.

“So, what happens to deaf people when they are reading news, and when they are sick and go to hospital. Does it means that we are not entitled to information and healthcare? The government needs to look into this.”

Responding to Abdulwasiu, the minister said he will direct all television stations to adopt the use of sign language interpreters during major broadcast.

“I am very touched by the contribution of the young lady who said there is a need for sign interpreters during the network news and other major news belts,” he said.

“I am going to ask the NBC to direct all our television stations to ensure that there are sign interpreters in all television stations during their major news hours.

“This will not apply to only the Nigerian Television Authority. Whether public or private television stations, they must comply with the directive.

“This directive will work both ways. It means the complaint of exclusion will be tackled and the persons with disability of hearing will also be included in programmes and policies of government.”

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Muhammad Nami, has decried the inefficiencies in the current stamp duty and capital gain tax collection system.

According to him, these inefficiencies have led to poor revenue generation from these taxes.

Nami disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2021 tax week of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, in Abuja on Thursday.

The theme of the tax week for this year is, “Efficient Tax Administration as a Panacea for Increased Revenue Generation”

He said the theme was apt as it reflected the current efforts of the governments at all levels to increase revenue generation and reduce debt financing.

The FIRS boss added that the government’s efforts to boost revenue are currently hindered by insecurity, high exchange rate and the effects of COVID-19.

Nami added, “The Federal Government needs money to provide more critical infrastructure, maintain existing ones and provide medical and educational facilities to the teaming youth and by extension reduce unemployment.

“I believe that this occasion will generate new ideas, innovations and strategies for enhancing revenue collection by the Federal and State governments through their various Revenue Authorities.

“Looking at the topics for paper presentation, discussions will centre on Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax. These taxes are currently not being adequately collected and it is my sincere hope that discussions here will generate the much needed drive for efficient administration of these taxes and ultimately increase revenue generation by both the state and federal governments.”

On his part, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who was represented by Salawu Zubair, stated that there was a need for the country to spend more on critical infrastructure.

“What is clear is that we need for revenue, the challenge we have is not that our budget is big. The DG budget has also reiterated this, he said that what is required is for us to spend more, considering the infrastructural deficit that we have.

“That is why the Minister of Finance has always mentioned that the challenge we have in the country is a revenue challenge,” he said.

He added that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation remains committed to the implementation of public financial reforms that are meant to deepen transparency, efficiency and accountability, in the use of public resources for the common good of Nigerians.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

chatinent:
It irks me to realize my weak carpenter grandfather in the village who buys trees and turns them into logs, then to chairs used for public schools will have to be paying taxes.

After Ndubuisi gets a car for Uber on hire-purchase, after he pays taxes buying fuel, buying tickets, bribing soldiers and policemen on the road, evading accidents, and dodging more portholes than roads...he will still have to pay the extra taxes for bearing the appellation of being a taxi driver. However, those having about fifty cars for entourage alone are called senior citizens.

In saner climes, the rich understand that he pays more taxes because of more assets. In Nigeria, the rich rejoices that the poor augments their assets with their taxes.

Welcome to a country that releases budgets every year but doesn't balance accounts after the financial year.

Welcome to the Fraudral Republic of Nigeria.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to abide by his oath of office by calling on the police not to disrupt upcoming #EndSARS protests.

Falana, who is the Interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, said this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Nigeria Police Force Lacks Power to Ban Public Protests in Nigeria’.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, had said the police would not allow anyone to stage another #EndSARS protest ahead of the one-year anniversary of the protests of last year.

However, Falana said Buhari who himself took part in protests while he was running for office, should call on the police to respect the rights of citizens.

He added, “It is public knowledge that General Muhammadu Buhari (as he then was) and other leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress took part in public rallies against fuel hike in January 2012 and protests against insecurity in November 2014.

“To that extent, the Buhari administration ought to restrain the Police from banning peaceful rallies against police brutality on October 20, 2021 in any manner whatsoever and however.”

Falana noted that the law guarantees Nigerians the right to hold public meetings, rallies and processions in the country.

“The threats against peaceful rallies oozing out of the police headquarters and state commands are illegal as they constitute a gross infringement of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as well as Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act,” the activist added.

He recalled that in the case of the All Nigeria People’s Party v Inspector-General of Police 2006, Justice Anwuli Chikere declared that police permit as a precondition for holding rallies in Nigeria was illegal and unconstitutional.

The judge consequently granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector-General of Police and other police officers from preventing Nigerian citizens from convening and participating in rallies.

“The appeal of the police against the judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in December 2007. In the unanimous decision of the court, their lordships described police permit as ‘a relic of colonialism’ which is anomalous in a democratic society,” Falana said.

He added that based on the landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act 2010 in March 2015 to impose a duty on the police to provide security for participants in public meetings and rallies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 94 (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides: Notwithstanding any provision in the Police Act, the Public Order Act and any regulation made thereunder or any other law to the contrary, the role of the Nigeria Police Force in political rallies, processions and meetings shall be limited to the provision of adequate security as provided in subsection (1) of this section,” the senior advocate said.

He added that Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 provides that where a person or organisation notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilise personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.

“In view of the fact that the police authorities have been notified of the public rallies scheduled to hold on October 20, 2020 to mark the first year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, the Nigeria Police Force is required to make arrangements for the provision of adequate security for the participants at the venues of the rallies,” Falana said.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali, to direct the Commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation to ensure that adequate security is provided for all citizens who may wish to protest against the policies of the government which are considered inimical to their interests.

Kyase:
lol
My own acrophobia no dey go near that tree of promise ooo

DubaiLandLord2:
Every IPOB member is an Igbo man, not every Igbo man is an IPOB member.

Kyase:
You even try
Me na 4 ft or I no do

virginprincess:
Then maybe his parent should send him away to live on his own, maybe when he experience the other side of life he would change.

As the legislative debate on the 2022 budget, which was presented to the joint session of lawmakers by President Muhammadu Buhari last week continued on Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives expressed concerns over the high rate of debt servicing.

While each lawmaker took turns to speak on the highlight of the budget which stood at N16.39 trillion, they maintained that the proposed budgetary provision for debt servicing was 25 per cent of the entire budget, saying it was on the high side.

Those who spoke extensively on the worrisome debt servicing was the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Luke Onofiok who observed that the sum of N3.9 trillion for debt servicing representing about 25 percent of the whole budget was worrisome.

He called for a downward review, stating that Nigeria was too fragile to service debts at that high rate, given that the nation was still facing the COVID-19 challenges.

On the external and internal borrowing to service budget deficits, he posited: “Another source of concern is that the proposal before us has a deficit of N6.2 trillion and the government is proposing new borrowings to finance this deficit.

“What this implies is that the total public debt of Nigeria is expected to rise to N5 trillion in 2022 fiscal year. This is worrisome not only for today but generations unborn and the future of Nigeria.”

He called on lawmakers to reduce the borrowing or the executive should assure the parliamentarians that the borrowing was production and not consumption.

He argued that it would be inappropriate to borrow and leave debt for generations yet unborn, stressing that if it’s put into production with expected income, there won’t be any concern.

The lawmaker called for deliberate funding of power and road infrastructure, saying: “While we put the money borrowed to infrastructure three clear things come to mind. We have looked at security. We need to invest in power. Let us borrow to invest in power and roads. We have road challenges across the country. Let me use for instance Mr. Speaker, the Calabar-Itu road that area is being cut-off.

“People spend 8 hours on the road. And we have seen something less than a billion naira allotted to that road in the different lots that have been given. That is quite inadequate. We have to invest in our roads and in our public transportation.”

House Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, spoke on the high rate of debt servicing, noting that the nation can’t afford such at this time.

virginprincess:
it doesn't work that way, even if you kill him it changes nothing, I'm sure with prayers and advise he would change, talking from experience.

virginprincess:
You guys should sit him down and talk some sense into him