₦airaland Forum

Leke Baiyewu and Ifeanyi Onuba , Abuja
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service , Col . Hameed Ali ( retd. ), has dropped his earlier plan not to honour the summons of the Senate.
A reliable source close to the leadership of the Senate told one of our correspondents on Tuesday that Ali was advised to honour the Senate invitation in order to avert a clash between the Legislature and the Executive.
Ali had told the Senate, in a letter, that he would not appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday ( today ) as his summons to the chamber coincided with the routine management meeting of the NCS .
The Customs boss requested the upper chamber of the National Assembly to fix another date for his appearance .
Ali ’s letter, which was signed by an Assistant Comptroller General, Azarema Abdulkadir, was read to lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday .
The Senate had , on Thursday , asked the Customs boss to appear before it “ unfailingly ” on Wednesday , stating that Ali would not be admitted into the chamber if he failed to appear in the uniform of the service showing his rank as the DG .
A source told The PUNCH that the Customs boss was advised by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senate, Ita Enang , to meet with Senate President Bukola Saraki ahead of his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday (today ).
On Tuesday evening , Ali arrived at the National Assembly complex at 5. 30pm .
He first had a short meeting with the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan , before moving to Saraki ’s office, where they had a closed-door meeting.
Security operatives shielded the Customs boss from journalists when he was approached for comments after the meeting.
He left the National Assembly at 6.45 pm .
The letter was dated March 14 , 2017, and was delivered to Saraki after the plenary .
According to the source , the Customs DG disregarded his first letter to the Senate , in which he informed the Senate of his intention not to appear before the lawmakers on Wednesday .
“He wrote a second letter after the Presidency ’s intervention.
‘‘There are more chances now that he will answer the Senate’s summons tomorrow. People are now seeking soft landing for him, ” the source said.
Unlike the first letter which was signed by an Assistant Comptroller General, Ali personally signed the second letter.
In the second letter, the Customs DG made no reference to the first letter.
The second letter read , “May I respectfully refer to your letter dated 9 March and inform Your Excellency that the decision on payment of Customs duties by vehicle owners, who do not have them as prescribed by law, is currently being reviewed. The goal of the review is to take a broad additional input from the stakeholders and the public . I will welcome the opportunity to avail the Senate of our findings.
“Regarding the wearing of uniform, I wish to advise that the Senate avails itself of the legal basis of its decision to compel me to wear uniform .
“I am similarly taking legal advice on this issue so that both the Senate and I will operate within the proper legal framework .”
Senators berate Ali over planned boycott of invitation
Earlier on Tuesday , the Senate had insisted that Ali , who had informed the lawmakers that he would not be able to appear before them , must show up before the legislators on Wednesday ( today ) as requested .
The lawmakers , who took turns to condemn the service for defying an order stopping it from implementing its new duty on old vehicles , resolved to “invite the Comptroller General of Customs to appear in plenary and in uniform.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki , who presided over the Tuesday plenary, directed the Clerk to the Senate, to whom Ali ’s letter was addressed , to read it to lawmakers at the session.
The letter titled ‘Re : Invitation to brief the Senate, ’ read, “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (with Reference Number NASS / CS / 8S / R/ 09 / 29 ) of 9th March , 2017, on the above subject matter.
“I am further directed to inform you that the date given to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service – Wednesday, 15 th March , 2017 – to brief the Senate in plenary on the retrospective duty payment on vehicles in Nigeria has coincided with the fortnight meeting of the NCS management.
“Consequently, the Comptroller General is humbly requesting a new date from the distinguished Senate .
“As we await your favourable response, please be assured of the highest regards and esteem of the Comptroller General of Customs .”
While the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan , pleaded for a soft landing for the Customs boss, other lawmakers disagreed .
The aggrieved senators , who pointed out that the Customs’ management was not superior to the federal legislature , criticised Ali ’ s failure to personally sign the letter.
Lawan stated , “ First , the excuse for not appearing tomorrow is because it coincided with routine fortnightly meeting of the management of the Nigeria Customs Service . My opinion is that that does not take precedence over the invitation by the Senate.
“Second, the letter was signed by someone else , not the CG. My opinion is : a letter coming to the Senate from the Customs, especially when an invitation was written to the Customs CG to appear here; he should have taken personal interest in writing and signing it ; that would have given my judgment some sense of respect for the institution, not for us. ”
Lawan , while pleading that the lawmakers postpone Ali ’s appearance to Thursday, hinted that the part of the grievances against the postponement was that the Senate plenary would be aired live on Wednesday.
The Majority Leader said, “Mr . President, distinguished colleagues , I feel slighted and I am sure everybody feels the same. However , let me add that this Senate should, if possible , oblige the request for the extension , to show that we are different. “Let ’s take him on Thursday, if he is saying he can ’t be available tomorrow. Two wrongs will not make a right . I know we feel hurt but distinguished colleagues , whether it is live coverage or not , Nigerians have interest in this and Nigerians will like to listen to the responses and explanations of the CG of Customs .”
In his submission, Senator James Manager , described the Senate as an institution built over the years.
“The integrity of this Senate is being tested. When letters like this are coming from executive bodies , the Senate must take a very firm stand.
“I disagree with my leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan , with the greatest possible respect . If the CG had written (the letter and it) was signed by him and , then , going further , if he had established personal contact with the President of the Senate through the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs , then , that would have been understandable.
“But, the man asked somebody else to sign this letter to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . This is very significant .
“This is an arm of government. Although the House of Representatives is there , this is the highest lawmaking body of this country and somebody like the CG ( will be ) writing a letter signed by somebody else , saying ‘I am directed’ to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . Certainly , this is not a matter of two wrongs not making a right .
“The Comptroller General of Customs must appear tomorrow. ”
Saraki, after asking if there was any lawmaker against what Lawan and Manager said, and none differed, stated that Ali must appear in uniform before the lawmakers on Wednesday as earlier requested by the legislature .
He said, “ I don ’t think there is the need for us to prolong this issue and the position of the Senate is clear: he should appear tomorrow as directed and in uniform as in the earlier resolution . And we are waiting to see him here tomorrow by 10 .30 am .”
After the plenary, the Chairman , Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Senator Sabi Abdullahi, while briefing journalists , however, described the reason cited by Ali for his impending non-appearance as an insult to the Senate .
“This is an insult to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate is not taking it lightly ,” Abdullahi said.
The Senate’ s spokesman noted that Nigerians must stand up for “situations like this” as the issue for which Ali was summoned was “not only dear to Nigerians but it is something we consider very critical.”
Abdullahi said in part , “We are saying that Nigerians must not be taken for granted . What we are saying here is that the Nigeria Customs Service is being run in a manner it wants Nigerians to pay for its inefficiencies .
“The law setting it up is clear on what it should do . And nobody is telling us about the measures put in place to deal with those who are responsible for the leakages and misstep that have taken place, leading to wrong importation and payment of duty .
“Tomorrow , we have a date with the Comptroller General and may God spare our lives till tomorrow .
“It is not about Ali , it is about the rule of law ; it is about ensuring that the right thing is done ; it is about defending the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times .
Ali had on March 9 , 2017, through a circular , issued a one-month ultimatum – from March 13 to April 12 , 2017 – for owners of all vehicles within the country , whose correct customs duties had not been fully paid , to do so .
But last Tuesday , the upper chamber of the National Assembly rejected the policy , stating that the NCS had no legal backing to implement such a directive.
The next day , the service defied the directive from the Senate, insisting that the one-month ultimatum for owners of such vehicles to pay the appropriate duties remained sacrosanct .
Consequently, the Senate summoned Ali to appear before it and explain the policy .
Ali ’ ll do the appropriate thing – Customs
When contacted on Tuesday to find out if Ali would honour the Senate’s invitation in view of the insistence of the lawmakers that the Customs CG must appear before them on Wednesday , the Acting Public Relations Officer , NCS , Joseph Attah , simply said the CG would do the right thing.
“He would do the appropriate thing. The CG would do the appropriate thing ,” Attah said without being specific.
When pressed to confirm if doing “the appropriate thing” means that the CG would appear before the Senate as directed , Attah stated , “I have the confidence that the CGC will do the appropriate thing"

http://punchng.com/duties-on-old-vehicles-customs-cg-makes-a-u-turn-to-honour-senate-summons/

The Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris, has rewarded 27 policemen with a special promotion to their next ranks, for their gallantry in the operation that led to the killing of dreaded kidnap kingpin, Henry Chibueze, alias Vampire.
Meanwhile, three suspects, including a 23-year-old woman, Aisha Bature, who were said to be members of a kidnapping and robbery gang terrorising Kaduna and Kastina states, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, for robbing Kastina State Governor’s son, Ibrahim Bello Masari.
IGP-Idris
Vanguard gathered that the Inspector General, Ibrahim Idris, who received a complaint on the incident, deployed his IRT operatives to track down the suspects.
It was gathered that one of the suspects, Nuhu Fulani, was arrested by the operatives in possession of a Samsung S6 mobile phone that was stolen from the governor’s son.
Nuhu Fulani, it was gathered, led the operatives to the home of one of his colleagues, Yahaya Mohammed, where a locally-made gun was recovered.
Vanguard further gathered that the gang leader, Bature, fled when he sighted the police and his wife Aisha hid the gang’s AK-47 rifle with a fully-loaded magazine in the toilet.
On the promotion of officers, the policemen, who were attached to the IRT and the Imo State Anti-Kidnapping units, were deployed to Imo State by the IG to track down the Vampire after he was rescued from the Owerri High Court on January 27, by members of his gang.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/27-policemen-get-special-promotion-vampires-fall/

By Emeka Anaeto, Babajide Komolafe and Prince Okafor
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the Vanguard Personality Awards, last weekend took time to explain why interest rate is still high.
He stated: “I sympathize with people when I hear the call on the CBN to reduce interest rates. I share their goal of a reduced single digit interest rate regime in Nigeria. But many people do not seem to understand that in times of high inflation, reducing interest rates make inflationary pressures much worse, with a second round effect of making economic growth even less possible.
“It is also important to note that interest rates reflect both cost of capital as well as cost of doing business. If we can approximate cost of capital as the average saving interest rate, which is about 6 percent, what then accounts for lending rates at 25 or more percent? It is cost of doing business. For example, a typical Nigerian Bank must employ the services of policemen and other security people deployed constantly to protect its branches. The bank must also provide a significant amount for reliable electricity and broadband internet services to keep its systems running. These expenditures only further increase costs of doing business for lenders, a cost they must pass on to borrowers.
Muda Yussuf
“This is why the CBN’s fight to bring inflation down is strongly connected to our quest to ensure that lending rates also come down in due course.”
But the DG of LCCI, Yusuf, articulated the agonies businesses and the entire economy are passing through in this circumstance of high interest rate.
He stated: “We have monetary policy effects on business confidence. The monetary policy regime has not been supportive of efforts to rescue the economy. First, on account of interest rates, it is ranging between 25-30 per cent. How can domestic investors invest profitably when you are having an interest rate of 25-30 per cent?
“There are no incentives for domestic investors to even play significant role, and these are the kind of things that shape economy and the investments people do. Because as they say, “an economy gets the kind of investments it deserves.” It is the incentives, the policy that determines the kind of business people will do, and that is why there are so many disincentives for investors to go into real sector (Manufacturing, Agriculture, Solid minerals) investments because of the issue of cost of fund.
“How can you make any reasonable returns on investment at 30 per cent in agriculture, industry, property? Maybe it is buying and selling which is even very difficult now. So, monetary policy regimes have been big issue.
“Then, there is the challenge of the way government borrows. Government’s borrowing has become a major problem for investors; government is borrowing at 18 per cent, 20 per cent; zero risks, how can the private sector compete? And that is why all funds in the economy now are going into treasury bills, they are going into federal government wallet, so that has made it very difficult for the private sector to play its role in the economy in terms of this rescue mission.
“As it is now, there is no way you can compete with government in the financial market, even the banks, they would rather buy treasury bills and bonds than to give money to manufacturers. That is the kind of investments disincentives or structure that the policy has created.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/interest-rate-high-cbn/

Eniola Akinkuotu , Abuja
The immediate past Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN ), says the $1. 1bn Malabu deal was sanctioned by former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar ’ Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Adoke, therefore , denied allegations by the EFCC that the Malabu deal was fraudulent.
The former AGF said this in an open letter written to his successor, Mr. Abubakar Malami ( SAN ) , on Sunday titled, ‘Settlement of dispute over ownership / operation of OPL 245 , between the Federal Government of Nigeria , Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited .’
The EFCC had recently charged Adoke and other international oil companies for their alleged role in what it described as one of the biggest scam ever perpetrated against the Nigerian people.
However, Adoke maintained that the EFCC was being used by powerful elements like the family of the late military dictator , Gen . Sani Abacha , to persecute him.
He said, “Out of the three Presidents that had the opportunity to scrutinise this settlement , Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan are alive . Have they disowned the settlement ? Has our predecessor in office , Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN , distanced himself from the settlement he brokered ?
“I believe it is your responsibility to explain to the public who are being sold a fiction that the transaction started from President Olusegun Obasanjo , GCFR under whose administration the Terms of Settlement were brokered with Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN , as the then Attorney General who executed the Terms of Settlement before the tenure of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan , GCFR who approved the final implementation of the Terms of Settlement and my humble self who executed the resolution agreements .
“Have the honourable ministers of Petroleum Resources and Finance at the time of the implementation of the settlement ( Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke , and Dr. Olusegun Aganga, respectively) , disowned the settlement or their signatures?
“It is my respectful view that Nigerians deserve answers to these questions as it will help them and my humble self to understand the actions and the machinations of the EFCC masquerading to be acting in the national interest while surreptitiously deploying state resources and machinery to promote the personal agenda of their cohorts.”
While narrating the genesis of the transaction , Adoke, who is currently in the Netherlands , said Malabu Oil and Gas Limited was in 1998 allocated the OPL 245 , one of the most lucrative oil blocks in Africa.
Malabu Oil and Gas then appointed Shell as its technical partner.
However, when Obasanjo came into power , he revoked the licence in 2001 and then handed the licence to Shell .
Enraged by the decision , Malabu Oil and Gas took the matter before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum and the committee found no rational basis for the revocation and reprimanded Shell for its complicity.
The Committee also directed the Federal Government to withdraw OPL 245 from Shell and return it to Malabu .
Adoke added, “Malabu also instituted Suit No . FHC / ABJ /CS/ 420 / 2003, before the Federal High Court (FHC ), Abuja, to enforce its claim to OPL 245 . Although, the suit was struck out by the FHC , Malabu lodged Appeal No. CA/ A / 99 M / 2006 before the Court Appeal, Abuja, Division.
“During the pendency of the appeal , an amicable settlement was entered into between Malabu and the Federal Government and in compliance with the terms of settlement executed by the parties on the November 30, 2006, OPL 245 was fully and completely restored to Malabu in consideration for its withdrawal of the appeal .”
Adoke said after the licence was returned to Malabu by the Obasanjo government, Shell took the matter before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington DC , demanding $2bn from the Nigerian government for breach of contract . It also commenced a suit against the government before the Federal High Court , Abuja.
The former AGF said to resolve all the contending claims in a satisfactory and holistic manner , a resolution dated April 29 , 2011 was executed wherein the Federal Government agreed to resolve all the issues with Malabu and Shell .
He said, “ In furtherance of the resolution, Shell and ENI agreed to pay Malabu through the Federal Government acting as an obligor, the sum of $1 ,092 , 040 ,000 in full and final settlement of any and all claims , interests or rights relating to or in connection with Block 245 and Malabu agreed to settle and waive any and all claims , interests or rights relating to or in connection with Block 245 and also consented to the re -allocation of Block 245 to Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited .”
Adoke said he did not broker the deal but merely implemented the resolution which was a direct order from the President.
He asked Malami to make a public statement on the matter and exercise his power as the chief law officer to caution the EFCC .


http://punchng.com/obasanjo-yaradua-jonathan-approved-1-1bn-malabu-deal-says-adoke/

Naijahelm:
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and APC National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu are politically not best friends.

However, the two ran into each other at the swearing-in of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu on Friday.

http://www.naijahelm.com/2017/02/fayose-meets-bola-tinubu-at-akeredolu-swearing-in.html

@OP, WHO gave you weed from Sambisa

sekundosekundo:
Why Was their rice seized?

Their rice was not seized but stolen from their shops late in the night by one of the APC watch dogs, I guess one of the APC chieftain was given contact to feed the IDP, that was the secret behind the stolen of the rice

Let them tidy the entire church environment and see if the place will be a dung hill

And inflation still counting, God punish all his economy policy makers that usher the nation into this mess

Bolustic:
In as much as I sympathize with the victims of the Kaduna killings, I would not want to sacrifice rationality on the platter of heightened emotions.

The bolded is a big fat lie. No one can Islamise this country. It is not possible.


Besides, was it the FG or DSS that gave the Fulani herdsmen arms to start killing other Nigerians

Moreover, if the FG is in support of the killings, why then is it planning to set up an army base in the volatile area of Kaduna.

Please, Nigerians should start thinking.

Can you hear yourself, what has FG done to PMB kinsmen

What is the difference between the police and tout?

Intendy:
http://nse.com.ng/Financial_NewsDocs/16177_DAAR_COMMS_AUDITED_DEC_2015_FINANCIAL_STATEMENTS_JANUARY_2017.pdf

Pls the result in summary, I can't populate my storage unit and waste my data bundle on Daar. Please anyone who has checked the result should give us the details

HIScraziness:
What should we do now??

I can't even recognize the him, cos I don't know him

hamzeiy:
mugu which imam has said christains should be killed. we have better things to preach about. perpetrators of evil claiming to be the victims because the couldnt have their way. for every 1 innocent muslim killed in kaduna ,fulani or not we would waste 10 of you...rubbish dogs..this is just the begining..as long as you keep killing we shall definately retaliate..the govt can bring the entire army to kaduna south

See your life son of the bond Woman, how many mosques have your people attack. I can see you have better things to preach in a negative way

Mynd44:
This is really sad coming from a supposed religious leader. It is sad coming from any human being.

So people should kill any herdder whether innocent or not?

In the words of Tupac "I am one black man; I cannot be held responsible for the actions of every black man"

I wonder when we as human beings will stop living via hatred and revenge and learn to express our anger instead of acting like that thing we are trying to fight

What has the government do to it, the Imams and Co or they're not of God they're of the devil

1.2 billion divested. And you are claiming Saint, Solomon was better than you. You Sat in AC and swallowed 1.2 billion, why won't your boys shoot citizen just for 20 naira note

I guess APC are only seeking attention, in order to dissociate themselves from Ali Modu. PDP beware they are up to something new entirely, they did this to claim they are not in friend zone with him

A grace was bestowed on Ajimobi to re write history, though he is on the process of doing that but in a wrong way. The OYOs will never forgive him and his family

Clueless people who made APC think they are doing the right thing. Keep on jumping from one party to another, a day is coming, you will not only be rejected by your people but the land itself will reject your corpse

To do wetin, na Fayose need in their camp, and he told me he can not join the crooks

amaben2020:
Na wa o, and they said they have practically eliminated Boko Haram

Useless government

he said technically but he made a mistake he wanted to say theoretically.

You can't know where he is hiding cos heart and mind belongs to where your treasuries are in Dubai

#Askvillang when is Buhari resigning as the president?
Did the APC led government aware of hardship in the country, if yes what is the meaning of 7b house for vp? I don ask my own here

emynike2001:
ALL PROGRESSIVE CORRUPTION,


When a MAN lies about the d provision and affordability of resources that should benefit d common man,



WHAT THEN SHOULD WE CALL THIS?

Even with that are they provided?

Which labour, the disintegrated one or the one working on my farm

Tomorrow we will hear of another attack but why can't they be treated the same way ND were treated or the Boko Haram

What good has this man introduced to the nation? He promised to control his guys but instead he raised the fulani herdsmen. I know I might be banned again no be today o

Can anyone please explain the good side of Buhari's government

@OP COME back when your brain is restored by APC cos it has been changed

[quote author=locodemy post=52748755][/quote]so the shareholders will bear the burden of the sanction. I think SEC should look for a way to punish erring companies directors and not the shareholders