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Hadiza Bala-Usman: FG Investigates Fresh N3.6bn, $150m Non-Remittances By NPA

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3 years ago

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The Federal Government is further investigating the unremitted Value Added Tax deductions to Federal Inland Revenue Service by the Nigerian Ports Authority under the leadership of the suspended NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

It was gathered on Saturday that the NPA during the tenure of Bala-Usman failed to remit VAT deductions running into billions of naira and in foreign currency denominations to the FIRS.

“There are unremitted deductions to FIRS that include N3,667,750,470; $148,845,745.04; €4,891,449.50; and £252,682.14,” an impeccable source at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the matter, stated.

It was earlier reported that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was probing the alleged non-remittance of N165.32bn operating surplus by the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The report stated that this might not be unconnected to the recent suspension of the ports authority’s boss, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

Transportation ministry sources stated on Saturday that the NPA was also being investigated for contravening the policies of government with respect to the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility.

“The NPA under Hadiza contravened government policy on the implementation of CSR projects/ programmes and its records relating to CSR fell short of the level of compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007,” the source stated.

The official alleged that the Presidency was shocked that there was no, or very scanty evidence of compliance with the public procurement Act and that most of the CSR projects/programmes were inflated.

“The Presidency noticed that delivery of CSR items were not accompanied with delivery letters and that in most cases, there was no evidence of actual items delivered and who signed for them,” the official stated.

The source added, “Bala-Usman must tell Nigerians why and how N4.2bn was spent in 2017 as against N29m in 2016 (on CSR), an increase of 14,310 percent.”

The official further alleged that only between 2016 and 2018, at least N20bn of NPA’s financial transactions could not be traced, documented or explained.

On the concern that there was a procedural breach in asking Bala-Usman to step aside for the investigation to commence, the source described this as “completely wrong.”

The official said, “Constitutionally, the President has the power to hire or fire any of his appointees at any point in time.

“In this case, she wasn’t even fired. She was just asked to step aside for an investigation to take place. And this was done by the President and not the minister.”

But Bala-Usman in a letter, with reference MD/17/MF/VOL-XX/541, dated May 5, 2021, and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, said the NPA was aware of Buhari’s approval for the FMoT to conduct an audit of the accounts of the NPA and its remittances to the CRF.

When contacted to speak on whether the transportation ministry followed due process before the suspension of Bala-Usman, the spokesperson, FMoT, Eric Ojiekwe, did not answer calls to his mobile phone and had yet to reply a text message sent to him on the matter.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

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5 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

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How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

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6 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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10 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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