The federation account allocation committee (FAAC) says it shared N1.67 trillion among the three tiers of government in February.

The figure represents a decrease of N25 billion or 1.49 percent compared to the N1.703 trillion distributed in January.

Bawa Mokwa, the director of press and public relations of office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF), spoke on the revenue distribution in a FAAC communiqué, according to NAN.

FAAC said the total revenue of N1.678 trillion comprised a statutory revenue of N827.63 billion and value-added tax (VAT) income of N609.43 billion, electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) revenue of N35.17 billion, solid minerals revenue of N28.21 billion and augmentation of N178 billion.

The committee also said a total gross revenue of N2.34 trillion was available in February.

Total deduction for cost of collection was N89.092 billion while total transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings was N577.097 billion, the communique reads.

GROSS STATUTORY REVENUE DROPPED IN FEBRUARY

The communiqué further said a gross statutory revenue of N1.65 trillion was received in February. This, it said, was lower than the sum of N1.84 trillion recorded in January by N194.66 billion.

FAAC said a gross revenue of N654.45 billion was available from VAT in February, lower than the N771.88 billion available in January by N117.43 billion.

According to the committee, from the total distributable revenue of N1.67 trillion, the federal government received N569.65 billion, N562.19 billion went to states, while the local governments got N410.55 billion.

A total sum of N136.04 billion (13 percent of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

Of the N827.63 billion statutory revenue, the federal government received N366.26 billion and the state governments received N185.77 billion, FAAC said.

The local governments received N143.22 billion and the sum of N132.37 billion (13 percent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

The committee also said from the N609.43 billion VAT revenue, the federal government got N91.41 billion, state governments had N304.71 billion and the local governments received N213.3 billion.

A total sum of N5.27 billion was received by the federal government from the N35.17 billion EMTL. The state governments received N17.58 billion and the LGCs received N12.31 billion, FAAC said.

From the N28.21 billion solid minerals revenue, the federal government received N12.93 billion and the state governments received N6.56 billion.

The local governments received N5.05 billion and a total sum of N3.66 billion (13 percent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

FAAC also said oil and gas royalty and EMTL increased significantly while VAT, petroleum profit tax (PPT), companies income tax, excise duty, import duty, and CET levies recorded a decrease.

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded not guilty to a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.

Kanu was arraigned on Friday before James Omotosho, judge of a federal high court in Abuja.

On March 8, John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court, reassigned Kanu’s case to a new judge after the defendant repeatedly asked Binta Nyako to recuse herself from his case.

Kanu directly told Nyako that he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial.

On September 24, Nyako recused herself from Kanu’s case after an oral application by the defendant.

On February 10, Nyako adjourned Kanu’s case indefinitely following the defendant’s insistence that the judge cannot preside over his case since she had recused herself.

Subsequently, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s counsel, told the media in early March that the trial would start afresh following the appointment of a new judge.

More to follow…

A Nigerian woman, identified as Tammy, has admitted to charges of drug trafficking and bank fraud in the US and could face up to 10 years in prison.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office (Eastern District of Virginia) on Tuesday (November 5), Tammy “pleaded guilty to the allegations of conspiring with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, as well as to her role in a separate bank fraud scheme, and to making false statements relating to fraudulent claims submitted to Medicaid for reimbursement.”

Zachary Terwilliger, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, described Tammy as a “triple threat” due to her involvement in multiple crimes, stating:

“Tammy is a ‘triple threat’ of criminality – drug trafficker, a fraudster, and a liar. Tammy, a Nigerian immigrant who has spent the last two decades with the privilege of living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident, clearly has zero respect for American laws pertaining to our borders, controlled substances, our financial system, or our health care system.”

With this plea, Tammy is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the drug-related charges, with sentencing scheduled for February 28, 2020.

Drug Trafficking and Fraud Scheme

Court documents reveal that Tammy, 40, recruited individuals from the Washington, D.C. area to serve as drug couriers. She was also involved in setting up bank accounts in their names, assisting with passport and visa applications, and arranging their travel.

The couriers primarily traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, where they obtained kilograms of cocaine concealed within soft-sided briefcases or attaché cases. Law enforcement intercepted nearly seven kilograms of cocaine at three different US airports, all linked to couriers allegedly recruited by Tammy.

Additionally, the statement highlighted her involvement in submitting “falsified and fraudulent claims to the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, a health care benefit program funded by Medicaid.”

Tammy was employed as a personal care aide for multiple home health agencies in Washington, D.C. To receive payment, she was required to submit timesheets signed by clients verifying services provided. However, instead of recording actual work hours, Tammy enlisted Medicaid recipients to act as “patients” and sign fraudulent timesheets in exchange for a small payment.

Investigators discovered that on at least two occasions, Tammy billed for home health services while she was outside the United States.

Beyond drug trafficking and healthcare fraud, Tammy also allegedly utilized her African goods business in Maryland to execute bank fraud schemes.