The federal government (FG) has ordered the cancellation of N20 fee for retrieval of national identity number (NIN) on mobile networks.

It will be recalled that following the directive of the FG that all sims should be liked to the NIN of their users, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) had said that Nigerians subscribed to MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and Glo networks could retrieve their NIN on their phone by dialing *346#.

However, due to the poor economic condition of the country, the N20 fee generated a lot of indignation and criticism from Nigerians.

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Subsequently, the Minister of Communications and Digital economy, Isa Ali Pantami, on Friday gave the directive to cnacel the N20 fee with immediate effect.

According to a statement by Uwa Suleiman, his spokesperson, the executive vice chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta, and the Director-General of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, had met with relevant stakeholders to negotiate a waiver with mobile network operators.

“By this waiver, all Nigerians, subscribers and applicants can access the service using the *346# code for their NIN retrieval at no charge for the duration of the NIN/SIM Card integration exercise,” the statement read. 

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Pantami thereafter commended the efforts of stakeholders in promoting national interest.

The NCC had asked telecommunications companies to block SIM cards not registered with NIN by December 30.

The government had also licensed 173 centres and 30 state government institution to conduct enrolment of all persons including legal residents into the National Identity Database (NIDB).

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FG orders cancellation of N20 NIN retrieval charge

Abdulkadir Jimoh, Cross River state commissioner of police, has passed away.

The news of his passing was confirmed by the chief medical director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Ikpeme Ikpeme, on Friday.

The late Commissioner of Police reportedly died on Friday morning after battling some health issues. According to the CMD, Ikpeme, the deceased was brought into the hospital dead.

Ikpeme however, advised those who were with the deceased to visit the hospital for a COVID-19 test and go into isolation.

“He was dead on arrival. COVID-19 protocols will be followed before his body will be evacuated,” Ikpeme said.

Meanwhile,  in a statement released by Christian Ita, his special adviser on media and publicity, Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross Rivers state,expressed sadness over the death of Jimoh.

The governor described the CP as “a brave and courageous officer who was a central figure in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes in the state”.

“You were a hero in our relentless quest to ensure peace. Your gallantry and bravery will remain an enduring memory as we mourn your sudden demise,” Ayade said.

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“You kept us safe and gave us your all. We will forever remember you for your courage and bravery. Nothing will fill the void your passing has created, especially in our fight against criminality.

“Late Jimoh’s skills, dexterity intellect and expertise will be sorely missed as we unite to confront the security challenges in the country. I have indeed lost a true friend and a brother.”

Cross River state commissioner of police, Abdulkadir Jimoh, passes away

The senate has passed the 2020 finance bill for third reading.

This development occurred after Solomon Adeola, chairman of the finance committee, presented a report for the consideration of his colleagues.

The legislation seeks to reduce import levy on buses, tractors and other motor vehicles.

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It will be recalled that on December 2, the bill passed both the first and second reading at the senate after the federal lawmakers gave it special consideration.

This was after a letter by President Muhammadu Buhari asking the lawmakers to consider and pass the bill was read on the floors of the senate and house of representatives on December 1.

While leading his colleagues to debate on the general principles of the bill, Yahaya Abdullahi, senate leader, had said that the bill is seeking to “provide fiscal relief for taxpayers by reducing the applicable minimum tax rate for two consecutive years of assessment.”

“The Capital Gains Tax Act is amended at section 36(2) of the CGTA to the extent that exemption on tax liability for compensation for loss of office which was hitherto limited to N10, 000.00 is now extended to N10, 000, 000.00,” he said.

“There is a new section 32 which provides that no tax shall apply to any trade or business transferred to a Nigerian company for the purposes of better organization of that trade or business.

“Section 4 of the Value Added Tax (VAT) act has been amended by increasing the value added tax payable by consumers from 5% to 7.5%. Section 19 increased the penalty payable by a taxable person for non-remittance within the specified period from 5% to 10%.”

The 2021 finance bill is amending the capital gains act; companies income tax act; industrial development (income tax relief) act; personal income tax act; tertiary trust fund act, customs and excise duties tariff; value added tax act; stamp duties act; and electronic transaction levy.

The bill was approved after the senators considered its clauses.

The house of representatives will have to concur before it is sent to the president for assent.

Nicholas Makolomi, the man who allegedly made the viral video of SARS shooting a young man in Ugheli, Delta State, which  consequently sparked the nationwide #EndSARS protests has been re-arrested by the Delta State Police command.

Makolomi’s consel, Ekenemolise Osifo, raised an alarm on Tuesday in Asaba, noting that Federal High Court had ruled against Makolomi's initial arrest and detention, and therefore described his re-arrest as a gross violation of the rule of law.

He said, “Prince Nicholas Makolomi actually recorded an injustice being perpetuated and like what every right thinking Nigerian citizen would do, uploaded it to bring the attention of the public to police brutality.

“Considering the present insecurities and lawlessness in the country, the baseless and unjustified act by the police to cover their inefficiency is an unnecessary distraction and mediocre instead of facing the actual issue and truth is totally disgraceful and unwarranted.

“What aggravated the police to the re-arrest him was the fact that Makolomi brought the attention of the police to another act of unlawful extortion conducted by one SP Sunday Nwaja who requested for N500,000 to grant him soft landing.

“To cover up for their lack of discipline to investigate the extortion issue, the police cunningly withdrew the pending matter from the court and re-arrested him.

“We want his unconditional release and the stoppage of further harassment of Prince Nicholas Makolomi . The police should respect and decision of the Federal High Court ruling in Asaba on November 24, 2020, which declared his earlier arrest and detention illegal.”

Osifo said the victim had been taken to an undisclosed location and not allowed access to his medication being a chronic ulcer and asthmatic patient.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, when contacted, claimed to be unaware of the matter. 

Police re-arrest Delta man whose video sparked #EndSARS protests

The consumer price index, which measures inflation, increased to 14.89 percent in November on a year-on-year basis, a new report by the National Bureau of Statistics has shown.

According to the report, which was released on Tuesday, food inflation hit 18.30 percent; up 0.92 percentage points from the 17.38 percent recorded in October.

Inflation measures the rate at which the prices of goods and services increase over a period of time.

The bureau attributed the rise in the food index to increases in the prices of bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables and oils and fats.

“The urban inflation rate increased by 15.47 percent (year-on-year) in November 2020 from 14.81 percent recorded in October 2020, while the rural inflation rate increased by 14.33 percent in November 2020 from 13.68 percent in October 2020,” the report read.

“Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 11.05 percent in November 2020, down by 0.09 percent when compared with 11.14 percent recorded in October 2020.

“The highest increases were recorded in prices of passenger transport by air, medical services, hospital services, repair of furniture, passenger transport by road, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, vehicle spare parts, hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments, pharmaceutical products, paramedical services and motor cars.”

On a year-on-year basis, food inflation was highest in Kogi (24.00 percent), Sokoto and Zamfara (20.60%) and Ebonyi (20.20 percent), while Abia (16.20 percent), Bauchi (15.60 percent) and Gombe and Nasarawa (15.00 percent) recorded the slowest rise.

Prices of food items soar as inflation rate hit 14.89%

President-elect Joe Biden lampooned Donald Trump on Monday with his strongest criticism since the election, saying the Republican and his allies defied the constitution and the “will of the people” by refusing to accept the results.

“It’s a position so extreme we’ve never seen it before. A position that refused to respect the will of the people, refused to respect the rule of law, and refused to honor our constitution,” Biden said in a speech after the Electoral College formally confirmed his victory.

Biden was referring to a Republican lawsuit, supported by Trump, which sought to overturn Biden’s wins in several key states, but which was rejected by the Supreme Court last Friday.

Biden praised voters for turning out in record numbers despite fears of Covid-19 and “enormous political pressure, verbal abuse and even threats of physical violence” against those running the elections.

“The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we now know nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power can extinguish that,” Biden said.

“It is my sincere hope we never again see anyone subjected to the kind of threats and abuse we saw in this election,” Biden said, calling the harassment of officials “unconscionable.”

Biden said that Trump has had full opportunity to contest the results in court and “in every case no cause or evidence was found to reverse or question or dispute.”

Biden lashed out at the Republican party for standing behind Trump’s evidence-free claims of mass fraud. But he said the Supreme Court last week sent “a clear signal.”

Following the Electoral College vote, Biden said, “it’s time to turn the page. I’m convinced we can work together for the good of the nation.”

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Respect Americans’ decision: Biden tells Trump 

Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly killed one soldier and four other persons in an attack on Askira town, located in southern Borno.

According to reports, the attack occurred around 1pm on Saturday. By the time the insurgents were repelled by a fighter jet, a master warrant officer of the military, one vigilante and three other residents of the town had been killed.

It was gathered that the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists stormed Askira town in about 15 gun trucks and opened fire on the army base.

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In addition, a source from the army base in Askira recounted, “They came into town in about 15 gun trucks and attacked our arms store. But it was empty as they had earlier stolen our arms and ammunition. They killed one master warrant officer.

“Soldiers ran for cover because the terrorists outnumbered us, but a fighter jet came and attacked the insurgents. Three of them were killed and four of their gun trucks were destroyed. Many of the attackers were injured, but they destroyed one army gun truck.”

Furthermore, a resident of Askira, who pleaded anonymity, said that after the terrorists were repelled by the fighter jet, “they went into the village shooting indiscriminately, killing four residents, including a vigilante.”

The woman added, “We got a warning call from the neighbouring village that some people had sighted the terrorists. Around 1pm, we heard gunshots.

She said they hid in the till it was dark enough for them to sneak into the town.

The Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sagir Musa, has not responded to inquiries on the incident. However, a statement by the spokesperson, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Ado Isa, confirmed the attack at Askira and added that the insurgents also suffered heavy losses from the troops of  28 Task Force Brigade.

It read partly, “On December 12, 2020, Boko Haram terrorists attempted to attack Askira Uba in Borno State. The terrorists were suspected to have come from Sambisa Forest, mounted on over 15 gun trucks and approached the town from different directions simultaneously. Troops responded and engaged the criminals with superior fire power.

Similarly, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, released a statement on Sunday which confirmed that the air task force of Operation Lafiya Dole eliminated “several Boko Haram insurgents at Njimia on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, in airstrikes.”

The statement also said that three bandits were killed and four others apprehended in another operation by the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke.

In the statement, Enenche said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, “in the early hours of Saturday, raided identified bandits hideouts at Tomatar Ugba and Kundi villages in Mbacher council ward of Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State, where the three hoodlums were killed.”

Boko Haram kills soldier, four civilians in Borno attack

One of the coordinators of the #EndSARS Movement in Osun State, Emmanuel Adebisi, is being held by the Department of State Services for alleged impersonation, it has been gathered.

Adebisi had on Monday led a group of protesters to Osun State House of Assembly, demanding the disbandment of panel probing police brutality in the state, saying no member of the #EndSARS movement was included on the panel.

The protesters also also called for the release of one Wale, who is being remanded in Custodial Centre for participating in the #EndSARS protest.

However, following the protest, Adebisi was reportedly invited to the State Headquarters of the DSS, where he is currently being detained.

It was also gathered that Adebisi was invited based on a petition written against him, where he was alleged of claiming to be a Captain in the Military.

A member of the #EndSARS movement, who simply identified himself as Femi, confirmed Adebisi’s arrest.

DSS detains Osun #EndSARS coordinator, Adebisi

A former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina,who is facing money laundering charges, collapsed in the dock during the resumed hearing in his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday.

The Thursday’s sitting was scheduled for the hearing of the defendant’s no-case submission, following the close of the prosecution’s case with nine witnesses earlier on Wednesday.

Maina slumped shortly after the court resumed proceedings in the 12-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited. 

After the EFCC closed its case with nine witnesses on Wednesday, Maina had secured permission of the court to enter a no-case-submission to the charges against him. 

However, when the case was called on Thursday, Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Anayo Adibe, told the court that his client would not be able to proceed with his application.

Adibe said he was unable to prepare the no-case-submission owing to the fact that he had yet to receive the records of proceedings requested from the court’s registry. 
The defence lawyer was briefing the judge, Justice Okon Abang, when a loud thud of Maina’s fall drew attention to the dock.

Prison officials immediately rushed to him to attend to him, and this development forced trial Justice Abang to suspend sitting.

EFCC had in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/256/2019, alleged that Maina used a bank account that was operated by his firm and laundered funds to the tune of about N2billion, part of which he used to acquire landed properties in Abuja.

 It told the court that the Defendant used fictitious names to open and operate various bank accounts, as well as recruited his relatives that were bankers to operate fake bank accounts through which illicit funds were channeled. 

The Prosecution told the court that contrary to financial regulations, the banks, opened phony accounts for the Defendant, without conducting due diligence to ascertain the true identities of the owners. It also told the court that some of the bogus names Maina used to operate the accounts in a bid to conceal his true identity, included Aliyu Nafisatu and Dr. Abdullahi A. Fisal.

The prosecution maintained that the Defendants committed criminal offences punishable under sections 11(2) (a), 15(3), and 16(2) (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, and also acted in breach of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
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Money Laundering: Maina collapses in court 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Nigeria will vigorously engage the government of the United States to exclude it from its blacklist of countries over concern on religious freedom.

The federal government also expressed its displeasure to the U.S. government on this development.

Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson for the ministry, disclosed Nigeria’s position in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, following the announcement of the U.S. adding Nigeria among countries of concerns against its Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

The foreign affairs ministry said Nigerian government remained committed to ensuring respect and protection of all citizens’ right to religious freedom and promotion of religious tolerance and harmony.

“The attention of the ministry has been drawn to an announcement made by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, stating that the government of the United States of America has designated Nigeria as a ‘country of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998’.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria received the news with surprise, that a secular country under a democratic government will be so designated.

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“Although the Nigerian state is multi-religious and multi-ethnic, the Nigerian constitution expressly states that the government shall not adopt any religion as state religion.

“Furthermore, section 38 of the constitution guarantees that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion including freedom to change his/her religion or belief.

“And freedom to manifest and propagate his/her religion or belief. Religious liberty in Nigeria has never been in question, therefore any claim contrary to that is completely false and untrue.

“The ministry wishes to assure that the Nigerian government will engage the U.S government to express its displeasure and request that Nigeria be removed from the list,” it said.

Nigeria will engage US over inclusion on religious freedom blacklist -FG

The attorney-general of the federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has said that the national assembly has no constitutional power to summon President Muhammadu Buhari for a briefing.

This comes after the house of representatives passed a resolution last week, summoning the president over the rising insecurity in the country.

The president was scheduled to appear before the national assembly tomorrow, Thursday but it is now uncertain if he will honour the request.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Malami said it was outside the constitutional powers of the national assembly to summon the president over his “operational use of the armed forces”.

“President Muhamamdu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recorded tremendous success in containing the hitherto incessant bombing, colossal killings, wanton destruction of lives and property that bedeviled the country before attaining the helm of affairs of the country in 2015,” the statement read.

“The confidentiality of strategies employed by the President as the commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not open for public exposore in view of security implications in probable undermining of the war against terror.

“The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari was instrumental to the reclaiming of over 14 Local Governments previously controlled by the Boko Haram in North East is an open secret, the strategies for such achievement are not open for public expose.

“While condoling the bereaved and sympathising with the victims of the associated insecurity in the country, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN maintained that national security is not about publicity and the nation’s security architecture cannot be exposed for the sake of getting publicity.”

According to the statement, the president’s efforts on security matters are exclusive and confidential, and as such, “the National Assembly has no Constitutional Power to envisage or contemplate a situation where the President would be summoned by the National Assembly on operational use of the Armed Forces.”

Furthermore, Malami added that the decision to appear before the national assembly should be at the president’s discretion and not subject to summons by the lawmakers.

“The right of the President to engage the National Assembly and appear before it is inherently discretionary in the President and not at the behest of the National Assembly,” the attorney-general said.

“The management and control of the security sector is exclusively vested in the President by Section 218 (1) of the Constitution as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces including the power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces. An invitation that seeks to put the operational use of the Armed Forces to a public interrogation is indeed taking the constitutional rights of law making beyond bounds.

“As the Commander in Chief, the President has exclusivity on security and has confidentiality over security. These powers and rights he does not share. So, by summoning the President on National Security operational Matters, the House of Representative operated outside constitutional bounds.

“President’s exclusivity of constitutional confidentiality investiture within the context of the constitution remains sacrosanct.”

National Assembly Has No Power to Summon Buhari- Malami

French first division side Nantes have fired their coach Christian Gourcuff after a run of poor results. 

This news was disclosed by the Atlantic coast club on Tuesday.

The final straw was the 4-0 defeat to struggling Strasbourg at the weekend.

Nantes stand 14th on 13 points, just three clear of the relegation zone.

Gourcuff, a 65-year-old journeyman, was the 14th incumbent in as many years at the passionately supported club who last won the French title in 2001.

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.