Author: Chronicle Editor

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account has asked the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to return N4.6 billion which represents two per cent of total tax collected in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the FCT Inland Revenue Service (FCT-IRS). The chairman of the committee, Rep. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun), gave the ruling at a public hearing on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that it was wrong for the FIRS to take part of the money belonging to the FCT-IRS under any guise. “Our ruling will be that the chairman of the FIRS should refund the taxes collected due…

Letter to the Editor: RE: THE TRIALS OF BROTHER OSINBAJO Mr. Festus Adedayo’s article above is a sad descent into the gutter by this gentleman. When a professional columnist of Adedayo’s age and experience puts his reputation behind outright fiction and absolute mischief, usually it is a sign that the poor fellow is compromised. This is the sad reality we face today and it is truly troubling. But let us give Mr. Adedayo the benefit of the doubt. Let us assume that he has some facts to support the reckless insinuations and innuendoes in his article. He should then be…

Fuel stations along Nigeria’s land borders have closed and prices have spiked after Nigeria Customs Service authorities banned deliveries of petroleum products to stations within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of the border in an attempt to curb smuggling. Border communities have complained about the move however, prompting Nigeria’s lower chamber of parliament on Tuesday to call on the customs service to lift the indefinite ban. Nigeria, Africa’s top crude oil producer imports most of its refined fuel due to the moribund state of its refineries. Some 10-20% of Nigerian fuel is then smuggled to neighbouring countries, according to the Major…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it was ready for the smooth conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi and Bayelsa. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this at a stakeholders meeting in Lokoja. Yakubu said that 12 out of the 14-point steps for the smooth conduct of the election had been achieved. “Only four days to the election, how prepared is INEC? “The short answer is that we are ready. So far, the commission has successfully implemented 12 out of the 14-point plan for the election as required by law. We have just two more activities…

RE: THE TRIALS OF BROTHER OSINBAJO Mr. Festus Adedayo’s article above is a sad descent into the gutter by this gentleman. When a professional columnist of Adedayo’s age and experience puts his reputation behind outright fiction and absolute mischief, usually it is a sign that the poor fellow is compromised. This is the sad reality we face today and it is truly troubling. But let us give Mr. Adedayo the benefit of the doubt. Let us assume that he has some facts to support the reckless insinuations and innuendoes in his article. He should then be able to answer the…

The Edo Police Command has denied reports of robbery attempt at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin. DCP Ayoola Ajala, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, who spoke with the NAN on Tuesday, said that it was not true that there was a robbery attempt at the bank. He said that the incident had to do with some cultists who were being chased around the Museum area of the city and trying to escape through Akpakpava road where the CBN is situated. Ajala, however, said that two of the cultists had been arrested, while others escaped. He…

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, says it has suspended the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over his role in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party. News of the suspension was contained in a statement signed by state chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua and Assistant State Secretary, Ikuenobe Anthony. The statement added that the decision followed the vote of no confidence passed on Oshiomhole by the chairmen of the APC in the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State. They said the decision was necessary to prevent a repeat of…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned “violent attacks on peaceful protesters demanding the release of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare as ordered by the court.” In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “We have seen a video footage apparently showing the use of lethal and excessive force by Nigerian security agents against peaceful protesters demanding the release of Sowore and Bakare as ordered by the court. We condemn the ruthless violence and shocking abuses against protesters.” The statement read in part: “UN Human Rights, UN Special Prodecures and David Kaye should urgently…

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld its earlier judgment, ordering the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay $22.6 million(N8.1 billion) in damages to BCE Consulting Engineers over a failed Consultancy Service Contract. The NNPC through its counsel, approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the July 5, 2019 judgment over an alleged error of facts. Judicial Review is a procedure provided under the Supreme Court Civil Procedure Rules for review of extant judgments. The counsel argued that the court did not hear their preliminary objection and that their cross appeal was dismissed with hearing. However, Justice C. C.…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said on Tuesday that the National Assembly is working towards the passage of the 2020 Appropriation bill on November 28, 2019. To achieve this target date, Lawan directed the Senate Committee on Appropriations to submit its report on the 2020 budget proposals on November 26, 2019. Lawan gave the directive on the floor of the Senate during plenary. The Senate President stated that the committee’s compliance to lay its report on November 26 would facilitate the passage of the 2020 budget on November 28, before the National Assembly proceeds on Christmas break. He said: “On the…