Senate Asks FG to Recover N42bn Waivers Granted Dangote, Bua, Others

Omololu Ogunmade and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Senate on Tuesday asked the federal government to recover N42 billion grants as import duty waivers to six companies including Dangote Limited and BUA Sugar Refinery between 2013 and 2015.

The upper chamber also asked the federal government to compel Olam International Limited, Popular Foods, a subsidiary of Stallion Group, and Milan Group to pay the import duty demand notice of N24 billion served on them by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for exceeding the quota granted to them on rice importation during the period.

The Senate resolution was the fallout of the adoption of the report of its ad hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers, Concessions and Grants which investigated the indiscriminate use and abuse of waivers granted by the federal government to some organisations.

Presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero, put the total amount to be recovered as grants for rice importation at N10 billion.
He listed the organisations meant to repay the N10 billion rice waivers and the respective amounts they should refund to include: Dangote Limited (N1,031,038,848); Kersuk Farms (N1,927,800,000); BUA Group (N3,704,126,328); Elephant Group (N1,501,627,680); Golden Penny (N284,602,399.20); and Milan Group (N1,855,263,312).

He added that the sum of N31.7 billion, representing 5 per cent import duty and another 45 per cent levy for 2013, as well as 5 per cent import duty and 65 per cent levy for 2014-2015 grants for the importation of raw sugar, should be recovered from BUA Group for obtaining a waiver for the importation of raw sugar without what he described as the backward integration policy for local sugar production.

He also said Mediterranean Nigeria Limited should be made to pay N82,101,866.10 as import duty for excess and under-invoicing 2,161,440 kilogramme of St. Louis cube sugar in June 2014.

In the same vein, the Senate resolved that the sum of N687,496,320, which the committee described as an illegal amount for the transfer of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice by JNI to Elephant Group, should be recovered.

It also said Elephant Group and officials, who were involved in the transaction, should be sanctioned for alleged economic sabotage, noting that the waiver was offered as charity grants and not for commercial purpose, because the company only donated foodstuffs to secure the offer.

The Senate also resolved that firms, which were illegally granted customs duty waivers and concessions through flagrant abuse of executive powers, must be made to refund such losses, as it described the amount as a huge loss of revenue to the federation account. It also said the companies should be sanctioned for economic sabotage.
According to the committee, organisations such as Mc Sally Investment Limited, which it said was not a player in the sector, got a waiver and imported 250,000 metric tonnes of vegetable oil, adding that it was detrimental to the economy.

In the same vein, the Senate said Elephant Group should be sanctioned for securing a waiver and importing 100,000 metric tonnes of parboiled rice without being a rice farmer or miller as provided for in the National Rice Policy.

The Senate called on the federal government to ensure that the grant of multiple incentives in the form of multiple duty waivers, concessions, pioneer incentives and grants at the same time to the same beneficiaries should be stopped henceforth.
It also asked the NCS to accept only bank indemnities and not corporate indemnities to avoid future loss of revenue to the government.

It advised the federal government to as a matter of urgency restructure and streamline the functions and responsibilities of the Budget Office of the Federation with a view to preventing abuses and excesses in support of duty waivers, concessions and grants.

It also said in line with international best practices, the federal government should take appropriate steps to evolve a clear-cut policy on import duty waivers, concessions and transparent grants.

The Senate further held that federal and state governments’ contractors should no longer enjoy import duty waivers, just as it said institutional weakness in the system should be addressed through the review of all relevant laws such as Customs and Excise Management Act and Nigeria Export Promotion Council Act, among others.

$2.9bn Lost Annually to Tax Waivers

Just as the Senate ad hoc committee presented its report, the House of Representatives yesterday also disclosed that Nigeria currently loses about $2.9 billion annually to indiscriminate tax waivers, with little evidence that the tax incentives have increased investments in the country.

The policy of tax incentives and waivers, the House recalled, was originally designed to attract genuine investments, particularly foreign investors who were expected to bring in capital to support economic development and create employment. The policy has however been abused, the House said.
The House therefore directed its Committees on Finance and Public Accounts to review the policy, which is implemented by the Ministry of Finance, with a view to abolishing unproductive incentives.

The resolution of the House followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Kehinde Odeneye (Ogun APC), who emphasised that conditions for tax incentives should be clearly spelt out and directed at achieving specific social and economic objectives.
Nigeria receives an average of $6 billion annually, Odeneye said, citing figures from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC).

Hon. Herman Hembe (Benue APC) also lamented that the policy was abused to the extent that waivers were granted to oil exploration companies.
He accused the Ministry of Finance of disregarding the recommendations on eligibility and duration of tax waivers.

Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (Abia PDP) however noted that the issue of tax waivers could not be handled by a motion but by a bill, which has the potential of becoming a law.
The majority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, advocated that the investigation should include waivers granted to manufacturers and importers, not just foreign investors.
“In Nigeria, tax waivers are the rule rather than the exception,” Gbajabiamila said.
The joint committee is expected to submit its report in four weeks.

Diezani N700m: EFCC detains Edo PDP chair

 By: Osagie Otabor, Benin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued its search for N700m given to Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party  out of the Diezani $115m bribe money.
It has detained State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and extended invitation to 18 local government officials of the party.
Other persons earlier invited in connection to the N700m bribe money were a former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Aziegbemin and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Imasuen had told newsmen that the he was only invited to a branch of Fidelity Bank to witness collection of the money and that the money was taken to the House of a PDP leader where the money was shared.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu also explained that he did not touch a kobo out of the money and that he gave the EFCC list of those that signed as the money was being shared.

Sources said Pastor Ize-Iyamu has been invited again but close aides to Pastor Ize-Iyamu said he traveled to Lagos.
It was gathered that the EFCC has asked those indicted to refund the money.

Real reason Governor Oshiomhole sacked Abdul Oroh

Sani Tukur

Photo: thisdaylive.com

The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday relieved Abdul Oroh of his appointment as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the State with immediate effect.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, said Mr. Oroh was removed in the public interest.
The governor then approved approved the appointment of Kerry Emokpare as Commissioner-designate in the State.
PREMIUM TIMES has however learnt that Mr. Oroh’s sack is one of the fallouts of the deep political disagreement between Mr. Oshiomhole and his deputy, Pius Odubu.
The two officials fell out recently after Mr. Odubu indicated his interest in succeeding his boss after the expiration of the governor’s tenure later this year.
Mr. Oshiomhole is openly opposed to his deputy’s aspiration, and is believed to be backing another candidate, Godwin Obaseki, the chairman of the state’s Economic Team.
But while the governor and is deputy remained at loggerheads, Mr. Oroh is believed to have openly taken sides with Mr. Odubu, to the surprise and irritation of his boss, the governor, those familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES.
“The truth is the political calculation in the state does not favour his remaining in power anymore,” an official well briefed on the matter told this newspaper. “He is openly on the side of the deputy governor, against his own boss, a man who appointed him to office.

“I think he just has to go so he can concentrate fully in his new preoccupation of backing Odubu. The governor has wished him well.”
Two close aides of the governor confirmed that narration.
But when contacted on Tuesday morning, Mr. Okhiria insisted Mr. Oroh was “removed in the public interest as contained in the statement I issued yesterday.”
He said he had no other information on the matter.
Mr. Oroh could not be reached to comment for this story. He did not answer or return multiple calls made to his telephone.
Mr. Oroh, lawyer, journalist and civil rights activist, was a former member of the House of Representatives.
He was also a for Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the state.

We Know Those Who Shot at Edo Deputy Governor in Auchi – Aide

On Saturday, April 30, 2016, Edo Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu, on campaign tour, was attacked in Auchi while meeting delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area. Imoudu Afe, a member of the campaign organisation, who witnessed the horrible scenario, gives an account.

Looks like violence has become the norm in this early stage of the contest. Not long ago your campaign team alleged that it was shot at, also a few days thereafter, Godwin Obaseki’s team alleged that a gunman attacked them. What do you think that this portends?

A friend of mine, a lawyer, who is also a member of the civil society, told me that he has read section 308 and he is aware that the Deputy Governor enjoys immunity under the constitution. He also affirmed that much attention is being paid to his protection and that is why he is protected using tax payers money. That he would have given orders to his security details to shoot at the people that attacked his team during that scenario in Auchi because we knew them. The people did not come from outer space we saw them and were even discussing with them. We know them. They are our friends.We are members of the same political party. We were telling them that what they were doing is wrong. We thought it had ended. We were at the entrance of the two doors leading into hall when we started hearing gun shots. It was when one of the bullets hit somebody close to me that I knew they were direct shots. Before you know it the escort commander that was trying to tell his men to take position and defend his principal was shot in the eye. The DSS (Department of State Security) operative was shot on the shoulder. Why we said it was an assassination attempt is that you know that in security issues the DSS is the last body of security before the principal. For the DSS man to be shot on the shoulder that means if the bullet had missed him God forbid what would have happened. It is wrong to say that the Odubu campaign team was shooting themselves. My brother, we are one; we are not violent people. But let me warn that nobody has monopoly of violence. You can push somebody to the wall and he would react. What has happened after (the second shooting incident)  is not APC matter. It’s a local political contest between two opposing political divides who are supporting a particular candidate that want to show relevance. That was what happened. Somebody was coordinating and another person wanted to take over from him. Politicians believe that it’s what you put in now that will determine what you will benefit after the election. So everybody wants to be serious. On our own part, we’ve visited other local government areas after that and we were well received even in some local government areas where they were given instructions by some persons that we should not be received.  They disregarded those instructions.


Your principal, Pius Odubu, is now planning what seems to be a herculean task, to succeed his boss in September. Do you think that this is possible?
It has happened in Kano State. It’s a clear example. The Governor of Kano State was the former Deputy Governor of the state. It has also happened in Enugu and so many other states. Some even moved up to be governors from their former position as Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff to the Governor, commissioner etc. History is made by people who are bold and strong. People who are determined and driven by their passion for the people. People who know their constitutional rights and want to enforce it. History is not made by those who are lily-livered or sit on the fence. We pray that our Comrade Governor who started well ends well and history will be kind to him.
Your principal and his boss have been serving the state on their joint ticket for almost eight years running and the belief is that they have a cordial relationship. But accusations, counter accusations and denials between them recently has shocked Nigerians. What is your take on this?
Let me tell you, even as we speak the duo still enjoy a cordial relationship. They’re still best of friends. The nature of the Deputy Governor is a result of his exposure. He didn’t do all his schooling here (in Nigeria). At the age of 18 years he went abroad on scholarship. While abroad he attended three Ivy league universities in America. He came back to Nigeria with a doctorate in law. He realised early that there can never be two captains in a ship. He realised early that he has a boss, who is the Governor, and he is the Deputy. He realised early that he must be loyal and be able to work with his boss so that there will be an environment for them to entrench development. And that is what you have seen in the last seven and half years. It’s what the Deputy Governor has learnt in the Oshiomhole’s school of developmental society that inspired him to seek to succeed his boss. He is the only person who’ll hit the ground running as soon as he is elected. The man is intelligent and he knows his onions. On the issue of the attack (of his campaign team in Auchi) he has not taken it serious because he has faith in the security agencies that they’re going to do their investigations. I think that names have been mentioned and I also think that very soon we’ll get to the end of it all. Coming to the issue of use of juju(diabolic), it was very appalling to have read it in the papers. We also knew all these issues before now. We heard it on the corridors of power that these were the things that were happening, that the governor and his deputy held a reconciliatory meeting. But the press was wrong. There was never a reconciliatory meeting between the governor and the deputy governor. They have never been involved in any quarrel or altercation. It’s only mischief makers and some politicians I call hustlers that want to be in the centre of attraction at all times that were putting together these meetings. Before now,  you will remember the issue of Gentleman Ameghor. That he is very close to the Deputy Governor and has said that he (Deputy Governor) can win election without the Governor. It became an issue. You also recall the issue of the Vice Chairman of the party,  Alhaji Magaji. That too became an issue but later died down. Then after that you heard the issue of security. They all resolved that it was a non-issue. The informant they agreed was not somebody that has a good character or is reliable. A source at the meeting (not Deputy Governor) quoted the Governor as saying: “I am the Governor today. I didn’t know that I will be governor many years ago. It’s God that gives power. I cannot stop my Deputy from exercising his rights.” The governor went further to say: “if you hear that I say anything about you tell me.  If it’s true I will tell you why I said so. But let us be on the same page.” If anything goes wrong with this administration the Deputy Governor knows that he would share from it too that is why he is determined to ensure that the current administration under the leadership of Comrade Aliu Oshiomhole ends well.
Many people fear that this argument and counter argument may not augur well for the APC at the polls. What are you doing to reconcile with the opposing camps?
There is no rancour at all. We are all members of the same political party. The philosophy of the deputy governor is that we’re all members of the same political family. That after the primaries everybody will come together and work together because we must keep Edo State in safe hands. He had earlier said he has no enemies what he has are opponents. In a contest you must have opponents. He is pursuing his own political aspiration by the rules. That is why he has control over his social media team and other organs of his campaign organisation. I know that most of the time he doesn’t sleep early because he wants to ensure that no member of his team is saying anything that is wrong against the other aspirants. He wants to ensure that everyone is cautious and we use good language when we are expressing ourselves. This is about canvassing votes from the delegates. It’s only twelve persons per ward, the local government area executives and members of the party’s state executives that are going to participate in the primaries. You cannot rule out the fact that this is the only state under the control of the APC in the south south geopolitical region so, the party is also very careful. The National Chairman of the party (Chief John Odigie-Oyegun) is from the state and he has assured that there is going to be a level playing field during the primaries. The only way you can be angry is when aspirants feel cheated; feel that there is no level playing field; there is no sincerity. That’s why you feel that you cannot manage the system. But if they go through the rigours of the primaries and the system is transparent everybody will congratulate the winner and they all work together during the election. The deputy governor has always said that whoever gets the ticket in a sincere and credible primaries would have his backing in the election proper. He also said he will need the support of all Edolites if he gets the ticket in a transparent way. We know that we have bigger enemies to confront after the primaries. We are talking of the other political parties.

If at the end of the day your principal does not get the party ticket would you volunteer to work with the elected candidate?

I have told you earlier that some of us are very experienced. Some of us have a history and a culture and we have conquered fear many years ago. I am an activist and I operate at my own risk to the extent of been imprisoned so that Nigeria can return to democratic governance. People will attest to that. So, we’re not just local names, we are people known internationally because of our courage to fight for what we believe in. When the aspirants began to reach out to me about their aspirations I sat back and assessed them. I did a SWOT analysis on all the aspirants – their Strength, their Weaknesses, their Opportunities and their Threats (SWOT). On that scale, I chose to work with the Deputy Governor. He didn’t approach me. He has been a father to me. He is somebody that I relate with as he has known me over the years. So, I approached him and told him he is the best person to be the governor of the state after Comrade Oshiomhole. I have made allusions to three very important factors in a contest, namely transparency, credibility and ability to authenticate what is right. If the primaries meet these three factors, I am telling you we’re going to support whoever wins. But I know that the contest is between the deputy governor on one side and the others on the opposite side. What we are saying is that the process should be plain so that at the end of the day during the election everybody will back the aspirant that emerges as the party’s flagbearer.

COURTESY GG PLATFORM @ TMZ: On Fayose and his madness

I hear our prof and rationalization of the call to violence . think a lot of us are  just too young to remember how the civil war started. Violence yields nothing, and when violence is mixed with ethnic and political undertones it has to be a smoldering powder that every educated person must condemn unequivocally. Fayose made statements like "his state", well he is just a governor (an usurper some of us think) and it is not his state. He has no right to stop economic activities by fiat and even his law if passed will be tested in the courts against the constitution and I can already tell you it will be struck down. If ranching is a solution, then the duty of the governor is to support that industry to inflame passion and call for inter ethnic strife and killing. That is just plain irresponsible . Ranching is not a bad idea but won't happen overnight, even as we work to harmonize cattle rearer and farmer positions across Nigeria. The only thing that will come out of Fayose's madness is death, hunger due to unemployment and high cost of beef in OUR state.

As an Ekiti man, and specifically an Ikole man (so this gets home and no need to cry more than the mourner)..this is not protection, this is lunacy. Omo ale Ni Fayose, ridiculing Ekiti people and our hard won brand for intellectualism and common sense. No one plays to the gallery with security. The reality on ground is that this issue will only lead to more progrom and death, as Ikole borders huge husbandry states of Kwara and Kogi, and have benefitted economically from being a center of trade and commerce in cattle and yams. What is oncoming is clash and massive unemployment & economic depression for the already "left behind" who barely survive already. The consequences of his misadventure will soon be obvious


PS: People talking about death toll of recent clash between criminal herdsmen and farmers are just plain gullible. We have higher death toll from maternal deaths in our hospital and bad roads cause by corruption and even armed robbery than cattle rustling. The issue is just the right one for ethnic jingoist seeking to undermine Nigeria for their own narrow interest and distract the current government from its war against their looting- Fayose inclusive.

FG Appoints New CEOs For NTA, NAN, NBC, Others

SAN FRANCISCO, May 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has appointed new chief executives officers for the information-related parastatals in the Ministry of Information and Culture.
The new appointees, whose appointments are with immediate effect, will fill the posts left unoccupied following the disengagement of the previous heads of the agencies on February 15, 2016.
The appointments as announced by the Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed are as follows:
Mr. Ishaq Modibo Kawu – Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
Mr. Mansur Liman – Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)
Mr. Yakubu Mohammed – Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
Dr. Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA)
Mr. Bayo Onanuga – Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Mr. Osita Okechukwu – Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON).

Edo Govt withdraws letter approving new Oba of Benin

Crown Prince of Benin, Eheneden Erediauwa

The Edo State Government has withdrawn a letter earlier issued on the Oba of Benin, saying it was issued in error.
In a retraction signed by the Secretary to State Government, Julius Ihonvbere, dated May 25, 2016, the government said: “In deference to the revered age-long tradition and respect for the sensibilities of the people of the great Benin Kingdom, the Government of Edo State hereby withdraws a letter issued on 24th May 2016 entitled: “Appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin”
“The said letter was issued in error as the rites of passage of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin are still on.
“The government will, in due course, issue a fresh letter on the installation of the Edaiken N’Uselu, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, as the Oba of Benin, in line with the age-long succession tradition of the Benin Kingdom and in line with Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 (as amended) and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf, after all necessary traditional rites are concluded.”
Mr. Ihonvebere had on Tuesday circulated a letter approving the appointment of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, with effect from April 29, 2016.
In the letter dated May 24, Mr. Ihonvbere, had said, “It is hereby notified for general information that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 (as amended) and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf, the Executive Council of the Edo State Government of Nigeria has approved the appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, with effect from 29th day of April, 2016.”
The palace of the Oba announced the death of Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa on April 29 even though it is believed by many Nigerians that he passed on long before the formal announcement.
Oba Erediauwa, who ascended the throne in 1979, was 92.

Almost one year ago, the monarch, , was rumoured to have passed on after an undisclosed illness.
Crown Prince Eheneden was formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu, the heir apparent to the throne on March 7, 2015.