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Governors from the south of Nigeria have expressed their support for the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT, by state governments. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo disclosed this while reading a communique at the end of a meeting of the governors on Thursday in Enugu. Mr Akeredolu said that the governors resolved and affirmed the position that the collection of VAT fell within the powers of state governments. “We resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the state. “The meeting reaffirmed its earlier commitments to fiscal federalism and emphasised the need to…

A notorious bandit terrorising residents of Kaduna State has been gunned down by security operatives. The bandit was killed during an exchange of gunfire with security operatives around Kasarami village on Kaduna-Abuja highway. The incident happened in the wee hours of Thursday, according to a local source. A youth leader, who pleaded anonymity, said two civilians were killed while a security vehicle was destroyed by the bandits during the shoot out. The incident happened 48 hours after the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara was abducted. The youth leader said, “A bandit was killed by security forces during the attack,” he…

Former Rivers Governor, Peter Odili has been placed on the watch list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. The NIS revealed this on Wednesday in response to a suit filed by Mr Odili, challenging the seizure of his international passport by the service. When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel to the service, Jimoh Adamu informed the court that he had just filed a counter affidavit to oppose the suit of the former governor. Mr Adamu sought a brief adjournment to enable him put his house in order. Mr Odili’s counsel,…

Condemns destruction of lives and properties in SE Charges police, others on security The South East Caucus of the National Assembly has resolved to intervene in issue and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the lawmakers after an extraordinary session, which held at the residence of the former Deputy President of the Senate and Leader of the Caucus, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The communiqué, which was rendered by the Leader, South East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Ekweremadu, reads in part: “The South East Caucus of the National Assembly held an extraordinary session…

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill on the prohibition of open grazing in the state into law. The bill entitled, “A Bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches and Livestock administration, regulation and control, and for other matters connected therewith” was passed after it was read the third time on the floor of the House during the plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aniekan Bassey. Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, and member representing Ikono State Constituency, Asuquo Udo, presented the report of…

Al-Barnawi, Notorious Son Of Boko Haram Founder And ISWAP Leader Killed Leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu Musab Al-Barnawi has been killed in Borno State. He was reportedly killed in the last week of August, sources told Daily Trust. Al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf who was also killed by security forces in 2009 when he launched a war against the Nigerian state. More than one thousand people died during the uprising. In 2016, the Islamic State (IS) militant group announced Al-Barnawi as the leader of its West African affiliate, Boko Haram,…

Nigeria's Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi has revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria will not shut the door against repentant bandits. The minister stated this when he appeared on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday night. He said the window is still open for bandits to surrender and be reintegrated into the larger society. He added that repentant bandits are Nigerian citizens and the Federal Government has a responsibility to reintegrate them “peacefully and honourably into the society”. The minister said, “When you talk of amnesty, it is a relative term and what the Federal Government…

Rivers Govt Files Appeal At Supreme Court Over VAT Ruling The Rivers State has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the Value Added Tax (VAT) dispute between the state and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala, alongside three other senior lawyers filed a notice of appeal at the apex court, documents obtained by Channels Television on Tuesday revealed. The Attorney-General of Rivers State is the appellant while the FIRS and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are joined as respondents. The state government, in the…

Enugu Governor Ugwuanyi signs anti-open grazing bill into law Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has signed the anti-open grazing bill into law, at the Government House, Enugu. The bill which is for a law to prohibit open grazing, regulate cattle ranching, and for connected purposes was recently passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly. Recall that the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, had explained after the passage of the bill, that it would be cited as the “Prohibition of Open Grazing and Cattle Ranching Law of Enugu State” after the governor’s assent. Gov. Ugwuanyi’s assent…

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu says the detained members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and associates of Sunday Igboho deserve to be granted amnesty. The former Abia governor said they should be given the same treatment as repentant Boko Haram insurgents and bandits. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kalu said granting them amnesty will improve unity in the country. “I pleaded with most of our elders in the north and in the south-west; we cannot continue to fight at all times,” he said. “I am still pleading with them and the federal government…