FG Introduces Stamp Duty Payment On House Rent, Others

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said that henceforth, stamp duty will be paid on house rent and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in line with its new adhesive duty.

The FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Ahmad urged Nigerians and other residents to ensure that documents pertaining to rent or lease agreements for their homes or offices, C of O as well as a list of other common business-related transaction instruments are subjected to authentication with the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp duty.

He said this was necessary in order to give the instruments the force of law and make them legally binding on all parties involved in such transactions.

He added that the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp Duty came into being at the official inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Audit and Recovery of Back Years Stamp Duties recently in Abuja.

Ahmed quoted the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami as saying “chargeable transactions under the Stamp Duties Act as amended in the Finance Act 2019 are in two categories – Fixed Duty Instruments and Ad-Valorem Instruments.

“The following are the chargeable transactions in the Fixed Duty Instruments category, Power of Attorney (PoA); Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), Proxy form; Appointment of Receiver, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Joint Venture Agreements (JVA), Guarantor’s form, and Ordinary Agreements Receipts.

“While ad-Valorem Instruments chargeable under the Stamp Duties Act are Deed of Assignment, Sales Agreement, Legal Mortgage or Debentures, Tenancy or Lease Agreement, Insurance Policies, Contract Agreements, Vending Agreement, Promissory Notes, Charter-Party and Contract Notes.

“Stamp duty is basically charged in two forms, either ad valorem where duty payable is a percentage of the consideration on an instrument or a fixed sum irrespective of the consideration on dutiable instrument or document.”

According to him, the FIRS therefore, enjoins members of the public to make sure that any of the above-listed Instruments they give or receive in the course of their business or official transactions have the new FIRS Adhesive Stamp Duty affixed or stamped on them. This, he noted would authenticate or legalise such Instruments.

Rodrigo Alves reveals she now has a 'JLO butt' and 'Kim Kardashian hips'

Rodrigo Alves has revealed she now has a 'JLO butt' and 'Kim Kardashian hips' after undergoing a Bioplasty buttock augmentation that involved her having nine litres of filler injected into her bottom at a cost of £30,000.

The 36-year-old, who is a transgender woman, said she doesn't care that she still has a 'male voice' and 'male genitals' for the time being as she feels 'sexy for the first time in [her] life' with her new curves.

Rodrigo flew home to Brazil to reunite with her family last month and the Bioplasty procedure is currently available there despite the coronavirus pandemic.


Speaking to MailOnline about her latest transformation, Rodrigo said: 'I had a life changing aesthetic procedure as part of my transition which left me with a J-Lo butt and Kim Kardashian hips.'

'I had high amounts of Methacrylate over the period of a week [and] my body was transformed into an hourglass figure.

'I want to be a voluptuous woman with curves and now I am and I feel sexy for the first time in my life!'

Rodrigo revealed that she never felt 'sexy' before her gender transition and had low confidence but now feels 'fierce' in her body.
She said: 'As a man I never felt sexy at all and I had very low confidence but now as a woman I feel fierce and sexy and it is such an overwhelming feeling.

'My life has changed a lot. I am not the same person from last year. My mind, body and soul is 100 per cent female.'

Rodrigo explained that due to the coronavirus pandemic, her voice feminisation surgery and sex reassignment surgery have been delayed.

She said: 'Due to Covid my voice feminisation surgery and my SRS has been postponed.
'But now after achieving my female body here in Brazil I am feeling so happy that doesn’t really bother me too much that I still have a male voice and male genitals.'



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/rodrigo-alves-reveals-she-now-has-jlo.html

Two Senators exchange blows in fight over committee post

There was drama in Kenya earlier this week when two nominated senators Beatrice Kwamboka (ODM) and Mary Seneta (Jubilee) engaged in a scuffle before parliamentary security separated them.

The scuffle over a post is said to have led to the suspension of the vice-chairperson of the Election of Senate health committee.

It is gathered that trouble brewed after Ms Senata accused some members, including Ms Kwamboka of colluding to edge her out of the position. Seneta made the accusation after Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina was declared the winner.

The accusation made Kwamboka who is the deputy minority leader angry and she confronted Seneta.

A scuffle is said to have broken out between the two women.

The row over the post may be linked to proxy voting as it is gathered that Senator Fred Outa (Kisumu) had proposed Kina to take over the vice chairperson’s seat.

Seneta was reportedly backed by some committee members led by Deputy Majority Whip Farhiya Ali (Jubilee) after she left DP William Ruto’s Tanga Tanga faction.

Things got tricky when Ali showed up with a proxy vote which she wanted to cast on behalf of nominated Senator Beth Mugo.

Afte casting her vote, Ali went out and appeared to receive a phone call. She came back and said she also wanted to vote for nominated Senator Millicent Omanga, in support of Seneta.

Kwamboka said she did not trust the signature on the alleged letter by Ms Mugo, allowing Ali to vote on her behalf.

Later, Omanga distanced herself from Ms Ali’s claim saying she supported Kina.

The election was cancelled and sitting adjourned by Trans Nzoia Senator Michael Mbito, who had retained the chairmanship

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/two-senators-exchange-blows-in-fight.html

Plant used to make Madagascar COVID-19 drink exists in Nigeria- health minister

The Nigerian Government Thursday said preliminary results of the analysis of the Madagascar COVID-19 herbal drink by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) showed that it is the same as the plant Artemisia annua, with proven efficacy in malaria treatment.

He noted that the plant is grown on NIPRID farm and that further research on its efficacy will be conducted when the grants for research is approved.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on 15th May 2020, received the delivery of the country’s allocation of the Madagascar anti-coronavirus drink and he promised to ‘listen’ to science before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.


Speaking at the briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 on Thursday in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said one of the components of the Madagascar mixture was imported by the Nigerian Government some years ago and cultivated it for the purpose of using it for production of anti-malarial medicine.

He explained that the specie of the plant available in the country has a very high concentration of artemisinin with a very high yield, adding that further research will reveal the efficacy of the plant in the treatment of the coronavirus disease.

He explained that the move is to assure users and caregivers of reduced bottlenecks and improved efficiency in our response adding that this would be scaled up to other states of the Federation.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/plant-used-to-make-madagascar-covid-19.html

649 COVID-19 patients discharged in 24 hours — highest recovery rate

For the first time in weeks, the number of persons discharged in one day exceeded the figure of new cases recorded across the country.

This is the highest rate of recoveries recorded in Nigeria with 649 people discharged within 24 hours.

The new figure was given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its update for July 2, 2020.

Published just before midnight on Thursday, the update showed that 626 new samples tested positive for the coronavirus in 19 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Thirteen more people were confirmed to have died of COVID-19 complications on Thursday.

Out of a total of 27,110 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 35 states and the FCT, 10,801 patients have recovered while 616 deaths have occurred.

626 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-193
FCT-85
Oyo-41
Edo-38
Kwara-34
Abia-31
Ogun-29
Ondo-28
Rivers-26
Osun-21
Akwa Ibom-18
Delta-18
Enugu-15
Kaduna-13
Plateau-11
Borno-8
Bauchi-7
Adamawa-5
Gombe-4
Sokoto-1

27,110 confirmed
10,801 discharged
616 deaths pic.twitter.com/v4AOwNPHuN

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) July 2, 2020

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to increase testing capacity, the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 has explained the steps to take in order to get tested.

Speaking at the press briefing on Thursday, Sani Aliyu, national coordinator of the PTF, gave a breakdown of what to expect when getting tested for COVID-19.

“Throughout the country, every state has an emergency operations centre. Most states will have a hotline. You can get the details of the helpline, the telephone number, from the NCDC website,” he said.

“Or if your state does not have a helpline, you can call the NCDC helpline directly to provide you with additional information on the next steps to take.

“Once you call, you will be asked for your address and either of two things could happen. If you’re not very symptomatic, you’ll be asked to go to a testing centre.

“After you’ve had your sample taken, you will be asked to self-isolate if you’re having symptoms until you receive your result.

“By self-isolation, we mean keeping away from the public as well as household members where possible; wearing a face mask properly to cover both your nose and mouth; maintaining physical distancing; avoiding mass gatherings and frequently disinfecting your hands with soap and water or a disinfectant, as well as disinfecting any surfaces that you may have worked on.

“You’ll be contacted with your result. If your result is positive and you have mild symptoms, you will be asked to isolate. If you have severe symptoms, you will be taken into a hospital setup. Otherwise, the isolation centre may not necessarily be a hospital setup, depending on the arrangements in your state.”

He urged persons with moderate to severe symptoms to “report to hospitals immediately for urgent care”.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/649-covid-19-patients-discharged-in-24.html

6 Assembly Members Who Followed Gov. Akeredolu To Abuja Are COVID19 Positive

According to a credible source, no fewer than six members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Further checks reveal that the lawmakers had followed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to Abuja for the submission of his nomination form in his re-election bid.


The governor, on Wednesday, announced his positive but asymptomatic status for the infection and has since been observing his mandatory 14-day- isolation period even as his wife, Betty has also tested positive to the virus.

PDP Condemns Fuel Price Increase, Says Buhari Govt. Lacks Human Sympathy

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the increase in price of petrol from N123 to N143.80 per liter, saying the Federal Government unsympathetic with Nigerian masses.

In a statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the increase as a punishment to Nigerians given the prevailing economic hardship in the country.



The party described the hike, despite the decline in the price of crude oil in the international market, as grossly unjustifiable and further exposes the insincerity of the administration.

The PDP noted that in directing a fuel price increase at the time Nigerians are facing the economic and social trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration showed a total lack of human feelings to the plights of the citizenry.

The statement said, “Our party challenges the APC-led Federal Government to present to Nigerians, the indices and parameters it used to determine the price increase, which obviously cannot be in tandem with the prevalent situation in the global industry.

“The actions of the APC administration have continued to confirm that the party has never been pro-poor but only relishes in imposing hardship and heavy taxes on already impoverished Nigerians, while running an over-bloated government through which resources meant for the welfare of Nigerians are frittered by corrupt officials and the cabal in the Presidency.

“Under the APC, Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardship, which is worsened by excruciating taxes, including a 7.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential commodities and services, increased electricity tariff, obnoxious Stamp Duty and other levies on bank transactions.

“It is shocking that the APC government has continued to impose more burdens that have made life unbearable for our citizens, many of whom have lost their means of livelihood due to the misrule of the APC.

“Only yesterday, President Buhari told the world that the number of poor people will triple following the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic; yet his administration, which has turned our nation into the poverty capital of the world, instead of seeking ways to stimulate the economy, is worsening the situation with an increase in fuel price.

“What Nigerians expect of the Buhari Presidency at this critical time is to save resources by immediately cutting the size of its over-bloated government, recover the over N14 trillion oil money stolen under its watch and channel the funds towards the wellbeing of Nigerians”.

The PDP charged the administration to immediately reverse the pump price of fuel to a price not exceeding N90 per liter, given the prevailing templates in the price of crude oil in the international market.

NEW

626 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria, Total Now 27,110

In the last 24 hours, 626 new cases of COVID19 were reported in Nigeria; Lagos-193, FCT-85, Oyo-41, Edo-38, Kwara-34, Abia-31, Ogun-29, Ondo-28, Rivers-26, Osun-21, Akwa Ibom-18, Delta-18, Enugu-15, Kaduna-13, Plateau-11, Borno-8, Bauchi-7, Adamawa-5, Gombe-4, Sokoto-1.

A total of 27,110 confirmed cases in Nigeria. The breakdown;

Ogun land-grabbers arrested for shooting workers on site

Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspected land-grabbers, who allegedly shot at seven workers at a construction site in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Oyeyemi said the suspects had been terrorising the residents of Ota and its environs before they were apprehended on Monday.

He said the suspects, Rufai Abdulkareem, Tobi Ajayi and Wasiu Oladipupo, were arrested following a distress call by residents of the Owolabi Estate in Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

Oyeyemi explained that the police Area Commander, Ota, received a distress call that some hoodlums, numbering about 10 and operating on motorcycles, invaded the estate.

He added that the police were told that the land-grabbers were armed and shooting at the residents of the area.

Oyeyemi said, “Consequently, seven among the workers at the site sustained varying degrees of gunshot injury.

“Upon the distress call, the Area Commander, Ota, ACP Monday Agbonnika, quickly mobilised his Anti-Robbery Squad men and moved to the scene.

“On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels, but three of them were arrested, while the others escaped.”

The PPRO added that items recovered from the suspects included one locally-made single-barrelled pistol, three live cartridges and two expended cartridges.

He said the injured workers had been taken to the General Hospital, Ota, for medical attention.

Oyeyemi said the state Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, had directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.

He added that the CP also ordered that the leader of the gang, identified as Joseph Ayodele, be hunted down and brought to justice.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/ogun-land-grabbers-arrested-for.html

UN suspends 2 officials over viral car-s.e.x video

The United Nations said it has suspended two male staff members involved in a recent viral car s.e.x video in Israel.

Mr Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, disclosed this in a note to UN correspondents in New York on Thursday.

Dujarric said both employees had been identified and placed on “Administrative Leave Without Pay” pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation into the allegation.

The video, which surfaced online last week, shows a couple apparently having s.e.x on the back seat of a UN official car in Tel Aviv.

On Friday, Dujarric told correspondents that the organisation was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the footage, and that investigation had been launched.

He confirmed that the video featured a 4×4 vehicle, containing personnel “likely assigned to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)” headquartered in Jerusalem.

The short video shows a white woman in a red dress straddling an equally white man in the back seat of the white SUV bearing the “UN” inscription.

With them in the moving vehicle were the driver and a bald-head man sitting on the passenger side, in front.

Media reports say the footage was recorded on HaYarkon Street, a major thoroughfare in Tel Aviv, Israeli capital.

The UN spokesman said in Thursday’s note that the investigation was being handled by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

He said: “Two male international staff members, who were in the UN vehicle in Tel Aviv have been identified as having engaged in misconduct, including conduct of s.e.xual nature.

“Given the seriousness of the allegation of failing to observe the standards of conduct expected of international civil servants, the two staff members have been placed on Administrative Leave Without Pay.

“This is pending the results and conclusion of the ongoing OIOS investigation.

“UNTSO has re-engaged in a robust awareness-raising campaign to remind its personnel of their obligations to the UN Code of Conduct.

“The OIOS investigation continues, and we will keep you informed,” he said.

According to the organisation, UNTSO is the first ever peacekeeping mission established by the UN in 1948.

It says the mission comprises military observers to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements and prevent military escalation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sexual misconduct is not new among employees of the global body.

In 2019, the UN said it received and investigated 175 allegations of s.e.xual exploitation and abuse against its staff.

Out of the total, 16 were substantiated, 15 unsubstantiated and all others still being investigated.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/un-suspends-2-officials-over-viral-car.html

Ramos shoots Madrid 4 points clear of Barcelona

Captain fantastic Sergio Ramos scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat Getafe 1-0.

The victory shot them four points clear of rivals Barcelona, as the race for La Liga title enters the home stretch.

Madrid faced a stubborn, hard-tackling Getafe at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium on Thursday.

It was a very edgy Madrid derby as the visitors frustrated their hosts. Notable was that the two teams shared evenly 10 yellow cards.

But captain Ramos secured a precious victory 11 minutes from time after Mathias Olivera was adjudged to have fouled Dani Carvajal.

Victory for Madrid who rested Eden Hazard, was their sixth in a row and they are strong favourites to dethrone stuttering Barcelona with five matches to play.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/ramos-shoots-madrid-4-points-clear-of.html

Amazon boss, Jeff Bezos now richer than before divorce

Amazon has recorded a 4.4 percent surge in its stock value, making Jeff Bezos richer than he was, after his divorce in 2019.

The 56-year-old founder and CEO of Amazon is now worth $172 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

In 2019, Bezos finalised his $38billion divorce from his wife, MacKenzie making her the 22nd richest person in the world.

She took 25 percent of his shares, which meant at the time her stake was worth more than $35 billion, according to Forbes.

However, Bezos remained the wealthiest person on the planet after the settlement and his wealth has continued to soar amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Comparisun, Bezos is on track to be the world’s first trillionaire by 2026.

The business software comparison site used data collected from the last five years of the Forbes Rich List to calculate the yearly wealth growth rate of the world’s richest billionaires.

Applying this annual growth rate over the coming years, the study concluded that Bezos could become the world’s first trillionaire in 2026 or sooner.

Bezos’ company, Amazon has been doing particularly well in recent months with the increased dema.d for online shopping due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the company’s share prices have increased.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/amazon-boss-jeff-bezos-now-richer-than.html

EFCC arraigns ex-Scholarship Board boss over N127m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, arraigned Stephen Oshinowo, a former Executive Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, for alleged N127million fraud.

Oshinowo during the arraignment before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court, pleaded not guilty to the eight-count fraud charge.

According to the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Usman Buhari, the scholarship board boss committed the offences between 2016 and 2018 in Lagos.

“Investigation revealed that Oshinowo, at various times, allegedly diverted to his personal use the total sum of N127.1 million meant for the Board.

“Sometime in 2018, he dishonestly converted N30 million property of Lagos State Scholarship Board, through one Oshinowo Adenike.

“Between Feb. 8, 2016, and Dec. 30, 2016, while acting as the Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, dishonestly converted through Julikam International Ltd., the sum of N39 million,” the EFCC prosecutor said.

After the arraignment, Buhari asked for a trial date and also requested that the former civil servant be remanded at the correctional centre.

The defence counsel, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), however, requested for a short adjournment for the hearing of Oshinowo’s bail application.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the case until July 3 for the hearing of the bail application. He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/efcc-arraigns-ex-scholarship-board-boss.html

Akeredolu’s wife tests positive for COVID-19

The wife of Ondo governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The wife’s health status announcement is coming few days after her husband, state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, embarked on self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Members of the House of Assembly who followed Gov Akeredolu to Abuja for the submission of his re-election nomination form and some traditional rulers who visited the governor to endorse him for second term in office were yet to undergo the COVID-19 test as advised by the governor.

The results of the test conducted for commissioners, Senior Special Advisers, other top political office holders, media aides and journalists in the governor’s office were yet to be released.

Meanwhile, the state’s health commissioner, Dr Wahab Oluropo Adegbenro, has died of the virus.

Adegbenro was said to have died at the Federal Medical Center FMC in Owo after he was rushed there yesterday.

Reports had it that he collapsed while attending to a patient in his hospital and later revived.

He reportedly fell sick last on Monday and stayed indoor until he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre where he died.

Doctors at the hospital said he died of health complications coupled with being infected with COVID -19 pandemic.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/akeredolus-wife-tests-positive-for.html

Wife Of Gov. Akeredolu Tests Positive For COVID19

Wife of the Ondo State governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu and a security aide in the government house, Akure, have tested positive for coronavirus.

A government official in the state confirmed her status.

The official confided in Nigerian Tribune: “The samples of the First Lady which was collected  two days ago and one of the security aides of the governor returned positive this morning.”

He, however, said the First Lady has embarked on self-isolation but said: “We are still awaiting the results of some media aides of the governor and some commissioners who interact with the state governor regularly.”

Similar test will be conducted on the members of the House of Assembly and the traditional rulers who endorsed the second term ambition of Akeredolu in Akure recently.

Djokovic, wife recover from COVID-19

Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena, who last week both tested positive for coronavirus following his exhibition tournament in the Balkans, have now tested negative, his press service said Thursday.

Neither the 33-year-old player nor his partner felt any symptoms, the statement said.

The couple had been self-isolating since returning to Belgrade from Zadar in Croatia, the town which hosted the second leg of Djokovic’s ill-fated Adria Tour.

Four players — Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki — tested positive for the virus after the event which saw little social distancing and packed stands.

The world number one’s coach Goran Ivanisevic also contracted COVID-19.

Players had embraced across the net, played basketball and even danced in a nightclub during the week of the first leg played in Belgrade.

Djokovic was widely criticised for hosting the tournament.

The Serbian star issued an apology, saying he was “so deeply sorry” that the tournament “caused harm”.

On Wednesday, the player donated more than 40,000 euros ($45,000) to Serbian town Novi Pazar which has been badly affected by the pandemic.

Serbia, with a population of about seven million people, has registered nearly 15,000 coronavirus infections and 281 deaths.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/djokovic-wife-recover-from-covid-19.html

"Don’t Send Your Children To Any School If You're Not Sure Of Their Safety" – FG Tells Parents

Parents will not be compelled to send their children to schools if they are not comfortable with it, the Federal Government has said,

According to the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, although the Federal Government has reopened schools for students in final year classes, parents who cannot afford to do so now should keep their wards at home.



The Minister said the Federal Government has put adequate measures in place for the safety of students and teachers in public schools across the country.

“We understand the limitations of Nigerians. Most people cannot afford laptops and devices and we know that not all our children have the same access.

“And if there are people who do have this access and who feel confident that their children are ready for these exams, nobody is compelling anybody to go to any school,” he said.

Ondo Health Commissioner Dies Of COVID19, 2 Days After Governor Tested Positive

Multiple media reports have confirmed that the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, has lost his life to COVID-19 complications. He reportedly died on Thursday.

Members of staff at his Crown Hospital at Oja Oshodi, Akure, the state capital, were seen crying and the neighbours too were lamenting the sudden death of the commissioner.



Governor Rotimi Akeredolu only disclosed his own COVID-19 status via his Twitter handle on Tuesday, but was silent on other members of his cabinet who were on admission at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH).

Abuja Big Girl, Ngozi Loses 48 Luxury Houses Acquired Fraudulently

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has gotten a court order forfeiting 48 luxury properties in Abuja and other states belonging to Ngozi Olejeme.

She is accused of acquiring the properties by misappropriating and stealing from government when she was the treasurer of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF.

The affected properties are spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo and Delta states.

Mrs Olejeme who was also the Treasurer of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation in 2015 has been on the run since 2016 and was in September, 2017, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

She was alleged to have, along with Umar Munir Abubakar, former managing director of NSITF, mismanaged and diverted over N69 billion, belonging to the federal government into their personal accounts through the award of spurious contracts to proxy companies.

The forfeiture order was granted after counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, convinced the court that the said properties were purchased with proceeds of crime. He buttressed his position with 14 exhibits, attached to his affidavit, filed on May 29, 2020.

In granting the application, Justice Taiwo ruled that the interim order should be published in a leading newspaper within seven days of receipt of the order and for any interested party to show cause within 14 days as to why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

He adjourned the matter till July 27, 2020.

Trouble began for Mrs Olejeme, who was NSITF chairman from 2009 to 2015, when the EFCC in 2016, received two petitions detailing multi-billion naira fraud allegations against her, Mr Abubakar and some bureau-de-change operators.

Chinese Couple Lock Up 8 Nigerians In Their Abuja Home For 4 Months (Photos)

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested and paraded by the Police in Abuja on Tuesday for locking up their eight Nigerian staff in an apartment for the past four months.

According to International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), a team of six police officers from the FCT Divisional Police Command in Utako swung into action, following a tip-off by a radio listener who called in during the "Berekete Family" programme of the Human Rights Nigeria and raided the residence of the Chinese nationals at No. 117 Jabi area, Abuja.



At the time of this report, it's still unclear the kind of services the eight Nigerians rendered to the Chinese couple. However, it is apparent they were domestic staff of the couple.

One of the women among the eight rescued Nigerians said they were not allowed to move out of the mansion. She complained that the couple refused allowing her to go for treatment even when she was very sick. She added that if any of them goes out, a certain percentage of their salary would be deducted.

Another man among the group who gave his name as Alex said he worked as a driver for the Chinese couple. He added that he and the seven others have been working as domestic staff of the Chinese couples since the outbreak of Covid-19 in February.

“They never allowed us to go out since February,” Alex told The ICIR. “If anyone of us goes out and they know, a certain percentage of his salary will be deducted.”

“Even yesterday, when this man (pointing at one of the workers) sent someone to buy him water, N500 was deducted from his salary that is yet to be paid,” Alex added.

He said the Chinese did not care about their feeding since the house arrest.

Another worker who did not reveal his name said that N3,000 was deducted from his salary because he went out to fill his pension form.

All the staff agreed that they were not given food by the Chinese nationals aside their salaries.

ICIR observed that during the arrest, only two Chinese (the couple) were arrested although there were four of them sighted in the house.

The Chinese couple were calling a particular person as they first refused going with the policemen. However, they succumbed as the person over the phone instructed them to go with the policemen.