Catholic May Bar Mbaka From Preaching – Archbishop [PUNCH]
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Adewale Martins, says the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, could be banned from preaching if he continues to deviate from the doctrines and tenets of the Catholic Church.
Martins, who was appointed Archbishop of Lagos by the Pope in 2012, said this during an interview with the BBC Igbo while reacting to Mbaka’s prophecy that Hope Uzodinma would emerge as governor of Imo State.
Mbaka had on New Year’s Eve prophesied that Uzodinma would emerge as governor in 2020, a prophecy which came to pass on Tuesday when the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha and named Uzodinma as the duly elected governor.
Reacting to the prophecy, which has stirred heated debate, the archbishop said Mbaka was under the Diocese of Enugu and did not report to him.
He, however, said if Mbaka continued in the manner he was doing things, the Catholic Church may bar him from ministering.
Imo Gov Judgment: Supreme Court Heavily Compromised, Has Lost Credibility, Alleges PDP [PUNCH]
The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday alleged that the Supreme Court under Justice Tanko Muhammad, as Chief Justice of Nigeria, had been heavily compromised.
The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, during a media briefing in Abuja, added that the apex court had lost credibility.
According to Secondus, the Supreme Court, under Tanko’s leadership, has been annexed “to execute the ignoble agenda of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against the Nigerian people.”
Secondus was reacting to the Tuesday judgment of the Supreme Court, which nullified the electoral victory of Emeka Ihedioha, in the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
NBA Faults AGF, Fayemi Says Security Agencies Partnered Govs On Amotekun [PUNCH]
- Don’t be too legalistic about security of lives, property, lawyers tell Malami
- IPOB will support operation with one million Biafrans, says Nnamdi Kanu
John Alechenu, John Ameh, Sunday Aborisade, Success Nwogu, Ade Adesomoju, Dayo Ojerinde, Abiodun Nejo and Tony Okafor
The Nigerian Bar Association has cautioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), about his opposition to the South-West security outfit, Operation Amotekun.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Mr Kunle Edun, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Wednesday evening, while responsible on behalf of the association to Malami’s statement that Operation Amotekun was illegal.
Faulting the AGF, Edun said Malami should not be too legalistic on protection of lives and property, saying in “civilized climes security is everyone’s business.”
New VAT kicks off February 1 [SUN]
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed on Thursday disclosed that the implementation of the 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) commences February 1, 2020, as all the necessary administrative procedures, especially the gazette of the Act by the Federal Ministry of Justice, would have been completed.
Ahmed made the disclosure at the inauguration of the newly constituted board of the Federal Inland Revenue Board (FIRS).
Before now, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris told finance journalists that his office has commenced implementation, since the bill has been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
While the Minister reckons that the new finance document has become a law that should take effect immediately, she however noted that there were certain administrative procedures and formalities to be finalised before commencement.
The minister while inaugurating the new board reminded the chairman his members that being members of a country tax administration comes with huge responsibility and they must work hard to show that their appointments were well deserved.
Amotekun: Afenifere, Yoruba Groups, Others Back S’West Govs [SUN]
Pan–Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, has admonished the six South West governors not to bow to pressure to abolish the security project otherwise known as Amotekun.
Leader of the group, Reuben Fasoranti, in a statement declared that it has come to stay. Fasoranti said the silence of the Presidency on the matter showed that Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. spoke the mind of the president.
“I think he is talking for somebody. Silence means consent, he is talking the mind of the Presidency, that is what they want. It confirms the suspicion that they are trying to protect some interests here in the South West. I agree with that too, so that they can go on and do what they like with impunity. It is unfortunate” Fasoranti said
Edo APC Guber Aspirants Condemn Crisis, Forge Front Against Obaseki [SUN]
- You’re driven by greed, Ojezua accuses Airhiavbere, Ize-Iyamu, others
Four Edo State gubernatorial aspirants on All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, yesterday, condemned what they described as needless crisis that has engulfed the party since the middle of 2018.
The governorship aspirants, including former deputy governor, Pius Odubu; Charles Airhiavbere, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Chris Ogiemwonyi, spoke at a joint press conference in Benin.
They blamed the crisis on the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members by the government which they claimed they worked hard to install in 2016.
Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Odubu said the orgy of politically motivated violence which swept through the state during the period, which targeted members of the party with opposing views from the government, coupled with the attacks on the person of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and others perceived as threats to the second term ambition of Governor Godwin Obaseki, negated their collective desire for a party that is stable, virile and viable.
FG To Gazette 7.5% VAT Increase Before Implementation Feb 1st [LEADERSHIP]
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed has said implementation of the recent increase in the nation’s Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent will take effect from February 1, 2020.
The Minister said the delay in the implementation of the new tax law is to allow the federal government gazette the Act by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“I want to also announce that the effective date for the VAT increase from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent will be the first of February 2020,” the Finance Minister said yesterday at the inauguration of the Board of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Abuja.
The Minister’s remark contradicts an earlier claim by the Accountant General of the Federal, Ahmed Idris who said the new VAT increment took effect from January 13th when the 2020 Finance Bill was signed into law by President Buhari. According to the Finance Act, the VAT increase was meant to take effect from January 1st.
Mrs. Zainab also disclosed that since the inauguration of the current Tax Appeal Tribunals (TAT) nationwide, the TATs have resolved over 67 appeals with disputed tax values of over N328 billion and $6.6 million.
TCN Confirms Collapse Of National Grid [LEADERSHIP]
The national grid yesterday experienced its first collapse in 2020 resulting in blackout across the country.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the development in a statement on its Twitter page which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“There was system disturbance which occurred at about 12.34 p.m affecting some parts of the country. As at 1:10 p.m, supply was restored to Abuja and most parts of the affected areas. TCN is still working to completely restore and stabilise the nation’s grid,” it said.
Imo Verdict: PDP Jittery Over Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue [LEADERSHIP]
Apparently worried by Tuesday’s Supreme Court verdict which voided the election of its candidate as the governor of Imo State, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, raised the alarm over alleged plots to sack other governors elected on its platform whose electoral cases are pending at the apex court.
PDP alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had perfected plans to use the Supreme Court to reclaim Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa and Benue states from its control.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that Adamawa and Bauchi states were until the 2019 elections governed by APC while Benue and Sokoto state governors, who were initially elected on the platform of the APC, defected to the PDP before the elections.
PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, expressed the party’s worry while also faulting the verdict of the Supreme Court which sacked Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP and declared the APC candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as the new governor of Imo State.
Secondus, who addressed a press conference at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, questioned the integrity of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammed, even as he asked him to “step down as CJN and chairman of the National Judicial Council.”
Alternative Fuel At N97 Per Litre Coming [NATION]
- PIB for passage May
AN alternative source of fuel that will be cheaper than the N145 per litre of petrol is in the works, the government said on Thursday.
According to Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) will cost between N95 to N97 per litre, to make fuel more affordable.
Sylva, also assured that the much-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari before the anniversary of his re-election in May.
He told reporters that his ministry planned to bring the petroleum industry closer to the common man.
According to him, the fuel CNG had undergone a pilot project in Benin City where over 10,000 vehicles are already running on it.
With CNG, Sylva said the cost of fuel will reduce to about N95 per litre.
The minister said: “What we have decided is that we should try and give the masses an alternative. This will move the masses to CNG. That is transport vehicles for example, out of the PMS loop to be using the CNG. CNG cost less that the subsidized PMS. Per liter the subsidized rate of the PMS is N145 per litre. CNG will cost about N95 to N97 per litre.”
Fayemi: Amotekun Aligns With Buhari’s Security Vision [NATION]
– There is room for operational change – Talks on over controversy, says Akande
OPERATION Amotekun is a logical end product of President Buhari’s compelling vision on community policing, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said on Thursday.
Fayemi described the controversy trailing the January 9 inauguration of the security outfit as storm in a tea cup.
He insisted that contrary to the claim by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, security agencies were duly carried along in the formative stage of the security outfit.
Fayemi spoke in Abuja at the 17th edition of the Daily Trust dialogue with the theme “20 years of democracy in Nigeria, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities.”
Responding to the remarks by the Chairman, Media Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, on the inauguration of Operation Amotekun, Fayemi noted that the security outfit became necessary following the spate of kidnappings and banditry in the Southwest.
He classified the outfit as a bottom-top approach to security sector governance across the length and breadth of the country.
No regret over civil war — Gowon [DAILY TRUST]
Former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) says he sees no reason he should be remorseful over the civil war.
Gowon, in interview he granted the Hausa service of the BBC on the 50th anniversary of ending Biafran war, monitored by our reporter, explained that “The Biafran war was fought only to keep Nigeria one, contrary to what some people who wanted disintegration.
” Gowon said: “Henceforth, I see no reason as to why I should be remorseful over what we’ve done; since we did it because of our love for the country.” He also stated that the war ended with “no victor, no vanquished.”