Democratic Watchdog Calls For Prosecution Of Ehiogie West Idahosa

 

The Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria has called for prosecution of Ehiogie West Idahosa for misleading the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

According to a press release by Director General of Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, he said that Ehiogie West Idahosa is found of leading litigation as counsel for and against the same client, on the same subject matter and before the same court.

Except is the full text of the press release:

The Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria has observed with keen interest the manner

with which a supposed senior lawyer Mr. Ehiogie West Idahosa has been serially disobeying fundamental legal rules contrary to the norms of the legal profession.

Firstly, Mr. Ehiogie West Idahosa via a petition addressed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, where he mislead the AGF to issue instructions to the IGP and intervene on a matter bothering on the Edo state House of Assembly which is already in court. This is a clear case of sub judice. It is our firm belief that the Abubakar Malami (SAN) as the chief law officer of the country ought not to let West Idahosa mislead him being acquainted with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Again, Mr. Ehiogie West Idahosa is found of leading litigation as counsel for and against the same client, on the same subject matter and before the same court (the Federal High Court). Refer to the case of Bishop Osadolor Ochei v. EFCC and Oshiomhole (Suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/2018), wherein Mr. West Idahosa was counsel for a party suing against Adams Oshiomhole as respondent in respect of a fraud case bothering on contract inflation on the cost of Edo Specialist (Central) Hospital project. Another contradiction to the rules of the profession.

From the aforementioned facts, we hereby call on the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Disciplinary Committee to met out stiff sanctions against Mr. Ehiogie West Idahosa as a serial violator of fundamental legal rules.

Call Osinbajo To Order; Frank Tells Buhari

Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Saturday, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to call the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to order over his penchant for using state forces to suppress the media and free speech.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, described the antics of Osinbajo in using the judiciary and security agencies to intimidate, harass and coerce journalists and media houses, as not only unbecoming but an act of cowardice.

He said it has become necessary for Buhari to remind Osinbajo of his oath of office and equally prevail on him to refrain from intimidating journalists who are doing their legitimate duties by availing the Nigerian public of information on the activities of their elected representatives being paid and maintained with tax payers’ money.

He wondered why Prof. Osinbajo would hide under the immunity conferred on him by reason of his office to use government resources to influence judicial officers to do his bidding against helpless media houses.

The Bayelsa-born political activist however urged the Vice President to be courageous enough to resign his office and head to court to prove his innocence concerning allegations against him instead of using his position as VP to unduly intimidate, harass and vilify the media.

Frank said: “Buhari need to remind Osinbajo that Nigeria is currently under a democratic dispensation and not a military or autocratic rule, where brute force, coercion, threats and impunity reigns.

“Osinbajo is known for using operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Police and the Courts to threaten journalists whenever stories concerning allegations of abuse of office are published.

 "This is the height of impunity and a flagrant abuse of office by the Vice President, which is impeachable.

"He needs to come clean and resign from the office of VP so the world know who he truly is.”

He reminded Osinbajo that Nigerians have every right to call out their leaders whenever they perceive that such leaders have derailed from his oath of office “and the Vice President is no exception to that rule.”

He added: “Nigerians have a constitutional right to query or call out their elected representatives when the need arises and as such, Osinbajo must know that, as a democratically elected government, this administration is not different from others whose officials were subjected to similar criticisms.

"Or is there anything the Vice President trying hide by resorting to state apparatchik and intimidatory stunts to cover his tracks?”

The former APC’s deputy spokesman therefore   urged to the President to caution the VP to desist from his intimidatory stunts capable of further exposing his activities.

Federal High Court Chief Judge, Tsoho Not Isolated In An Isolation Center With Family

 The Online Reporters Association of Nigeria has debunked the claim by one Kayode Lawal that the Federal High Court Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho and family were isolated in an Isolated Center.

It will be recalled that Federal High Court acting Information Officer of the court, Mrs Catherine Oby Nwandu issued a press statement saying one of the aide of the Chief Judge tested Positive to the dreaded Coronavirus and Justice John Tsoho and members of his immediate family went on self isolation for preventive rather than curative.

She also confirmed in her last statement that the first test was done at the beginning of the 14-day self isolation, while the confirmatory test came thereafter. Both tests were conducted by the NCDC.

Online Reporters Association of Nigeria therefore called on Journalists to report news as sent to them and seek clarification where necessary, before also going to press.

AMAC Giving Out 50% Tax Incentives To Cushion Effect Of COVID-19 On Businesses

AMAC Chairman,  Hon. Abdullahi Candido making his opening remarks

The Abuja Municipal Area Council is giving 50% incentives and up to three months to tax payers in the Area Councils as part of its Palliative to business owners.

This was made known by Mr. Awoje Danlami; AMAC Head of Revenue Division during a Virtual Dialogue on Taxation and Post COVID Challenges  for Businesses held on Tuesday, 4th August, 2020.

Speaking during the dialogue, the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council Hon. Abdullahi Candido also reiterated his administration concerted effort to mitigate the doen economic impact of COVID-19 especially to ease the burdens on businesses within the Area Council.

"As a result of our sensitivity to this plight being faced by everyone., the council amongst strategies has opened up a citizens'engagement and feedback mechanism through an e-governance system to enable us navigate through the pandemic, Candido said.

The webinar moderated by Hon Abiodun Shoyemi-Essiet, SA to the Chairman on ICT, Donor Agencies and Civil Society Organisations and Mrs. Patience Olaloye  - Head of Information Unit - AMAC had four presentations.

AMAC Officials making their presentations

The first presentation was done by Mr. Awoje Danlami; Head of Revenue Division who spoke on "Taxation and IGR". He said that the Council has given Tax payers 50% incentives and up to three months to pay their taxes as a Palliative to business owners. Also speaking in the same direction, the Divisional Head, Tenement Rate, Ann Ibrahim who spoke on "All you need to know about Tenement rate" said that Tenement rates are paid by the tenants and not the landlord  where the occupiers such building is not the owner of the building. She also reiterated that Ground rent is different from Tenement rates  as most people mixed  them up. 

She reiterated that Government building, buildings owned by Embassies and Diplomatic missions are exempted from Tenement rates.

Mr. Victor Aletor from Remita who spoke on "Payment Platform For Taxes, Post COVID-19 Challenges To Businesses" said that AMAC has adopted the Remita online payment platform to streamline all its tax collections via multiple channels to make payment of taxes much easier  for the payers.

"To facilitate the effective and efficient  processing of transactions, Remita makes use of Remita Retrieval Reference, a unique code that is generated for each transaction after the payer has completed the appropriate online payment forms, Mr. Aletor said.

He also emphasized that payment can be made online, through AMAC offices, POS, Digital Wallets, Cash Agents and NIBOX terminals which is able to accept cash payment.

In her presentation, Executive Director, Digizens Collaborative, Ms. Jayne Abuo who spoke on "AMAC’s Future Digital Trajectory" reiterated that  both AMAC and businesses should embrace new opportunities open by COVID-19 by considering Digitization for organizational and services efficiency which will save expensive cash; support new tech ventures targeting existing under performing industries, education, health, transportation and Agriculture among others.

AMAC Supervisory Councillor on Finance the Hon. Gabriel Oluohu

The last speaker, Mrs. Niles Pyelshak; CEO, Cyber Alliance, USA who spoke on "Building Transparency and Accountabilities through Digital Innovations" said her organisation is directing its focus on Africa, especially Nigeria so as to attract foreign investment and business relationships; address misnomers about Nigeria and build global confidence; identify cyber risks that could prohibit global attractiveness; reduce cyber attack occurrences that will negatively impact the economic brands across industries spanning the entire country and position Nigeria as a leader in connecting cyber policy, corporate governance and human behaviour. 

In his closing remarks, the AMAC Supervisory Councillor on Finance the Hon. Gabriel Oluohu, thanked all the partners that made the Virtual Dialogue a huge success. 

He reiterated that all revenues generated by the Area Council will be judiciously put to use while calling on Tax payers to pay their tax on time.

The Webinar powered by Cisco Webex was organised by the Abuja Municipal Area Council in collaboration with Swift Reporters and Digizens Collaborative Platform.