UK-Based Nigerian Woman Accuses Ogun Monarch Of Marriage Scam Involving N65Million, N120Million In Gold, Other Valuables

She told SaharaReporters that the monarch later went ahead to help her obtain a forged divorce certificate to leave her former husband so that the monarch could marry her.

A UK-based Nigerian woman has accused a traditional ruler, Oba Adekeye Adeyemi Olanrewaju, the Abepa of Joga Orile, Yewa North, Ogun State, of using marriage as a ploy to defraud her.

The woman, identified as Christy Oluwabunmi, claims that the monarch exploited her trust, leading to financial and material losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.

She told SaharaReporters that the monarch later went ahead to help her obtain a forged divorce certificate to leave her former husband so that the monarch could marry her.

“Kabiyesi went to forge a divorce certificate for me to leave my husband and also took me to the court registry to formalise my marriage with him.

“It was later I realised this is his usual way of deceiving women. In fact, it was later I knew no fewer than five women were once his victims. He always preyed on wealthy ones like me,” the woman told SaharaReporters in a telephone conversation.

In petitions submitted to the Osun State Governor; Ondo State Governor; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, and Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), otherwise known as Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Ogun Council of Obas, Ms. Oyewole narrated how Adekeye Adeyemi approached her on June 30, 2022, with romantic advances, promising marriage and financial stability.

“He pretended to be in love with me, vowing to marry me and support my business. Eventually, I was manipulated into transferring over N53 million via electronic transactions, N12 million in cash, mobile phones worth N10.8 million, and gold valued at N120 million,” she wrote in the petition, attaching receipts as evidence.

The victim further alleged that after extorting her, the traditional ruler attempted to lure her into a dubious ritual in Ekiti State, where she was told she would need to sacrifice an eye or a leg to attain financial prosperity.

Realising she was being deceived, she resisted, only to find herself financially ruined and abandoned.

In a shocking revelation, she claimed the monarch had forged a divorce judgment and had used the same fraudulent scheme on at least three other women.

When she demanded a refund of her money and valuables, he allegedly threatened her life, boasting about his influence and ties to cultists and thugs.

“He has converted my hard-earned money, gold, phones, and valuables to his personal use unlawfully. All efforts to retrieve them have proved abortive. Instead, he threatens to kill me, claiming nothing will happen because he is a king,” she alleged.

In her petitions, she wrote, “That one Adekeye Adeyemi Olanrewaju approached me on 30th day of June, 2022 with a confidence trick, pretended to be romantically interested in me when he claimed and vowed that he would marry me being a single mother struggling alone to cater for myself and children without husband.

“It was thereafter revealed to me that the suspect has been using same style to defraud single women who are blessed with wealth. The suspect had used the similar criminal style to defraud three different ladies who were later threatened to be killed if the matters were reported to the law enforcement agencies.”

She said she was hypnotised to an extent of being defrauded of more than N53 million via electronic transfer, cash of N12 million, mobile phones worth N10.8 million, gold worth N120 million “under the false pretences to help me boost, develop my business and rebrand my financial status and repertoire”.

As of the time of filing this report, Oba Adekeye Adeyemi has not responded to the allegations.

He did not answer multiple phone calls and has yet to react to a follow-up message.

There is pandemonium in the agrarian Community of Okpekpe, Community Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, as suspected Herdsmen attacked and killed two residents of the community, causing tension in the locality.


The deceased, identified as Philip Batemue (aka Ebo), and another, Mr Christopher Bello, were killed Monday morning by suspected Fulani herders on their way to their farms.

The corpses of the victims were recovered by local vigilantes and deposited at a morgue just as the incident sparked tension.

The death of the two farmers was confirmed by the community’s Royal father, Onwuweko of Okpekpe, HRH Peter Osigbemeh, and the embattled chairman of the local government, Hon Benedicta Atoh.


Attoh, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ben Atu, expressed concern about the ongoing killing in the Okpekpe community of North Ibie Zone, saying if the State Government does not take immediate action to stop the killing, the community as a whole will be wiped out describing the killing as black Monday.

Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the attack on the people of Okpekpe Community and expressed disappointment over Senator Monday Okpebholo’s failure to live up to his primary responsibility as the state’s Chief Security Officer.

In a statement by PDP Publicity Secretariat, Chris Nehikhare, the partyaccused the governor of abandoning governance for needless jamborees to mark his 100 days in office without significant achievements.

At the same time, innocent Edo citizens are being slaughtered.

The statement reads: “We are deeply saddened by the heinous attack on the people of Okpekpe Community in Etsako East Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen, which led to the gruesome murder of two innocent citizens, Batemue Philip Ebo and Christopher Bello.

“We condemn this dastardly act in the strongest terms and send our heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, and the entire community during this difficult time.


When contacted, the Edo State Police Command Spokesperson, Moses Yamu, said that he would get back to journalists, but he had yet to do so as of the time of filing the report.

How my late wife, Maryam, converted to Islam after our marriage – Babangida

Former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has revealed details about his marriage to his late wife, Maryam, including her conversion to Islam, in his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service.

The book, launched on Thursday alongside a fundraiser for his presidential library, provides insight into their love story, from their early days in Kaduna to their life as a married couple.

Babangida recalled meeting Maryam, formerly Maria Okogwu, in their younger years while living in the unmarried officers’ quarters on Kanta Road, Kaduna.

He described being captivated by her beauty, calling her “stunning” with an enchanting smile.

Their bond endured despite his military training abroad in India and the UK, and he often visited her at the home of his close friend and cousin, Garba Duba.

At 28, after surviving a near-death experience in battle, Babangida decided to settle down.

While recovering from a chest injury at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, he reflected on his relationships and realized he wanted to marry Maryam.

He said, “I had settled on Maria as the woman I would wed before being discharged from the hospital, and as soon as I was discharged, I made my way to Kaduna, where she lived with her mother and uncle. I was anxious to share the good news with her: I had decided we were destined for a life together. I admired her greatly for her reserved nature and the fact that she was well brought up.

“I wanted to make my intentions known to her and was determined not to accept No for an answer. Fortune favours the bold, and it smiled upon me; I counted and still count myself lucky. Initially, Maria was highly sceptical of me as marrying material.

“She knew that I had a track record of being something of a man about town, and those were not the qualities she wanted in a husband. She was unconvinced of my capacity to be serious, and many people said as much to her.”

Babangida revealed that faith played a central role in his life, and he required Maryam to convert to Islam before they married.

According to him, this was not difficult for Maryam, who had both Christian and Muslim family influences.

“I shared with her the fact that my faith was an integral and essential part of my life and that I would require her to convert to Islam.

“Praise be to Allah; this was not a difficult decision for Maria. Being part-Christian and part-Muslim at birth and already living in a Muslim household, it was never going to be wholly uncharted territory for her.

“She adapted with relative ease to married life as a Muslim,” he stated.

Babangida also assured her he would not take multiple wives, a decision he believed contributed to their strong marriage.

Maryam died from ovarian cancer in Los Angeles on December 27, 2009, at 61.

Babangida admitted that coping without her had been difficult but said memories of their life together had provided solace.

Millions of households in the UK will see higher energy bills from April as regulator Ofgem announced a 6.4 per cent increase in the domestic price cap. The rise is driven by higher wholesale energy costs.

This marks the third consecutive quarterly increase and comes as a setback for the government, which has pledged to lower energy bills.

The announcement follows higher-than-expected inflation figures for January.

Under the new cap, the average annual energy bill for electricity and gas will be £1,849, an increase of £111 from the previous cap of £1,738.

British gas prices reached a two-year high in early February due to cold weather leading to increased withdrawals from gas reserves in Britain and Europe.

The situation was further impacted by the expiry of a deal to supply Russian gas via Ukraine at the end of last year.

Wholesale gas and power prices play a key role in Ofgem’s price cap calculations.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said the government is working to reduce dependence on costly fossil fuels and is offering support through the Warm Home Discount, which provides £150 per winter to eligible households on benefits.

“Alongside this, the way to deliver energy security and bring down bills for good is to deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – with homegrown clean power that we in Britain control,” he said.

Britain aims to decarbonise its electricity sector by 2030 and reduce reliance on gas, which currently accounts for about a third of its power generation.

Campaign groups have urged the government to provide more assistance to vulnerable households, suggesting measures like a social tariff or a help-to-repay scheme for customers struggling with debt.

Analysts at Cornwall Insights estimate that based on current wholesale energy prices , the cap could decrease to £1,756 in July. However, they cautioned that market volatility could lead to changes before the next cap level is set.

Labour productivity, as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), measures the total volume of output—expressed in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—produced per unit of labour in productive countries in Africa.

This is typically assessed by the number of employed persons or total hours worked within a given period. Essentially, it reflects how efficiently labour contributes to economic output.

Africa, with its youthful and expanding workforce, has immense economic potential.
However, many nations struggle with low productivity.

Despite these challenges, some countries out-perform others, with Libya leading the continent in labour productivity at $29.8 GDP per hour worked, followed closely by Algeria and Egypt, per data from Ilostat.

Top 10 African Countries Most Productive
1. Libya ($29.8 per hour worked)
Libya’s economy is heavily reliant on its vast oil reserves, which drive its high productivity. However, political instability and conflict have stifled long-term economic growth and diversification.

2. Algeria ($28.2 per hour worked)
Algeria’s productivity is largely fueled by its hydrocarbon sector, particularly oil and natural gas. The government has been making efforts to diversify its economy, but state control and bureaucracy remain challenges.

3. Egypt ($27.1 per hour worked)
Egypt benefits from a diversified economy, with strong contributions from tourism, Suez Canal revenues, and a growing industrial sector. However, high population growth and unemployment pose ongoing economic hurdles.

4. Djibouti ($26.6 per hour worked)
Djibouti’s strategic location along key global trade routes boosts its economy. The country relies on port services, logistics, and foreign investments, particularly from China, to drive productivity.

5. Eswatini ($25.0 per hour worked)
The small southern African nation of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) maintains relatively high productivity due to its strong manufacturing sector, particularly in textiles and sugar production.

6. Botswana ($23.8 per hour worked)
Botswana has leveraged its diamond mining industry to achieve stable economic growth. Good governance and prudent financial management have contributed to its strong labour productivity.

7. South Africa ($21.6 per hour worked)
As Africa’s most industrialized nation, South Africa has a diverse economy spanning mining, finance, and manufacturing. However, challenges such as energy shortages and high unemployment limit productivity gains.

8. Tunisia ($19.2 per hour worked)
Tunisia’s economy benefits from a well-developed industrial and service sector, including tourism. However, political instability and slow economic reforms have affected long-term growth.

9. Equatorial Guinea ($18.9 per hour worked)
With one of the highest GDPs per capita in Africa, Equatorial Guinea’s productivity is driven by oil exports. However, economic inequality remains a major issue due to reliance on a narrow economic base.

10. Namibia ($15.6 per hour worked)
Namibia’s economy is supported by mining (diamonds, uranium), agriculture, and a growing tourism sector. Despite a relatively small workforce, the country has managed steady productivity levels.

The Federal Government has received the first batch of 2,000 tractors and 9,027 other farming equipment from Belarus as part of efforts to enhance mechanised farming and accelerate food production across the country.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed the development in a video posted on X.com on Tuesday.

“Nigeria has received the first batch of the 2,000 tractors and 9,027 other farming equipment to be procured in 2025 as President Tinubu’s administration seeks to accelerate food production in the country,” Olusegun wrote.

According to him, the new tractors will be distributed under three key schemes aimed at making mechanised farming more accessible to different segments of the farming community.

“The tractors will be distributed under three key schemes: direct purchase for individuals and organizations seeking to acquire them outright, a leasing scheme that provides affordable access to mechanization without full ownership costs, and a service provider model that establishes tractor service centers in farming communities across the country, allowing smallholder farmers to lease tractors as needed,” he explained.

To ensure sustainability, Olusegun added that the government has procured spare parts alongside the tractors to guarantee maintenance for at least the next four years.

The arrival of the farming equipment aligns with the government’s broader strategy to enhance food production and reduce the soaring prices of food commodities. In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu announced that Nigeria had placed orders for mechanised farm tools from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil to support the agricultural sector.

Similarly, in January 2025, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed that the government had begun receiving the 2,000 tractors ordered from Belarus, reaffirming its commitment to modernizing agriculture and addressing food security challenges.

The initiative is expected to provide smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with greater access to mechanized farming tools, ultimately improving agricultural productivity and stabilising food prices across the country.

The Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, has appointed Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the new leader of the group, News360 Nigeria reports.

This was contained in a communique issued after its monthly general meeting held at the lsanya Ogbo, in Ogun state, the country home of its late leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

The Meeting was attended by delegates from the six South West states, Kogi, Kwara and the Itsekiri of Delta State

According to the communique, “Oba Olaitan will function as the Leader in acting capacity till after the final burial of Papa Ayo Adebanjo when he will assume the office as substantive Leader.

The communique was signed by the group’s Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni and it’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye.

It reads that the ” meeting considered the recommendations of the National Caucus and approved the appointment of Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the new Leader of Afenifere.

“Oba Olaitan was called to the Nigerian Bar as a lawyer in 1971, a Political Adviser to Governor Lateef Jakande and a member of the Lagos State Executive Council 1979 – 1983; elected Member House of Representatives and Leader of AD in the House 1999 – 2003.

” He has been a member of Afenifere for over 45 years serving in various capacities including the National Financial Secretary under the leadership of Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Deputy Leader under Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

In his acceptance speech, the new leader, said that he is” committed to the ideals of Afenifere as a social-political organisation and unrelenting advocate of restructuring and true federalism adding that he would ensure the unity of the organisation.

On security, the group decried the worsening security situation in the country.

Members, according to the communique, “received reports of a young man, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the videos of whose ordeal, in the den of kidnappers have been on social media for almost a week.

“The Meeting called on the governments of Ondo and Kogi States around which common boundaries the kidnapping was reported to have taken place and the relevant security agencies to act without further delay and ensure the rescue and safety of the young man.

Afenifere, also, acknowledged the enviable contributions of its late Leader, Pa Adebanjo, to nation-building as reflected by the glowing tributes in his memory from all walks of life within Nigeria and the world over.

They commiserated with “the children and the immediate family members of our Leader and applauded them for their untiring courteous engagement of a large number of people who daily throng the Lekki Lagos and Isanya-Ogbo Ogun State residence of our great Leader.

Present at the meeting include, Senator Femi Okunrounmu Senator Gbenga Kaka, former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Pekun Awobona, Chief Tola Mobolurin, Tokunbo Ajasin, Engr. Bayo Adenekan, Hon Leke Mabinuori, Olayemi Olajuyinu; Olu Pessu and Chief Olusegun Olawoyin.

If you're looking to convert your Solana (SOL) into Naira without any hassle, here's a straightforward guide that works with most exchanges like Binance, Bybit, etc.

1. Download and Register
- First, download the monica.cash app https://monica.cash/app and complete the registration process if you need to say thanks you can use with my referral code MONI440151.


2. Get Your Solana Wallet Address
- Open the app and click on "Deposit" from the home page.
- Copy your unique Solana wallet address provided by Monica.cash.

3. Withdraw from Your Exchange
- Log into your exchange account where you hold Solana.
- Initiate a withdrawal and paste your Monica.cash wallet address as the destination.

4. Check Your Balance
- Once the withdrawal is processed by your exchange, go back to the Monica.cash app and refresh.
- Your account will instantly show the Naira equivalent of the deposited Solana.

5. Withdraw to Bank
- You can now withdraw the Naira balance to any bank of your choice.

That's it, simple and efficient.

IBB’s Memoir Has Exposed Origin Of Banditry, Corruption, Igbo Marginalization - Obidigbo 

ELDER statesman, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has described the recently unveiled memoir of former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as an authoritative exposition of the cogs in Nigeria’s wheel of progress.

Obidigbo asserted that 'A Journey in Service' by IBB puts in black and white the foundation of political banditry and official graft that continue to threaten national peace, unity and progress, as well as the chequered socio-economic marginalization of the Igbo ethnic nationality in the Nigeria project.

He expressed the belief that God kept IBB alive to bring closure to the very nagging lies and prejudices that kept eating at the very fabric of Nigeria’s unsteady march to the future, including elite conspiracy against the peace-loving and poor masses of this country.

He noted that apart from the release of the concrete polling figures of the watershed 1993 presidential election, the major take away from the controversial memoir is IBB’s clarification on the 1966 coup.

“Some of us have always known that the naming of the January 1966 bloody putsch as Igbo coup was the deliberate orchaestration of the United Kingdom Government using the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Lagos/Ibadan axis of domestic media.

“Britain resolved to sow the seed of long term political animosity between Igbo and Yoruba, as well as set Igbo up for national vilification, demonization and hatred. And, to my mind, this long-term plot by the British, started with the ignition of open battle between Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Ladoke Akintola, which snowballed into the 1966 coup.

“From branding the coup as Igbo, through the counter coup, the genocide, the breakdown of Aburi accord, and deceiving Ojukwu into secession by the same British, all provided a golden opportunity to destroy Ndigbo, Igbo land and the Eastern Nigeria emergent and thriving economy,” he remarked.

Obidigbo maintained that with the benefit of hindsight, nobody or group would explain in whose interest the war was fought, regretting that no Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Biron, Jukun, Hausa or even Itsekiri can point to any benefit from the war.

He argued that even the current clamour for separation could as well be a part of the intended long term outcome of the war, stressing: “The civil war happened as the outcome anticipated by Britain, because it provided cover for the massive slaughter of nearly five million innocent Igbo civilians, including women and children in addition to automatically halting the status of Eastern Nigeria as the fastest growing economy South of Sahara.

“In A Journey In Service, the former military president was right to specifically blame the declaration of Republic of Biafra as a circumstantially enforced necessity for self preservation.

“Although Babangida tried to exonerate himself from the blameable annulment of a free and fair presidential election in 1993, Igbo are happy to hear from another top national player that Biafra arose out of the obvious failure by the General Yakubu Gowon-led Federal Military Government to stop the massive pogrom against Igbo people particularly in northern parts of the country.

“Why IBB stopped short of blaming Gowon also for reneging on the Aburi Accord, which he signed on behalf of Nigeria at the behest of the British leaves much to the imagination. All the same, it was that about-face on Aburi that left Ojukwu with no other clear-cut option to stop the blood letting that followed. But for IBB’s account in his memoir, General Gowon would not have come out to boldly declare that Britain prevailed on him to wage a genocidal war against Igbo.

“A former British Prime Minister, Edward (Ted) Heath, did not hide British antipathy towards Igbo when he boldly declared that whoever dares to touch or constitute a threat to British economic interest, Britain must touch his heart. Britain sees the Economy as a form of religion.

“I, for one, have always believed that the United Kingdom (UK) also sees Igbo people of South East Nigeria as their greatest enemies due to the Igbo spirit of enterprise and competition. From the war up until now, UK has not forgiven Igbo for standing against British plunder of Nigeria’s economy through political manipulation,” Obidigbo noted.

He remarked that though Babangida’s book has woken up old memories, Nigerians should rise to the occasion by resolving to confront elite conspiracy, which continues to manifest through coup d’états, rigged elections and confiscation of common patrimony by few criminal minded thugs in positions of authority.

He stated: “Many people are asking what should be done with the revelations and subterfuges contained in A Journey In Service. My honest take is that time has come for Nigeria to formally apologise to Igbo for the genocidal war they did not cause cum the unending animosity against the Igbo in Nigeria, which gave rise to Igbo marginalization and leading to the renewed agitations for a separate country from Nigeria.

“Then, on the issue of preserving the sanctity of the ballot box, Nigerians should demand that details of the 2023 presidential election outcome be published, while a comprehensive electoral reforms should be undertaken so that the people, rather than the courts, become the final arbiters in leadership recruitment.

“And, for a bold demonstration of Nigeria’s determination to return to the path of national unity, fairness and equity, 2027 presidential election should replicate the show of consideration for South East as happened in 1999, when all candidates were chosen from the South West.”

Obidigbo, who said he was yet to read in full Babangida’s memoir, said it would have been proper for the retired General to explain the circumstances that surrounded the 1992 Military Plane crash at Ejigbo, Lagos State and what he knew about the murder of Dele Giwa, so that Nigeria’s healing process could begin in earnest.

“Finally, if the present calls for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission could still be relevant at this point, the process should be put in place. This way, Nigerians can resolve among themselves whether to continue to be one united country or to consider the separation option or whichever alternative for national harmony and progress.

“Next to that, all the manhunt for separatist agitators should be discontinued and all prisoners of conscience freed unconditionally,” he added.

Former Niger Delta militant and Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanekpe Israel, also known as Akpodoro, has warned ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against looking to the South-South for political backing ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

El-Rufai has been vocal in his criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu, alleging political marginalization.

However, Akpodoro insists that the South-South remains unmoved by his grievances.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, February 24, 2025, Akpodoro dismissed El-Rufai’s push for a North-South-South alliance to challenge Tinubu in the next election.

“If El-Rufai thinks he holds significant influence in the North, let alone the South-South, he is mistaken. We once made the error of opposing one of our own, President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2015—we will not repeat that mistake,” Akpodoro stated.

He also criticized El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, accusing him of leaving behind hardship and unrest in Kaduna State.

“The people of Southern Kaduna are relieved after his departure. Many in his state appreciate President Tinubu’s leadership style, which has taken a different approach,” he added.

Akpodoro further noted that northerners are now more politically aware and recognize that El-Rufai and his allies prioritize personal ambitions over national interest.

He urged the former governor to abandon any hopes of securing South-South support.

“El-Rufai should look elsewhere for alliances. During his time at the Bureau of Public Enterprises, he showed no concern for this region, and now he wants to use it for political advantage. We stand firmly with President Tinubu,” Akpodoro concluded.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has come under fire from the Organised Labour – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) – over his recent remarks on tax evasion in Nigeria.

Akpabio, speaking at a public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills before the Senate on Monday, claimed that only 30 per cent of Nigerians pay tax, yet citizens demand extensive infrastructure, security, and other government services.

Akpabio’s comment has sparked swift reactions from labour unions and economic stakeholders, who argued that government unaccountability and poor service delivery were key reasons many Nigerians avoid tax payments.

Deputy President of TUC, Dr. Tommy Okon, dismissed Akpabio’s claims, questioning the credibility of his statistics.

“We do not know where he got his facts from in a country where there is a dearth of data. If what he is saying is true, how come the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) always surpasses its set target?” Okon asked.

He further argued that workers do not evade taxes, as their payments are deducted directly from their salaries, unlike the wealthy elite who often exploit loopholes to avoid taxation.

“This government has taxed the masses enough, and it is even the wealthy few that evade payment of tax, not the workers whose taxes are deducted from source,” he added.

NECA also weighed in, blaming the government for failing to justify tax payments with tangible benefits.

NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, acknowledged that tax compliance in Nigeria was low but insisted that government inefficiency was a major factor.

“It is not far from the truth that the majority of Nigerians don’t pay tax. While this is quite unfortunate, the government too has been culpable in giving the citizens many reasons not to pay, especially as the benefits of the taxes collected are not seen by many,” Oyerinde stated.

He emphasised that while tax reforms were necessary, there must also be accountability in revenue utilisation to regain public trust.

LEADERSHIP reports that the debate over tax compliance took center stage at the public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills, which were forwarded to the Senate and House of Representatives by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, 2024.

The bills under consideration include the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill (NRSEB) 2024, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill (JRBEB) 2024

According to Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, President Tinubu has urged lawmakers to provide “workable laws” that will drive fiscal reforms and economic growth.

“I met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu two days ago on the tax reform bills, and he told me, ‘Go and do the needful. Give me a law that is workable from the tax reform bills I forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives,'” Musa revealed.

Declaring the public hearing open, Senate President Akpabio reiterated the importance of tax compliance, noting that many Nigerians expect government services without contributing their share.

“I don’t think up to 30 per cent of Nigerians pay taxes, but 100 per cent of Nigerians want good roads,” he stated.

Akpabio stressed that the proposed tax reforms aimed to modernise outdated tax laws, some of which date back to colonial times. He also highlighted the unequal distribution of tax revenue, particularly in cases where businesses operate in one state but remit taxes to another.

“If a brewery operates in Ogun State but its headquarters is in Lagos, the tax revenue is collected in Lagos, while Ogun, the state that hosts the factory, sees little benefit. This imbalance must be addressed,” he said.

The Senate President also criticised social media misinformation about the bills, urging Nigerians to engage with the legislative process instead of relying on online debates.

“Don’t base your arguments on social media opinions. Read the bills, analyse them, and present well-informed recommendations,” he said.

Despite labour unions’ criticisms, several economic bodies and stakeholders expressed support for the proposed tax reforms.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) all backed the bills, citing their potential to enhance economic stability and revenue generation.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, described the bills as a game-changer for the oil and gas sector.

“We are the happiest people to see this tax law coming into place. It brings a significant number of reforms that will simplify the tax system and tax laws in our country,” Kyari said.

Similarly, chairman of the Revenue Mobilsation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, said the bills would enhance economic stability, while urging lawmakers to ensure fair revenue distribution among sub-nationals.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has urged Nigerians to seek additional sources of income amid economic hardship facing the country.

He gave the advice while featuring on a program on Channels Television, on Tuesday, February 25.

He said: "Find something else to augment your income. You cannot live on one income.

“If you find a farm land near you, cultivate it, grow your crops, so that it can reduce your expenses and so on.

“These are practical things you can do to survive the present economy, people just have to find solutions on their own to do this.”

Man City 115 charges verdict: 60 points deducted, relegation 'guarantee', 'most likely outcome'.

Manchester City seem set to discover the outcome of last year's hearing into its 100+ charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches over the coming months.

Manchester City are said to effectively face a probable Premier League relegation if they are found guilty of their alleged financial rule breaches.

Doing so would appear to make an example out of City to deter other clubs. However, any suggestions that the English Football League would refuse to accept City into either Championship, League One or League Two appear unlikely according to the league's rulebook.

In what is purportedly the most likely outcome of a points deduction, it is said they would probably receive a penalty around six times as severe as Everton 's initial punishment for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.

These claims come from football finance expert Kieran Maguire on episode four of the Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. "A points deduction would be the most likely outcome should the club be found guilty," Maguire said.

"As for the quantum of points deduction, if Everton were initially given a 10 points deduction for going around about £10/12 million over the limits in one particular season, I think, in order to set an example to the rest of football, it's got to act as a deterrent.

"We'll probably be looking at somewhere in the region of 60 to 100 points, which would effectively guarantee relegation out of the Premier League and into the lower tiers of football in the EFL."

Maguire also acknowledged that it appears City would have to be accepted by the EFL. "There has been a suggestion that the EFL might refuse to accept Manchester City in terms of its competition, but looking at their rulebook, I don't think that is feasible," he clarified.

However, as David Ornstein claimed on NBC Sports before City lost to Liverpool, they believe their maximum punishment would be a fine amid their confidence in being exonerated and proven innocent.

The Abia State Government has issued a strong warning against the resurgence of cult-related violence, particularly in Aba, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on cultism and other criminal activities, [/b]ABN TV reports.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the government expressed dismay over the recent attempts by some youths to instill fear and disrupt the peace through cult-related killings.

[b]The statement recalled that upon assumption of office, the present administration took decisive action to curb cult activities across the state, restoring peace and security. However, the latest wave of criminal activities in Aba, disguised as cultism, is seen as a direct provocation and an affront to the state’s commitment to a peaceful and secure society.

To address the situation, the government has outlined a series of measures, including:

1. Zero Tolerance for Cultism: The government maintains a strict stance against cultism and any other activities that threaten the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens.

2. Full Force of the Law: Security forces will clamp down on any individual or group engaging in cult-related activities.

3. Security Deployment: Security agents and intelligence officers have been mobilized to schools, streets, and public areas to identify and apprehend culprits.

4. Warning to Perpetrators: Those engaging in cultism are urged to leave the state immediately or face severe consequences.

5. Parental Responsibility: Parents and guardians are advised to caution their children against involvement in cultism, as offenders will face strict legal action.

6. Public Reassurance: Law-abiding citizens are encouraged to go about their businesses without fear, as the government is committed to ensuring their safety.

7. Call for Public Cooperation: Residents are urged to report any suspected cult activities through the designated emergency hotlines.