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In days, FG will declare bandits as terrorists – Malami
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, says the Federal Government is yet to designate bandits as terrorists because it needs to follow international best practices.
In November, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an ex parte application for bandits to be declared as terrorists.
Malami said on Tuesday while speaking on the NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria Show, that the process of designating the bandits as terrorists would be concluded in a matter of days.
He said his office was in the process of gazetting the court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists.
“Government has a responsibility to act but within the context of acting, you equally expected to operate within the confines of international best practices associated with engagement and one of such best practices is that you can only use maximum force on groups, individuals that are declared terrorists and that is where the application of the Terrorism Act comes in place.
“With that in mind, Nigeria acted, first by proscribing IPOB, taking into consideration the threats to lives and properties they have caused in the nation. Boko Haram was proscribed.
“The gazetting of a court order or judgement is a process but what matters fundamentally within the context of international convention is the judicial declaration and that has been obtained; the court has declared bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers as terrorists.
“So, with or without the gazette, what gives effect to such declaration is a judicial pronouncement but the gazette is a mere formality and it has been on and I believe within a matter of days, it will be concluded.”
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We may shut down Nigeria’s economy over cybersecurity levy – TUC
We may shut down Nigeria’s economy over cybersecurity levy – TUC
The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Festus Osifo on Wednesday faulted the cybersecurity levy (CSL) imposed on Nigerians by the federal government.
Osifo in Abuja said the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to banks imposing a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on almost all electronic transactions was “ a conspiracy of the oppressors against the masses and citizens of this country and it must be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians”.
Newstrends earlier reported that the 0.5 per cent levy implementation will commence on May 20, 2024.
He said, “How can such obnoxious law see the light of day in a truly people-oriented legislative house.
“It is indeed illogical that this is coming at a time that Nigerians are grappling with the high cost of living that is imposed by the devaluation of Naira, hyper hike in the cost of petrol, supersonic increment in the cost of electricity tariff, etc.
“We are quite disturbed that since the inception of this administration, its policies have brought pain, anguish and sorrow to Nigerians. Whereas a bank account holder in Nigeria today is currently charged stamp duty, transfer fee, VAT on transfer fee, and all forms of account maintenance levies by both the government and the banks.
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“So many policies of this government are not only imposing hardship on the downtrodden Nigerians but also businesses, as some of them are shutting down because of the unfriendly business environment.
“Financial analysts have done a preliminary estimate using the 2023 online transfer volume in Nigeria that fell within these categories and put the value at over N2trn; what kind of cybercrime are we fighting with this humongous amount of money?
“This burden seems not to be enough as the government is poised to inflict further pain on the already battered Nigerians”.
Osifo urged the federal government to issue a marching order to the CBN to immediately withdraw the circular and cancel the plan levy forthwith.
The TUC boss warned of a nationwide protest that will immediately cripple economic activities.
In his words, “failure to withdraw, we will be left with no option than to mobilize all our members, stakeholders and indeed the entire masses to embark on the immediate protest that would culminate into the total shutdown of the Nigerian economy as this is one exploitation too many”.
We may shut down Nigeria’s economy over cybersecurity levy – TUC
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FG reacts to Binance’s $150 million bribe allegation
FG reacts to Binance’s $150 million bribe allegation
Claims that some Nigerian government officials solicited for bribe from digital currency exchange platform, Binance, to sweep the criminal charges against the company under the carpet are false, the federal government has said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Binance, Richard Teng, had alleged that some unnamed Nigerian government officials had approached the company’s legal representatives in the country and demanded for bribe to the tune of $150 million to be paid in digital currency in order to make the charges against the company go away.
Teng made these claims in a blog post syndicated in top foreign media platforms on Tuesday adding that Binance counsel declined the offer.
Reacting to Teng’s allegation, the federal government through the Idris Mohammed, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said Binance is trying divert attention away from its criminal charges.
In the statement signed on the minister’s behalf by by Rabiu Ibrahim, his media aide, the federal government said the allegation is an act of blackmail by a company “desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.”
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It stated that Binance Founder, Changpeng Zhao, was guilty of the same offence of money laundering in the United States, and currently serving prison terms, an indication that the crypto firm should submit itself for investigation.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is aware of attempts by Binance to launder its impaired image as an organisation that does not play by the rules and laws guiding business conduct in sovereign nations,” it read.
“In a blog post that has now been published by many international media organisations, in an apparent well-coordinated public relations effort, Binance Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng made false allegations of bribery against unidentified Nigerian government officials who he claimed demanded $150m in cryptocurrency payments to resolve the ongoing criminal investigation against the company.
“This claim by Binance CEO lacks any iota of substance. It is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.
“The facts of this matter remain that Binance is being investigated in Nigeria for allowing its platform to be used for money laundering, terrorism financing, and foreign exchange manipulation through illegal trading.
“While this lawful investigation was going on, an executive of Binance, who was in court-sanctioned protective custody, escaped from Nigeria, and he is now a fugitive from the law. Working with the security agencies in Nigeria, Interpol is currently executing an international arrest warrant on the said fugitive.
“The phantom bribe claim is part of an orchestrated international campaign by this company that is facing criminal prosecution in many countries including the United States, to undermine the Nigerian government.
“Just a week ago, the founder and former CEO of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, was sentenced to prison in the United States, after pleading guilty to charges very similar to what Binance is being investigated for in Nigeria. In addition, Zhao agreed to pay a fine of $50 million, while Binance is liable for $4.3 billion in fines and forfeitures to the US Government.
“We would like to remind Binance that it will not clear its name in Nigeria by resorting to fictional claims and mudslinging media campaigns. The only way to resolve its issues will be by submitting itself to unobstructed investigation and judicial due process.
“The government of Nigeria will continue to act within its laws and international norms and will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any entity, local or foreign.”
FG reacts to Binance’s $150 million bribe allegation
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Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips
Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after his trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
According to the NTA, Tinubu returned on Wednesday.
On April 22, Tinubu left Abuja, the country’s capital, for the Kingdom of The Netherlands on an official visit.
Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said the president was visiting The Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
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After the engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu proceeded to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to attend a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting between April 28 and 29.
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on information and strategy to the president, on Tuesday announced that the President and his aides will return on Wednesday in a post on his X handle.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” Onanuga wrote.
Just in: Tinubu lands in Abuja after Netherlands, Saudi trips
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We may shut down Nigeria’s economy over cybersecurity levy – TUC
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