metro

Increase service charge, go to prison, FG warns PoS agents

Published

1 year ago

July 24, 2023

Increase service charge, go to prison, FG warns PoS agents

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to Point of Sale (PoS) agents involved in price fixing, declaring that they will be subjected to a hefty fine of up to N10 million or face a three-month prison term.

The announcement was made by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, in a statement released on Monday.

This development comes in response to the recent increase in service charges for withdrawals and deposits by PoS agents, who operate under the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents (AMMBAN).

In light of these actions, the FCCPC took swift action and served an Order & Notice (ONC) to the executives of AMMBAN, forbidding PoS agents from continuing to implement the price hike.

READ ALSO:

The Commission emphasized that failing to adhere to its ONC would result in severe consequences. Individual PoS agents found in violation of the Order will be liable for a fine of one million Naira, while corporate agents will face a more substantial penalty of N10 million or a three-month prison sentence.

“The FCCPA provides the Commission with statutory tools to ensure compliance and penalise law violations. As previously noted, some of these penalties are stiff.

“The Commission advises PoS operators that violation of an order of the Commission attracts additional consequences apart from the underlying illegal conduct that is the subject of the order such as up to N10,000,000 for corporate entities; and N1,000,000 and or a prison sentence of up to three months for individuals”, the statement contained.

In another news, the Central Bank of Nigeria has responded to the increase in service charges by Point of Sale (PoS) agents.

According to The Guardian, the CBN stated that it is currently in discussions with the POS operators and is actively working to find a resolution to the matter.

The CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Dr. Isah AbdulMumin, who spoke via telephone, said: “Yes, the apex bank is aware of the move by PoS agents to increase transaction charges. We at the CBN understand their plight. We know their challenges but we are engaging with them to find a common ground.”

Increase service charge, go to prison, FG warns PoS agents

Related Topics:FG fine PoS agents prison

Up Next

VIDEO: ‘Do anyhow, see anyhow,’ Asari Dokubo warns Tinubu’s opponents as he parades militants

Don't Miss

Nigerian pilgrim narrates how she found $80,000 in Makkah

metro

Court jails 13 internet fraudsters in Edo

Published

33 seconds ago

November 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Court jails 13 internet fraudsters in Edo

Justices W.l. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between November 11 and 14 convicted and sentenced 13 internet fraudsters to various jail terms

The convicts are Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, Afisi Nurudeen, Oviabor Aisosa Wellington and Evbayekha Desmond.

Others are Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, Wisdom Adolor, Onyebuchi Goodness and Promise Omoru

They were prosecuted on one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.

The charge against Evbayakha Daniel read: “That you Daniel (m) on or about the 30th of October, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

READ ALSO:

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Erhabor on November 11 convicted and sentenced Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright and Afisi Nurudeen, to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each.

On Wednesday, November 13, Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oviabor Aisosa Wellington and Evbayakha Desmond to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

On Thursday, November 14, the quartet of Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert and Promise Omoru were convicted and sentenced by Justice Aziegbemhin to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) while the duo of Wisdom Adolor and Onyebuchi Goodness bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC through a sting operation owing to their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.

Court jails 13 internet fraudsters in Edo

metro

NAF eliminates Zamfara terrorists planning to attack soldiers, residents

Published

16 mins ago

November 18, 2024

Trends Admin

NAF eliminates Zamfara terrorists planning to attack soldiers, residents

Scores of terrorists, who were planning to attack some residents of Babban Kauye village, located in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been bombed by the military, Daily Trust reports.

It was learnt that the terrorists, who are loyal to two bandits’ kingpins, Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule, were killed by the airstrikes rained by air troops attached to ‘Operation Farautar Mujiya’.

Security sources revealed that the terrorists were planning to attack military personnel stationed at the Tsafe axis and residents of some villages around the area before intelligence thwarted their plans.

Commenting on the development, the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Olusola Akinboyewa, said the air troops were notified when the enemies were assembling to proceed for the planned attacks.

“Intelligence sources revealed that the congregation of criminals was perfecting plans for coordinated attacks against military personnel or civilians along the Tsafe axis.

“”Upon receiving credible intelligence, the NAF launched a series of devastating airstrikes, inflicting significant casualties on the criminal elements,” Akinboyewa, an Air Commodore of the force told journalists on Sunday.

READ ALSO:

He added that after the operations, which was carried out Friday, ground troops confirmed that many bandits’ kingpins leading the coordinated plans were also neutralised during the process.

The senior military officer added, “Reports from the ground confirmed the successful elimination of numerous high-ranking members of the bandits’ groups, dealing a severe blow to their operational capacity.

“Tsafe Local Government Area has long been a flashpoint for bandit activities, with factions loyal to Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule notorious for orchestrating violent assaults on local communities, security forces and vital infrastructure.

“These groups have utilised remote settlements like Babban Kauye as strategic safe havens, from which they coordinate and execute their nefarious operations.”

According to him, the latest airstrikes represent a robust response and support for the Theatre Command of Operation FANSAN YAMMA by the NAF.

He said it aligned with broader efforts to dismantle and completely degrade bandit networks in the region, disrupt planned attacks with a view to restoring peace and stability to the embattled North West.

“The NAF remains resolute in its mission, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, to secure the region and indeed the nation as a whole, as we work to eliminate threats posed by terrorists, bandits and all other criminal elements working against the peace and prosperity of our beloved country,” he added.

NAF eliminates Zamfara terrorists planning to attack soldiers, residents

metro

Video: Lagos plotting to colonise Northern Nigeria using Kano emir — Kwankwaso

Published

25 mins ago

November 18, 2024

Trends Admin

Video: Lagos plotting to colonise Northern Nigeria using Kano emir — Kwankwaso

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused Lagos of plotting to “colonise” the northern region.

Speaking during the convocation ceremony at Skyline University in Kano, the former Kano State governor alleged that Lagos played a significant role in the ongoing emirate tussle in the state.

“Let me note our situation here in Kano and indeed northern Nigeria,” Kwankwaso said.

“The emir is just being a stooge at this very difficult time, especially in this part of the country (northern Nigeria).

“Today, we can see very clearly that there is a lot of efforts from the Lagos axis to colonize this part of the country. Today, Lagos wouldn’t allow us to choose an emir, Lagos has to come to the centre of Kano to put their own emir.”

Kwankwaso further raised concerns about tax collection and economic centralisation, accusing Lagos of siphoning resources from Kano and other northern states.

“Today, we are aware that the Lagos young men are working so hard to impose taxes and take away our taxes from Kano and this part of the country to Lagos,” he stated. “Even the telephones that we make or register here in Kano, efforts are there to take all the taxes to Lagos.

READ ALSO:

“Even our sons and daughters who have brought factories—many of them here in Kano and northern Nigeria—and even banks, somehow, they are forced to take their headquarters to Lagos because taxes will now have to go to Lagos.”