The Kogi state government has introduced a levy on every loaf of bread baked in the state.
The state ministry of commerce and industry said the levy is aimed at improving the internally generated revenue.
But the state chapter of the Association of Master bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) told TheCable on Thursday that the bakers are against the levy.
An executive member of the association simply identified as Godfirst said the association has begun moves to meet with the consultant the state charged with collecting the fee.
Godfirst said they received a memo from the ministry imposing a levy to be paid “on each loaf of bread” produced.
“The letter was sent to us that a consultant has been given the job to generate fund from bakery to state government; to generate revenue to (for the) state government,” he said.
“We are trying to meet with the consultant but we have not been able to meet with him. We want to meet with him to give us more explanation.”
He said bakers in the state are experiencing hardship occasioned by the pandemic and will not be able to meet the new demand.
“We are not happy about it, presently there is no market. We are facing different types of challenges, and if they are now asking us to pay another tax, we don’t know how we can cope,” he said.
Kingsley Fanwo, the state commissioner for information, was not available for comments when TheCable called his phone number.
The reinstated Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has said that he is not compiling list of workers for sacking.
Ogundipe, who was welcomed with jubilation by workers of UNILAG, said this as he resumed on Thursday at the school’s Senate Building.
Ogundipe was sacked by the Dr Wale Babalakin-led governing council of UNILAG on August 12.
However, on November 10, he was reinstated by the President Mohammadu Buhari after a visitation panel report.
The reinstated VC urged the workers to be committed and united.
He said, “Our commitment must be in moving this university forward and we must unite. Some people are saying that I have a list of people I want to sack and punish. I have no such list. I do not have any list of anyone to be sacked; I have not seen any list. Let’s work together and move the university forward. You have invested years of your lives into this university. It is not about academic or non-academic staff, it is about moving the university forward.”
Ogundipe also thanked Buhari for insisting that due process must be followed during the crisis.
He attributed his reinstatement as divine and also appreciated the efforts of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola and all the staff unions in the school among others.
“My return to office is not by power but by divine intervention,” he said.
Ogundipe also described the former acting VC, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as a reliable and honest scholar.
“People think they can divide us, let me say this openly, they don’t know we communicate. She has done excellently well and she is reliable.”
While handling over to Ogundipe, Ogunsola said, “We welcome back the VC, I am formally handling over to the VC. Today is the day of victory, it calls for introspection. Together we stand, divided we fall. Nobody can de-brand us and UNILAG is bigger than anybody.”
The decomposing body of a bar attendant, Oritoke Manni, has been found at a site in Otolu town, Akodo, in the Lekki Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Manni went missing after visiting her boyfriend, Segun Titilayo, at his house in the area.
When efforts by Manni’s family members to locate her proved abortive, they reported a case of missing person to the police.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Thursday, said the victim’s corpse was found after an engineer reported to the police that his company, while excavating its site at Otolu town, exhumed the body.
He noted that Manni was identified by workers of the hotel.
Adejobi said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Segun Titilayo, 29, of Otolu town, Lekki LCDA of Lagos State, for killing and burying the corpse of his girlfriend, Oritoke Manni, 26, a bar attendant at K.C. Hotel, Apakin town, Lekki.
“On October 13, 2020, around 11am, it was reported that the suspect, Segun Titilayo, put a call to the deceased and she went to Segun’s house, but Oritoke (Manni) could not be traced or seen afterward.
“The police recorded a case of a missing person for the deceased. The police wireless message on the case was widely circulated to all police formations across the state for search and necessary police action as a practice.
“However, on November 7, 2020, one Engineer Adegbago David of Adron Homes and Properties reported to the police station at Akodo rea, Lagos State, that while the company was excavating its site at Otolu town, their caterpillar exhumed a decomposing corpse. Police detectives swung into action and the corpse was identified by the staff of the hotel to be Oritoke’s. The corpse was evacuated to a public morgue for autopsy.
“The police placed a manhunt on the suspect and he was arrested. He is being detained at the SCID Panti and giving useful information to help the police in their investigation.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has condemned the crime and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, DCP Yetunde Longe, to carry out thorough investigation into the matter.
“The CP cautions the youth, especially ladies, against keeping unscrupulous and destructive friends. He also encourages Lagosians to promote moral values and shun crimes and criminality.”
Titus Okunrinboye, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of Taminu Turaki, former minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, admitted embezzling contract funds while serving in the ministry.
Currently an accountant at the office of the head of service of the federation, Okunrinboye, who was head of the central pay office at the ministry of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, disclosed this before a federal high court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, while under cross-examination by Joe Gadzama, Turaki’s lead counsel, Okunrinboye admitted to owning different companies — including Pinnacle Energy Limited, BoyeTom Nigeria Limited, Everton Nigeria Limited and Overwhelming Synergy Pinnacle Limited — which were used to undertake various contracts while on the payroll of the federal government.
He admitted that his action was against the ethics of the code of conduct for public officers.
The witness also said he had seven different personal bank accounts, aside from that of his companies.
Okunrinboye told the court that N359 million, which was paid to the ministry’s account for a sensitisation programme, was disbursed without proper documentation.
He also admitted to forfeiting N535 million and a house in Abuja — which he said were proceeds of his loot from the ministry — to the EFCC.
When asked by Gadzama if he is being prosecuted over his alleged criminal offences, Okunrinboye said “no”, adding that the investigation by the anti-graft commission was ongoing.
Under further cross-examination by Abdulaziz Ibrahim and Nasir Seidu, two other defence lawyers, at the resumed trial on Wednesday, the witness admitted diverting contract funds and sharing them with Vincent Odafe, the then director of finance and administration at the ministry.
Odafe testified as the fifth prosecution witness.
Okunrinboye admitted that one of his companies got a contract of N49 million to supply grinding and sewing machines, and the proceeds of the contract was shared with staff of his office and Odafe.
Overwhelming Synergy Pinnacle Limited, another company owned by the witness, got an N84 million contract which the witness admitted was never executed.
Like the first, the proceeds were also shared with Odafe and other staff of his office at the time.
“Your boss (Odafe) got N45 million and you got N20 million and the balance was shared among the members of staff of your office?” Ibrahim asked
In response, Okunrinboye said “yes”.
Inyang Ekwo, the judge, adjourned the case till December 16, 17 and 18 for continuation.
The EFCC had arraigned Turaki on May 4, 2020, over allegations of fraud.
He was arraigned on a 16-count charge alongside Sampson Okpetu, who served as his special assistant; Samtee Essentials Limited, and Pasco Investment Limited — companies linked to Okpetu.
Turaki was the minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs from 2013 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also served as the supervising minister of labour from 2014 to 2015.
Popular Hollywood actor, Jason Momoa, famed for his role in Game of Thrones, Justice League and Aquaman, has revealed that he was completely in debt after his role in HBO’s hit series, Game of Thrones.
“I mean, we were starving after Game of Thrones. I couldn’t get work. It is very challenging when you have babies and you are completely in debt,” the actor revealed in an interview with Instyle.com.
Momoa is married to actress Lisa Bonet and they are the parents of two children together. He is also step-dad to actress Zoe Kravitz, Bonet’s daughter with ex-husband, rocker Lenny Kravitz.
However, he noted that his fortuned improved in 2016 when he was cast in Justice League. Two years later, he headlined the megahit movie Aquaman.
He has got plenty of acting gigs now, including the second season of his Apple TV+ series, “See,” and he also appears in the film “Dune.” Now he’s fully booked until about 2024.
Momoa first got into the acting business at 19-years-old when he heard that Baywatch Hawaii was having an open casting call. “So I went down with all my cousins. We just wanted to meet chicks. About 1,300 people showed up.” Offered one of the lead roles, he dropped his plan to study marine biology and became an actor.
Former President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana has died of coronavirus-related complications at the age of 73, according to multiple reports from Ghanaian media.
The development comes less than a month after he buried his mother.
Rawlings, who is one of the most respected African leaders, was a military leader in Ghana and later became a politician who ruled the country from 1981 to 2001.
The former President initially came to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979.
Prior to that, he led an unsuccessful coup attempt against the ruling military government on 15 May 1979, just five weeks before scheduled democratic elections were due to take place.
He was until his death, the African Union envoy to Somalia.
Rawlings as leader of Ghana launched a massive anti-corruption campaign that purged the nation of corrupt political elements.
A former Nigerian Presidential candidate and media mogul, Dele Momodu, who has close links to the Ghanaian Presidency, confirmed the development on Twitter.
“The saddest news of this year. My God. Former President Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana has passed on. I’m completely devastated. Good night, an African hero.”
North Korea has accused the UN agency responsible for regulating atomic energy of being a puppet of hostile countries after a new report said the isolated nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile was breaking international law.
Pyongyang has gradually built an atomic stockpile after abandoning the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, and has tested several nuclear bombs in the years since.
Since Kim Jong Un took over from his father as the country’s supreme leader, North Korea’s military has made rapid strides in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, and has been subjected to increasingly strict international sanctions as a result.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors have not been allowed into the country for more than a decade, said Wednesday that Pyongyang’s weapons programme was “deeply regrettable.”
North Korea’s nuclear activities “remain a cause for serious concern,” said agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi in a report to the UN General Assembly.
Pyongyang’s ambassador to the UN hit back later in the same forum, telling other diplomats that the IAEA’s report was “grossly distorted.”
“The IAEA is no more than a political tool of the Western countries,” he said, adding that the body was “a marionette dancing to the tune of the hostile forces” against North Korea.
Nuclear talks between North Korea and the US have been deadlocked since the collapse of a summit between Kim and President Donald Trump in Hanoi early last year.
North Korea is widely believed to have continued to develop its arsenal — which it says it needs to protect itself from a US invasion — throughout the discussions.
The Lagos Mobile Court has ordered permanent forfeiture of d 31 vehicles to the state government for contravening the Traffic Laws.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Environment and Special Offences, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, issued the order after the drivers pleaded guilty.
He held that the 31 defendants pleaded guilty to the one-way traffic offence they were charged with.
“These 31 drivers were charged with driving in the direction prohibited by Law punishable under Part (III) item 27 of the ‘Lagos State Transport Sector Reformed Law of 2018.
“However, 43 other drivers arraigned for plying the BRT corridors and causing road obstructions have been ordered to pay fines to the government in accordance with the law and severity of their offense,” he said.
Egbeyemi confirmed that out of 160 arraigned traffic offenders including those apprehended for driving against traffic, only 74 had so far appeared before the court.
While urging remaining 86 others who are yet to appear before the court to do so, Egbeyemi said the agency acted in response to series of complaints from the public.
“The complaints, particularly from motorists were that activities of one-way drivers were causing serious traffic gridlock on daily basis since the #EndSARS protest across the State.
“It is painful that with a high level of enlightenment campaigns and several warnings by the government, motorists including private car owners are still driving against traffic.
“The penalty for such offense is outright forfeiture of the said vehicle to the government,” he said.
The sustained campaign by the media against electoral violence assisted in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere during the Edo and Ondo governorship polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission, said on Wednesday.
According to the commission, the media contributed positively and played vital roles in the successful conduct of the elections.
The acting chairman of INEC, AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (retd), stated this during the commission’s quarterly meeting with media organisations in Abuja.
He said, “On the Edo and Ondo elections, the commission must place on record, the tireless and sustained campaign by the media against electoral violence, before, during and after the elections. That level of campaign was unprecedented in our recent electoral history.
“The media did not only kept the imperative of peaceful election in the front burner but also kept the spotlight on all political parties and their candidates throughout the elections.
“The commission acknowledges this positive contribution and looks forward to improved partnership and support, as we continue our collective strides towards the consolidation of credible elections and our democracy as a whole.”
Mu’azu said the meeting with the media was to consult with the journalists on the 15 by-elections in 11 states, earlier scheduled for October 31 which were suspended because of the #EndSARS protests and volatile security situation in the country.
He reiterated INEC had resolved to resume voters’ registration exercise nationwide in the first quarter of 2021.
An Osun State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, yesterday, ordered the remand of two ladies for allegedly attempting to murder the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The state Police Command that arraigned the suspects also accused them of stealing and vandalising Justrite, a mall in Osogbo.
The suspects, Tajudeen Suliyat and Ayomide Abdulazeez, both aged 20, were slammed with a six-count charge of attempted murder, malicious damage, burglary and conspiracy.
Police prosecutor, ASP Idoko John, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on October 17, 2020, at about 4:30 p.m. at Olaiya Junction, Osogbo.
Idoko alleged that the accused persons conspired among themselves and unlawfully attempted to kill Governor Oyetola by firing guns and throwing stones at him.
He further informed the court that the accused persons did willfully and unlawfully damage 17 vehicles in the governor’s convoy
The prosecutor also said that the accused on the same date at about 8:00 p.m. unlawfully broke and entered into Justrite Mall and stole laptops, mobile phones and phone accessories, all valued at N3,568,000, property of Ashiru Ibrahim Olayemi.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against them.
The defence counsel, Nurudeen Kareem, made oral application for the bail of the accused persons in most liberal terms, saying the offence against the suspects were bailable.
In his reaction, the prosecutor opposed the bail application on the ground that the accused persons will commit similar offence if granted bail.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ordered the remand of the accused persons in Ilesa Correctional Centre till November 20, 2020 for ruling on their bail application.
