Nigeria has yet again suffered a nationwide blackout as the national electricity grid, centrally managed from Osogbo, Osun State, suffered a collapse at approximately 4:30 pm on Thursday, leaving millions of homes and businesses without power.

This development marks the fourth time the grid is collapsing since in the first three months of the year, adding to challenges that have long plagued Nigeria’s power sector.

According to reports from various distribution companies spanning the nation’s 36 states, their feeders were rendered inactive, resulting in widespread blackouts across the country.

The grid’s output, which stood at 2984 megawatts as of 4 pm, plummeted to zero within the span of an hour, with all 21 plants connected to the grid ceasing operations by 5 pm.

This incident marks another setback for Nigeria’s electricity sector, which has been marred by persistent issues despite privatisation efforts aimed at revitalization.

Over the past decade since privatisation, the grid has experienced a staggering 141 collapses, underscoring the magnitude of the systemic challenges facing the industry.

As of the time of reporting at 6:00 pm, the Azura Power Plant was the sole facility contributing to the grid, albeit with a modest output of 54 megawatts.

Major power generation plants such as Egbin, Afam, Geregu, Ibom Power, Jebba, Kainji, Odukpani, and Olorunsogo, among others, remained dormant, further exacerbating the electricity deficit nationwide.

The public accounts committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 28, accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks collecting revenue for the government of colluding to share the money made from Value Added Tax paid on Remita by customers.

Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) who made the allegation at the resumed investigative hearing on revenue leakages in Abuja, also accused the apex bank and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation of illegally paying about N15 billion to Remita without any formal contract.

The committee however warned the chairman of Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji against his continuous disregard for the invitation of the committee, saying his actions amount to contempt of parliament.

He also queried the payment of N15 billion to Remita, a payment platform from the Office of the Accountant General for the Federation (OAGF), saying the payment by the OAGF from 2016 to 2018 was questionable because the OAGF paid the money without agreement or contract.

Salam described the payment as illegal, saying, “The money is an illegal payment. There was no budget provision, so where did they source the money from?

“The CBN also shared in the money. The money is an illegal payment; there was no budget provision, so where did they source the money from?”

He said, for instance, if someone pays N150 as a remitter, you will now pay 7.5 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) in addition to it. Ordinarily, that whole sum of VAT ought to go to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), but what they are doing in this transaction is that they will now add that VAT to the N150.

“They will add it up, gather the money together, and take it to the CBN”

He said: “System Spec and Remitta, both collecting revenue for the federal government, will share 50 percent, while the banks and the CBN will also have their share”, adding that by the time the Committee finished its reconciliation, “I am very sure that hundreds of billions of naira will be the VAT component that was not remitted to FIRS.”

He said each bank ought to take the money and directly remit it to FIRS, saying, “Now Remita is saying that each of those collecting the money will come and calculate the money that has been shared into shreds. How do we track this kind of money?

The director in charge of Banking Services at the CBN, Ahmed Abdullahi, said Remita and System Spec were selected as alternative ways of remitting revenue because they had been rendering similar services to banks.

He explained that Remita was engaged in 2011 and operations commenced in 2012 with system module names, adding that the CBN only finalized the transaction

He said that the fees charged under the TSA were in line with the structure of banking.

Also speaking at the hearing, the Chief Accountant of the TSA Department who represented the Accountant General for the Federation, Oyewole Adewale, accused the CBN of not honouring its letters to reconcile the revenue accrued to the country through TSA.

He said the OAGF had developed a system where all revenue generated by the Ministries of Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs) could now be monitored without any interference.

Director, Remita Payment Services Ltd., Aderemi Atanda who gave the summary of the TSA collection said that 10, 20, and 50 percent were shared among CBN, commercial banks, and Remitta.

While saying the collections are usually not static but vary “In 2015–2016, it was N4.2 million, and the fee paid was N8.5 billion; in 2016, N1.3 billion was paid.”

Meanwhile, while warning the FIRS against failure to appear before the committee, the Committee chairman said, “This is the fourth time the committee would be inviting the FIRS chairman but failed to show up.

“In addition to writing him officially, we have also made sure that such letters were delivered personally to his mailbox and his WhatsApp number.

“We condemn and describe it as irresponsible and arrogant, and we tell him that there will be consequences if he continues this contempt of his parliament.”

Salam alleged that the value-added tax that should accrued to the Federal Government has not been collected by FIRS.

He said some VAT from the revenue collected by Remitta ought to have gone to the FIRS, but added that they would rather add the VST together and share it with the CBN, Bank, and Remita.

He said: “By the time we finished our reconciliation, the money would be in hundreds of billions,” adding that this was what they were asking the FIRS to come and collect, but the service had refused to show up.

The detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has sued the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
Gambaryan, in the originating motion dated and filed March 18 by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, sought five reliefs before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Also, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance’s Africa regional manager who escaped from lawful custody March 22, filed a separate right enforcement suit before Justice Ekwo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, in the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, had sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents.

They sought same reliefs.

Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, in his application, sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

He said the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution.

He also sought an order directing the respondents to release him from their custody and! return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan equally sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.

The official, who sought an order for the respondents to issue a public apology to him, also prayed for the cost of thie action on a full indemnity basis.

In a statement in support of the suit, he said he is an American citizen who visited Nigeria on Feb. 26 February, along with fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Giving 11-ground argument why his application should be granted, he said that he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting.

He said after the meeting the two of them were detained by the respondents and had remained in detention since then.

He said he did not commit any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he said, adding that he was not a member of the Board of Directors of Binance.

When the two suits were called on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo, SAN, appeared for Anjarwalla and Gambaryan

Krukrubo, told the court that though the respondents were served two days ago, they were not represented in court.

The senior lawyer, however, drew the attention of the court to their notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla filed on March 26.

Although Krukrubo did not give details of why they were withdrawing their legal representation, this might not be unconnected to the disappearance of the applicant in custody.

Justice Ekwo said having withdrew their legal representation, “it means that the applicant has no legal representation and requires that the matter be adjourned for the applicant to seek legal representation and for the respondents to be given an opportunity to come to court.”

The judge adjourned the matter until April 8 for further mention.

Also, upon resumed hearing in Gambaryan’s suit, Krukrubo said though the processes had been served on ONSA and EFCC, they were still within time to respond.

He therefore sought an adjourned date, saying the respondents time to file their applications would expire next week Thursday.

Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until April 8 for further mention.

(NAN)

Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, who is popularly known as Bobrisky, has provided further insights into his journey to becoming a transgender.

The controversial Internet personality disclosed that he started crossdressing as a marketing strategy while he was selling unisex clothes during his undergraduate days at the University of Lagos.

Speaking in a candid interview with maverick singer, Charly Boy, Bobrisky said he didn’t envisage that crossdressing would lead him into becoming a transgender.

He said, “About nine years ago, I was at the University of Lagos studying Accounting. I also had a side hustle, I was selling unisex clothes. Most times I try the female wears on myself and I love the outfits.

“From there, I moved to female hairstyles to makeup and more women were patronising my business. So I decided to keep crossdressing since it was lucrative.

“I wasn’t thinking I was going to do it for a very long time. Initially, it was just a marketing strategy but people were complimenting me that I look better as a woman than a man. That’s how I ended up being Bobrisky.”

He said he faced resistance from his parents initially but they eventually allowed him to be himself.

The chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yobe state chapter, Comrade Muktar Tarbutu has been ordered to be remanded in prison.

He was charged to court for allegedly diverting palliatives.

The order was given by the court On Wednesday, March 27.

Comrade Tarbutu was arraigned on Wednesday before Magistrate II Damaturu over the allegation of diverting palliatives given to him by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for distribution.

The secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yobe state, Barrister Mohammad Ngumurumi, disclosed that NEDC had given the palliatives to the NLC to share among some selected unions, but he failed to do so.

As reported by Daily Trust, Comrade didn’t share these items with NUJ and NBA.

However, he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.

The legal practitioner explained thus:

‘‘The North East Development Commission (NEDC) distributed 25kg of 150 bags of rice, 150 bags of sugar, 150 cartons of spaghetti, 150 rappers for women, and 150 textiles for men as well as 150 blankets.

‘‘He was urged to share them among the members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

‘‘He didn’t share these items with NUJ and NBA, we asked him where ours is, he didn’t show us that is why NBA filed the case to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and he was arraigned today (Wednesday), but he pleaded not guilty."

The accused was sent to prison by Chief Magistrate II Damaturu, His Worship Hasiya Abubakar, till April 18, 2024, when the principal hearing will be held.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday stated Lagos State recorded N1.05trillion domestic debt in the fourth quarter (Q4 2023) to emerge the state with the highest public debt portfolio.

NBS document tagged: “Commodity Price Index and Terms of Trade (Q4 2023), that made this known, added that Lagos was followed by Delta with a debt portfolio of N373.41 billion.

The document said: “Lagos state recorded the highest domestic debt in Q4 2023 with N1.05 trillion, followed by Delta with N373.41 billion.”

According to the report, Jigawa recorded the lowest domestic debt with N42.76 billion, followed by Kebbi with N60.69 billion.

On external debt, NBS noted Lagos has the highest external debt in Q4 2023 with $1.24 billion followed by Kaduna with $587.07 million while Borno recorded the least with $20.49 million, followed by Yobe with $21.49 million.

The data said Nigeria’s public debt stock which includes external and domestic debt stood at N97.34 trillion (US$108.23 billion) in Q4 2023 from N87.91 trillion (US$ 114.35 billion) in Q3 2023, indicating a growth rate of 10.73% on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Total external debt, said the document, stood at N38.22 trillion (US$42.50 billion) in Q4 2023, while total domestic debt was N59.12 trillion (US$65.73 billion).

The bureau revealed that the share of external debt (in naira value) to total public debt was 39.26% in Q4 2023, while the share of domestic debt (in naira value) to total public debt was 60.74%.

A Federal High Court in Borno State has ordered the military to release 313 suspected terrorists, for lack of evidence to nail the suspects after investigations.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Gen. Buba Edward, on Thursday, disclosed this during a briefing on military operations across the country in Abuja.

He said that the military would comply with the court order and release the suspected terrorists to the state government.

Buba said, “During the week, as a follow-up to a court order of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, a total of 313 suspects in detention for terrorism-related offences were to be released to the Borno State government.

“The court ordered the release for want of evidence after the conclusion of the investigation and other ancillary matters.

“The cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice. they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.”

Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, has regained his freedom after spending 12 days in custody.

Gunmen in military uniform had invaded Olatunji’s residence at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, on March 15, 2024, and whisked him away.

While the journalist’s family did not receive any communication from his military, the management of the media platform linked the incident to a story published by FirstNews.

Concerns about his location continued until the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) said its checks showed the editor was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa.

Hours after the IPI made the disclosure, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told some editors that the military had confirmed that the editor was in their custody.

Meanwhile, in a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, IPI called on President Bola Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to produce Olatunji.

“IPI Nigeria has received inquiries about this matter from all over the world. The Institute has also contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release. All efforts in this direction have so far failed.

“That has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.

“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence. The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military,” said the statement signed by IPI President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Tobi Soniyi, its secretary.

Consequently, on Thursday morning, Olatunji was released to the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), according a message by the Secretary of the Guild, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren.

As at the time of his release, the DIA didn’t say what Olatunji’s offence was.

An Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, remanded a 25-year-old man, David Ojonugwa, for allegedly stealing the sum of N54,142,000 from his employer.

Magistrate Adedayo Tella remanded Ojonugwa at the Correctional Centre pending the review of facts and sentencing after he pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Ojonugwa is facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful interference with property, and stealing preferred against him by the police.

Earlier when Ojonugwa was arraigned, the prosecutor, Inspector Francisca Job, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime in January 2024.

She said the incident took place at Lorange Water Factory, located at No 3, Olajubu Street, Ilupeju area of Lagos State.

Job told the court that Ojonugwa unlawfully disconnected, removed, tampered, and meddled with one 10KVA generator valued at N250,000, a 12 HP submersible pump machine valued at N200,000, an electric motor for a water line, N1.8m, and bottled water machine, N1m.

Others are one injection machine module at N12m, injection machine module, N14m, one set of four cavity module bottles (150CL) at N9m, one set of four cavity module bottles (75CL), valued at N8m, one set of four cavity module bottles (25CL), valued at N5m, one electric for motor shrink wrapper (75KW) valued at N110,000, two floating switches for the bottled water line valued at N20,000, 200 stainless bolts and nuts for installation valued at N92,000, six stainless rods for the installation of the water line valued at N200,000 and 1,000 pieces of medium-sized catfishes valued at N40,000, items that were stolen by the defendant.

She said that the total value of the items stolen was N54,142,000, properties of one Mrs Teju Adeleke.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 340, and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, Ojonugwa pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Consequently, Magistrate Tella remanded Ojonugwa at the Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till April 24, 2024, for facts and sentencing.

The fraud, bribery, and conspiracy charges filed against the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, have been dismissed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

The dismissal came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to substantiate its allegations against Adoke, leading to his acquittal on all counts.

During the ruling, Justice Abubakar Kutigi addressed the “no case” submission put forward by Adoke’s defense, stating that the EFCC did not adequately prove the charges of fraud, bribery, and money laundering.

Consequently, Adoke was discharged and acquitted, marking a pivotal moment in this high-profile case.

The court scrutinized the claims of illegal tax waivers allegedly granted to multinational oil firms Shell and Eni but found them unsupported by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or any other governmental authority.

Similarly, the accusation that Adoke received a N300 million bribe lacked evidential backing, leading to the dismissal of this charge as well.

This judgment may signal the end of protracted litigation related to the OPL 245 oil field saga. This case has seen Nigeria facing setbacks in various international and local legal fronts.

Notably, the EFCC acknowledged a lack of sufficient evidence against Adoke and other defendants, except for Rasky Gbinigie, who is accused of forgery related to company documents.