Tag Archives: Charges

Banks to charge N4m on every N40m cash withdrawal from April

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that charges on deposits will be re-introduced.

In a circular released on its website, the apex bank said the decision was made at the 493rd bankers committee meeting that held on February 8.

The apex bank also said it would extend its cashless policy to the remaining 30 states.

“Please be informed that the bankers committee at its 493rd meeting held on February 8 reviewed the cashless policy charges on withdrawal and deposit and decided that the policy be extended to the 30 remaining states of the federation,” the circular read.

For individuals, deposits ranging from N500,000 to N1 million will attract a 1.5% charge, while withdrawals within the range would attract 2% charge.

Deposits of amounts above N1m to N5m will attract 2% and withdrawals will attract 3% charge. Deposits and withdrawals above N5m will attract 3% and 7.5% charge respectively. In the corporate category, deposits and withdrawals below N3m will not attract charges.

Deposits and withdrawals between N3m and N10m will attract 2% and 5% respectively, while deposits and withdrawals between N10m and N40m will attract 3% and 7.5% respectively. Deposits and withdrawals above N40m will attract 5% and 10% respectively.

“The new charges would take effect from April 1 in the existing cashless states (Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers and the FCT). The policy shall be implemented with the charges taking effect on May 1 in the following states: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Ondo, Osun and Plateau,” the circular read.

“The policy shall be implemented with the charges taking effect on August 1 in Edo, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Oyo, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Taraba and Nasarawa. The policy shall be implemented with the charges taking effect on October 1 in Borno, Benue, Ekiti, Cross-River, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Yobe, Sokoto and Zamfara.”

CBN said the income generated from the charges would be shared between it and the banks in a ratio of 40:60.

It said exemptions would only be available for the government, embassies, diplomatic missions and aid donor agencies.

 

Source: www.thecable.ng

Reps probe ‘extortion’ through N65 ATM charges

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House of Representatives has begun moves to investigate the alleged extortion of customers through the N65 ATM charges by commercial banks in the country.

It, has therefore, directed its committee on Banking and Currency, to investigate same and other such related charges by the commercial banks.

The resolution followed a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Tijani Yusuf, (PDP-Kogi), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice votes by members.

According to him, commercial banks across the country had been extorting customers with N65 deducted from every bank transaction, while the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to act.

He recalled that recently, banks in the United Kingdom (UK) were asked to pay customers monies considered to have been illegally deducted from customers’ accounts as charges.

Also, in his contribution, contribution, Hon. Aminu Suleiman accused the Central Bank of Nigeria of not discharging its responsibilities as regulator of the banking sector.

The motion has been referred to the concerned committee; Banking and Currency for further legislative action, and to report its findings back within four weeks.

Charges Against Us Are ‘Trumped Up’- Saraki

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The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has described the charges of criminal conspiracy and the forgery of the Senate Standing Rules document brought against him and his deputy,  Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as ‘trumped up.’

“It is farcical to allege that a criminal act occurred during Senate procedural actions and the mere suggestion demonstrates a desperate overreach by the office of the Attorney General,” Saraki said in a statement on Monday after appearing before a Federal High Court in Abuja along with Ekweremadu, former clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

“These trumped up charges is only another phase in the relentless persecution of the leadership of the Senate.”Saraki said he believed a set of a people within the government were out to persecute him.

“However, what has become clear is that there is now a government within the government of President Buhari who have seized the apparatus of Executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda.”

The senate president said the charges brought against him and his deputy by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) did not serve a national interest and were capable of undermining the working relationship between the Senate and the Executive. The charges were also a clear violation of Separation of Powers, he said.

“This latest onslaught on the Legislature represents a clear and present danger to the democracy Nigerians fought hard to win and preserve. The suit filed on behalf of the Federal government suggests that perhaps some forces in the Federal Republic have not fully embraced the fact that the Senate’s rules and procedures govern how the legislative body adjudicates and resolves its own disputes.

“Let it be abundantly clear, both as a citizen and as a foremost Legislator, I will continue to rise above all the persecution and distraction that have been visited on me. In the words of Martin Luther King Junior, “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy”.

“I will remain true and committed to the responsibilities that my citizenship and my office impose on me. Without a doubt, the highest of those responsibilities is the steadfast refusal to surrender to the subversion of our democracy and the desecration of the Senate. This is a cross I am prepared to carry.

“If yielding to the nefarious agenda of a few individuals who are bent on undermining our democracy and destabilising the Federal government to satisfy their selfish interests is the alternative to losing my personal freedom, let the doors of jails be thrown open and I shall be a happy guest.”

Credit: Guardian

Tompolo Sues FG Over N45.9bn Fraud Charges

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Wanted former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo, has commenced legal action against the Federal Government of Nigeria, challenging the N45.9bn fraud charges filed against him.

Tompolo, who approached the Federal High Court in Lagos through his lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, is seeking an order restraining the Federal Government and its agencies from further proceeding with the N45.9bn fraud charges filed against him.

The defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.

Tompolo, through Adegboruwa, is contending that sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits him from seeking a stay of proceedings in his trial, are infringing on his constitutional rights to fair hearing.

He is urging the court to nullify sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA and restrain the Federal Government, the EFCC and the IGP from deploying those sections of the law against him.

Adegboruwa argued that sections 221 and 306 are in conflict with Section 36 of the Constitution which guarantees his client’s right to fair hearing.

The suit followed an appeal filed by Tompolo against the dismissal of his application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued against him by Justice Ibrahim Buba on February 8, 2016.

Tompolo is urging the Court of Appeal to not only vacate the arrest warrant issued against him but also disqualify Justice Buba from presiding over his case.

Credit: Punch

Court Refuses Dasuki’s Request To Quash Charges

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Court refuses application by Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) seeking to quash the charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for disobeying a court order granting him bail.

The trail judge, Justice Peter Affem, held that contrary to the application by Colonel Dasuki, it was the Department of State Services (DSS), which was not a party in the suit that arrested Colonel Dasuki and not the EFCC.

He agreed with the anti-graft agency that it had not flouted any part of the orders releasing the former National Security Adviser (NSA) on bail.

Justice Affem also held that even though the EFCC and the DSS were Agencies of the Federal Government, the action of one agency could not count for that of the other.

“They were set up under separate laws and have separate responsibilities in ensuring law and order in the country,” he stressed.

“To this end, the application fails in its entity.”

The Judge also rejected the prayer by the former NSA to in the alternative “stay proceedings in the trial, pending when the Department of State Services complies with the order of the court which released him on bail, on the grounds that stay of proceedings are ordered only as a matter of law and not procedures”.

Credit: ChannelsTv

EFCC Amends Charges Against Olisa Metuh

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought an amendment charge against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, one week after closing its case.

According to the Prosecuting Counsel, Mister Sylvester Tahir, the new charges will have no material effect on the earlier charges brought against Mr Metuh.

He says it’s an opportunity to effectively prosecute the case and asked the court to compel him to take his plea afresh.

Counsel to Mr. Metuh, Onyechi Ikpeazu did not object to the new charges and when it was time to take his plea, Mr. Metuh pleaded not guilty and also entered a no case submission.

The case has been adjourned to the February 25, 2016 to allow Mr. Metuh defend his no case submission through a written address which will be adopted on that day.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Metuh Pleads Not Guilty To Destruction Of Evidence Charges

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama in Abuja, on charges bordering on destruction of evidence.

Metuh, who allegedly destroyed his statement which he made under caution to the operatives of the EFCC, pleaded not guilty to the two counts.

The offences were said to be contrary to sections 166 and 326 of the Penal Code Act.

Credit: Punch

FG Hikes Electricity Tariffs, Abolishes Fixed Charges

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has increased electricity tariffs, while removing fixed charges for all consumers.

The new tariffs were approved Sunday.

Henceforth, all electricity distribution companies are not to bill customers the fixed charge component, starting from the customers’ next round of billing, the regulator directed.

Fixed electricity charge is a component of the tariff consumers are made to pay monthly, separate from what they actually consume.

The controversial N750 fixed charge nationwide had generated intense controversy among consumers who described it as illegal.

The chairman of NERC, Sam Amadi, said that under the new tariff regime, electricity consumers would only pay for what they consume from month to month.

Mr. Amadi said the removal of the fixed charge component was in compliance with consumers’ demand for a just and fair pricing of electricity in the country.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Dokpesi Pleads Not Guilty To Money Laundering Charges

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The proprietor of Africa Independent Television, Mr Raymond Dokpesi, has pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of fraudulent and corrupt act preferred against him by the Federal government of Nigeria.

Mr Dokpesi was arraigned on Wednesday before a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He said he was absolutely not guilty, as the charges preferred against him were not true.

In count one of the charge, Mr Dokpesi and DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited were accused of receiving public funds to the tune of 2.1 billion Naira from the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contrary to Section 58 Sub-section Four B of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

In the other counts, Mr Dokpesi was also accused of collecting the said amount without a certificate of no objection to contract award duly issued by the Public Procurement Bureau and receiving payment for a purported contract without bidding for the said contract.

Having pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Justice Kolawole adjourned the hearing of Mr Dokpesi’s bail application to December 10.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Magistrate Rules On Pro-Biafran Leader’s Charges Dec. 16

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A Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2 of the Federal Capital Territory has fixed December 16 for ruling on whether or not to strike out the charges instituted against a leader of Biafra agitation and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by the Department of State Services.

The ruling was earlier scheduled for December 1, 2015 but the presiding magistrate, Shuaibu Usman, could not sit because he was bereaved.

Findings by our correspondent on Monday showed that the ruling had been rescheduled for December 16.

The magistrate had on November 22, 2015 adjourned earlier date for his ruling on an application by the DSS through its lawyer, Mr. Moses Idakwo, to discontinue the case.

Idakwo had on November 22 applied for the discontinuance of the charges against Kanu in line with provisions of section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 due to what he described as fresh facts in the case which could not be entertained under the court’s jurisdiction.

Credit: Punch

NUPENG Charges FEC On Economic Development

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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has urged the Federal Executive Council (FEC) consisting of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministers recently sworn in to quickly hit the ground running in order to put the nation’s economy back on track.

The union believes that a lot of time has been wasted to constitute the cabinet ”which is supposed to implement the programmes of the government”.

NUPENG in a statement implored FEC to meet regularly to proffer solutions to the needs of the teeming Nigerians they promised to end their sufferings.

According to the union, expectations are high and “they should therefore put up concrete policies to hit the ground running by arresting the incessant fuel shortages presently experienced all over the country”.

National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese was quoted as saying that since President Buhari is personally in charge of the Petroleum Ministry, “he and his team must put up short and long term measures to end the sufferings of the masses to get petroleum products without wasting man – hours at the filling stations”.

 Credit: Guardian

Court Dismisses Corruption Charges Against Timipre Sylva

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A Federal High Court, Abuja,on Thursday dismissed a 50-count charge bordering on alleged corruption against former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva and six others.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling, held that the charges as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission constituted an abuse of court process and the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

He further held that the charges were “frivolous and lacking in merit’’.

Specifically, Justice Ademola held that the same charges had been determined by two other justices of the federal high court, Justices Evoh Chukwu and Ahmed Mohammed.

He said Justices Chukwu and Mohammed had struck out the charges on June 1 and June 10 respectively.

“It is the view of the court that the case constitutes an abuse of court process.

“The charges and witnesses in this case are all the same with the cases earlier struck out by the two courts.

“The court has inherent power to prevent the abuse of its process,’’ he said.

Credit: PremiumTimes

FG Moves To Amend Charges Against Orubebe

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The scheduled commencement of trial in the case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe was stalled Thursday by the Federal Government’s decision to amend an earlier charge of four counts filed against Orubebe.

Orubebe is charged with false asset declaration and acceptance of bribe totaling N70 million.

The prosecution, led by Peter Danladi had on November 9, 2015 sought an adjournment for two weeks to enable it prepare its witnesses for trial.

The tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar granted the prosecution’s prayer and adjourned to November 26 for the prosecution to open trial.

Thursday, everyone had expected the prosecution to call it witnesses only for Danladi to announce plans by the prosecution to amend the charge.

Credit: Nation

Col. Dasuki Denies Charges of Illegal Weapons

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Nigeria’s former national security adviser pleaded not guilty to money laundering Monday in connection with $423,000 in U.S. dollars and Nigerian naira seized at his homes.

Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki also denied charges of illegal possession of an arms cache including assault rifles and a submachine gun found when security agents raided two of his homes in July.

At the Federal High Court, Dasuki’s lawyer M.S. Labaran objected to a prosecution request for a secret trial to hide the identity of witnesses. He also asked the court to return Dasuki’s seized passport, saying he needs to travel abroad for medical care. The judge adjourned the case to Wednesday.

Dasuki, 60, was a key adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and had taken over the role of the Ministry of Defense in procuring weapons. He was called before a Senate committee last year to explain an incident in which South Africa seized $9.3 million in cash flown on a private jet and a $5.7 million bank transfer that South Africa blocked, saying it was intended to illegally purchase arms. Dasuki said the deals were legitimate.

Credit: AP

Children’s Football Coach At Chelsea Repeatedly Raped School Girl Atleast 15 Times

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A children’s coach at Chelsea repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl at their training centre in Surrey, a court has heard.

Shane Hughes, 31, allegedly abused the girl 15 times over four months in a physiotherapy room, where she was supposed to be getting treatment for a knee injury.

Prosecutor John Livingstone told the court that the first attack happened after he told her to take her clothes off and get on the massage table.

Mr Livingstone added: ‘She said “No, what is happening?” He then pushed her back on the massage table and told her not to scream and, though she did, he put his hands over her mouth and forced her clothes off.’

It alleged that he raped the girl and forced her to perform a sex act, Kingston Crown Court heard.

Hughes, who is the Premier League club’s children’s coach, is said to have carried out the offence in 2011 at their training headquarters in Cobham, Surrey.

The girl is now 16 years old, and Hughes is facing 14 counts of rape in relation to a child under the age of 13. He however denied raping her while the case was adjourned for continuation.

Senate Tells Electricity Regulatory Body To Abolish Fixed Charges

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Federal lawmakers at Tuesday’s plenary session, made the resolution after reviewing the operations of the electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) since the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The Senate urged the commission to advise the DISCOs to end bulk metering as well as halt the practice of making consumers pay for poles and transformers, which by law, are properties of electricity distribution companies.

Most of the Senators, who contributed to the motion, narrated tales of woes on electricity supply and billing in their constituencies, accusing the DISCOs of running fraudulent operations and acts of extortion.

Some of the lawmakers said that while they expected the privatisation of the power sector to guarantee stable power supply, the situation had grown from bad to worse.

Read More: channelstv

Ex-Gov Sylva Faces Fresh Corruption Charges

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The case involving a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a fresh 50-count charge bordering on stealing and money laundering, came up for mention Thursday, June 25, 2015 before Justice A. F. Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Mr. Sylva is charged alongside Francis Okokuro, Gbenga Balogun, and Samuel Ogbuku.

They allegedly used three companies – Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Limited to move over N19.2 billion from Bayelsa State coffers between 2009 and 2012.

Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court had on June 10 dismissed the 42-count charge of stealing earlier brought against Sylva and his co-accused by the EFCC, with the excuse that the prosecution’s application to consolidate the charges before him, against the defendants, amounted to an abuse of court process.

The Commission however, faulted the ruling on the grounds that it was premature as the accused persons had not even taken any plea before the court, and subsequently filed the fresh 50 count charge at the Federal High Court.

Read More: premiumtimesng

UCLA Football Staff Want Charges Against P Diddy Dropped

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Football coaches at UCLA apparently want the felony charges against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs dropped.

According to TMZ:

Sources directly connected with the team tell TMZ, the coaches are regretful the situation escalated to an arrest. They think Diddy is a jerk who they’d like to make persona non grata, but they don’t want to make this a courtroom spectacle, largely because it would be bad for the team.

Sources with direct knowledge of the confrontation between Diddy and Sal Alosi tell us, after the incident the coaches all decided to just let it go. They believe an intern called UCLA police and when the cops arrived, they asked to see the video and that was enough to hook Diddy up.

We’re told head coach Jim Mora does not want a criminal prosecution. The interns who were present and allegedly threatened could press the case, but if Mora is against it they would probably follow suit.

Law enforcement sources tell us … the case will go to the L.A. County D.A. for felony review next week. The D.A. could prosecute even without victims … there is a video, but that’s problematic.

Diddy claims he picked up the kettlebell in self-defense after Alosi and 4 others made an aggressive move.

Source: TMZ

Buhari Charges Corps Members To Be Ambassadors Of Change

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President Muhammadu Buhari has urged corps members across the country to see themselves as ambassadors of positive change in the course of their national assignment.

The president gave the charge yesterday at the swearing in ceremony of Batch A (stream-two) corps members at the Ogun State NYSC Orientation Camp, Sagamu.

Delivering the president’s address, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun represented by the secretary to the state government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, maintained that corps members “must have attitudinal change towards social ills which have impeded the peace and progress of the nation for too long.”

“You must give your best. You must avoid indulging in crimes and other negative vices that impede our collective efforts to move the nation forward. The quest for peace and progress has been disrupted and frustrated by social ills, many of them perpetrated by young people,” he said.

Credit: leadership