Author: Day Break
Again, Democrats move to impeach Trump
Following the invasion of Capitol Hill by supporters of President Trump in a bid to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election, some members of the United States House of Representatives have kicked off impeachment process.
The supporters of Mr. Trump on Wednesday invaded the building following an inciting address by President Trump.
Alexandria Ocasio Cortex of New York on Thursday announced that some members of the House have drawn the article of impeachment to commence the process of impeaching Trump.
It would be recalled that Trump was impeached in 2019 but was subsequently acquitted by the Senate.
According to Ms Cortez, the Article of Impeachment was prepared and finalised by Ilhan Omar, a Somali born lawmaker who Trump has repeatedly attacked in the past.
Cortez tweeted, “Articles of impeachment have already been drafted and are ready for introduction. They were prepared and finalized by @IlhanMN while she was extracted in a secure location, and members are signing on.”
EFCC warns Nigerians against selling their NIN, reveals consequences
As the ongoing struggle by some Nigerians to get their National Identity Number (NIN) continues, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned against selling it.
There has been an influx of Nigerians to offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) across the country in efforts to obtain their NIN.
But the EFCC, in a statement by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren on Thursday, said it had come to the commission’s knowledge that “some unscrupulous persons are cashing in on the exercise to induce enrollees to sell their NIN for a fee.”
The EFCC added, “The buyers of the numbers are also trading with them to persons whose motives are anything but noble.”
The commission said it was alerting Nigerians to know that it was not only illegal for them to sell their NIN but that they stand the risk of vicarious liability for any act of criminality linked to their NIN.
Lagos targets N60bn monthly IGR to finance 2021 budget
Lagos State Government has set a target of a N60bn monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund its N1.16trn 2021 budget.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Sam Egube, while providing the breakdown of the state 2021 budget, on Thursday, disclosed that the state is targeting N723. 817bn IGR to finance the budget with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) generating N512bn.
“A significant percentage of the projected Total Internally Generated Revenue (TIGR) of N512bn is expected to be contributed by LIRS,” Egube said.
We shall achieve this by expanding the tax net by simplifying the tax process, improving our transaction taxes and the appropriate use of technology in addition to improving the work environment, training and tools of our tax administration personnel.
“This will improve the efficiency in operations of all revenue generating agencies. We believe that there are huge revenue generating opportunities in the state, including real estates, transportation sectors and our markets generally etc. We will continue to use data and intelligence to unravel revenue opportunities and leakages.”
Egube disclosed that the Ministry of Works has the largest share of the budget with N244. 8bn allocation. Ministries of Education and Health which got N146. 9bn and N105. 9bn respectively got the second and third largest share of the 2021 budget.
In the breakdown, the commissioner said budgetary provision of N150.753bn was provided for the maintenance of roads and other infrastructures within the State.
“This increase shall address the zero-pothole strategy, create link-roads within the metropolis to resolve traffic congestion and its attendant risks. The provision will cater for the under listed among others: N15bn for The Rebuild Lagos project/trust fund, N11bn for Reconstruction of lekki-epe expressway from Eleko junction to Epe T-junction (phase one), N8.750bn for Lekki Regional Roads, N19.500bn under Project Stabilization Fund to intervene on various projects,” Egube said.
FBI Launches Manhunt For Individuals Behind Violence At Capitol Building
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday announced that it is seeking to identify individuals behind instigating violence in and around the Capitol Building which took place on Wednesday, January 6.
The Capitol Building, the seat of the US Congress, was attacked when hundreds of supporters of
President Donald Trump pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.
An armed standoff took place at the House front door at about 3 p.m. ET, and police officers had their guns drawn at someone who was trying to breach it.
Iraq court issues warrant for Trump’s arrest over Muhandis killing
An Iraqi court has issued an arrest warrant for outgoing US President Donald Trump over the killing of Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a January 2020 air strike that also killed high-ranking Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
The Baghdad court issued the warrant for Trump’s arrest under Article 406 of the Iraqi penal code, which provides for the death penalty in all cases of premeditated murder, according to the judiciary.
According to the Iraqi News Agency, the court said the warrant was issued “after the judge recorded the statements of the personal claimants from the family of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis”.
“The investigation procedures are continuing to find out the other participants in the execution of this crime, whether they are Iraqis or foreigners.”
Muhandis, who had been deputy head and a key figure in the Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary network, was killed in a drone strike on 3 January 2020 in a cavalcade outside Baghdad airport.
Trump later boasted that the strike on Muhandis and Soleimani had taken out “two for the price of one”.
‘The first step to take revenge’
Tariq Harb, a senior lawyer and constitutional expert in Iraq, was quoted by the English-language National Iraqi News Agency as saying that actually implementing the arrest warrant was likely to prove very difficult.
“It is not permissible to hold a trial in absentia except after the methods of summoning to attendance have been exhausted – which are arrest and detention – and this procedure is necessary to complete the requirements of the trial that will take place later,” he said.
Former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Bahaa al-Araji welcomed the news of the arrest warrant on Twitter, describing it as “a victory for the Iraqi state” and “the first step to take revenge for the violation of sovereignty and the blood of the martyrs who fell”.
However, political analyst Shaho al-Qaradaghi questioned why the courts in Iraq were able to so quickly issue a warrant for Trump, but not for those involved in the killing of anti-government protesters in Iraq over the past two years.
“Even in judicial procedures and parades, they are imitating Iran!” he wrote.
“If the judiciary is able to defeat Trump, then why is it unable to hold accountable and prosecute the leaders of militias and gangs involved in killing hundreds!”
The new warrant comes months after Iran issued an Interpol red notice for Trump’s arrest over the killing of Soleimani.
The June request, which Iran asked Interpol to relay to police forces around the world, has so far gone unmet.
Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, previously described the killing of Soleimani and Muhandis as “arbitrary” and “illegal”.
The strike saw an escalation of tensions in Iran and Iraq. Since January 2020, armed groups in Iraq have repeatedly launched rockets at US assets in the country and have repeatedly promised revenge for the killing of the two men.
Sunday, the anniversary of the killing, saw mass protests in Iraq and calls for US troops to leave the country.
Photos: President Buhari in a closed-door meeting with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
President Muhammadu Buhari is in a closed-door meeting with Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Abuja.
BREAKING: FG directs reversal of electricity tariff adjustment
The Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to inform all Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to revert to tariffs that were applicable in December 2020.
Mr Aaron Artimas, Senior Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Power, made this known in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday.
He said that the reversal to the old tariff was to promote a constructive conclusion of the dialogue with the Labour Centres (through the Joint Ad-Hoc Committee)
“I have directed NERC to inform all DISCOs that they should revert to the tariffs that were applicable in December 2020 until the end of January 2021 when the FGN and Labour committee work will be concluded.
This will allow for the outcome of all resolutions from the Committee to be implemented together,” he said.
The minister spoke against the backdrop of the report that electricity tariff had been increased by 50 per cent.
“I would like to affirm that these reports are inaccurate and false. It is unfortunate that these reports have led to confusion with the public.
“On the contrary, the Government continues to fully subsidise 55 per cent of on-grid consumers in bands D and E and maintain the lifeline tariff for the poor and underprivileged.
Access Bank completes takeover of Zambia’s Cavmont Bank
Access Bank Plc said it had acquired Zambia-based Cavmont Bank Limited through Access Bank Zambia Limited.
The takeover, a product of the lender’s satisfaction of major preconditions and regulatory approvals, has opened the door for “the merger of Cavmont into Access Bank Zambia,” to take place before January end, Access Bank said in a note to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
It is also hoped to make Nigeria’s biggest bank by asset to be a more robust lender, with a well-capitalised banking franchise that has “improved scale and capacity to deliver sustainable and best-in-class financial services in the Zambian market.”
The bank said in September it planned to strengthen its presence in Mozambique and venture into the South African market as part of its expansion line up.
“Growing our presence in Zambia remains a strategic priority for Access Bank and with the conclusion of the proposed merger with Cavmont, the bank looks forward to realising the synergies from the transaction and achieving further growth of the combined platform to the benefit of stakeholders,” the board said in the document, signed by Company Secretary Sunday Ekwochi.
Atiku reacts to Joe Biden’s confirmation as president
Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the confirmation of Joe Biden as the President of the United States, US.
Atiku said Biden’s confirmation was an indication that strong institutions are vital to sustainability of democracy.
the US lawmakers officially confirmed Biden as the country’s 46th president and Kamala Harris as Vice President.
Biden and Harris were confirmed under heavily-armed guard after police regained control of the Capitol in Washington.
