Tinubu kicks against increase in taxes | Nairalaw

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola
Tinubu, on Thursday urged the Federal Government not to increase
the Value Added Tax.

He said an increase in VAT will reduce the spending capacity of
the people and might increase hardship.

He urged the Federal Government to rather consider increasing
the tax net.

He spoke on Thursday during the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium
marking his 67th birthday, at the International Conference Centre,
Abuja.

It may be recalled that, sequel to the approval of N30,000 as
minimum wage by the National Assembly, the Minister of Budget and
National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma; and the Chairman of the
Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, had said the
Federal Government was considering an upward review of the Value
Added Tax by 50 per cent.

Udoma and Fowler who stated this on Tuesday when they appeared
before the Senate Committee on Finance, said the increment was to,
among others, enable the Federal Government to fund the new
national minimum wage.

Fowler said the proposed payable VAT by Nigerians based on the
increment would actually be between 35 per cent (6.75%) and 50 per
cent (7.25%).

The government is currently charging five per cent VAT on all
products in the country.

Police Nab Kidnappers, Armed Robbers in
Abuja

In furtherance of our commitment to protect lives and property
and combat crime in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Police
Command has not rested on its oars in ensuring that it delivers
quality service to FCT residents.

I want to reassure FCT residents that the Command will continue
to be proactive in its fight against crime by deploying crime
fighting strategies that will satisfy the security yearning of the
residents.

Below are some notable achievements of the Command:-
RESCUE OF KIDNAP VICTIM/ARREST OF SUSPECTS
On 16th March, 2019 the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of this Command
recorded a major feat with the rescue of two children of the same
parent, Rejoice Godwin 7 years old and Seke Godwin 9 years old who
were abducted on 8th March, 2019 from Yimi village in Zuba. The
victims were rescued at Lambata in Niger State were they were held
hostage by their abductors. The following suspects were arrested in
the process of rescuing the victims: Nasiru Mohammed ‘m’ 20 years
old, Sale Bello ‘m’ 19 years old and Hassan Audu ‘m’ 20 years old.
Two dane guns were recovered from the suspects at the point of the
arrest. Effort is being intensified to arrest the leader of the
gang who at large.

FOILED ARMED ROBBERY OPERATION/
DEATH OF SUSPECT
On 27th March, 2019 at about 2200hrs a good Samaritan who sighted
some hoodlums struggling with the driver of a black Mercedez Benz
350 around the Central Business District (CBD) alerted a Policeman
on guard duty at the area who was patriotic and joined him to give
the hoodlums a hot chase. Police operatives mobilised through the
Command Control Room to respond to the distress call engaged the
hoodlums in fierce exchange of gun fire around the National Energy
Commission. As a result of the superior gun power of the police
operatives, one of the hoodlums was gunned down and was later
confirmed dead at National Hospital where he was rushed for medical
attention. The victim was also rescued unhurt. Meanwhile, the
Command has launched massive manhunt for the two suspects who
escaped the scene with bullet wounds. Investigation is ongoing.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF FIREARMS
On 3rd March, 2019 at about 0530hrs following discreet
investigation, Police operatives arrested five armed robbery
suspects who robbed an apartment at Suncity Estate, Galadimawa at
about 0200hrs of the same day. While one of the suspects was
arrested by eagle eyed police operatives on duty at Galadimawa
round about, his cohorts were later arrested in their hide out. The
suspects arrested are: one Ayuba Isaac ‘m’ 22 years old, Philemon
Yohanna ‘m’ 28 years old, Johnson Moses ‘m’ 28 years old, Oduola
Dayo ’m’ 28 years old and Paul Philip ‘m’ 22 years old. The
exhibits recovered from them are: two (2) locally made pistols,
nine (9) rounds of live cartridges, one (1) cutter, one (1) iPhone
and the cash sum of ninety one thousand naira (N91,000). The
suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of
investigation.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT/ RECOVERY OF FIRE ARM
On 19th March, 2019 at about 1520hrs following a discreet
investigation, Police operatives arrested one Luka Bawa ‘m’ 25
years old in connection with a robbery operation that was carried
out at a plaza in Wuse axis on 8th March, 2019 at about 0230hrs.
Sequel to his arrest, the suspect led the team of investigators to
the recovery of the following exhibits: one (1) locally made
pistol, one (1) giant hammer, one (1) iron cutter, one (1) iron bar
and two (2) phones. Effort is being intensified to arrest other
members of gang who are currently at large.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF FIREARMS
Following an ongoing investigation, Police detectives attached to
the Command have arrested four members of an armed robbery gang
that stormed a hotel at Gwarinpa 3rd Avenue on 10th March, 2019 and
carted away some Plasma Television sets, phones and one laptop. The
suspects arrested are Moses Aiwaegbe ‘m’ 27 years, Kelvin Nduibisi
‘m’ 23 years, Moses David ‘m’ 21 years and one Rosemary Udenyi ‘F’
28 years a staff of the hotel and mastermind of the robbery
operation. The following exhibits have been recovered from the
suspects: one (1) locally made pistol, one (1) live cartridge, four
(4) plasma television, one (1) laptop and one (1) phone. The
suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are
concluded.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
In a proactive operation, based on a tip off, Police detectives
from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested one
Daniel Imonsemi ‘m’ 29 years old and Chukwuema Eke ‘m’ 25 years old
at their hideout in Kagini where they were planning a robbery
operation. Following their arrest, the following exhibits were
recovered from the suspects: one (1) locally made revolver pistol,
two (2) live ammunitions, one (1) dagger, one (1) thunder arrestor
and charms. Investigation is on-going.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
On 13th March, 2019 Police operatives attached to the Command
arrested three (3) members of an armed robbery gang that robbed a
house at Dakwa on 17th December, 2018 and carted away some
valuables. The suspects, Abdullahi Ibrahim ‘m’ 26years old,
Aliyusif Mohammed ‘m’ 18 years old and Usman Yerima ‘m’ 27 years
old were arrested at their respective hideouts following a discreet
investigation. The exhibits recovered from the suspects include:
two (2) Cutlasses, two (2) axes and one of the victims’ phones.
Effort is being intensified to recover the robbed items and arrest
other members of the gang who are at large.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS / RECOVERY OF STOLEN MOTORCYCLES
On 19th March, 2019 acting on tip off Police operatives arrested
one Shamsu Akilu ‘m’ 21 years old and Salisu Adamu ‘m’ 27 years old
for attacking motorcyclists and robbing them of their motorcycles.
The suspects who operate around Apo and Kabusa axis often attack
their victims with dangerous weapons. Also arrested, is one Dahiru
Umar ‘m’ 35 years who has been identified by the suspects as the
receiver of the robbed motorcycles. Five robbed motorcycles have
been recovered from the suspects. The suspects will be arraigned in
court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF CAR THIEVES/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
On 25th March, 2019 following a tip off, Police operatives arrested
one Mamuda Mustapha ‘m’ 22 years old and Olumide Jeremiah ‘m’ 30
years old at Karu Site while trying to sale a Toyota Hilander jeep
that was stolen by the suspects from where it was parked at
Jikwoyi. The golden colour Toyota Hilander with registration number
KWL 504 NM has been recovered from the suspects as exhibit. The
suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of
investigation.

ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF DANGEROUS
WEAPONS
On 15th March, 2019 at about 1800hrs acting on report police
operatives arrested one Abdulmajid Masaudu ‘m’ 24 years old,
Abubakar Mohammed ‘m’ 21 years old, Idris Yahaya ‘m’ 20 years and
Abdullahi Musa ‘m’ 20 years for attacking and robbing one Ismaila
Adamu at his Kuchigoro residence. The following exhibits used by
the suspects for the robbery operation have been recovered: one (1)
cutlass, three (3) knife. Meanwhile, effort is being intensified to
recover the victim’s property that were robbed by the suspects. The
suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of
investigation.

ARREST OF PHONE SNATCHER/ RECOVERY OF EXHIBITS
One Sefiu Shuaibu ‘m’ 21 years old was arrested by Police
operatives for using dangerous weapons to rob phones and other
valuables from his victims. The suspect who operates around Jabi
Masalaci axis attacked one of his victims on 12th March, 2019 and
robbed her of some cash and phone. One (1) Dagger and an infinix
phone have been recovered from the suspect as exhibits. He will be
arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigation.

ARREST OF SUSPECT/RECOVERY INDIAN HEMP
On 9th March, 2019 acting on tip off police operatives from the
Command Anti Narcotic squad in collaboration with Kwali Police
Division intercepted and arrested one Ibrahim Abubakar ‘m’ 26 years
old at Sheda, Kwali Area Council with eighteen (18) bags of dried
leaves suspected to be Indian hemp carefully concealed in a truck
transporting cartons of assorted wines to Jos, Plateau State.
According to the suspect who is also the truck driver, the bags of
Indian hemp recovered from his truck was conveyed from Akure, Ondo
State for delivery at Jos, Plateau State. Effort is being
intensified to arrest his cohorts who are now at large. The suspect
will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of
investigation.

As part of effort to rid FCT of illicit drugs, the Command has
intensified its raid of blackspots notorious for drug peddling. On
12th and 15th March, 2019 Police operatives from the Command
arrested six (6) suspects at Angwan Lado Kuje Area Council for drug
peddling. The suspects arrested in possession of the illicit
substance are: Adamu Usman ‘m’ 19 years, Monday Dogara ‘m’ 18
years, Musa Masaudu ‘m’ 18 years, Hassan Farouk ‘m’ 20 years Boma
Sam ‘m’ 22 years and Yunusa Yusuf ‘m’ 22 years. The substances
recovered from the suspects are: packs of Dizapan Tablets, packs of
AXL tablets and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

ARREST OF SUSPECTS/ RECOVERY OF EXPLOSIVES
On 17th March, 2019 at about 2130 hrs Police operatives on stop and
search along Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Express way arrested one
Murtala Ibrahim ‘m’, in a black VolksWagen Golf 3 car with
registration number KMC 610 XM loaded with 32 super power
explosives. The driver of the vehicle claimed he was given the
explosives to deliver to a named person at Uke, Karu LGA, Nasarawa
State.

Investigation reveal other persons in the vehicle were
passengers who boarded the vehicle innocently not knowing the
nature of goods being conveyed by the driver.

ARREST OF FRAUDSTER
On 27th March, 2019 at about 1800hrs based a complaint one Uche
Christian Cyril ‘m’ 40 years old was arrested by Police operatives
at Zango village for posing as a foreigner to defraud his victim of
cash (foreign and local currencies) and jewelleries. The suspect is
a member of a notorious 419 syndicate that specialises in
defrauding their victims, especially domestic staff working with
rich persons. Efforts is being intensified to arrest other members
of the gang.

NEW APPROACH
The build up to the 2019 election and the election itself took
quite a lot of man-hours that was usually deployed to curtail crime
within the FCT. We are happy that the elections, conducted in a
peaceful atmosphere, have come and gone.

Manpower employed to ensure this success of the election will
now be ploughed into crime fighting. Essentially a return to status
quo.

Our aim is sustain the known character of Abuja as being the
home of peace and security in the country. This, we hope to achieve
by complete deployment of manpower recovered after the election.
And also review our crime fighting strategies improved visibility,
vehicular and foot patrols, intensive raids of criminals hide outs.
Etc.

CP Bala Ciroma
Commissioner of Police
FCT Command