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Ekweremadu: ‘Please show mercy’ – Kinsmen beg UK Government
Less than 24 hours to the pronouncement of sentence by the United Kingdom court against the former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Dr Obinna Obeta, members of the Ikeoha Mpu Pacesetters League, IMPL, have joined their voices in begging the UK Court for clemency unconditionally.
Ekweremadu is from Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Recall that the Nigerian Senate, House of Representatives, ECOWAS Parliament, prominent serving and past leaders such as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, among others have written the UK Court asking for mercy on the Ekweremadus.
IMPL, an assembly of individuals, numbering over 500, who were empowered by Senator Ekweremadu through sponsorship of their education and securing of jobs in different spheres of life, described him as a good man.
The President-General of the Association, Engr. Chijioke Benjamin Ezekwe told journalists in Enugu that the conviction of Senator Ekweremadu and wife based on certain mistakes made in trying to save their ailing daughter does not in anyway represent their true character.
Ezekwe, who also disclosed that he was among the thousands of people that benefited from Ikeoha Foundation Education Scheme of the Senator, said his contributions to humanity and development of Africa at large should be considered by the UK Government.
The IMPL President maintained that the calls for mercy on the Ekweremadus which are coming from every quarter in Africa and the globe were enough testimonies that Ike Ekweremadu remained a role model for generations to come.
He said, “it is rather ironical to believe that the same man that had denied himself comfort to train many indigent persons both in his community and beyond, built roads and schools, created employment opportunities, sponsored so many life changing bills at the National Assembly and served African Continent meritoriously as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, including other global assignments will intentionally commit such a crime.
“But since they have been pronounced guilty, all we are pleading is for mercy. Like the Biblical Docars, Senator Ekweremadu and wife were like god to many.
“For the sake of our sister Sonnia who is still battling with life threatening ailment, they should be released unconditionally to reunite with their family and loved ones.”
“We commend all those that have voiced out their hearts in testimonies of whom the Ekweremadus are.
“We shall all intensify our prayers, for the darkest hours of the night is closer to morning”, he concluded.
News
Stop using repressive laws to intimidate journalists – SERAP, NGE tell FG
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, have called on Nigerian authorities at all levels of government to stop using repressive and anti-media laws to target, intimidate and harass journalists, critics and media houses.
The groups made the demand after an interactive session on ‘the state of press freedom in Nigeria’ held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
In a joint statement, SERAP and NGE said that, “the government of President Bola Tinubu, the country’s 36 governors and FCT minister must now genuinely uphold press freedom, ensure access to information to all Nigerians, obey court judgments, and respect the rule of law”.
They expressed concerns about the escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by authorities at all levels of government.
The groups note that the suppression of the press in recent times takes various forms ranging from extrajudicial to unlawful detentions, disappearances, malicious prosecutions and wrongful use of both legislation and law enforcement.
The statement read in part: “We would continue to speak truth to power and to hold authorities to account for their constitutional and international obligations including on freedom of expression and media freedom.
“Nigeria as a country has a long and unpleasant history of press gagging and clampdown on media freedom, which is evidence of extensive state censorship of media and in some cases, the utter control of state-owned media houses.
“This position has not changed considerably despite almost 25 years of unbroken democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.”
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FG adds 625MW to national grid – Minister
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Tax: Court orders FCT-IRS agency to seal off defaulting coys
A Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) to seal off a company, Ifedi A.K. Nigeria Ltd, over allegations bordering on non-filing of annual returns.
The Magistrate, Janada Balami, gave the order after lawyer to FCT-IRS, Michael Towolawi, moved the application to the effect.
Towolawi told the court that the company had failed to file its annual returns from 2019 to 2023 in breach of Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act, LFN, 2004, and amended in 2011.
He said all efforts to make the company comply with the law proved abortive.
The lawyer, therefore, applied that the company be compel to appear before the court to explain why it acted in breach of the law.
Balami, who held that the application by the agency against the company had merit, accordingly granted same to seal the No 6, Rudolph Close, Off Katsina-Ala Street, Maitama, Abuja.
She, consequently, ordered the company, the sole defendant in the matter, to appear before the court on May 16.
The Director, Legal Services of the FCT-IRS, Festus Tsavar, told journalists after the proceeding that the service would move against companies that do not file their annual returns as provided by law.
“You know that we have a new minister in FCT that is doing a lot of projects and that hinges on money.
“And of course, you are aware that FCT has come out of TSA.
“So it is the internally generated revenue that will make the government of FCT to be able to do those projects completely within required time,” he said.
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