Terminal operators lost N58.9bn in eight years – Report

Terminal operators at Nigerian seaports have in the last eight years lost N58.9bn, a report by Akintola Deloitte has revealed.

A copy of the report that was made available to our correspondent stated that the loss was due to a combination of factors, including rising Consumer Price Index, depreciating value of the naira and the terminal handling charges, which had remained largely unchanged since 2006.

The report stated, “While the terminal handling charges have remained largely unchanged, the CPI for Nigeria has increased by 119 per cent within the same timeframe.

“At concession, the dollar to naira rate was $1 to N151 (parallel market). However, the rate is now much higher. There has been no change in the terminal operators’ charges as well as no element of the CPI adjustment.

“The effect of the exchange rate has not been applied on the terminal handling charges since the concession agreements were signed. The average estimated loss over the years amounted to N58.9bn.”

It added that an adjustment of the CPI and the foreign exchange fluctuation on the terminal handling charges showed that the THC should be charged at 238 per cent higher than its present fee, which would put it at N153,780 instead of instead of N45,500.

The report added that the fluctuation in the exchange rate had affected the business of the terminal operators in the area of payment of government fees as most of the commitments of the operators were in dollars.

It further stated, “The terminal operators have lost potential revenue when yearly, the THC is converted to dollars. The THC value in 2006 ($211) was higher than the value in February 2016 ($138).

“This loss in the dollar value of the THC is due to the fluctuations of the dollar to naira rate and is estimated to be about N89.8bn for the industry from 2007 to 2015.”

The spokesperson for the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, described the current situation as a dire one.

He said, “Inflation and depreciation of the naira have eroded our earnings as terminal operators by more than 300 per cent. For instance, our salaries and overhead between 2006 and now have gone up by over 1,000 per cent, yet our earnings have been reduced by threefold when you benchmark it against the 2006 earnings.

“What we are earning now is even below what we earned in 2006, especially against the current value of the naira. This is the reality on ground, and again, there is no volume.”

Akinola added that certain government policies had contributed to the taking of cargoes away from Nigerian ports, noting that there was a need for urgent measures to be taken as it would be difficult for STOAN members to continue to operate under the present conditions.

There was no response from the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, the port economic regulator, as its Executive Secretary, Mr. Hassan Bello, did not respond to calls or a text message sent to his mobile telephone line.

Reps to probe N571bn loss to tax waivers

Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

John Ameh, Abuja

The House of Representatives said on Tuesday that the country was losing an estimated $2.9bn (N571.3bn) yearly to tax waivers granted to multinational corporations and indigenous companies operating in Nigeria.

The House noted that this was a huge revenue loss to the country and ordered an investigation into such waivers with a view to either reducing or abolishing them completely.

It also said many local companies benefited from the tax incentives, which were granted by successive governments over the years.

According to the House, the tax incentives in most cases failed to meet the aims they were intended to achieve.

For instance, Mr. Kehinde Odeneye, who moved a motion on the need to investigate the waivers, stated that foreign investors were granted incentives with the belief that they would bring in capital to support the nation’s economic development and create employment.

But he argued that the turn of events indicated that “there is little evidence that tax incentives have increased investments.”

As many members spoke in support of the motion, the consensus of views was that the Federal Government should pursue economic policies that could genuinely attract investors as against granting tax waivers.

Members suggested that such policies should include the provision of quality infrastructure, reducing the administrative cost of opening and running business in Nigeria, and promoting predictable micro-economic policies.

The session was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun.

The original motion sought to probe the incentives granted to multinationals.

However, on the advice of the Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the motion was amended to include indigenous companies that also enjoyed tax incentives.

Gbajabiamila urged the House to expand the scope of the investigation to cover many local companies that made huge profits from their operations but paid nothing to the government as tax.

He, however, did not mention the names of such companies.

In passing a resolution on the matter, the House asked its joint committees on Finance and Public Accounts to investigate the incentives with a “view to reducing them, abolishing unproductive incentives and ensuring that those remaining are targeted at achieving specific social and/or economic objectives.”

The committees will be jointly chaired by Mr. Babangida Ibrahim and Mr. Kingsley Chinda.

In a separate resolution, the lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to urgently reconstruct the bad sections of the Sango-Abeokuta Expressway.

The poor state of the road was brought to the attention of the House by a member from Ogun State, Mr. Jimoh Ojugbele.

He informed his colleagues that the road was economically important as a link between Lagos and Ogun states for people engaged in business activities on both sides.

The resolution stated, “The House is concerned that some sections of the expressway have failed considerably, which affect the smooth flow of traffic on the road, thereby causing severe loss of man-hours.

“The most worrisome is the incessant carnage due to fallen tankers and other articulated vehicles that litter the expressway.”

Co-tenants flee slain driver’s house over fear of arrest

• Muyiwa’s apartment, Tolulope’s injured hand (inset) Photos: Olaleye Aluko

Olaleye Aluko

Co-tenants of Muyiwa Ijaduola, a commercial driver allegedly pushed to death by a policewoman in the Igando area of Lagos State, have fled the house.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Tuesday that the co-tenants abandoned the house after they learnt that the police arrested and tortured the deceased’s siblings and would be coming for them too.

This is just as the eldest brother of the deceased, Ayodele Ijaduola, told our correspondent that Muyiwa or any member of the family did not have epilepsy, saying anybody could go to the family house in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, to ascertain his claim.

PUNCH Metro had reported on Tuesday that residents blocked the Igando end of the Lagos State University-Iyana Iba Road to protest against the alleged killing of 46-year-old Muyiwa by a policewoman, identified as Corporal Taiwo.

It was gathered that Muyiwa, a father of three, was stopped by Taiwo, who allegedly demanded N500 from him, pushing the driver into a gutter when the man said he had only N300.

Muyiwa was said to have hit his head against the edge of the gutter and died, after which Taiwo and her unidentified colleague fled the scene.

When PUNCH Metro visited Muyiwa’s house on Alhaji Noah Street, Egan, Igando, on Tuesday, the apartment was deserted.

A resident, who begged not to be named, told our correspondent that the co-tenants fled the house on Monday after they learnt that the Igando Police Division arrested and allegedly beat up Muyiwa’s younger brothers – Ayodeji, Tolulope and his wife, Zainab – for about four hours, adding that there was speculation that the policemen would come for them.

She said, “It is only Muyiwa who stayed here. His wife and three children live in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State. He usually visited them once in a while. Since Monday, the co-tenants fled the house. Even Muyiwa family members have fled for now.

“They said policemen from Igando were coming to raid the house and harass people in order to sweep the matter under the carpet. After they arrested the deceased’s brothers on Monday, everyone fled.”

Muyiwa’s eldest brother, Ayodele Ijaduola, told PUNCH Metro on the telephone that the police’s claim that the deceased had an epileptic attack was false.

He said, “The epilepsy claim by the police is not true. Muyiwa did not have any epilepsy. We do not have epilepsy in our family. The police are free to go to our family house in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, to verify that.  We are ready to have the autopsy conducted to know the truth. He did not die because of any epilepsy. Up till now, we have not seen his corpse.”

Also, Pastor Matthew Abisoye, the pastor-in-charge of Healing Power Gospel Church, where Muyiwa worshipped, said the deceased was once his driver and he had never seen any trace of epilepsy in him.

He said, “Muyiwa attended the Healing Power Gospel Church. He was an active member of my church. In fact, he was once my personal driver. I have never seen or heard anything like epilepsy about him. I call on the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to investigate this incident to the fullest.”

One of Muyiwa’s siblings detained at the police station on Monday, Tolulope, said the police locked them up on the claim that they instigated the protest.

He said, “The three of us were beaten by policemen at the division. They said we were the ones who instigated the residents to protest. They locked us up in the cell. We were freed around 5pm at the Area M Command, Idimu. My body is still very weak.

“We spent about four hours in their cell before they moved us to the area command. Our offence was that we started the protest and demanded to see the corpse of Muyiwa.”

The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Damasus Ozoani, said a post-mortem examination would reveal the cause of Muyiwa’s death, adding that the police would not withhold the corpse for no just reason.

He said, “It was said that he died from a suspected epileptic attack. The police are not medical personnel. It is the post-mortem examination that will reveal the cause of death and that is what the police are waiting for.

“The corpse will be released to the family members as soon as the examination is done. We are hastening up the process and I assure you that anyone found culpable will be dealt with. Investigation is ongoing into the matter.”

Man jailed two years for fighting over glasses

Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court

Samson Folarin

An Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Mohammed Jamilu, to two years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a one count of causing bodily harm.

Jamilu was said to have stabbed one Muritala Mohammed in the chest and stomach during a disagreement over a pair of glasses.

It was learnt that the convict was arrested by policemen from the Denton division.

Jamilu was arraigned on one count of causing bodily harm on Monday.

The charge read, “That you, Mohammed Jamilu, on May 19, 2016, at about 8.40am, at the Kadara area, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did stab one Muritala Mohammed in the chest and stomach with a kitchen knife, which caused him bodily harm, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector I. Ekoro, during the facts and sentence said the convict and the complainant fought over a pair of glasses.

He said, “On Thursday, May 19, 2016, around 8.40am, the defendant took the glasses belonging to the complainant, which resulted in a fight between them.

“Suddenly, the defendant went inside his room and got a knife, which he used to stab the complainant in the stomach and chest. Residents, however, rescued him and took him to a hospital for treatment.

“The defendant was arrested and he made confessional statements.”

The statement of the convict was read to his hearing and he confirmed it.

In his allocutus, Jamilu pleaded with the court to show mercy on him.

The magistrate, B.O. Ope-Agbe, said the offence which Jamilu committed carried a sentence of three years.

She said since the defendant did not waste the time of the court, he would not get the maximum sentence.

She consequently sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment.

Suspected militants abduct Ogun cop on duty

Torbee Atorough

Afeez Hanafi

A police corporal, Torbee Atorough, attached to the Ibafo Police Division, Ogun State, has been abducted by some suspected militants at a duty post in the community.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunmen, operating around the creeks in the neighbourhood, were passing through the checkpoint around 8.30pm when Torbee and three other cops flagged down their vehicle, but the driver zoomed off.

The indigene of Guma in Benue State and father of five was said to have given them a chase with a motorcycle, but did not return.

Efforts by his colleagues – who reportedly trailed the gunmen with their van – to locate him proved abortive.

It was gathered that the vehicle had been snatched from a resident of the community a few minutes earlier.

Following Torbee’s disappearance, men of the division were said to have traced the owner and arrested him with the car the following day.

Three other suspects were also arrested in connection with the incident and one of them reportedly confessed that the corporal was with his accomplices, who were at large.

Our correspondent learnt that the three policemen on duty with Torbee had also been detained at the state police command.

The abductee’s younger brother, Wilson Atorough, said he travelled down to Ogun State from Benue after he was alerted to the incident by their kinsmen in Ibafo, adding that Torbee had earlier informed the family that he was suspicious of some of his colleagues in the station.

He said, “On May 13, I received a call from one of our people in Ibafo that my brother had been missing since May 11, while he was on duty with his colleagues. I came to the station and was told that the case had been transferred to the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta. On getting there, I learnt that the owner of the vehicle and three other suspects were in detention. The car owner said he had called the police station that evening to report that the vehicle was stolen at gunpoint, but he did not get any response.

“He claimed that he later recovered the vehicle where it was parked. One of the three other suspected militants confessed in my presence that he was among those who abducted my brother. He said he was shot and taken away by other militants. I was taken to a Deputy Commissioner of Police and after I explained to him that my brother had earlier told us that his colleagues were after his life, he ordered that the three policemen should be arrested.”

Wilson’s wife, Mrs. Dorcas Atorough, said he suspected the cops were complicit in the incident and called on the police authorities to properly investigate the matter.

She said, “Why did his  colleagues on duty allow my husband to chase the gunmen alone when there was a patrol van that all of them could use? Why didn’t the Divisional Police Officer contact the family immediately the incident happened? The Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission should prevail on the Ogun State Commissioner of Police to expedite action towards releasing my husband.”

One of Torbee’s kinsmen in Ibafo, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent on the telephone that he and other Tiv natives in the area, became worried when they did not see the victim for two days.

“We met with the DPO and he said he had been trying to reach out to his family. Our chairman called his brother. The matter is a little complicated and should be properly investigated,” he added.

The Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, did not pick calls made to his line and had yet to respond to a text message sent to him.

Woman, nurse arrested while aborting 12-year-old’s pregnancy

Favour

Olaleye Aluko

A 12-year-old girl, identified only as Favour, has been rescued by the police in the Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos State, where her aunt and the husband allegedly took her to get rid of a pregnancy.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Favour had been allegedly raped several times by her aunt’s husband, identified as Johnbull Dike, before she conceived.

It was learnt that while Favour was put in police’s care, a manhunt was launched for Johnbull, a tricycle rider, who fled the area after the police rescued the girl.

It was gathered that Dike’s wife and the nurse who was caught during the abortion had been arrested by the Akinpelu Police Division.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the girl was allegedly taken to the nurse on Sunmola Street, Mafoluku, on Wednesday, May 4.

It was learnt that some residents gave a tip-off to a child rights’ group, Child Protection Network, which involved the police.

Our correspondent learnt from a source that Favour, who was discovered to be four months pregnant, had been allegedly raped on several occasions by the suspect in January 2016.

It was said that Johnbull, a father of three, and Happiness, however, found out that Favour was pregnant in February, after which they bundled her to stay with their trader friend in Mafoluku, to hide the evil deed.

However, the woman was said to have returned Favour to the couple in April, saying she could not afford to take care of her.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Johnbull and Happiness, who lived on Brown Street, subsequently took Favour to the nurse to get rid of the pregnancy.

Our correspondent learnt that the matter was also reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in Alausa.

When our correspondent visited the area, a worker with the Child Protection Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, said Favour did not inform her aunt about the rape, because the suspect had allegedly threatened to kill her if she did.

He said, “The case was brought to my attention by a community development committee secretary in Oshodi, Mr. Mamora. The victim was raped and impregnated by her aunt’s husband.

“I went to see the girl at the place where the aunt had taken her with the connivance of a nurse to abort the pregnancy. The girl underwent a scan before the abortion. It was a failed process because she began to bleed at the nurse’s place. The police were informed on that Wednesday and the two women were arrested, while Johnbull fled.

“The policemen took Favour to a proper hospital to get rid of the remaining foetus. As it is, the suspect is on the run because he knew that the girl is with the police.”

At the police station, Happiness told our correspondent that her husband had fled from the house since the day of her arrest.

She said, “He has not called me since that day. His phone numbers are also switched off.”

A police source told PUNCH Metro that Happiness had been granted bail because her last child had an infection and needed her attention.

She said, “Our investigation shows that the nurse is a quack. She is not trained and she proceeded to do abortion for a 12-year-old girl. The suspect’s wife has a two-year-old son who is being treated for an infection. So, she has been granted bail.

“She did not deny that they wanted to abort the pregnancy. The story they painted to the nurse was that the girl was raped by an unidentified hoodlum.”

Our correspondent also sighted Favour at the station before she was taken to the state command headquarters in Ikeja.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the police were on the trail of Dike.

She said, “There is a case of defilement against Johnbull. His wife and the nurse have been arrested for aborting a pregnancy. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the Gender Unit of the command.

“The suspect is on the run, but efforts are on to arrest him. Meanwhile, the wife and the nurse will both be charged to court.”

Grandmother, stepmother arrested for removing toddler’s eye, tongue

Samson Folarin

A two-year-old boy, Musa Murtala, is currently battling to live at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

The victim, who had been admitted since Friday, was allegedly tortured by his grandmother, Hafsatu, and stepmother, Zainab, at their home in Gulu town in the Rimin Gado Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the two suspects allegedly broke the legs and arms of Musa, cut his tongue, removed his eye and private parts.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Nura Idris, told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that it would take some weeks for the victim to recover, adding that he had deep cuts in different parts of his body.

The victim’s father was said to have reported the incident to the Kano State Police Command, which immediately sent men to arrest the suspects, after which the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Our correspondent gathered that Musa’s mother left his father after a disagreement which culminated in a divorce.

The mother was said to have handed him over to his father, who then put Musa in the care of  his grandmother and stepmother.

The duo was alleged to have tortured him for reasons yet to be ascertained.

The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Magaji, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspects were in custody.

He said, “It happened on Friday. The boy’s father came back from work late and when he saw what had happened to the child, he reported to the police.

“He said he divorced the boy’s mother and handed him over to his mother and second wife. He said it was on Friday that he discovered what both his wife and mother had done to his son.

“We took him to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital. His legs and arms were broken; there was a deep cut on his private parts, he was also not seeing with one eye.

“Because he is a toddler, there is no way we can ask him what happened.”

Magaji said in the course of interrogation, the two suspects denied being responsible for the injuries, adding that they also denied torturing him.

He, however, said the matter was under investigations and the police would get to the roots of the case.

It was learnt that upon the directive of the state Police Commissioner, Abbati Dikko, the case had been transferred to the SCID for further investigation.

The CMD, Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Idris, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said Musa was admitted in the children wing of the female orthopaedic ward.

He said the two-year-old was taken into the theatre for operation on Monday, adding that it could take weeks for him to recover from the injuries which were inflicted with a sharp object.

He said, “His tongue, one of his eyes and a part of his private parts were cut. He had fractures of the humerus (upper limbs) and femura (lower limbs). There were lacerations here and there in his body. From the nature of the injuries, those behind the crime used a very sharp object, which could be a blade or knife.

“He had surgeries yesterday (Monday). We did some repairs on him and he’s doing well now. He is a child and his bones are still growing. Fractures for a child will not take long to heal. I am sure in a couple of weeks, he should be okay.”

The wife of the police commissioner, who is also the Chairperson of the Police Officers Wives’ Association Against Child Abuse, Hajiya Dikko, had reportedly intervened in the case and promised that her group would follow the case to a logical end.