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Court orders remand of Lagos Lawyer over alleged forgery, impersonation

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Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja, on Monday ordered that a lawyer, Victor Giwa, be remanded in police custody.

Giwa was arrested in Lagos following a bench warrant issued by the court. He is facing charges of alleged forgery and impersonation alongside a co-defendant, Ibitade Bukola.

On September 15, Justice Onwuegbuzie had issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Giwa and Bukola after they failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment on the charges.

At the resumed sitting, the prosecutor, Theophilus Silas, presented Giwa before the court in compliance with the bench warrant.

Silas told the court that the police were still on the trail of the second defendant and hoped to apprehend her before the next adjourned date.

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He, therefore, urged the court to remand Giwa in police custody in line with the provisions of Sections 293 and 43(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Responding, Giwa, who was not represented by a lawyer, told the court that he would be representing himself because his counsel was unavailable.

Giwa objected to the prosecution’s application, insisting that Section 293 of the ACJA cited by the prosecution did not apply to his case.

He also argued that the proceedings of the day related only to the bench warrant issued under Section 43(4) of the ACJA.

According to him, Section 45 stipulated that when an arrest was effected outside the state or the jurisdiction of the court, the defendant was expected to be presented before the court for a report and not to be remanded.

He added: “I am a minister in the temple of justice and would not undermine the court. I am not feeling fine and have been advised to avoid stroke.

“In compliance with Section 43(4) and Section 46, the principal concern for this court is that the arrested person is to stand trial before the court. I am passionately appealing that I should be granted bail. At the last sitting, I did send a letter to this court. My absence is not to undermine this court. Due to my health condition, I should be released on bail because I wish to get well on time to be strong enough for trial.”

The judge then asked the prosecution why it was not prepared to arraign the defendant that day, stressing that the prosecution had no powers to keep the defendant indefinitely.

He added that the letter from the prosecution requested an abridged date for arraignment and that the court had other cases to attend to.

The prosecution, however, submitted that they would be guided by the court but urged that Giwa be remanded in police custody because he might be a flight risk, as he was arrested in Lagos State.

Responding, Giwa argued that he had just seen the letter regarding the abridged date and described it as an “ambush” by the prosecution.

He insisted that he was ready for arraignment but noted that the second defendant had not been brought to court, making arraignment impossible since the charges were joint.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that Giwa, being a counsel, ought to know that he should file a bail application rather than making an oral request.

He ordered that, in the absence of a written bail application, the defendant be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case to October 8 for arraignment.

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FG slashes interest rate on late tax payment

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The Federal Government (FG) has reduced the penalty interest rate for late settlement of tax liabilities, with the new regime taking effect from October 1, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, interest on tax liabilities payable in naira will be pegged to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) plus one percentage point, down from the previous five-percentage-point penalty.

The measure is contained in the Nigeria Tax Administration (Interest on Late Payment of Tax) Order, 2026, issued yesterday by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, pursuant to Section 65 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.

According to the minister, the new Order will apply uniformly to taxpayers dealing with federal, state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tax authorities.

However, the applicable interest rate on naira-denominated tax liabilities will not fall below the yield on 364-day Treasury Bills, reflecting the Federal Government’s cost of borrowing when tax payments are delayed.

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For tax liabilities payable in foreign currencies, interest will be charged at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus six percentage points.

The Order further provides that where SOFR is discontinued, its officially designated successor rate will apply.

Explaining the rationale for the new regime, Oyedele said the objective was to align the cost of late tax payments more closely with prevailing market conditions while providing taxpayers with greater certainty about their obligations.

“Tax that is due belongs to the public. When it is paid late, Government may have to borrow to fill the gap, and the cost falls on everyone.

“This Order ties the cost of late payment to real market rates, so that delaying tax does not become a cheaper form of credit than the market itself,” he stated.

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APC wins all Chairmanship, Councillorship seats in Enugu

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all chairmanship and Councillorship seats contested in the Sept. 26 Local Government Election in Enugu State.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conducted election into the 17 Chairmanship and 260 Ward Councillorship positions in the state on Saturday.

Declaring the election results at the ENSIEC headquarters in Enugu on Sunday, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Christian Ngwu, said that the election was free and fair.

Ngwu said that the election was conducted according to rules guiding the Commission, and “subsequently, we are issuing the winners with certificate of returns.”

Speaking after collecting his certificate of return, Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Chief Caleb Ani, attributed the landslide victory of the candidates of APC to the massive developmental works of Gov. Peter Mbah.

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Ani urged the residents of the state to vote for Mbah en masse in the forthcoming 2027 General Election to continue the good works.

“Gov. Mbah has done well in all ramifications, this is partly while the APC candidates won overwhelmingly.

“I urge the people to vote for him, come 2027 General Elections so that he will continue with his good works and do more,” he said.

Reacting, the APC Chairman in Enugu State, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, said that the resounding victory at the polls indicated the dominance of the national ruling party, APC, in the state.

“We will not rest as we push the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu and our amiable governor, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for the world to see.

“Tinubu, Mbah and all the APC candidates will be reelected in 2027 as they have performed exceptionally well in the past three years,” he said.

In the numerical figures of the results pronounced, APC chairmanship candidates won with margins while the opposition parties trailed behind with minimal votes.

For instance, in Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Igbo-Eze South local Government Areas respectively, the APC chairmen elect secured virtually the whole votes cast.

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‘Where is Nigeria’s president?’, Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA

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Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu
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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, contrasting it with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in the global gathering.

Obi raised the question in a post on his Facebook page while commenting on Mahama’s address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Mahama attended the UNGA and delivered Ghana’s national statement, where he addressed issues including global governance, Africa’s representation in international institutions and Ghana’s economic recovery.

Obi described the Ghanaian president’s address as “remarkable,” saying it demonstrated what leadership could achieve when competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character were brought together in the service of a nation.

He subsequently asked why the president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, was not personally present at the gathering.

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“Where is the President of Africa’s most populous nation, a country of more than 200 million people – more than Ghana – whose leader has been absent from the global stage for three consecutive UNGAs?” Obi asked.

The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s president ought to be representing the country and providing leadership for Africa at the international level, particularly at a time he said the country was facing significant domestic and international challenges.

Although Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at the 81st UNGA and leading the country’s delegation, Obi said his presence did not answer the question of the president’s absence.

“Although our Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was present, the question remains: Where is the President?” he wrote.

The Federal Government has said President Tinubu mandated Shettima to represent him at the UNGA and lead Nigeria’s delegation, with the Vice President authorised to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.

Shettima’s participation included meetings and engagements focused on Nigeria’s priorities and strengthening the country’s role in multilateral cooperation.

Obi, however, urged Nigerians to continue praying for the President’s return and for his leadership in addressing the challenges confronting the country.

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