News

Reps Grill NIS Over Stamp Duty, Financial Errors

Published

6 months ago

February 12, 2025

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, grilled the Nigerian Immigration Service, urging the Service to recover the N15 million stamp duty paid to Julius Berger and remit it to the Federal Inland Revenue Service within seven days.

The committee also instructed the service to provide evidence of the remittance.

The committee, chaired by the member representing Ede South/Ede North/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency, Osun State, Bamidele Salam, took action following the failure of NIS to appear before the committee to answer queries arising from audit queries contained in 2020, 2021 reports, utilisation of Service-wide vote and operating surplus.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Salam stated that the Fiscal Responsibility Commission informed the Committee that NIS failed to submit its audited accounts from 2014 to 2023.

Consequently, the commission was unable to determine the service’s liability regarding the remittance of operating surplus.

The lawmaker, “NIS’s failure to submit its accounts for this period violated both financial regulations and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

“The Committee also observed that NIS awarded a contract valued at N2.01bn to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited for the furnishing of the NIS Technology Building, located at its headquarters in Abuja.

“This contract was awarded above the service’s approved threshold without obtaining the necessary approvals from the Federal Executive Council and the Parastatal Tender Board.

“The document received by the Committee revealed that the NIS received a total of N6.1bn from the federal government, consisting of N2bn for capital expenditure and N4.1bn for recurrent expenditure between 2021-2023.”

The committee’s investigation also revealed that a payment of N1.7bn was made to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited for the furnishing of the technology building, but the required stamp duty was not deducted from the payment.

The Controller General of Immigration, Mr Kemi Nandap, was represented by Deputy Controller General, Mrs Ada James at the hearing.

Clarifying some of the issues, Mrs James stated that the N4.1bn was transferred into the service’s account on December 30, 2022, and was subsequently mopped on December 31, 2022, adding that the sum of N2bn was used to settle outstanding debts with domestic contractors.

She also admitted that NIS had failed to deduct the stamp duty on the N1.7bn payment made to Julius Berger.

The Public Accounts Committee also gave the NIS seven days to submit proof of the rendition of its audited accounts from 2014 to 2023.

It also directed the Service to provide proof of the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the over N2bn contract awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.

Salam further reminded the Service that it is required in law to submit a response to the eight queries raised by the Auditor General for the Federation in 2020 and 2021 concerning financial infractions totalling N19.2bn.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

22 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.