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Senate Flays Judges’ Arrest By DSS …Confirms 13 NDDC Board Members,Rejects Four
The Senate, yesterday, condemned the action of the Department of State Security (DSS) for the “invasion of the homes, arrest and detention” of some judges at the weekend.
The Senate also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call all security agencies to order and direct the full observance of the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.
The Senate reached its resolution following a motion by Senator Joshua Lidani, (Gombe South) calling for the condemnation of the action of the DSS.
Recall that in the early hours of Saturday, operatives of the DSS arrested senior judicial officers including John Okoro and Sylvester Nguta of the Supreme Court and a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Innocent Umezulike.
Others are Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Kabiru Auta, from Kano; Muazu Pindiga of Federal High Court in Gombe.
The judges were, however, released late Sunday.
The Senate, therefore, frowned at the action of the operatives of the DSS, stressing that it went against the rule of law.
It, therefore, mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to review all existing laws that deal with the security agencies and bring them in line with the tenets of democracy.
The committee was charged to report to the Senate in four weeks.
The Senate also backed the Federal Government’s efforts to fight corruption and to sanitise all sectors including the Judiciary.
The Senate said that the action of the DSS was wrong as it did not confer with the NJC which is statutorily responsible for disciplining judges and other judicial workers.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said that the Senate was totally in support of the fight against corruption, especially in the judicial system.
“We must eradicate corruption in all spheres of our society and this is a matter that we must continue.
“I think the National Assembly has been playing its role to continue to support government in its fight against corruption.
“We must ensure that this fight against corruption is within the rule of law, any act of anti corruption action that goes against the rule of law does not help the corruption fight.
“That is why this action as has been seen in this manner is condemned by the Senate and all agencies of government must ensure that they act within the rule of law,” he said.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Ibn Na’Allah, said that Nigerians supported the change agenda because of the promise to fight corruption.
He said that the Assembly was committed to support the Federal Government to fight corruption but stressed that it must be done within the ambit of the rule of law.
He said that the NJC should have been left to do its job adding that the senate should be careful in condemning the DSS.
Similarly, the House of Representatives, yesterday, ruled to probe the arrest of the judges but equally backed the motion of the upper chambers in refusing to summon the director general of the State Security Service.
In a motion brought by Honourable member representing Rivers State, Chinda Ogundu, the House named a committee to investigate weekend’s raid by the Department of State Security Service (DSS), on some judges’ homes across the country.
Meanwhile, the Senate was yesterday, divided over the confirmation of nominees from President Muhammadu Buhari into the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
It would be recalled that the President communicated to the Senate on Wednesday, 28th September, 2016, wherein he requested that the Senate do confirm the nomination of former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as chairman, Nsima Udo Ekere as managing director and 17 others as executive directors and members of the NDDC Board.
Presenting the report on the floor of the Senate, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Niger Delta, Peter Nwaoboshi, said his committee conducted an open screening for the nominees on Tuesday, 4th October and Wednesday, 5th October, and was guided by the Act establishing the NDDC and other relevant laws.
He, however, stated that the nominee from Imo State, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso wrote a letter to the committee to decline his nomination.
According to the report, Osita submitted that he would not accept the offer of President Buhari as he was not from the oil-producing area, but from Orlu West LGA of Imo State.
The committee chairman also explained that the nominee from Abia State, Hon. Donatus Enyinnah and that of Ondo State, Olatokunbo Ayotunde Ajasin, could not scale through as the committee received litany of petitions from their respective states.
According to the chairman, the duo are not indigenes of oil-producing areas of their states and their nominations negate section 2, subsection 1(b) of the NDDC Act of 2000.
Another nominee, Mr. Igo Weli, was not screened as the committee could not be convinced over his constituency.
The letter from President Buhari had nominated Weli to represent Niger Delta in the commission but the committee argued that all states from the Niger Delta have been adequately represented and would amount to duplication of nomination.
Some senators, however, objected to the recommendations of the committee that the Senate do reject the nominees from Abia, Ondo and that of Niger Delta.
The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central ) argued that the Senate should not disqualify the nominees on the basis of their local government of origin as the law did not specifically define what it means by ‘oil producing area’.
According to them, the law says ‘oil producing area’ and not oil producing local government area; therefore, anyone from the state where oil is produced, is qualified to be appointed into the NDDC Board.
Senator Eyinanya Abaribe (Abia South), Senator Hope Uzodima (Imo West) and Senator Paulker Emmanuel (Bayelsa Central), however, stood their grounds in firm support of the recommendations of the committee.
After a heated debate, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, threw the matter for voice vote, and the report of the Niger Delta Committee was adopted.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”