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As Rivers Pays Last Respect To Late Attorney-General …Azinge Condemns Dictatorship At Memorial Lecture
The remains of Rivers State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, late Sir Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma(SAN) would be buried tomorrow at Ogbu-nu-Abali in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.
Late Aguma died after a brief illness in a London hospital.
According to a funeral programme made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, activities for the final interment of the late commissioner started last Wednesday, with a public lecture titled, “The Rule of Law and Leadership in Nigeria’s Democracy, The Role of Attorney General”.
This was followed by Night of Tributes at Rex Lawson Cultural Centre, Bonny Street in Port Harcourt yesterday, while service of songs holds, today, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu by Garrison, Port Harcourt.
The programme signed by Chairman of the Burial Committee, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara further said that there would be a valedictory session at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, tomorrow, between 8.00am and 8.45am, to be followed by a Valedictory Court session at the state High Court Complex, Port Harcourt from 9.00am to 10.00 am.
According to the programme, Aguma’s body would lie in state at his family home, Orogbum, Ogbun-nu-Abali, 10.15am to 11.30am, funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Diobu by 12.00noon to be followed by interment at the family home, Orogbum, Port Harcourt while reception would take place at Ahia Makara, Orogbum, Ogbun-nu-Abali, Port Harcourt.
The programme further said that a thanksgiving service would hold on Sunday at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu by Garrison, Port Harcourt.
The late Attorney General, who was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was born on April 21, 1961.
He was the first son of Sir Emmanuel W. Aguma.
He was educated at Santa Maria Primary School and St. Paul’s Primary School, Diobu, Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt and County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche.
He was later admitted into Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, and later Aldgate’s College in Oxford, London for his London GCE in Advanced Level.
For his university education, the late Attorney-General went to the University of Warwick between 1981 and 1984, and the University of Sheffield from 1984 to 1987 where he obtained BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) with 2nd Class Upper Division, respectively, before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School between 1987 and 1988.
Meanwhile, the former Director General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof Epiphany Azinge has declared that the use of forces of coercion to undermine the democratic preference of voters was the worst crime against the rule of law.
Speaking during a public lecture in honour of the late Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Sir Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), last Wednesday, Azinge regretted that the illegal use of security agencies to undermine the constitutional governance.
The public lecture titled: “The Rule of Law and Leadership in Nigeria’s Democracy: The Role of the Attorney General” had in attendance Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Opara, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, traditional rulers and leaders of the state.
Azinge said: “Another brazen affront to the concept of the rule of law is the ignoble role of law enforcement agencies to wit, police, state security services, the armed forces in the affairs of bastardization of democratic norms and principles.
“Law enforcement agencies continue to be used as veritable tools for perpetration of election rigging in our polity. It is a notorious fact that has been on since independence. However, since 1999, it has now assumed a disturbing dimension. To use forces of coercion to undermine the wishes of the electorate in an election is simply the highest form of debasement of the concept of rule of law”.
He said that good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially to protect the rights of all group of persons.
He said: “The burden of good governance tied to rule of law is to a large extent on the office of the attorneys general of both the federation and the states.”
The legal luminary said that the Attorney General has the responsibility of advising the government to ensure that the rule of law was maintained and government actions are constitutional and valid in law.
He said that the late Attorney-General of Rivers State was one of the finest chief law officers and legal minds of Rivers State.
He said: “In Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, KSC, SAN, Rivers State Government was privileged to have one of the finest legal minds as chief law officer of the state. His patrician carriage, elevated thought process and commanding presence made him the toast of his peers and colleagues”.
Azinge added that the late Aguma was unapologetically an apostle of the concept of the rule of law, saying that Rivers State benefited from his legal advice.
“Emmanuel Aguma has played his part and now belongs to the pantheon of great legal icons and his legacy will live forever. He will be remembered as that Attorney-General who will dust his books and head to the court to defend the position of the government he served”.
Chairman of the occasion, Emma Ukala (SAN) said that the organisation of the Public Lecture in honour of the late Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Rivers State by the state government lays credence to the very special place that he occupies in the hearts of the governor and people of the state.
He said though Aguma was young, he carved out a place for himself in the history.
“We are here to immortalise the memory of Aguma. He had a brave sense of Justice. He was very courageous. But he knew decent boundaries defined by law. He worked for the survival of democratic institutions, especially the Justice”, he said.
Head of Service of Rivers State, Rufus Godwins said the late Attorney-General of Rivers State and Wike shared a passion for the promotion of the rule of law.
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.”