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A senior advocate for Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Ahmed Raji, has advocated for a tax-driven economy to increase countries' revenues.
Raji, in a statement shortly after graduating from the University of Oxford, UK where he earned a Master of Science (Msc) in Taxation, also called for the introduction of wealth tax to alleviate the poverty and suffering of Nigerians.
The lead counsel said that “most countries are now focusing on taxes in the face of the diminishing relevance of crude oil.
“I took time to specialize in the complex and technical field of study of Taxation at the University of Oxford, one of the three leading universities in the world.”
He said that the introduction of the Wealth Tax Policy would make super-rich Nigerians pay deserved taxes that would be used to cater to the downtrodden citizens of the country.
He argued that in the face of the tough economic situation faced by poor Nigerians, the poor should receive subsidies and not pay taxes under any guise to balance their anger against the rich.
"It is a fact that the downturn in the Nigerian economy is having severe and devastating effects on poor Nigerians. The vast gap between rich and poor should be a great concern to patriotic Nigerians and a way out must be found," he said. said.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that, in 2015, Raji obtained an LLM from Kings College, London, with an emphasis in Telecommunications Law, Commercial Banking, International Fice and International and Comparative Arbitration.
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Source Credit: NAN
Sen. Teslim Folarin, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State and Sen. Kola Balogun(APC-Oyo South) have described the death of Oba Abdulganiy Salaudeen, the Aseyin of Iseyin as another great loss to Yorubaland.
The duo made the statement in their separate condolence messages made available to newsmen on Sunday night in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Salaudeen, the 28th traditional ruler of Iseyin, died on Sunday morning at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan after a protracted illness.
Folarin in the statement he personally signed, said he received the news of Aseyin’s death with rude shock.
“I received the news of His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Abdulganiy Salawudeen’s death with rude shock but with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah.
“The late Oba Salaudeen was a great father to many of us.
On many occasions, he invited me to his palace for father-to-son discussions and also on issues bothering on the development of Oke-Ogun zone and Oyo State.” “As Chairman, Baba Aseyin provided qualitative leadership to the Conference of Oke-Ogun Obas and Chiefs.
He was extremely passionate about the development of Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and Yorubaland,” he said.
The lawmaker, who is currently representing Oyo Central in the Senate, said the indelible fatherly roles of the late first class traditional ruler in Oke-Ogun and Oyo State, would be missed.
“The first-class monarch’s death is another great loss to the Yorubaland.
The late Ajinese’s indelible fatherly roles in Oke-Ogun and Oyo State would be sorely missed,” he said.
He extended condolences to the Aseyin Royal families, the Aseyin-In-Council, Conference of Oke-Ogun Obas and Chiefs, the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs and Yoruba traditional council.
Folarin commiserated with the people of Oke-Ogun and Oyo State; Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola; Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN; Sen. Gbenga Babalola and Alhaji Yinka Taiwo.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanah Fridaus.
Also, Balogun described the passage of Oba Ganiyy Salaudeen, as another sad loss.
Balogun in a statement he personally signed, expressed condolences to the state government, the family of the late traditional ruler and the people of Iseyin.
He said the demise of Oba was particularly painful, coming on the heels of the passage of four other prominent traditional rulers from the state within the last eight months.
“We are still grappling with the passage of four prominent traditional rulers in the state within a space of eight months.
Here we are mourning the demise of yet another great traditional ruler.
“Death is an inevitable end of all mortals but it is not good enough loosing a traditional ruler to the cold hands of death at a relatively very young age,” he said.
The lawmaker said that there was nothing they could do, but accept their fate as it came to them.
“On behalf of my wife, Mrs Gbonjubola Kola-Balogun and my people in Oyo South Senatorial District, I hereby express my deep condolences to the immediate family of our revered late kabiyesi.
“My condolences also to the Oyo State Government and the people of Iseyin on the irreparable loss.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The trial of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode could not go on at the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday due to the absence of his lead counsel, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN. At the resumed hearing, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Farouk Abdullah told the court that the business of the matter was for continuation of trial to allow the defence team cross examine the third prosecution witness.
“The witness is in court and with the permission of the court, we are ready to proceed,” Abdullah said. However, Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Mr Zakari Garba who was holding brief for Raji informed the court that they received information only on Friday that the matter had been slated for hearing on Monday. He said that moreover, Raji who was the lead counsel wanted to cross examine the witness himself to ensure that the justice of the case was served. “I confirm that the matter is for continuation of trial for the cross examination of the third prosecution witness but we got to know of the date for today’s hearing only on Friday. “When we reached the defendant on Sunday, he said he was in Zamfara and had to come in today out of respect for the court. “Also when we communicated the date to the lead counsel, he indicated that he wants to cross examine the witness himself but he is not available as he is out of town.” The counsel said that the case was a sensitive criminal matter adding that it would not serve the interest of justice for the defendant to be foreclosed from cross examining the witness. Garba prayed the court for an adjournment to enable Raji appear in court and cross examine the witness himself. Abdullah opposed the application for an adjournment saying that Raji was not in court when the third prosecution witness gave his testimony so it was untenable for the defence to base it’s application for adjournment on that ground. He also said the the law had gone past a situation where a counsel would insist on cross examining a witness personally. He held that should the defence insist on not going on with the business of the day, it would appear they were not ready to cross examine the witness and should be foreclosed. In a ruling, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho said that the court’s records showed that Raji was the lead counsel in the case having participated in the case before and cross examined the second prosecution witness. ” The court refrains from foreclosing the defence from cross examining the witness,” the judge said. He adjourned the matter untill Oct. 26 for the defence to cross examine the third prosecution witness. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Fani-Kayode was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust. He allegedly collected N26 million from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and using same for media campaign, contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering Act. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in like sum.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
By Wandoo Sombo
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers said the state is not fighting the federal government or any of its agencies for the collection of value added tax (VAT) as being implied in some quarters.
Speaking on Sunday in Abuja at a public conference titled: "Tax Powers in a Federal System" to mark the 60th birthday of Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), Wike said the state is not trying to prosecute what was just and legitimate in the arms of the Constitution.
The governor represented by the state attorney general, Mr. Zacchaeus Adangor (SAN) argued that Rivers and the federal government were equal because they both derived their lives from the constitution.
“I've heard a lot of comments that we are fighting the federal government, there is no desire or intention of the Rivers government to fight the federal government.
“The principle of coequality is fundamental in a federal arrangement, this principle leads to the principle of autonomy, autonomy leads to physical autonomy and physical autonomy leads to physical federalism and when you put all the principles together it means that each level of government, whether federal or state, is co-equal because none derives its life from the other.
“They both derive their lives from the constitution because they have co-equality.
"This is the fundamental aspect of physical federalism and until we get it we will continue this journey of talking to no avail but I think the tribunal has a role to play, the tribunal can end this crisis. and to this controversy when he makes a statement. "
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Abiola Sani called on the judiciary to make a final and final decision on the impasse surrounding tax collection in the Nigerian federal system.
Sani, a professor of commercial law, who was the guest speaker on the occasion, called on the National Assembly to use the current constitutional amendment to bring out clear taxation powers between the three levels of government.
Source: NAN
