FG Plans to Jail Nigeria Celebrities that Fail to Pay Tax

The federal government has fine-tuned plans to punish and possibly jail entertainers who evade taxes after the nine-month grace period set out by the recently launched voluntary asset and income declaration scheme (VAIDS).

TheCable learnt that for 15 months, the federal government via various agencies and departments, to include the private sector, has been gathering information on tax compliance of many celebrities and high net worth individuals in the country.

“Highly qualified” agents of the federal ministry of finance have worked with the banks, Nigeria Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU), bureau de change (BDCs), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to monitor the degree of tax compliance of many celebrities and high net worth individuals.

The government has also reviewed land ownership, ownership of exotic cars, yatchs, private jets and other luxurious properties to understand the earnings and assets of many of these persons, relative to their taxes.

Following massive revelations, the government launched VAIDS, a scheme that allows these celebrities and other Nigerians to declare their assets and income, and pay necessary taxes without interest, penalty or investigation.

TheCable understands that the scheme, which will run for nine months, is a grace period for the celebrities to make amends or face the full wrath of the law, which could include up to five years jail term.

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For celebrities with houses in exotic locations worth millions of naira, and a tax record not consistent with the value of the property, the government advises that such celebrities “complete form VA1” and clarify sources of income for the house and pay necessary taxes within July 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018.

Celebrities who do not take advantage of the scheme risk “up to five-year imprisonment, get severe extra penalties: up to 100% of the outstanding tax due, a compound interest at 21% per annum, and forfeiture of such assets”.

Mixed Reaction Trails Saraki's CCT Victory

How Nigerians reacted to Saraki’s CCT Victory

Abubakar Bukola Saraki-Senate President, Nigeria

Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Senate President of the most populous black nation on earth, is finally discharged and acquitted of all 18-count charge of alleged false declaration of assetlevied against him by the Federal Government despite the latter insistence that she has serious case against Saraki barely a day before the judgement by the CCT. These are the reactions to the outcome by concerned Nigerians:

“At the end of the day, it is democracy that has been strengthened. I hope all the parties concerned will now sheath their swords and concentrate on the task of nation-building.”

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice-President

"CCT: Saraki has no case to answer.

Prosecuting Counsel, Rotimi Jacob was not in court when the case was decided. (Preplanned)

Now, my take is that this is not an issue of Saraki being very powerful but a case of a corrupt non-working nation, Nigeria.

I said it from inception that Saraki would be acquitted like "others" except if this is not Nigeria.

What led to the case in the first place? Corruption!
Who and who masterminded it? Corrupt Elites.
Who is being charged? A member of the corrupt Elites.
#EmancipationIsTheSolution"

Nurudeen Olaitan Nakata

nurudeenolaitan.blogspot.com

 

“I predicted the victory because I know that everything about this government is fraud. Look at all the noise they made when they started Senator Saraki’s case, it was as if he will be sent to jail the following week. But when it was time for them to prove their allegations, they could not because it was all political.

Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State

“I hope the Federal Government will not contemplate any form of appeal. If they do, they will be shooting themselves in the foot because the appellate court won’t decide anything contrary to what the trial court just delivered.”

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje

APC Chieftain

"Behold! Saint Saraki has arrived.

I must confess. This beats me. I actually knew he was going to be cleared though. But not of 'all' charges and allegations, not even one. may be I would have to wait for the clearer details."

Ola-lawal Muzzammil Oladayo

muzzamilwrites.com

“The case was diversionary and unhelpful, now he has been vindicated. I hope the Federal Government has learnt her lessons”

Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah

“Everybody goes to court to make a case. If you make your case, you win; if you don’t, you lose. In this case the Federal Government failed to make its case and it has lost.

Sen. Sola Adeyeye

“…the prosecution (Federal Government) did not have anything incriminating against Saraki in the first instance, but had only sought to harass him with politically motivated charges.”

Mr. Frank Tietie

Executive Director of the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights,

“The victory of the Senate President is a vindication of his incorruptibility.

Gov. Fatai Ahmed of Kwara State

"It never surprised me a bit. For every political oriented cases will surely lay to rest politically. Despite that I do forget things easily, one thing I really took to heart in GNS is this ever catchy line that read thus; "Predetermine outcome of event is otherwise known as CONSPIRACY". When you have a better grasp of conspiracy theory and the character of Saraki himself; you simply realize the case was dead on arrival"

Lawal Suleiman Olayiwola 

"The CCT's decision is an indication that God has vindicated Saraki"

Comrade Timi Frank

Deputy Publicity Secretary, APC  

“The Tribunal’s victory did not come to me as a surprise. The CCT trial was hatched in the coven of evil politics and was, therefore, bound to fall like a pack of cards.

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President

“Sen. Saraki governed Kwara for 8years. The people of Kwara insisted that he didn’t steal a single kobo of their money but some forces were bent on painting him black, thereby crying more than the bereaved. I am happy that they failed because at the end, even the judiciary has confirmed our stand!”

Sulyman Buhari

Kwara APC Publicity Secretary

"The reactions to this Saraki case aptly demonstrate that many people are not trained to think for themselves."

Onye Nkuzi

@cchukudebelu

Saraki's Statement After CCB Judgement

Statement By Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on The CCT Decision

Today, June 14, 2017, the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja discharged and acquitted me on a case of false declaration of assets, which started in September 2015.


You would recall that at the beginning of the trial, I maintained that I will clear my name. The conclusion of this trial has vindicated my position. With the outcome of this case, our faith is renewed in our courts and our hope is restored that the judiciary in our country could indeed provide sanctuary for all those who seek justice.


I thank the Almighty Allah, the ultimate Judge and the repository of all powers. He alone has brought about this victory. I am immensely grateful to all my colleagues in the National Assembly for their abiding support. All through my trial, they demonstrated their strong conviction about the choice we all decided to make two years ago. I thank members of my family for their unflinching support. I thank all friends and supporters back home in Kwara State and across the length and breadth of our country for their prayers and their sacrifices. My gratitude also goes to all members of my legal team for their tireless efforts to ensure the cause of justice is served.


After undergoing the crucible of a tortuous trial, my vindication today calls for celebration.  It is my belief however that if there should be any celebration at all, it should be a celebration of the hopes that this judgment gives us as citizens that despite all the challenges that we face as a country, we are well on our way to building a country where the innocent needs not be afraid. I therefore urge all my supporters to refrain from any unbridled triumphalism. The challenges that our country faces today are enormous and do not allow for wanton celebration. Instead, we should all reflect on the significance of this moment and what it meant for our democracy.


On a personal note, I harbour no grudge against anyone, regardless of the role they might have played in the persecution that I had endured in the last two years. I believe that If my trial had in anyway given hope to the common man that no matter the forces arraigned against him, he can still get justice in our courts, then my tribulation had not been in vain.


Once again, I thank my colleagues in the 8th Senate for standing firm. Regardless of the distraction of my trial, we have achieved more as legislators than the previous Senates. Now that this distraction is over, we can even achieve so much more. We must now proceed from here with greater vigour to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians and show that this 8th Senate can indeed play a central role in improving the quality of lives of our people.


Lastly, I thank all the gentlemen of the press for your abiding interest in this case, which I believe had contributed in no small measure in ensuring that truth and reason ultimately prevailed.


Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON

President of the Senate

FG Commences Online Registration Of Unemployed Nigerians

The Federal Government has said all is set for the commencement of online registration of unemployed persons in the country on Wednesday April 5th 2017.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Edmund Onwuliri on Monday.

According to him, the development was part of the federal government’s plan to develop and maintain a robust database of unemployed persons and for job provision.

He explained that the registration was in compliance with the third mandate of the NDE which required it “to obtain and maintain a data bank on employment and vacancies in the country with a view to acting as a clearing house to link job seekers with vacancies in collaboration with other government agencies.”

He said: “The online portal which goes live on Wednesday April 5, 2017, is designed to capture the relevant details of any unemployed person. It will equally serve as a job exchange portal that will link job seekers and employers.

“There will be a practical demonstration of the workings of the portal at the NDE stand at the on-going 28th edition of the Enugu International Trade on Thursday April 6, 2017. However, the portal can be accessed by logging on to www.jobsforall.ng.

“The Directorate sees this initiative as a bold step towards deepening the effectiveness of its employment creation strategies and a critical input into the process of designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and schemes.

“The online portal will also serve as a meeting point for job seekers and employers thereby reducing the cumbersome process of recruitment among employers of skilled labour in the private and public sectors.” He added.

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