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Makinde’ll move Oyo from poverty to prosperity through improved IGR – Internal Revenue boss

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The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Internal Revenue Service (OYSIRS), Aremo John Adeleke, has said that the State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde is determined to take Oyo State from poverty to prosperity by boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Aremo Adeleke, who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Ibadan ahead of the State’s one-day Tax stakeholders’ summit holding in Ibadan, added that the administration has been vigorously pursuing improved IGR since its inception.

According to him, improved IGR would make the vision to move Oyo State from poverty to prosperity a reality.

He added that the State under the leadership of Governor Makinde has set the objective to be self-sufficient financially and to have enough resources to cover all its recurrent expenditures such as salaries and wages.

Adeleke stated that when this objective is achieved, it would become easier for the State to attain the prosperous height it so desired.
He further stated that it was for this purpose that the OYIRS and the Ministry of Finance are jointly floating a programme tagged: “Tax Stakeholders’ POVERTY TO PROSPERITY Summit.”

Aremo Adeleke also counselled that for the benefits derivable from improved IGR to be sustained, the citizenry would have to play their parts by ensuring regular payment of their taxes, levies and rates, as “there is no government that can do much without adequate internal resources.”

He stated: “ It is to further reassure ourselves that the OYIRS  and the Ministry of Finance is floating a one-day conference on January 28.
“The Summit essentially is for sensitization of all stakeholders and for the Governor to be able to enumerate all his efforts at restructuring the Internally Generated Revenue architecture.

“The Governor will also solicit the co-operation of the taxpaying public from manufacturers to business men as well as other operators in the Informal Sector – artisans, drivers, market women and men, motorcyclists, trade unions and trade associations etc. He will stress the need for all to contribute their quotas and discharge their civic duties.

“His Excellency intends to establish the nexus between improved and adequate IGR and the ability of his administration to provide sustained good governance. At the earliest possible time, the State objective is to ensure it has enough IGR to cover all its recurrent expenditures such as salaries and wages, cost of running the government and maintaining infrastructure.”

Some of the dignitaries expected at the summit include Prof Abiola Sanni, a Professor of Taxation and Fiscal Matters, Mr Samuel Kolawole, MD of University Press and current Chairman of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti state; prominent business man, Chief Olatunji Fadairo, CEO of Tafotech Group, and The Asiwaju of Eruwa Land, and Mr Lawal Abubakar, Executive Secretary, Joint Tax Board,
“We expect Messages of Good will from His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunnuso I, the Olubadan of Ibadan Land,” the  statement read.

The OYIRS boss added: “We expect all tax payers and the general public to turn up en masse for this important dialogue, as it will represent a turning point in government-public engagement.

“This Summit is part of Governor Seyi Makinde’s strategy of pushing the frontier of good governance. Taking our people from poverty to prosperity through responsible citizenship is not just a slogan of this government it is an ideal for which we are totally committed to and for which our people must totally imbibe.”

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Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons

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The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.

Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.

Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.

Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils

Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.

Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.

“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.

“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.

The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.

“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”

When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”

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Twelve Inmates Escape in Kotonkarfe Jailbreak

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Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.

According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.

The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.

Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”

Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.

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Trump Ends Legal Status for Over 500,000 Immigrants, Orders Mass Expulsions

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The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.

The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.

Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.

A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy

The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.

However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.

“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.

Mass Deportations Under Trump

Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.

Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.

The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.

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