Good evening. Here are the top news stories for Monday, July 27, 2020
Buhari Extends Phase Two Of Eased Lockdown By A Week
The Buhari administration on Monday July 27, extended the phase two of the ease of lock-down in the country by an extra 7 days.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the extension of phase two of the eased lockdown which was due to expire on Wednesday July 29, 2020.
According to him “The PTF has reached advanced stages of the process. It has also considered that due to the upcoming Sallah (Eid-El-Kabir) festivities which coincide with the expiration of the current phase, it would be prudent to extend by one week, from 29th July 2020 till Thursday 6th August 2020.
“It has accordingly secured permission to retain the existing guidelines until that date.”
Tenants Will Not Pay Stamp Duty Charges To Landlords Or In Arrears – FIRS
According to the Premium Times, The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) announced that that stamp duty charge will not be collected in arrears from tenants. The Executive Chairman of the service, Muhammad Nami also said it stamp duty should not be collected from tenants by landlords.
Nami disclosed this as part of the planned stamp duty palliatives for tenants during his interview on the TVC morning show “Your view”
According to the FIRS boss, the service is working towards the stamp duty palliative package in view of the current economic realities occasioned by COVID-19.
Appeal Court Upholds Former School Supervisor’s 60-Year Sentence For Defiling A Minor
A Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Monday, July 27, upheld the 60-year sentence for Adegboyega Adenekan, a former Supervisor of the Chrisland School convicted of defiling a pupil of the school who was only 2 years and 11 months old at the time.
Delivering judgment in the appeal, the three-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garuba unanimously affirmed the judgment of the lower court and held that the appeal filed by Adenekan lacked merit.
The other justices on the panel, Justice Gabriel Kolawole and Justice Bilkisu Aliyu also agreed with the lead judgment.
Nigerian Pastors Serving 17 Years Jail Term Get Another 26
Justice F. N. Azinge of the Delta State High Court sitting in Otor-Udu has convicted and sentenced one Pastor Glory Okeoghene Aberefa and Reverend Vincent Okpogo to 16 and 10 years imprisonment respectively.
The duo, alongside their company, Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Under the guise of running a finance company, the convicts defrauded dozens of unsuspecting members of the public of millions of naira, through their fraudulent Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited.
Toke Makinwa Reacts To Rumour AMCON Seized Her Banana Island House
Controversial OAP Toke Makinwa has reacted to the allegation making the rounds that AMCON seized her Banana Island house.
Earlier today the media personality had been a subject of discussion on many social media platforms after reports came in that the mansion which was allegedly gifted to her was seized. On July 2, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had seized assets belonging to Festus Fadeyi and Pan Ocean Group. The corporation said they were holding on to debt of over N240 billion.
In her reaction to the story, Toke Makinwa hinted that the house might have been seized by AMCON truly, as she wrote that she is already moving on from the mess.
And we shall help them ?????. We move https://t.co/4wvBaRlIsS
— Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) July 27, 2020
Man Sentenced To Life For Defiling Minor
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Ishau Gruma 30 to life imprisonment for raping a 6-year-old girl.
Making the pronouncement, justice Adekunle Adeleye, said the victim’s father’s statement, the medical report, the accused confession and his request for forgiveness as well as his direct and cogent statement corroborate the fact that the prosecution has successfully proven the element of the offence of rape.
“I find the accused guilty as charged and is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,” he ruled.
Supporters Defy COVID-19 Protocols To Welcome Kalu
According to The Nation “supporters of the Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu defied COVID-19 protocols to welcome him back to the state on Monday.”
Kalu came home for the first time wafter he was jailed and later released from detention by Supreme Court in May, 2020.
The former governor landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Imo State and took off to his hometown, Umuisi Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of the state.