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Senate Approves 20-Year Jail for Ballot Box Snatchers

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Senate Approves 20-Year Jail for Ballot Box Snatchers

The Nigerian Senate has approved a jail term of 20 years for candidates in the country’s elections caught snatching ballot materials.

The Commission’s membership consists of the Chairman, Secretary and representatives from the Justice, Interior, Defence, and Information Ministries.

The function of the Commission includes investigating electoral offences created in any law relating to elections in Nigeria; prosecution of electoral offenders; and maintaining records of all persons investigated and prosecuted.

“By the foregoing statistics, it is unrealistic to expect INEC to conduct free, fair and credible election and simultaneously prosecute offences arising from the same elections,” Chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya said in his presentation.

“Indeed, INEC has at several occasions admitted that it lacks the wherewithal to cleanse the system.

“Its failure to prosecute even one per cent 870,000 and over 900,000 alleged electoral Offences in 2011 and 2015 general elections respectively is an affirmation of the necessity for a paradigm shift on how we deal with electoral offences,” the lawmaker said.

Media aide to the president of the senate, Ezrel Tabiowo in a statement on Tuesday said, “The Senate in Clause 12 of the bill approved at least five years imprisonment or a fine of at least N10 million Naira or both, for any officer or executives of any association or political party that engages in electoral fraud that contravenes the provisions of clauses 221, 225(1)(2)(3) and (4) and 227 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“The parliament also adopted the Committee’s recommendation of fifteen years imprisonment for any person involved in ballot box snatching, supplying voter’s cards to persons without due authority, unauthorized printing of voters’ register, illegal printing of ballot paper or electoral document, and importation of any device or mechanism by which ballot paper or results of elections may be extracted, affected or manipulated, and voting at an election when he is not entitled to vote.

“It also approved ten years imprisonment for any person who sells voter’s card, or in possession of any voter’s card bearing the name of another person, or prepares and prints a document or paper purporting to be a register of voters or a voter’s card.

“The Senate also gave its nod to a term of at least ten years upon conviction for any election official who willfully prevents any person from voting at the polling station, willfully rejects or refuses to count any ballot paper validly cast, willfully counts any ballot paper not validly cast, gives false evidence or withholds evidence, and announces or declares a false result at an election.

“The upper chamber in Clause 20(2) approved at least fifteen years imprisonment for any judicial officer or officer of a court or tribunal who corruptly perverts electoral justice, during or after an election.

“It also gave at least fifteen years jail term or N30 million naira fine for any security personnel or election official engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission or State Electoral Commission who attempts to influence the outcome of an election.

“In addition, any person found to disturb the public peace on Election Day by playing musical instruments, singing or holding an assembly where a polling station is located shall be guilty of breaching electoral peace and liable to six months imprisonment or a fine of at least N100,000 or both.

“Also, any person acting for himself or on behalf of any organization or political party or candidate or his agent with the intention of prejudicing the result of an election, damage or defame, in any manner, the character of any candidate in an election or his family member by making, saying, printing, airing or publishing in the print or electronic media false accusation on any matter shall be guilty of serious corrupt practice and liable on conviction to a term of at least ten years or a fine of ten million Naira or both.

“Any person soliciting or giving votes for or against any political party or candidate at an election, or found to affix campaign materials on any private house, public buildings or structures, or prints posters and banners without the name and address of the political party to which the candidate or person belongs contravenes sub-clause (1) to (5) and guilty of an offence and liable to at least five years or a fine of at least ten million Naira, or both.”

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The National Electoral Offences Commission Bill, 2021, prohibits any campaign against national interest.

“It provides a twenty years jail term without the option of a fine for any person who propagates information that undermines the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or unity of the federation,” Mr Tabiowo said in the statement.

“The Senate approved at least fifteen years imprisonment for any person who conveys voters to and from the poll; and three years imprisonment for any employee who directly or indirectly exerts undue influence on a voter in his employ.

“The upper chamber approved three years and not more than five years imprisonment for any person who provides false information in any material particular to a public officer.

“It also gave the nod for at least ten years imprisonment or at least twenty million naira fine or both for any person who uses hate speech to stir up ethnic, religious or racial hatred, social or political insecurity or violence against anyone or group of persons.”

Read Also:

2023 Polls: INEC Announces Resumption of Voter Registration

Electoral Act Amendment Bill, INEC Chairman Express Concern

Osinbajo Has Not Declared Interest in 2023 Presidential Race Says Aide

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Customs Corner

TCIP Customs Sensitizes Officers, Stakeholders on Current Trends in Management of Cargo

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Author: Lucy Nyambi.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin-can Island Port Command, has organised a lecture on the current trends in cargo management at the port.

The lecture, organised for releasing, staff and examination officers and stakeholders held at the Command on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, noted that the lecture, is in compliance with the directives of the headquarters.

According to him, cargo examination is the bedrock of customs operations at the port. “The idea is to compare the physical content of the container with documentary submission by the declarant or the importer”.

And what we expect is to ensure that there is no revenue leakage within the system, ensure that national security is protected and also to build trade data.”

He further emphasized the importance of trade to the Nigeria Customs Service and to the country’s growth and development.

He said, “Trade is synonymous with the Nigeria Customs Service, and the management of trade has a correlation with the development and growth of any nation. The moment you manage trade effectively in a country, that Country will have prospects and prosperity.”

He emphasised, “We are making our own contribution as a country through the NCS to also develop our environment.”

Participants at the lecture commended the Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts to improve its performance and that of stakeholders.

Assistant Comptroller of Customs, AC Ugochukwu Nwaogugwu, said the lecture “will go a long way to impact positively on our jobs, and the little mistakes will now be a thing of the past”.

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Customs Corner

Customs Forges Partnership With FRCN to Inform Nigerians its Mandates

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Author: Muhammad Bashir.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has expressed readiness to foster collaboration with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) to enlighten Nigerians on the core mandates of the Service and its contributions to economic development.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, made this known on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, during a meeting with the delegation of the FRCN led by the Director-General, Muhammad Bulama, at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the delegation, the CGC stated, “Over the years, I have seen that partnership with the media is very effective. So you need the media to amplify whatever we do, and we have found very good support. We have found a very strong partnership from the media, particularly from Radio Nigeria.”

Reiterating his commitment to reshaping the narrative of trade in Nigeria, CGC Adeniyi informed DG Bulama that the Service has made arrangements to implement various initiatives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of international trade.

“We are doing a lot more than people know us for, and this is why we feel necessitated to embrace this offer of strategic partnership that you have extended to us, to reach out to Nigerians, and let them know those things that we are doing, which ordinarily, they don’t know,’’ he explained.

In his address to the CGC and the NCS Management Team, the Director-General of the FRCN congratulated CGC Adeniyi on his appointment and commended the significant progress he has made since assuming office.

“We are convinced that the wisdom of Mr. President, appointing you to this position is already bearing fruits and is amply justified. Thus, we have no doubt in our minds that you shall succeed in repositioning this very important organisation, a very critical organisation in the life of our country,” DG Bulama remarked.

He explained that his team sought partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that ‘’we are convinced that it is no longer the era of us just sitting down in our office and believing that Nigerians know what we are doing.

“We are not taking our mandate lightly. We thought that we should come so that together, we can collaborate to help our country realise its potential and greatness. It is our duty to support, publicise, and advocate for the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he emphasised.

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Customs Corner

COWA Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command Visits Ibadan Orphanage, Shows Support for Children.

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Author: Vivian Daniel.

The COWA Chairperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Mrs Nnneamaka Oramalugo has led a delegation on a heart-warming visit to two motherless babies’ homes in Ibadan, Oyo State.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs, Kayode Wey, on behalf of the COWA Chairperson, noted that the visit occurred on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

The visit was in a bid to carry on the legacy and policy thrust of the National President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi, to alleviate the prevailing economic hardship being faced by Nigerians across the nation.

The Oyo/Osun COWA Chairperson, Mrs Nnneamaka Oramalugo emphasised that the noble visit to Child Care Home for Abandoned, Rescued Children and Juvenile Correctional as well as Home School for Handicapped Children located in Ibadan Oyo State was to extend love, care, and support to the children residing in these homes.

She was accompanied by members of COWA and some other officials from the Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command on what was termed as “a compassionate mission to bring joy and comfort to the lives of the children at the motherless babies’ homes.” The delegation also arrived at these homes with gifts, essential supplies and provisions generously donated by members of COWA.

During the visit, Mrs. Nneamaka warmly engaged with the children in various fun activities. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, smiles, and heartfelt moments as the children embraced the love showered on them by the COWA delegation.

She expressed her deep gratitude to the staff and caregivers of the motherless babies’ homes for their relentless commitment to providing an appropriate environment where the children under their care are well-nourished while reiterating the COWA’s unwavering support for other initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and well-being of such vulnerable members of society.

The Oyo/Osun COWA Chairperson stated that the visit to the motherless babies’ homes exemplifies COWA’s core values of compassion, empathy, and community service. It also underscores the organisation’s commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of the less-privileged and empowering women in society.

Furthermore, Mrs. Nneamaka Oramalugo presented palliative like Rice, Indomie Noddles, Toiletries and Detergent to Widows of Deceased Officers, as well as Widowers whose wives were registered members of COWA.

On behalf of the children, the staff and caregivers of the motherless babies’ homes expressed their gratitude and thanked the COWA Chairperson and member of the Association for their visit to the respective homes.

They also stated that the compassionate gesture and philanthropic efforts are highly appreciated, as they look forward to receiving more of such gestures, which they believe would go a long way to aid adequate provisions, especially, during this period of untold economic hardship in the country.

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