From JIDAUNA YANUNG, Abuja
THE House of Representatives has passed for Second reading, a bill seeking to strip the President of the powers to order for forfeiture of assets of accused persons.
The lower chamber sought to grant discretionary powers to the judge of a High Court, to order forfeiture of assets of affected persons.
The bill is sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Ahmed Wase and its is titled,” a bill for an act to amend the currency conversion (freezing orders) act cap. C43. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to give the discretionary powers to the judge of a High Court to order forfeiture of assets affected persons and for related matters.”
Presenting the bill on the floor of the House, representative Wase said, “it is not worthy that the provision for forfeiture in our laws is geared towards ensuring that, persons found quality of offence do not benefit from the proceeds of those offences.”
He said, the discretionary power previously granted to the President by the Principal Act is here by being replaced by that of a High Court judge to bring it in line with the spirit of the Constitution.
Hon. Wase, who represents Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives argued that, the provision, which vest in the president, the power to order forfeiture of property (both movable and immovable) “is not in the Spirit with the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and hence the need for its amendment.
…Speaks on Multi-Choice PAYG
From JIDAUNA YANUNG, Abuja
THE House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on Pay as you Go said, the old template introduced by the Multi-choice for digital satellite communication should not be subjected to the market force of demand and supply.
This is the opinion of Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Unyime Idem and other lawmakers when Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed appeared before the Committee at the National Assembly, Abuja.
On the new payment template issued by the Multi choice for payment of DSTV subscription, the lawmakers rejected it because of its high cost.
According to the Chairman, the Committee viewed the increase as an act of affront and directed that, the system be suspended forth with.
In his responds, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told the Committee that, the payment system is operational in many countries of the world that use the satellite system for communication.
He said the telecommunication industry is not the same thing as the media industry, adding that, the pay as you Go had been in existence since 2017.
The Minister further said that, the rationale for the payment platform is because of the flexible payment option, increase customers satisfaction and customer retention.
