Enugu Assembly Passes Bill On Harmonisation Of Taxes

Enugu assembly passes bill on harmonisation of taxes. The assembly’s majority leader, Iloabuchi Aniagu, said the bill would make the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) be in charge of collecting taxes.

Enugu House of Assembly
The Enugu House of Assembly on Thursday passed the State Harmonised Taxes and Levies Bill aimed at streamlining taxes and levies collected in the state.

Leading a debate before its passage in Enugu, the assembly’s majority leader, Iloabuchi Aniagu, said the bill would make the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) be in charge of collecting taxes.

Mr Aniagu noted that the current administration was doing everything possible to give the state a facelift, hinting that this could only be achieved through tax collection.

While noting that no society can develop without taxation, the lawmaker added that the bill would curb the menace of roadblocks by touts, which he described as a serious issue in the state.

Another lawmaker, Malachy Onyechi, revealed that the bill, when implemented, would stop people from evading taxes.

Mr Onyechi regretted that many people evade taxes but want the government to provide basic amenities in their communities.

Also, Obiajulu Ugwu pointed out that the bill was an indication that the state government had not only heard the cries of the masses but was also determined to find a solution.

She argued that the issue of multiple taxation was affecting the state government’s image and also providing the opposition with an avenue to criticise and attack the current administration.

The lawmaker stressed that the bill would end needless extortion by different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Enugu Lawmaker

Speaking shortly after the passage of the bill, the House speaker, Uche Ugwu, reiterated that the eight assembly was determined to sanitise the state’s tax system.

Mr Ugwu maintained that the assembly would not fold its hands and watch greedy individuals impose hardship on the people or allow their constituents to suffer under the guise of tax collection.

The speaker stressed that the passed bill was not targeted at a group or individual but was to restore sanity in the collection of taxes and levies in the state.

2025: Afreximbank Leads Africa’s Loan Market With Over 23% Share

2025: Afreximbank leads Africa’s loan market with over 23% share. Afreximbank has led Africa’s loan market, ranking Number 1 Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner in the 2025 Bloomberg Africa Borrower Loans League Tables.

African Export-Import Bank has led Africa’s loan market, ranking Number 1 Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner in the 2025 Bloomberg Africa Borrower Loans League Tables.

The Afreximbank said this in a statement on Wednesday.

“The rankings, released by Bloomberg, show that Afreximbank accounted for 23.65 per cent market share as Mandated Lead Arranger, executing 20 transactions during the period under review.

“As bookrunner, the bank holds a 21.66 per cent market share, completing 14 deals, further consolidating its leadership in arranging debt solutions and mobilising capital to support Africa’s economic growth,” it said.

According to the statement, the bank also ranked Number 3 as administrative agent, recording a 13.92 per cent market share across 13 deals.

Bloomberg stated that the Africa Borrower Loans League Tables are a subset of the Bloomberg Capital Markets League Tables, as explained in the statement.

“This tracks top arrangers, bookrunners and advisers across various transactions, including loans, bonds, equity and mergers and acquisitions. The performance underscores Afreximbank’s sustained dominance in African capital markets and its strategic role in mobilising large-scale financing from both domestic and international investors,” it said.

The statement said that the transaction breakdown showed that most syndicated deals were concentrated in the oil and gas sector.

It said this reflected the bank’s intervention to address the significant financing gap across the continent.

Meanwhile, Haytham Elmaayergi, executive vice president, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank, described the ranking as a testament to the dedication and capability of the bank’s team.

George Elombi Sworn In As Afreximbank President

“I am delighted that the stellar performance of our colleagues has been reflected in Bloomberg’s prestigious league tables, which is a real testament to their assiduous determination and capability.

“The rankings underscore Afreximbank’s commitment to facilitating capital flows in order to drive economic growth and prosperity in the continent. We will continue to focus on leveraging our unique position to promote high-impact investments and bridge the financing gap across Africa’s most critical sectors,” Mr Elmaayergi said.

The latest rankings mark a continuation of Afreximbank’s consistent presence at the top of Bloomberg’s league tables in recent years.

This reinforces its position as one of Africa’s foremost financial institutions, driving structured trade and project financing across key sectors.

High Court Acquits DCP Abba Kyari In NDLEA Asset Declaration Case

High Court acquits DCP Abba Kyari in NDLEA asset declaration case. A federal high court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police, of a 23-count charge of alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the prosecution failed to establish its case against Kyari and the other defendants.

Kyari was charged alongside his two brothers, who were accused of swearing false affidavits to conceal the origin of some property allegedly linked to the police officer.

Delivering the verdict, Omotosho said the NDLEA did not present sufficient evidence to prove that the property cited in the charge belonged to Kyari.

The judge explained that ownership of landed property can be proven through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession connected to ownership.

He said none of these forms of proof was presented by the prosecution to show that the property located in Fountain Estate, Kasana (said to belong to Ramatu Kyari), was owned by the suspended police officer.

Omotosho also held that the prosecution failed to produce evidence linking Kyari to other property referenced in the charge, including those located on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, and in Maiduguri, Borno state.

In his defence, Kyari had told the court that the property in Borno belonged to his late father and was inherited by him and his siblings.

The judge said the prosecution did not disprove the claim.

Omotosho also faulted the charge of conspiracy against Kyari’s brothers — Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari — holding that the allegation was not substantiated by evidence.

Abba Kyari

He described the prosecution’s case as weak and lacking in credible proof.

The judge added that Kyari had served the country and should not be subjected to persecution in the absence of convincing evidence.

Meanwhile, Kyari and four other suspended police officers are also facing a separate trial before Emeka Nwite over alleged involvement in a cocaine deal.

Two drug traffickers arrested in the case, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in 2022.