Daily Watch – Buhari signs new police law, FG launches account holders ‘self-certification’

The FG has said that every person that owns an account with financial institutions has to undergo a self-certification process. The directive was announced on Thursday via the FG’s Twitter handle. Account-holders are required to obtain, complete and submit the self-certification forms to their respective financial institutions. Individuals who hold accounts in different financial institutions would have to collect and submit separate forms to each one of the institutions. Three categories of forms for entities, individuals and controlling persons (individuals having a controlling interest in a legal person, trustee, etc) are said to be available. It is not yet clear how the self-certification process differs from the bank verification number (BVN) and national identification number (NIN). The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is currently harmonising the NIN and BVN and has set a five-year target to register all Nigerians after a $430 million World Bank loan for the Nigeria digital identification for development project. In May, Aliyu Aziz, the NIMC director-general, said 14 million BVN had been harmonised with NIN. In September, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) launched an automatic exchange of information-common reporting standard (AEOI-CRS) system for the use of financial institutions which it described as a step towards “aligning the country’s tax system with global standards”.

The crisis at the University of Lagos took a new twist on Thursday with the resignation of its Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin. This is coming shortly after a Presidential Visitation Panel set up by President Buhari to look into the crisis that led to the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, submitted its report on Thursday. The committee was inaugurated on August 26 to look into the leadership crisis in the university, precipitated by the removal of Vice Chancellor Ogundipe from office by the Governing Council. The Council said the decision was based on the investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office against Ogundipe.

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Nigeria Police Bill 2020 into law. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement. It read it part: “The Act repeals the Police Act Cap. P19. Laws of the Federation, 2004, and provides for a more effective and well organised Police Force, driven by the principles of transparency and accountability in its operations and management of its resources. Among others, the Act establishes an appropriate funding framework for the Police in line with what is obtainable in other Federal Government key institutions, enhances professionalism in the Force through increased training opportunities, and creates enduring cooperation and partnership between the Police Force and communities in maintaining peace and combating crimes nationwide.”

A Rwandan court has denied bail to Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood movie about the 1994 genocide. Mr Rusesabagina, who was living in exile until he arrived in Rwanda under mysterious circumstances at the end of last month, is facing charges of terrorism among other crimes. The judge said that there were concerns that, if released, Mr Rusesabagina “would disrupt the ongoing investigation”. The court decision means that he will now be moved from police custody to prison. He is charged with crimes relating to the FLN rebel group’s deadly attacks in south-western Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. Mr Rusesabagina is a leader of the opposition MRCD group, and the FLN is thought to be the group’s armed wing.