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Nigerian Technical Aid Corps to Partner Federal Inland Revenue Service for Enhanced Service Delivery
Joel Ajayi
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have agreed to constitute an Ad Hoc joint Committee to work out modalities on how the both federal agencies will interface for a greater service delivery of their both mandates for the benefits of recipient countries of the Technical Aid Corps scheme.
This was the high point of a meeting held, Wednesday,in Abuja when the Director,Inter-Governmental Relations Department of the FIRS,Dr.Umaru Idris Ahmed led a delegation of the Service to a courtesy call on the Director General of NTAC,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub.
Speaking during the visit,Rt.Hon. Buba informed his guests that the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps was established in 1987 with a mandate to drive the Technical Aid Corps scheme as an instrument of soft power diplomacy for the promotion of the nation’s foreign policy goals in African, Caribbean and the Pacific nations.
He added that in the past 37 years of driving the mandate NTAC has deployed over 10,000 highly trained professionals in diverse fields of endeavour to 40 countries across the world and has showcased Nigeria as a friend to those countries in the spirit of the United Nations’ South-South Co-operation.
“Today,as we speak,the Scheme is not limited to just interventions in the Health and Education sectors,but also in Engineering,in the Judiciary and even Artisanship.
“For instance,today,the Chief Judge of The Gambia and many Legal Draftsmen are Nigerians.Nigerian Professors are also currently heading the prestigious University of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology in that country.There are so many cases like these across the world so that today going forward we are thinking,with the necessary amendments to our statues here,of attracting the needed foreign exchange from the services of some of these professionals we send out to share our abundant human resources with our sister countries of the ACP Region,”the DG informed.
Earlier speaking,the Director of the IGRD and leader of the Federal Inland Revenue Service delegation,Dr.Ahmed told their hosts that the delegation was at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps to advance the building of new relationships with MDAs in line with the mandate of the newly established Inter-Governmental Relations Department of FIRS.
He also informed that the Department,which was established at the FIRS in March this year, had the sole mandate of fostering relationships between the Agency,the MDAs of Government and the private sector. The above he said was in order to further project the image of the Service in good light in relation to its role in tax reforms for national development in the Tinubu Administration.
Dr. Ahmed further informed that,being a member of both the African Tax Forum(ATAF) and the West African Tax Forum(WTAF),he would strive to liaise with those professional bodies to ascertain how NTAC could assist some ACP countries with the competencies of some Nigerian tax experts.
Among those present at the meeting on the side of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps were the Director of Administration at the Agency,Amb.Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed;the Director of Programmes,Amb.Zakari Usman as well as the Deputy Director of Administration,Amb.Saidu D
Muhammed and Mr.Saidu Idris Yusuf,a Deputy Director in the Accounts Department.
Officers from the FIRS include the following:
Mrs.Shehu Ganiyah,Ashu A.S,Mr.Silas Onweydu as well as Mr.Okim Thomas.While others were Mr.Usman Ibrahim and Amina Abdullahi.
News
Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.
The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.
Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.
These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.
In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.
“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”
The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).
– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.
– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.
– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.
– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.
“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”
The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.
About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.
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