CODIFIER

...urges security agencies to investigate, prosecute persons found culpable The attention of the Kogi State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to allegations making the rounds on social media of an alleged abduction of the Witnesses of Action Alliance by persons suspected to be APC Supporters within the premises of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) where the Kogi State Governorship  Election Tribunal is currently sitting.  While it is reported that the said witnesses were abducted within the NJI premises, some other reports stated that it was outside the premises. While some reports alleged that the said witnesses have been released by their abductors, some reports alleged that they are still in the custody of their alleged abductors.  The APC Kogi State Chapter categorically refutes the mischievous allegation that any of its supporters abducted  witnesses of the Action Alliance political party or even had any altercation with any witne...

. Declares 'Kogi State is working, editors highly impressed'  The Nigerian Guild of Editors has commended the Kogi State Government for what it described as a highly impressive performance in infrastructure, education and health.  The Guild gave the commendation during a tour of some of the projects initiated and completed under the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.  The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, who briefed journalists at the end of the project tour, specifically said, from what he and other editors had seen, first-hand, the former governor had left a legacy worthy of emulation in critical sectors.  He, however, added that the current Governor of the state, Alhaji Usman Ododo, was doing well to consolidate on the good work of his predecessor.  The NGE was in Lokoja to hold its standing committee meeting. In all, about 40 editors, across the print, electronic and online media participated in the meeting. The editors use...

. Court adjourns to Feb 22, 23 for continuation of trial Drama erupted on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that its main witness, Rabiu Musa, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN v. Ali Bello & Anor, had been scared away from trial.  The witness, an Abuja based Bureau De Change operator, was alleged to have been threatened, following his appearance at the last trial and got scared. Lawyer to the anti-graft agency, Hannatu Kofamaisa, made the allegations at the resumed trial of Ali Bello and Daudu Suleiman. She told Justice James Omotoso that the witness would not be in court to continue his evidence, based on his experience of threats at the last adjourned date, adding that she had called the witness five times but that he was no longer picking her calls. Counsel to Ali Bello, Abdullahi Aliu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that he would not react to the EFCC's allegations because the...

Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations, on Wednesday, warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, under the leadership of Ola Olukoyede, to refrain from allowing "cankerworms of the previous management left in the system" rubbish his credentials as the Head of the Commission.  The over 300 anti-corruption activists, under seven broad frontline organisations, noted that it was pertinent for them to sound an early note of warning in view of the fact that the misuse of the EFCC by political gladiators, as a veritable tool of victimization and score-settling, which they thought had been tackled, was suddenly rearing its head again.  The anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations advised the EFCC boss to sit up and stop the Commission from being accessed by "political miscreants who think EFCC is an extension of their political structures to be manipulated at will." They specifically referred to the Kogi State Government's press statement, which was re...

The Kogi State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as a desperate attempt by "criminals masquerading as politicians" to tarnish the image of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, HE Yahaya Bello, for selfish reasons, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  The state government said, in its desperation, "which would leave Nigerians wondering who exactly is afraid of Yahaya Bello", the EFCC has, in an amended charge, accused the former Governor of diverting Kogi State Government funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed the position of a Governor. It said this was not only laughable but portrayed the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.  A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said, "The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dau...

Trial continued, on Monday, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. Ali Bello & Anor, before Justice J. K Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.  The 1st and 2nd Defendants' Counsel, A.M Aliyu SAN and Nureini Jimoh SAN, respectively, cross examined the Prosecution’s 2nd  Witness, Edward Bananda, from the United Bank for Africa, with respect to the evidence he tendered (Statements of Accounts).  The witness, upon a perusal of the entire bank statements he produced at trial, stated that he could not remember seeing the names of Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman as beneficiaries who made withdrawals from the Account tendered.  He, however, confirmed that one Abdulsalam Hudu made most of the withdrawals from the account statements.  The Witness also stated that he played no role in the entries contained in the Statements of Account and only became a witness in the matter due to EFCC's invitation.  Edward Bananda also confirmed that the cash...