CODIFIER

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko A 55-year-old man, Adeleye Adeniyi, was on Monday arraigned before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly damaging cornerpiece worth N600,000, belonging to another person. Adeniyi, whose address was not provided, was charged with conspiracy, threat to life, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, land grabbing and stealing. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb. 5 in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State. He said that the defendant wilfully and unlawfully damaged the pillars belonging to one Matthew Okunade after threatening his life. Amusan said that Adeniyi conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by preventing Okunade from entering his land at Ogbomoso. He said that the defendant also stole about 200 blocks belonging to the complainant. According to him, the offences contravene Sections 516, 86, 458, 249(d) and

By Smart Origbo For unsavoury reasons, the story of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello has literally seized the media space in the country, week-in, week-out.  The hide -and seek game between Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), blew open a forthnight ago when the anti-graft agency decided to “catch” Bello right in his house at the Wuse district in Abuja.  The agency had barricaded the street forbidding even residents from entering or exiting the street. The planned arrest turned a fiasco as the sitting Kogi State governor, Governor Usman Ododo was alleged to have nestled Yahaya Bello into his car and driven him out of the vicinity, basking in the immunity that covers him and even his car.   Ever since then, the polity had been agog with the issue of Bello. Opinions have been divided whether or not the former Kogi governor is the sinner or the one sinned against.  The way the EFCC has presented Yahaya Bello to the polity, wi

Scores of Anti-Corruption Organisations have berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for flouting the Child's Rights Act by revealing details and identities of minors whose parents are being investigated over alleged corruption. With specific reference to the case of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, whose children's names abd other details were reportedly made public by the EFCC, the anti-graft CSOs expressed shock, arguing that the commission had recklessly exposed the affected children to all manners of dangers. Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Monday, the Anti-Corruption Organizations condemned the EFCC for not considering the safety and protection of the minors as required by both international and national laws, stressing that, "when minors are exposed to public and peer ridicule in the name of investigating their parents, no matter the allegations, such minors are automatically subjected to excruciating trauma that they d

Kogi youths who were at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday to protest the alleged political persecution of the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, were allegedly attacked by operatives of the Commission There were two protests at the EFCC headquarters on Monday. While the other protest, organised by members of the opposition party in the state, in support of the EFCC was allowed to go peacefully, the other, which demanded that rule of law be respected, was attacked, according to the Pro-Yahaya Bello group. Videos of the protesters struggling to make their statements while being harassed and reporters running after them flooded the social media on Monday, with a picture of a badly damaged vehicle. This occurence, the protesters said, had fueled suspicion in many quarters that the purported rally in support of EFCC, staged by the Kogi East group called Kogi Conscience Movement, was sponsored by the Commission.  The pro-Bello protest

By Smart Origbo For unsavoury reasons, the story of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello has literally seized the media space in the country, week-in, week-out.  The hide -and seek game between Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), blew open a forthnight ago when the anti-graft agency decided to “catch” Bello right in his house at the Wuse district in Abuja.  The agency had barricaded the street forbidding even residents from entering or exiting the street. The planned arrest turned a fiasco as the sitting Kogi State governor, Governor Usman Ododo was alleged to have nestled Yahaya Bello into his car and driven him out of the vicinity, basking in the immunity that covers him and even his car.   Ever since then, the polity had been agog with the issue of Bello. Opinions have been divided whether or not the former Kogi governor is the sinner or the one sinned against.  The way the EFCC has presented Yahaya Bello to the polity, with all the a

The media office representing the former Governor of Kogi State has countered the assertions made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the attendance of the governor's children at the American International School in Abuja.  In a statement released on Friday by Ohiare Michael, the office clarified that Yahaya Bello did not make payments of USD720,000 or USD840,000, as claimed by the EFCC Chairman or circulated on the internet, respectively. The statement partly read, “On Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in a conduct which we view as unbecoming of a Legal Practitioner, organised a press conference where he alleged (amongst other outrightly defamatory statements) that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government Account, sent same to Bureau De Change Operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance. According to Olukoyede, the payment was made just about the time the form

Hundreds of human rights activists, on Saturday, hit the streets of Lagos to condemn what they described as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's antidemocratic approaches to issues of law enforcement as well as unjust application of state power by the Federal Government.  The Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations, numbering over 120, along with a huge crowd of members and supporters, stressed that the actions of the Federal Government in the ongoing face-off between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, which took an ugly dimension during the week, suggested that the bone of contention was beyond the EFCC exercising its constitutional responsibility.  According to them, from the facts and documents obtained on the matter, the EFCC never sent a letter of invitation to ex-Gov Bello. The issue of evading arrest, they said, did not therefore exist.  "Someone who was never invited, who has a valid court order r

Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations have advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to desecrate the courts in the course of carrying out its constitutional role of fighting corruption.  The CSOs and human rights crusaders cautioned the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies against trampling on the rights of supposed suspects of corruption in order to avoid breaking a law to enforce another law. The activists, who spoke at an emergency press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, noted specifically that the recent public face-off between the EFCC and a former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in Abuja, was "both unnecessary and unfortunate." The Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), who addressed the press, suggested that the rush by the EFCC to make an arrest, when the Court of Appeal hearing on its application to vacate the restraining order was just in a few days, might give credence to allegations of politic

The media office of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello,  has urged President Bola Tinubu, to call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to order.  The media office made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday.  The statement read, “About 9:30 am today, the 17th day of April 2024, persons who described themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.  “This is despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.  “The EFCC was duly served with

Activists and Civil Society Organizations have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to warn the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against misrepresenting Nigeria as a lawless society.  The activists said it was disheartening that a law enforcement agency had become an instrument in the hands of politicians against its own mandate.  The about 60 CSOs, under the umbrella of the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, said this during an emergency Press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, in reaction to the flagrant disobedience to a valid court order restraining the arrest, prosecution, harassment, among others, of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, pending the hearing and determination of a substantive fundamental rights enforcement action. "It would be a sad day for democracy and the EFCC would have succeeded in turning itself into a law-breaking Commission that deserves to face the full weight of judicial retribution," they warned. According to them, one of the stro

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, tendered electoral documents against the petition by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, challenging the election victory of Gov. Usman Ododo. INEC’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku, who held the brief of Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, tendered the documents before the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. It would be recalled that INEC conducted the Kogi governorship election on Nov. 11, 2023. However, the SDP and its governorship candidate in the poll are challenging the declaration of Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the poll. In the petition, INEC, Ododo and APC are listed as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively. Some of the documents tendered on Monday by the commission’s lawyer before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, include INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the Election; INEC Manuals for Electoral Office

Barely 24 hours after assumption of office, the new NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mr. Sam Amaramiro Pepple has hit the ground running by calling on philanthropists and people of goodwill to rally support for the Scheme in his bid to make the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko more conducive, homely and convenient. The State Coordinator made the call today when he paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the orientation camp in Ikare-Akoko known to be among the oldest in the country. Pepple, who paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Mrs. Victoria Ani for her remarkable and ineffaceable achievements within her tenure called for more support to rehabilate the hostels. He praised her for the infrastructural development the camp has witnessed in the last few years and disclosed that increase in corps population necessitated the call. "Ondo, one of the oldest states carved out of Western Region of old deserves to have more structures and facilities that will conta

By Wilson Macaulay No power on earth, not even the strongest Army can conquer nor stop an idea whose time has come ----- Victor Hugo (The Future of Man) He was a French Poet , who lived in the early 19th Century.  In every Local Government electoral cycle, there are bound to be some unique features which makes the setting different from the trajectory known before. In the dynamic landscape of Udu Local Government, a figure has emerged with a vision, a track record of success, and a commitment to service.  Hon Justice Iyasere, the immediate past  Vice Chairman, epitomizes the essence of leadership, integrity, and dedication. With a distinguished career as a journalist before his foray into politics, Justice Iyasere brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the needs of the good people of udu kingdom. As a journalist, Justice Iyasere honed his skills in communication, investigative journalism  and advocacy. His commitment to truth and accountability earned him

Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will, on April 15, open their defence at the state's governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja against the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Yakubu (Ajaka). The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, fixed the date on Friday after SDP and Yakubu, the petitioners, who had initially said they had 400 witnesses, closed their case after calling 25 witnesses. It would be recalled that the SDP and its governorship candidate in the Nov. 11, 2023 poll, are challenging Gov. Ododo's victory in the election. In the petition, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ododo and APC are listed as 1st to 3rd respondents respectively. When the case was called on Friday, INEC, Ododo and APC lawyers opposed the move by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, to lead the witness, Edidiong Udoh, a Digital Forensic Expert, in evidence. Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Al

The Social Democratic Party, on Thursday, presented one witness at the Kogi State Election Petitions  Tribunal, who admitted that the SDP had agents across the polling units in the state.  The witness, Benjamin Ikani Okolo, from Dekina Local Government Area (Kogi East), tendered an inspection report and also adopted his deposition on oath before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu. His confirmation that the SDP had agents across the polling units in the state, was of interest, considering the fact that only one polling agent, who said he couldn't produce an evidence of his role, had been presented by the SDP as witness in the ongoing hearing. The Respondents' counsel had, in earlier sittings, asked why the polling agents were not complaining, while random voters were being produced as witnesses.  When he was being cross-examined, Respondents' Counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN, said the witness, a former Local Government Chairman of Dekina, should tell t

A mild drama continued at the Kogi Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Monday as some witnesses disowned their depositions before the panel. Four witnesses from Adavi Local Government Area of the state gave their evidence for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu. The witnesses, when called, gave virtually the same narration regarding what transpired where they voted even though they were in different polling units during the November 11, 2023 governorship poll. The four witnesses, like the previous ones, adopted their witness depositions on oath. However, during cross-examination by the defence counsel, they made claims different from what was in the witness depositions. When shown their deposition, they disowned it, saying it was not written by them while also confirming that they were not polling agents but random voters. One of the witnesses, Rufai Muhammed, who said he was from Adavi Local Government