CODIFIER

Ex-Gov to remain in custody The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned sitting on the alleged N80bn fraud charge against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to December 13, 2024  for the Motion for abridgment and possible arraignment.  Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the sitting in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the matter had been originally adjourned to January 21, 2025. When the matter was called on Friday, the former Governor was asked why his lawyers were not in court. He said he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and so could not contact his lawyers to be at the court. The EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, insisted that the Defendant's plea be taken. "What the law requires is the presence of the Defendant, not the presence of his lawyers," he argued. But the judge declined. While delivering a short ruling, Justice Nwite said, "The matter came up on the 30th of October 2024. It was adjourned to...

Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has fixed December 10, 2024 for rulings on the bail applications by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others.  The Judge fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the bail request by Bello's lawyer, Joseph Bodunde Dauda, SAN and the Prosecution's Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. Ex-Gov Bello and two others had, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  Bello, who is the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryann Anenih as they were reeled out by the Court Registrar.  After taking their plea, the Defendant's Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, moved an application for bail. But the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, saying it had expired in October. Making clarifications, the Defendant's Counsel clarified this, saying that the only rel...

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  Ex-Gov Bello, who is the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryann Anenih as they were reeled out by the Court Registrar.  After taking their plea, the Defendant's Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, moved an application for bail. But the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, saying it had expired in October. Making clarifications, the Defendant's Counsel clarified this, saying that the only relevant application before the Court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22. Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.  "Exhibit A, which is the public summons is very vital and the appearance of the defendan...

There are strong indications that former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission again over alleged misappropriation of funds. Our reporter reliably gathered from sources close to the EFCC that he went to the office with his lawyers on Tuesday morning and not with the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo.  This follows the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states' case on the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency.  It was also reliably gathered that the former Governor drove himself in a black hilux to the EFCC office with his lawyers.  There were insinuations last week that he was going to visit the EFCC but the former governor's media aides did not respond to enquiries on the information.  At the last hearing on November 14, the EFCC had sought for adjournment to tomorrow (November 27) in the fresh case it instituted against Bello, saying the 30 days window was st...

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin.) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), and esteemed professor of Counselling Psychology, Adebisi Clement Daramola, is set to deliver the University’s 30th Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. The lecture, titled “Crossing the Crossroads of Life: The Counselling Pathways,” is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the University Multipurpose Hall. Attendees are expected to be seated by 1:30 PM, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the event. Prof. Daramola’s distinguished academic career began at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, where he earned a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Physics and Chemistry in 1977. He further pursued a Bachelor’s (B.Ed.) and Master’s (M.Ed.) in Guidance and Counselling at the University of Ibadan in 1981 and 1984, respectively. He completed his Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology in 1993 from the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti. His teaching career commenced ...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, sought for adjournment in the fresh case it instituted against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, saying the 30 days window was still running for the summons earlier issued. The EFCC, however, admitted his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, to administrative bail and prayed the court for extension of time for the 1st Defendant to appear.  At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Counsel for EFCC, Jamiu Agoro, said the order of the court, given on 3rd October had not elapsed. "In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord," he told the court. He also noted that the 20th of November date earlier given was not convenient for the Prosecution counsel. Counsel to the 2nd d...

.Urge EFCC to halt politically motivated witch-hunt  Youth Leaders of the All Progressives Congress have accused unnamed stalwarts of the party of being behind the persecution of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged politically motivated reasons.  The youth leaders from across the 36 states of the country and the FCT, under the aegis of APC Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF), wondered why those who had contributed immensely towards the development of the party as well as helped in securing the presidency which President Bola Tinubu enjoys today, have been singled out for persecution and undue harassment.  In a statement on Monday jointly signed by the Forum's National President, Alh Abdullahi Danbaba and the National Secretary, Dr Chike Ihedioha, AYLF insisted that some individuals were bent on destroying the party over permutations ahead of the 2027 elections and their desire for political of...

. Says 'it's witch-hunt taken too far' . 'Nigeria, as a Federation, has guiding principles' A former Nigerian Ambassador to Botwana, Isaac Onuh, has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over its handling of the alleged money laundering case against former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. In a news conference on Friday in Lokoja, Onuh described Bello’s trial as an “unfortunate witch-hunt”. Onuh, an All Progressives Congress stalwart, urged the EFCC to immediately halt the alleged “macabre dance” being employed against the former governor under the pretense of fighting corruption. He said that the EFCC had yet to provide ample evidence to substantiate its allegations of financial impropriety against the former governor. "His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, deserves a measure of respect and decorum from government agencies, including the EFCC, having served the state diligently and meritoriously for eight years," the fo...