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Court adjourns to June 27 for arraignment  The Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned arraignment of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on an alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to June 27, following an agreement by the counsels of the two parties.  A new date, June 27, had earlier been reportedly fixed for arraignment at the instance of the EFCC counsels. There was, however, a mild drama in court when Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, announced appearance for EFCC and claimed ignorance of the agreement. At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Counsel to Governor Bello, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached AbdulWahab Mohammed SAN, who is the counsel  for the defendant, that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them to proceed and that Wahab had to agree by way of convenience for another date to be set. Adedipe SAN, who was in court for another matter, was s...

The 60th Anniversary celebration of Motailatu Church of God has commenced with series of activities lined up to make the diamond jubilee memorable. A statement by a member of the church's Board of Trustees, Very Reverend David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi says the celebration has commenced with a special Anniversary revival at the Motailatu Church of God International headquarters, St Adekahunsi cathedral, Ondo Town, Ondo state. According to the statement, the special anniversary revival which commenced on Monday, June 10 2024 will run till Friday, June 14, 2024 at 4pm daily. A medical outreach is slated for Thursday, June 13, 2024 at the church premises. Ordination of parishioners will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024 while the grand finale, a special Anniversary thanksgiving holds on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Venue is the Motailatu Church of God International headquarters, St. Adekahunsi Cathedral, adjacent NEPA Office, off Brigadier Ademulegun Road, Oke-Iwosan, Ondo City, Ondo State a...

Again, scores of activists hit the streets of Lagos on Saturday demanding an end to what they described as the mischievous use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  platform to malign perceived enemies by opposition forces. The activists, who frowned at the consistent call for anarchy in a democratic setting by those that their investigations had established to be working for known opposition figures in Kogi State, called on the EFCC to ignore the "sponsored, desperate calls" and focus on toeing the path of the rule of law. The over 80 Human Rights Civil Society Organizations, under the broad umbrella of Citizens Action Against Lawlessness, said those calling for the EFCC to ignore an ongoing court process and forcefully arrest a defendant, former Governor Yahaya Bello, were not only ignorant of the rule of law and up to some mischief, but also tools in the hands of desperate political actors to rubbish the integrity of the Commission. While commending the EFCC for...

Indigenes of Kogi State have cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  against those they described as embittered and desperate ethnic jingoists who are strengthening the public opinion that the Commission is collaborating with certain opposition figures to persecute the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.  The indigenes said since the allegation of corruption by the EFCC against the former Governor became a national discourse, "some persons who are afraid of chasing their dreams at the polls have hidden under the veneer of activism to sponsor their tribesmen to impugn on the character of ex Governor Yahaya Bello maliciously". Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chairman of Kogi Youth Leaders Forum, Benjamin Oguche, PhD, specifically noted that those still calling for the arrest of Bello even in the face of an ongoing court process, were either uninformed or out to rubbish the image of EFCC while pursuing their prolon...

Hundreds of activists, on Saturday, stormed the streets of Lagos to protest alleged underground moves by some desperate opposition figures in Kogi State as well as other perceived political enemies to unleash terror on the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, using the platform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  The activists, who addressed a press conference and also staged a huge rally, condemned calls by a group called Zero Corruption Agenda in collaboration with another group, Kogites United Against Corruption, for the EFCC to ignore court orders guaranteing Bello's fundamental human rights and effect an arrest despite the ongoing court process. While raising the alarm that there were speculations going around that some desperate politicians were "even allegedly planning to use gunmen dressed in fake military uniforms to attack Yahaya Bello's residences", they called on the police and other relevant security agencies to be vigilant t...

. We refuse to support lawlessness, EFCC should reform its activities  Again, scores of Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations have kicked against what they described as the perceived use of the platform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by politicians to fight their political battles. They said this during an emergency Press conference on Friday, in reaction to a joint press conference by "a civil society organisation and a group, which called itself Kogites United Against Corruption Coalition." The frontline CSOs, led by the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, wondered why a few Nigerians were not seeing the persecution in the current case against the former Governor of Kogi State, considering the anomaly in the undending calls for arrest, mainly by members of the opposition party in the state, in collaboration with alleged sponsored CSOs, when the matter was before the courts. According to them, the line-up of lawyers, both at the Trib...

. Lambast opposition for alleged desperation  Kogi indigenes and concerned Nigerians gathered under the banner of the "Alliance For Emancipation and True Change" to stage a peaceful protest in the United Kingdom, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remains impartial and free from political interference. They raised concerns that the Commission, with the handling of the corruption allegations against the former Governor of Kogi State, had given the impression of political persecution to Nigerians and the international community.  During the protest, held in London on May 20, 2024, the demonstrators stressed the importance of a fair and just prosecution process, in line with the rule of law, and condemned the alleged use of the EFCC by politicians to intimidate and harass perceived opponents. They cautioned against the politicization of the EFCC's activities and called for a review of its operating pro...

JudgmentINEC on Monday prayed the Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja to dismiss a petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, against the victory of Gov. Usman Ododo. Gov. Ododo and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have also told the three-member panel of Justices, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, to dismiss the petition in its entirety for being incompetent and lacking in merit. The trio, through their lawyers – Chief Kanu Agabi, Joseph Daudu and Emmanuel Ukala – stated this position while adopting their final written addresses and presenting their arguments against SDP and Ajaka’s petition. However, Ajaka’s lawyer, Pius Akubo, have urged the tribunal to discountenance the respondents’ submissions and uphold their petition. The tribunal, after listening to all the parties in the petition, reserved the matter for judgment. It would be recalled that Ajaka had challenged Ododo’s victory in the Nov. 11,...

By Wilson Macaulay  As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day today 3rd, May  2024, we considered it germane and essential to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of Nigerian journalists to the media landscape and the  democratic discourse in our great   country, Nigeria. We recognise the sincere and   unwavering dedication of the Nigerian Journalist  to the  truth, integrity, and accountability. Nigerian journalists ,  as members of the fourth estate  plays a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, holding power to account, and safeguarding the principles and ethos of democracy. Nigeria,  best described as the giant of Africa, can boasts of a galaxy of vibrant and dynamic media personalities. The list include the likes of Dele Giwa of blessed memory who has passed on to eternal glory. We have the living Legends who are playing  profound and  unforgettable role in the  media   indus...

The Popular President of the Egbema Communities Peace, Development And Humanitarian Rights Association in Delta and Edo State, and also the President of the Peace Development Security And Humanitarian Rights Association of Niger Deltans has officially  declared his intention to run for the Chairmanship position of Warri North Local government Council in the forth coming Delta State Local Government election under the platform of the People's Democratic party. Comrade  Mike Tiemo the renowned Humanitarian activist made his ambition known to senior media practitioners in Warri during a press briefing organised for the purpose of informing the general public and relevant stakeholders of his intention to vie for the the Chairmanship of Warri North Local Government Area. The declaration statement made available to Daily Independent Newspaper Reads in part: ,"My Fellow Citizens and Esteemed Stakeholders, of Warri North Local Government Area ,With great humility and a profound sense ...

A former member of the House of Representatives, Honorable Israel Sunny-Goli, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe multi-million naira investments made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). Sunny-Goli, who represented the Nembe-Brass Federal Constituency in the 9th Assembly, stated that he is calling for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution regarding the disbursement of funds for the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Limited, the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, as well as the Brass Petroleum Product Terminal Limited. The former lawmaker noted that all the projects are situated within the precinct of Brass Local Government Area and that the investments were undertaken during the tenure of the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote. According to him, NCDMB’s total equity of $200 million was contributed to the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Li...

Some members of the All Progressives Congress under the umbrella of Southwest Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Supporters Movement have called on President Bola Tinubu not to delay in sacking some of his appointees who have allegedly been plotting his political downfall for their selfish interests.  Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential supporters condemned, in its entirety, the development which they described as "satanic agenda", and called on President Tinubu and the APC leadership to immediately arrest the situation and ensure that the party is not hijacked by a disloyal few. They also vowed to expose those scheming to succeed Tinubu in 2027, with the notion that he might not be able to contest.  According to the supporters, allegations by a prominent member of the ruling APC, Jesutega Onokpasa, about those around the president already planning to succeed him possibly before he completes his first term in office, ought not to be ...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Jesutega Onokpasa, has revealed that certain appointees of President Bola Tinubu are plotting to succeed him before the end of his tenure and are seriously wishing that the President will not make it to 2027 for their selfish reasons. Onokpasa, a lawyer and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who lamented the alleged hypocrisy, pull him down mentality and anti-party activities going on in the governing party, laid curses on those he accused of wishing Tinubu dead, saying, "If they don't repent, Asiwaju will attend their funeral." He said this in a video, where he was seen addressing party members and drawing their attention to the belief that the ongoing drama around the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's allegations against former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; and the continued attack on former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, were plans mapped out by th...

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's conduct in its attempt to prosecute the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.  He said he had expected the anti-graft agency's boss, Ola Olukoyede, to have learnt from the cases of his predecessors, who he said were "booted out ignominiously". Momodu, who spoke on his Instagram Live show, while responding to questions on the burning topic by viewers, also frowned at the issue of selective prosecution, saying "a situation where EFCC would have to be told who can be touched and who cannot be touched is unacceptable."  He said, "When they brought in the new chairman, I thought oh, you will have the benefit of learning from your predecessors. All of them were booted out ignominiously and if I were in the shoes of the current chairman, what I will simply do is make sure I do my job as meticulously, as professio...

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further hearing in the alleged money laundering charges against Ali Bello and three others to May 27, 2024. The Judge, on Thursday, adjourned the trial following the conclusion of evidence in chief by the second witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Olomotane Egoro. The adjournment was to allow counsel to Ali Bello, Abubakar Aliu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, to cross examine the witness in his testimony against the defendants. At Thursday's proceedings, in the suit marked: ABJ/CR/573/2022 (FRN Vs. Ali Bello and 3 others), Egoro, a Staff of Access Bank, tendered Bank Statements of Keyless Nature Limited, Fasab Business Enterprise and Ari Consulting and Integrated Limited and testified of cash lodgements into the accounts from 14 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.  The witness, who did not state the purpose for which the monies were transferred into the accounts, also testified a...

The Kalesanwa Socio-Political Group has urged the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to see the last APC primaries election as a collective victory for the people of Ondo State. In a  congratulatory message which was made available to the pressmen, tittle, " Ondo Primary Election 2024, The Morning After",the convener of the group, Moyosola Niran Oladunni, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC)  said, it was a long night that ended in a victorious dawn. He said, " It was a long night that ended in a victorious dawn. Yet, I have to write to give you updates from our last primaries election in which Kalesanwa Group played a dencetly active role to support your aspiration and also ensure your deserved victory.  Our participation was made possible by your outstanding virtues, capped by our people's support and cooperation.  "We went into the contest with high hopes in a quest to deliver our very dow...

***Vow to present case to National Human Rights Commission  Scores of youths from Kogi State trooped out in Abuja, on Wednesday, in a May Day solidarity walk for Nigerian children to press home their disappointment with the handling of the much-publicised allegations of corruption against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.  The youths decried what they called the systemic violation of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the former Governor's children, "who have nothing whatsoever to do with whatever the Commission is investigating their parents for." President, Kogi Independent Youths Association, Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazak, said, "Let it be on record that we do not support corruption in any manner. What we are against is not following due processes to carry out law enforcement duties, especially when you begin to drag in innocent children into the fray. This can damage them psy...

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...