The incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has visited the embattled former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, amidst a heavy security crackdown on the latter’s Abuja home.

Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30 pm Wednesday, alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the former governor’s home.

Our correspondent, who visited the residence Wednesday afternoon, observed the heavy presence of armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, policemen, operatives of the Department of State Security, Counter Terrorism Unit, and Yahaya Bello’s private security team.

EFCC operatives had on Wednesday morning stormed Bello’s Abuja home located in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory.

Photographs seen by our correspondent on Wednesday show some armed EFCC personnel laying siege to the ex-governor’s home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

As of press time, our correspondent could not independently confirm the reason behind the siege on Bello’s home as the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, did not respond to inquiries concerning the development.

However, the EFCC had earlier dragged Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, one Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in an amended charge in March 2024 over an alleged N84bn money laundering.

Reacting to the development, the ex-governor’s media office, in a statement, condemned the operatives’ actions while urging President Bola Tinubu to caution the EFCC.

According to the statement, the presence of the operatives in Bello’s residence negated the order of injunction granted on February 9, 2024, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Yahaya Bello v. EFCC, restraining the commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.

Exousiang01:

You claim to know so much about the Benue political terrain during the Akume 8 years yet you don't know who Agada was during the time....
Kids

Exousiang01:

You claim to know so much about the Benue political terrain during the Akume 8 years yet you don't know who Agada was during the time....
Kids

Exousiang01:

U grew up in Makurdi.
I be MSG boy, I was in Makurdi during his time as governor, Austin Agada the APC chairman who was the then BSU SUG president was my friend, my mum was a director in one of the ministries, you don't know what Akume did bro.
After Akume the only person doing anything is Alia, he didn't just build the teaching hospital, dude you know the students were placed on salary?

For the overall INTEREST, PEACE and DEVELOPMENT of Benue State, the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia yesterday, Monday, April 1, 2024, at the instance of Tor Tiv, Professor James Iorzua Ayatse and Tiv Area Traditional Council, heartily reconciled with his elder brother and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senators Dr. George Akume.
The reconciliation meeting took place at the Tor Tiv palace in Gboko, the headquarters of Tiv Nation.
With the reunion of these two great Tiv sons and Benue leaders, the state shall witness tremendous milestones.

THE GOVERNMENT OF REV. FR. ALIA HAS NOT BORROWED ANY MONEY SINCE INAUGURATION IN MAY 2023.


We read a report in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, March 31st, 2024, wherein the reporter alleged that, 13 new State Governors, including Benue, collectively borrowed N226.8bn from both domestic and external financiers, between the period of June and December, 2023.

The analysis according to the reporter, is based on the latest sub-national debt reports released by the Debts Management Office (DMO).

We want to state emphatically that, the government of Rev.Fr. Alia has not borrowed any money from either Domestic or External sources.

All debts mentioned in the said report were incurred before the Governor Hyacinth Alia led administration took over on May 29th, 2023.

Let it be known that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is skeptical of borrowings, and will only do so when and if it becomes necessary and it is in the interest of the Benue people, especially to fund critical projects.

We challenge the Punch Newspaper reporter to be more investigative in his reports, providing accurate facts, which is a key component of journalism practice.
Sir Tersoo Kula (MNIPR),
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State.

kokoA:
Listen to yourself.. So development is now by the size of town?.

christejames:




Hmmm... Let me ignore the derogatory remark in your post.



What I'm trying to say in essence is that the Idoma leaders should come together regardless of political parties to wrestle power from the Tiv... It's becoming irritating.

kokoA:
"Idoma leaders" must agree before government can execute public projects in Idoma land? Bros, let's call a spade a spade abeg, the governor do not really value zone C and I think it's because a tiv man naturally sees an Idoma man as a second class indigene of Benue.

BafanaBafana:

So you are saying father wanted to do project in Idoma land and Idoma leaders refused? Or he wants to give Idoma people appointments and they refused? The man is doing well, but he is a tribal bigot, let's call a spade a spade.

MisterBanny:
The best governor Benue has ever had

christejames:
Fr is indeed doing great job in Benue state, I just wish he can only extent his goodness to the second most important urban area in the state; Otukpo. The roads in that town have all crumbled



The Idoma leaders are partly to be blamed, they care more about the crumbs they get from each govt in power than the overall betterment of their areas , the annoying thing is that they are not in unison in anything that will better the people.

Saao:
markudi and gboko. What happen to Otukpo? Or Otukpo not part of his agenda?

The State High Court sitting in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue, has reinstated the state chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Austin Agada.

In the case brought before the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the court on Monday gave the order while ruling on a motion seeking to set aside the interim order restraining Agada from parading himself as Chairman of the APC in Benue State.

This came after listening to the arguments of Counsel to Agaba Moses J.J. Usman, SAN and of Innocent Daagba, who appeared alongside Richard Ayilla, George Ushongo, Daniel Sorkaa, John Ifer and others for Comrade Agada.

Justice Ikpambese vacated the order restraining Agada from parading himself, his functions, and acting as the Chairman of the APC in Benue State.


A state high court in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area of the state had last week given an order restraining Agada from parading himself as chairman of the party.

One Agaba Moses had secured the court order following the purported suspension of the state party chairman by his Ehaje council ward exco.

Ruling on the matter on Monday, the Chief Judge said that under order 39, rule 3 of the Benue State High Court procedure rules, 2023, the lifespan of an interim order is seven days, and since the order was issued on February 2nd, 2024, it has elapsed by law.

Justice Ikpambese also ruled that Justice Lillian Tsumba, who restrained Comrade Agada, did not have the jurisdiction to have given the Interim Order since the matter was not assigned to her by the Chief Judge nor the Superior Judge in Aliade (Justice Ibrahim Mohammed).

Justice Ikpambese further nullified the appointment of Benjamin Omakolo as Acting Chairman of the APC in Benue State and any other appointment made on February 2, 2024.

He accordingly struck out the motion seeking to set aside the interim order of February 2nd, 2024, as it has been overtaken by events.

The Chief Judge is to assign the matter to another judge, who will hear the matter on its merits.

yashau:


StatiSense

Nicepoker:
Una don finish? Oya tell us who advised Aina to kick his own aiming at the stands.

pandax:


That was not what Osimhen told Ekong. Go and re-watch the match, and pay attention to the SA bench just before Ekong took the first penalty kick, The SA goalkeeper coach told the SA goalkeeper to dive to his left using sign language, as Ekong has been known before the tournament to kick his penalty at the left. Osimhen saw that and informed Ekong not to go left, even during his 2nd penalty, the keeper went left as advised and Ekong went right.