Contempt: Appeal Court grants EFCC's Exparte Motion for Stay of Proceedings, fixes May 20 for hearing


The Court of Appeal has granted an exparte motion for stay of proceedings filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the contempt proceeding commenced by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede.

The Court of Appeal, presided over by Hon. Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole, consequently granted the EFCC's application to serve the processes in the Appeal by substituted means on the former Governor. The Court consequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to May 20, 2024.

The EFCC boss who was summoned to appear before the Kogi State High Court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for disobeying the Orders of the court, had appealed the Ruling of the trial Court and sought a stay of the proceeding of the Court.

The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out "some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained" by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.


Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that "the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

Justice Jamil's order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court
for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

FRN V. Ali Bello & 3 Ors: Court adjourns to May 27 for continuation of hearing


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 as to withdrawals from the said accounts.

The lodgements and withdrawals were said to have been made from between 2017 and 2022.

At the end of the Witness' testimony, Counsel to the 1st Defendant, Ali Bello (A. M. Aliyu SAN) prayed the Court for an adjournment to enable him cross examine the Witness. By agreement of Counsel, the matter was adjourned.

Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, SAN, appeared for the Prosecution.

Nureini Jimoh SAN appeared for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants.

Ali Bello and three others are facing trial on an alleged N3 billion fraud charge brought against them by the EFCC.

Media Trial: EFCC violated rights of Yahaya Bello's children - Kogi Youths----***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 psychologically for life.

"Children don't play politics. Children can't be punished for the sins of their parents even when such has been proven. Nobody deserves to be punished for a crime they know nothing about, not to talk of innocent children.

"Today's rally is the first in the series of actions we have laid out until justice is done in this matter. All these concerns will be presented to the National Human Rights Commission any moment from now for appropriate intervention especially to protect the rights of the innocent children who have been dragged into this political war by the EFCC."

He added, "As educated youths who are versed in the practice and procedures concerning the arrest, arraignment, and prosecution of an accused person, the due process of the law is sacrosanct and must be duly adhered to and complied with.

"Former Governor Yahaya Bello has not been shown any fairness, which is a cardinal principle of law. He has not been
served with the notice of charges against him, or arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction by the EFCC, but he has already been arraigned, tried, and convicted by the EFCC going by their utterances in the media and unnecessary display of executive drama."

Abdulrazak pointed out that the 1999 Constitution as Amended guarantees the innocence of an accused person until otherwise proven, but added that the EFCC, in the pursuit of its persecution of ex-Gov Bello, had thrown all caution to the wind and turned his botched arrest into a television and social media soap opera.

"This is being done to demonise him," he said.

The President of the Kogi Youths Association said, "We know that before an accused person is arraigned before a court for arraignment and trial, service of charges against him is usually the condition precedent, except where the accused person is on the run. Former Governor Yahaya Bello was not and has never been on the run. In fact, he has an active and running injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction that forbids EFCC from arresting him to which EFCC had appealed against in the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja until they recently withdrew it.

"It is the natural course of justice that once an appeal is pending before an appellate court, status quo ought to have been maintained until the appeal is determined, but EFCC in their zeal to prove that they were working as they ought to refused and neglected to obey the order of the court which constitutionally binds them and to which they as a matter of must, obey. But they in disobedience to competent court order disobeyed and laid siege to his house, thereby violating his right to privacy and other constitutionally guaranteed rights.

"We are also aware that before a Nigerian citizen is deprived of his property, both corporeal and incorporeal, an order of a court of competent jurisdiction must first be had and obtained.
In the instant case of Governor Yahaya Bello, EFCC, in their gestapo style, had forced the American International School to make a refund of nearly $800, 000(eight hundred thousand dollars) being the school fees of his children studying therein, which he paid in advance to avoid the inflation and fluctuations that go with Nigerian economy.

"This action of the EFCC has brought to and exposed the children to so much trauma and opprobrium because of the taunts and mockery they are being bombarded from their fellow classmates.

"We are in no way advocating against the trial of the former governor, and if found guilty, face the appropriate sanctions and punishments that go with it, but the anti corruption agency, which is the EFCC must as a matter of obedience to law, follow the procedures because any disobedience to our constitution and extant laws is a recipe for anarchy which is antithetical to
our constitutional democracy.

"We condemn in its entirety the involvement of those innocent children in whatever EFCC and the powers that be have against their parents. They should have never have been part of any witchunt by the Commission. Their actions against these children are in total violation of the Child's Rights Act of 2003."

Is Yahaya Bello the Sinner or the Sinned Against?

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 accompanying drama, is that Bello is a thief who must be stripped at the market square for maximum shame. But those who are more circumspect and critical in criminal procedures have faulted the approach of the EFCC.
Those who so believe, argue that the EFCC has breached the due process in an attempt to hastily humiliate the former governor, having pasted on him the tag of a crooked thief, without allowing the court to do so.

Perhaps it is in the fear that this may happen that the former governor had secured a court order forbidding the anti-graft agency from arresting or harassing him. But the EFCC in believing that Yahaya Bello has a case to answer, had appealed against that order. While the appeal is yet to be heard, the EFCC moved his men, in a gestapo fashion, to go for Bello’s jugular. This happened few days to the date the said appeal by the EFCC was due to be heard in the court.

So the question arises: why the haste to breach legal due process on the part of the EFCC, thus causing a needless social hoopla? If the anti-graft commission was so sure that it could do as it pleases, regardless of the provisions of the law, then why did it bother going to court to vacate the order stopping it from inviting, arresting or harassing Bello? Yes, nobody (including Yahaya Bello) is above the law, but is the EFCC above the law?

It is doubly tragic and ironical that the EFCC is currently being run and headed by Ola Olukoyede, a lawyer of over 22 years experience. So, which part of the law he read permits him to pre-empt the pronouncement of the court by deciding to do as he wants, regardless of constitutionally laid down procedure?

Indeed, even if the EFCC had a good case against Bello, the way and manner it has gone about it has despoiled the case fundamentally. And this prosecutorial incapacity is one reason the EFCC had lost many of its good cases in the past. Does the EFCC need to be schooled on the basic ethos of the law which pays great attention to, not what done, but how done?Little wonder that the EFCC has, on its own accord, now withdrawn the appeal against the court injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting Bello, allegedly on the grounds that events have overtaken the appeal. What events have overtaken it? A sham claim!

It is even more curious to know that the same EFCC Chairman is a Pastor. As a senior clergy man, his actions both in private and public appearances should, like Ceaser’s wife, be above board. But sadly, this outing of Pastor Olukoyede is shamefully dirtied by procedural impropriety, fueling suspicion that his actions are politically motivated. A case of the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau.

What is more? In all the back-and-forth of the matter, the EFCC has not been able to prove that it actually formally invited Bello for questioning over the pending allegations of money laundering. The closest to this was when the EFCC chairman, himself recently said he had put a call to Bello inviting him to his office for interrogation. No formal letter of invitation was ever sent to him. What if it is not true that Olukoyede is not telling the whole truth? It is certain that if the EFCC had formally invited Yahaya Bello, they would have long circulated the letter on the social media.

Did the EFCC not breach the process by suddenly sending its men to arrest Bello without formally inviting him for questioning? Even a suspected criminal, with bloody hands, is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. This is what the law prescribes. Mr Olukoyede should know this. Neither he nor the EFCC can be a judge in their own case. It is when this process is duly followed that prosecution is not seen as persecution.

Even if indeed, Bello is a sinner and has some questions to answer, the EFCC has turned him to a man more sinned against by seemingly bungling the prosecution procedure. Justice and the route to it must be freed from emotion, propaganda and media trial. Until the EFCC learns to follow due process, its actions and inactions will continue to smell political.

Its best antidote is strict adherence to the rule of law.The EFCC cannot resort to self-help by side-stepping the provisions of the law. It must show its committed adherence to legal and judicial due process in securing convictions of accused persons.


The EFCC had furthered its affront on propriety by demanding the refund of the so-called school fees paid by Bello for his children in an Abuja high-nitch school. The school allegedly refunded the said fees which were paid in dollars, out of the intimidation tendencies of EFCC. The EFCC has a case with Yahaya Bello, not the school. So, coercing the school to refund the fees paid is clear case of institutional bullying.

In all, the law in any society is put in place to shield the citizenry from any form of political or institutional thralldom and so the EFCC, no matter how important and needed its role(s) might be in getting the system to function effectively, must be seen to be doing the right things at the right time and in the right way. Anything short of that will be a perfect prescription for chaos and crisis.

Origbo is a lawyer and public affairs analyst

Yahaya Bello: EFCC Chairman’s conduct suggest vendetta, not fight against corruption - Concerned APC chieftains



Chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress have said that an unbiased assessment of the alleged media trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission goings showcases grounds for strong suspicion of vendetta.

The Stakeholders, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Friday said, while the public was being misled into the erroneous impression that the EFCC was trying to fight corruption, "it is actually just a pretense in furtherance of a personal vendetta on behalf of, and, at the behest of persons in government intent on the bastardisation of our institutions of state."

Lawyer and Head of the Tinubu Media Support Group, Barrister Jesutega Onokpasa, while addressing the press, on behalf of on behalf of Concerned Chieftains, Stalwarts of the APC, stated, "We, concerned Chieftains, Stalwarts and Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, find certain pertinent issues emanating from the matter between the former Governor of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to be quite unfortunate, most disturbing and totally unacceptable in a nation governed by laws.

"Indeed, an unbiased assessment of the goings on in this matter profusely showcase grounds for strong suspicion that while the public is being misled into the erroneous impression that the EFCC is trying to fight corruption, it is actually just a pretense in furtherance of a personal vendetta on behalf of, and, at the behest of persons in government intent on the bastardisation of our institutions of state.

"The EFCC Chairman, in a most bizarre and utterly absurd approach to law enforcement, confessed to having offered former Governor Yahaya Bello the option of passing through the backdoor of the commission's headquarters for preferential treatment in the Chairman's own office!

"By the way, this highly irregular and unorthodox offer was made not vide a proper invitation in the contemplation of law but through the most irregular route of a mere phone call, according to the EFCC Chairman.

"In the midst of this show of shame, the EFCC Chairman then proceeded to appoint himself a judge, jury and executioner by transferring a case the agency he heads had purportedly filed in court to the court of public opinion, clearly in the hope of whipping up public sentiments against former Governor Yahaya Bello and unleashing mob justice on him.

"We find it most unprofessional and quite shameful that a lawyer would so brazenly seek to pervert the course of justice by preferring to litigate a matter before the legal court of law in the illegal court of public opinion.

A citizen in the position of former Governor Yahaya Bello, especially not being a lawyer, would naturally be suspicious of the gamut of shenanigans that have been machinated against him thus far and be quite apprehensive that his traducers have something else in mind that is totally different from their quite laughable public position that they are fighting corruption.

"It has been said that 'if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back' but this is clearly a case of corruption pretending to be fighting corruption.

"In short, it is clear that those intent on harming former Governor Yahaya Bello are so full of themselves as to appropriate our institutions of state for self-aggrandizement and the prosecution of their personal agenda rather than upholding the rule of law.

"Far from being a cherished agency we can rely on to rid our nation of corruption, the EFCC has only succeeded in thoroughly embarrassing our nation before the international community.

"This entire affair has become a mainstream media as well as a social media sensation and it is all thanks to the EFCC bungling its absurd pretense of having a case against former Governor Yahaya Bello.

"Seldom have we witnessed a more bewildering absurdity as the conduct of the EFCC in this matter.

We must protect our institutions from abuse and our government from ridicule.

"We most certainly do not condone corruption and both individually and collectively oppose it in all its ramifications.

"But weaponising an agency of government into an instrument of intimidation and deviating from its mandate, even to the extent of giving the highly disturbing impression that it has decomposed into a willing tool in the hands of people in power for the purpose of hounding their political enemies is a most heinous form of corruption.

"Former Governor Yahaya Bello is most certainly not above the law but so also is the EFCC, any other agency of government and, even the government, itself, not above the law.

"The EFCC is certainly not fighting corruption in this instance.

You do not properly invite a man; you said you called him on the phone offering to smuggle him through the backdoor; you do not inform another court of coordinate jurisdiction that you have been restrained from arresting, arraigning or prosecuting him; you brazenly engage in forum shopping; you proceed in gestapo fashion to carry out an illegal arrest; you secretly file an appeal out of time; you then withdraw that appeal quietly only for news of that withdrawal to filter out days later; clearly realising you do not have a case, you proceed to tarnish the reputation of a citizen you claim to have a case to answer by calling a press conference most unbecoming of a lawyer, public official and government agency!

"You try to tarnish the reputation of a sitting Governor by accusing him of smuggling his predecessor from a private residence only for you to admit that you were actually the one who offered to smuggle him through the backdoor into your office at the headquarters of a government agency!

What a show of shame!

We fight corruption according to law and we subject any person of interest pertaining thereto to the due process of law in a court of law.

"Instructively, the party that has placed himself under the law and authority of the courts in this matter is former Governor Yahaya Bello, who has painstakingly and consistently followed the law.

"On the other hand, the EFCC, in its usual manner, has insisted on deploying patently unlawful and unbecoming approaches to this matter, indeed in a manner most contrary to the rule of law and one that is most unacceptably disrespectful to the Judiciary.

"The rule of law must always prevail because without the law, we would not have a society and without courts, we would not have a civilisation.

Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa,

For and Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

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 former Governor was to leave office.

Since the said press conference, receipts of payments of the said fees bearing the names of His Excellency’s Children and those of other family members, who separately paid their fees, have been flying all over the internet.

While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory statements, permit us to briefly state the following for the purpose of setting the records straight:

1. His Excellency, Yahaya Bello's children have attended the American International School, Abuja well before he became Governor and he has paid fees for his children as and when due and without fail.

2. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.

3. The payment of the fees was not effected at about the time his Excellency was to leave office as claimed by Mr. Olukoyede but same commenced in 2021.

3. Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government.

4. When the EFCC approached the American International School Abuja (AISA) to illegally recover funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCC’s unlawful acts to recover funds legitimately paid. The FCT High Court, in Suit No. FCT/HC/2574/2023 between: Mr. Ali Bello v. The Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, held that AISA could not lawfully and unilaterally refund to a third party, including the EFCC, fees paid by the parties to the suit.

The Court subsequently mandated AISA to continue to provide the services it had been paid with respect to the fees.

From the foregoing, it is clear that no money belonging to Alhaji Yahaya Bello or his family members with regard to school fees has been recovered by the EFCC.

5. Now, let it be known that, contrary to misleading narratives by the EFCC, all the documents published online i.e. receipts and letters, that the EFCC has released online, in furtherance of its unrelenting persecution of the former Governor, are documents filed by lawyers in the suit instituted on behalf of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and others who paid fees for their wards under the Advance Fee Payment Agreement with AISA.
Those documents, having been filed by his lawyers, are thus public documents, which shows that his Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has nothing to hide with regard to the payment of advance fees for his children. This unending harassment and persecution, even while in office, were among key reasons he sought to enforce his fundamental human rights.

6. We state that the payment of these fees and the legitimacy thereof is the subject matter of Charge No. FHC/CR/573/2022, filed by the EFCC since 15th December 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Charge is pending and the Court has yet to make any finding or convicted anyone in respect of the said sum.

7. It is imperative to remind Mr. Olukoyede, who is a Lawyer, that once parties have submitted a dispute to the Court, they are to shun all actions and statements that may prejudice the hearing of the matter or the mind of the Court.

8. Since the matter is sub judice, we say no more, we await the EFCC’s proof of the allegations in Court, which is the only venue where the proof of these allegations matter.

9. We thank Nigerians who have recognised the obvious desperation of the EFCC boss to convict the former Governor by all means in the Court of public opinion rather than in the law court, as personal vendetta, with the connivance of like minds, and not a fight against corruption.

10.We implore others who might have been misled by their shenanigans not to be fooled by mischievous narratives but to
follow the case through until justice is served.

11. Finally, our Principal, Yahaya Bello, doesn't visit law enforcement agencies "through the backdoor". He has insisted on following due process in line with the rule of law. No amount of blackmail will intimidate him.

Thank you.

Signed
Ohiare Michael
MEDIA OFFICE,
HE YAHAYA BELLO

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 former Governor was to leave office.

Since the said press conference, receipts of payments of the said fees bearing the names of His Excellency’s Children and those of other family members, who separately paid their fees, have been flying all over the internet.

While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory statements, permit us to briefly state the following for the purpose of setting the records straight:

1. His Excellency, Yahaya Bello's children have attended the American International School, Abuja well before he became Governor and he has paid fees for his children as and when due and without fail.

2. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not pay the sum of USD720,000 as alleged by the EFCC Chairman or USD840,000 as is being bandied about on the internet.

3. The payment of the fees was not effected at about the time his Excellency was to leave office as claimed by Mr. Olukoyede but same commenced in 2021.

3. Alhaji Yahaya Bello DID NOT pay the fees of his Children with monies from the Coffers of the Kogi State Government.

4. When the EFCC approached the American International School Abuja (AISA) to illegally recover funds legitimately paid by Alhaji Yahaya Bello and other family members, a member of the family challenged the EFCC’s unlawful acts to recover funds legitimately paid. The FCT High Court, in Suit No. FCT/HC/2574/2023 between: Mr. Ali Bello v. The Incorporated Trustees of American International School, Abuja, held that AISA could not lawfully and unilaterally refund to a third party, including the EFCC, fees paid by the parties to the suit.

The Court subsequently mandated AISA to continue to provide the services it had been paid with respect to the fees.

From the foregoing, it is clear that no money belonging to Alhaji Yahaya Bello or his family members with regard to school fees has been recovered by the EFCC.

5. Now, let it be known that, contrary to misleading narratives by the EFCC, all the documents published online i.e. receipts and letters, that the EFCC has released online, in furtherance of its unrelenting persecution of the former Governor, are documents filed by lawyers in the suit instituted on behalf of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and others who paid fees for their wards under the Advance Fee Payment Agreement with AISA.
Those documents, having been filed by his lawyers, are thus public documents, which shows that his Excellency, Yahaya Bello, has nothing to hide with regard to the payment of advance fees for his children. This unending harassment and persecution, even while in office, were among key reasons he sought to enforce his fundamental human rights.

6. We state that the payment of these fees and the legitimacy thereof is the subject matter of Charge No. FHC/CR/573/2022, filed by the EFCC since 15th December 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Charge is pending and the Court has yet to make any finding or convicted anyone in respect of the said sum.

7. It is imperative to remind Mr. Olukoyede, who is a Lawyer, that once parties have submitted a dispute to the Court, they are to shun all actions and statements that may prejudice the hearing of the matter or the mind of the Court.

8. Since the matter is sub judice, we say no more, we await the EFCC’s proof of the allegations in Court, which is the only venue where the proof of these allegations matter.

9. We thank Nigerians who have recognised the obvious desperation of the EFCC boss to convict the former Governor by all means in the Court of public opinion rather than in the law court, as personal vendetta, with the connivance of like minds, and not a fight against corruption.

10.We implore others who might have been misled by their shenanigans not to be fooled by mischievous narratives but to
follow the case through until justice is served.

11. Finally, our Principal, Yahaya Bello, doesn't visit law enforcement agencies "through the backdoor". He has insisted on following due process in line with the rule of law. No amount of blackmail will intimidate him.

Thank you.

Signed
Ohiare Michael
MEDIA OFFICE,
HE YAHAYA BELLO

RE: ‘YAHAYA BELLO: EFCC NEVER DISOBEYED COURT ORDER’

EFCC LIED AGAIN


Our attention has been drawn to a publication/press statement with the above title, issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, and signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its Acting Director of Public Affairs.

In the said statement, which the Commission carefully circulated widely as usual, Mr. Uwujaren, who we have to believe is not a lawyer, continues the EFCC's ongoing unconscionable lies against the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, by labelling him as a fugitive from justice in order to disingenuously justify their established and willful pattern of defying lawful court orders.

Contrary to Mr. Uwujaren's claims, official records and court documents relating to their hounding of Alhaji Yahaya Bello establish a clear timeline of events. These documents are endorsed with dates and times of filing and payments, which are endorsed on court processes - all of which testify to the true sequence of events.

For The Records, here is a summary of key events:

No Formal Invitation: The EFCC claims to have invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on January 27th, 2024. We challenge the EFCC to produce a copy of this invitation, including the delivery date and the recipient's name/endorsement. We are confident they cannot provide this simple evidence.

Preemptive Charge: Prior to any alleged invitation, the EFCC amended Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/22 on February 5th, 2023, to accuse Yahaya Bello of conspiring to convert over 80 Billion Naira of Kogi State funds in September 2015. This amendment listed Yahaya Bello as "still at large," demonstrating a clear intention to arrest him.

*Impossible Accusations: The alleged timelines provided by the EFCC for its phantasmagorical allegations of crime against Yahaya Bello predates his Inauguration as Governor of Kogi State on January 27th, 2016.

The second charge even attempts to correct the initial blunder and says the crime was committed in February 2016, less than a month after he became Governor! The total Kogi State budget in 2016 was significantly less than the sum alleged in the charges.

Seeking Protection Under The Law: To protect his reputation and fundamental rights, Alhaji Yahaya Bello filed Fundamental Rights Enforcement action Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 with the High Court of Justice, Kogi State on February 8th, 2024. Court records, even from the EFCC, all substantiate this.

Court-Ordered Restraint: The High Court granted an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting, or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello pending the determination of the Originating Motion. This order was served on the EFCC on February 12th, 2024.

EFCC's Disregard for the Law: Despite the order, the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocates Rotimi Oyedepo and J.S Okutepa, filed Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 against Yahaya Bello on March 6th, 2024, in violation of the order.

The EFCC's ‘Ex Parte Warrant’ Is Another False Narrative: Mr. Uwujaren falsely implies that the EFCC sought a warrant of arrest only after the Kogi State High Court ruling on April 17th, 2024. This ruling was at about 2pm. Records will show that the motion was filed at 8:24 am on April 17th, prior to the ruling. And Nigerians would testify to the fact that, at that time, EFCC agents had already laid siege on his residence, attempting his arrest. These are clear occurrences that cannot be denied.

EFCC - A Litany of Violations: The EFCC failed to present the warrant at Yahaya Bello's residence. The warrant itself is invalid, being obtained in defiance of a court order and based on misleading statements, as Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a defendant and not a fleeing suspect or a suspect, having been charged.

EFCC's Assault on Citizens’ Rights: The judgment of the High Court of Justice, Kogi State, on April 17th, 2024, highlights the EFCC's abuse of its statutory duties. We urge the public to denounce these unlawful transgressions until the EFCC undertakes a comprehensive reform of its practices.

In Conclusion: It is clear that the EFCC is engaged in a campaign of intimidation and harassment. Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not afraid of the EFCC. His demand is that the rule of law be respected.

Signed:
Ohiare Michael
MEDIA OFFICE
HE YAHAYA BELLO

23 April, 2024

Yahaya Bello: Lawyers storm Supreme Court, condemn EFCC’s alleged abuse of judicial process



No fewer than 500 legal practitioners from across the country, Monday, stormed the Supreme Court in condemnation of what they called the illegal approach of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) in handling its allegations against former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The lawyers, under the umbrella of judicial watchdogs, faulted the siege on the ex-Gov's residence, in a bid to arrest him, despite a valid court order to the contrary, which had not been vacated.

The lawyers also submitted a petition to the National Judicial Council and the President, calling their attention to the situation, which they said, must not be overlooked.

Co-Convener of Judicial Watchdogs, Barr Sylvanus K. Alewu, said not only has Bello’s fundamental rights been breached, but that the judiciary had also become willing tools in the hands of enemies of Nigeria's rule of law.

The lawyers, therefore, urged the NJC and President Bola Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in order to stop further abuse and disobedience of court orders.

“It has become pertinent again that we address well-meaning Nigerians on the current attacks on the Judiciary by the very institutions created by law to enforce and guarantee the sanctity of our judicial processes.

“As young lawyers, we envisage a judiciary where justice is not only done but also seen to be manifestly done. It is in our patriotic quest to always pursue ventures that guarantee an independent judiciary that dispenses justice without fear nor Favour that we formed this civil society of lawyer

We are therefore perturbed that desperate politicians and corrupt elements in our polity are working very assiduously to bring the judiciary that sacrificed its all to guard its jurisdiction jealously under the military regime to public odium and opprobrium.

“It is more worrisome that even the very institutions that are created by law to enforce our laws have become willing tools in the hands of enemies of our rule of law and the judiciary to harangue our judges and bring the justice system to public ridicule.

The current case between the EFCC and Gov. Yahaya is the most heinous of such instances. It is sickening that the commission will move to lay siege and even attempt to arrest the former governor of Kogi state despite being served a valid court order that restrains them from doing so and without vacating the said order.

“The events of the past few days is capable of eroding the many gains and national acclaim the commission recorded and enjoys from majority of Nigerians who see the establishment of the commission as the greatest intervention to the endemic corruption that has rocked our public service and government institutions since the return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999.

“The only succour is that the current president of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a leader who gave his all to sustain our democracy. The president, at a point, became a victim of political with-hunt.

“We have submitted petitions to the Nigerian Judicial Council and Mr. President asking that they use their good offices to call the EFCC to order and stop any form of abuse and disobedience of court orders,“ he said.

Milan Industries claims N850 billion damages against AMCON…Over wrongful sale of Intercontinental Hotels





The Milan Industries Ltd, owners of Intercontinental Hotels, Lagos has filed Eight Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira (N850,000,000,000.00) damages claim against Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) over wrongful sale of Intercontinental Hotels Lagos.





The firm had earlier filed a suit against AMCON and Polaris Bank challenging the sale of the hotel over Milan’s alleged indebtedness to Polaris, following a banking relationship between them. AMCON allegedly acquired Milan’s alleged indebtedness from Polaris, and in a bid to recover the alleged debt, purportedly sold Intercontinental Hotels – the security for the loan, to a third party. However, in December 2022, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, set aside the sale of Intercontinental Hotels Limited, by AMCON as being unlawful.


The claim is contained in a suit against AMCON at the Federal High Court Lagos in which Milan Industries is claiming that as a result of the unlawful sale and takeover of its hotel, it has suffered an estimated loss of more than Eight Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira (N850,000,000,000.00 ), which sum, it is now seeking from AMCON as damages in court.


The firm in its statement of claim, said “despite lodging an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, AMCON in clear abuse of court process, is also attempting to recover the unsecured part of the debt, which it estimates to be Forty Billion Two Naira (N42,000,000,000.00 ). Remarkably, at the time the hotel was sold to the third party, it was valued at Eighty-five Billion Naira (N85,000,000,000.00) whereas Milan’s indebtedness stood at Fifteen Billion Naira (N15,000,000,000.00) only, at most.”


According Milan Industries, “To date, AMCON and Polaris have not informed Milan how much the hotel was purportedly sold for, and whether as a result, the debt is fully liquidated or not. The directors of Milan Industries Limited are vigorously contesting the bankruptcy proceeding commenced against them by AMCON.”


As a result, the directors of Milan Industries have already instructed the law firms of Prof A. B. Kasunmu L.P, Ahmed Raji & Co., and A. B. Sulu Gambari & Co. to represent them in court.


“The bankruptcy proceeding is a grand design by AMCON to divert attention from the monumental damages they have inflicted on Milan Industries Limited which they, along with Polaris, must surely pay for”, the firm stated in its statement.

. Say 'rush to arrest ex-Kogi Gov despite pending Appeal Court hearing suggests political persecution'


. Warn against 'breaking a law to enforce another'



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 political persecution.

“Mr. Olukoyede is my friend. But if he begins to trample on the rule of law, then that’s the terminal point of our friendship,” Adeniran said.

The CSOs noted that the EFCC's action on Wednesday was "tantamount to the agency preempting the outcome of its appeal and also violating a subsisting and valid court order to pause action pending the determination of the case before it."

"Our layman's understanding is that a Court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot assume superiority over another," they noted.

Gbenga Soloki of the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence, who also spoke, said civil societies in Nigeria would protest vehemently against any attempt to use the military to arrest an individual who had not been accused of treason.

“It is extremely disappointing to hear this afternoon that EFCC is threatening to involve the military in their desperation to forcefully or violently arrest an individual who has not been alleged of treason.

"Should that happen, we will be a laughing stock globally. Civil society will be active in protesting against such unforgivable infraction on our democracy should it happen as threatened. It should better not happen,” he said.

Adeniran stated, "We do not consider Yahaya Bello a saint, but even the devil deserves his rights under the law. Court documents at our disposal show that the former Governor had obtained a High Court restraining order on the EFCC not to arrest or prosecute him pending the determination of a case of the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, which the Commission has rightfully appealed with the intention of vacating.

“The Commission has done very well up to this point following the due processes of law because without vacating that order, it cannot proceed with arresting the suspect.

“According to available court documents, hearing on the appeal has been slated to come up on Monday April 22nd in Abuja. However, suddenly yesterday (Wednesday) the news of the foiled arrest of the former Governor by the Commission went viral. One would have expected the Commission to wait for the determination of its own appeal before going after the suspect.

“We think it is an abuse of court processes to ignore a court order still on appeal at the instance of the Commission and to obtain a warrant of arrest from another court on the same suspect."

The CSOs urged the EFCC to fight, prevent and prosecute corruption cases strictly within the ambit of the law set up to regulate the interaction between them and corruption suspects.

They noted that laws, including the Nigerian criminal justice system regulations and court processes, were meant to be obeyed non-selectively by both state and non-state actors.

The CSOs recalled that when the current Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, came on board last year, one of his promises was to operate strictly within the rule of law.

“For those who are likely to misinterpret this intervention as it is their regular trademark, this goes beyond Yahaya Bello. Injustice to anyone should not be allowed to stand because it may be your turn tomorrow,” they noted.

The activists therefore urged the EFCC to revert to status quo antebellum pending the determination of its appeal and a vacation of the restraining order placed on it, saying “that is the way and dictate of the law.”

The press conference was attended by Comrades Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership CACOL); Sina Loremikan, (Campaign Against Impunity); Declan Ihekhaire, (Activists for Good Governance); Gbenga Soloki, CADOV; Ochiaga Ohaneze, (Ohaneze Youth Council); Funmi Jolade, (Women Democratic Vanguard); Kola Abe, (Centre for Socioeconomic Rights); Ologun Ayodeji, (Transparency and Accountability Group); Femi Lawson, (Centre for Public Accountability) and Gbenga Ganzallo (Media Rights Campaign), among others.

Ex-Kogi Gov: CSOs, activists caution EFCC against misrepresenting Nigeria as lawless society

. Urge Tinubu to call Commission's boss to order over disregard for rule of law

. Say 'EFCC deserves to face full weight of judicial retribution'


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 strongest threats to democracy is "when the rule of law is compromised in the service of crude politicking and personal score-settling plus other dark interests."

The Convener, Barrister Ojo Olukayode, who addressed the press, alerted President Tinubu on why he and his genuine supporters "must take exceptional care not to fall victim of the shenanigans of crude politicians whose main objective is to derail his beautiful Renewed Hope agenda with their desperate plots to turn the President into a proxy to fight their dirty political war."

He said it was important to advise the EFCC not to make itself susceptible to any action that might be deemed as violating the sanctity of the judiciary.

"They must ignore the antics of all those who are urging them to commit contempt of Court through disregarding an outstanding Court order against the arrest and prosecution of former Governor Yahaya Bello or any of his aides, pending the determination of the case in court in that regard as instituted by the lawyers of the former Governor," he added.

The activists stated, "The Commision must deliberately avoid the temptation of falling under the pressure of disgruntled political elements by breaking the law in their actions to uphold the law. All of those concerned must follow the due processes of law by abiding by subsisting Court orders.

"We do sincerely hope that the EFCC, as a law-abiding agency, would see through the poorly veiled ignoble actions of those undesirable political elements and refuse to act illegally. But our optimism may be short-lived as, in vagrant disregard to that Court order which the Commission has appealed and pending for hearing on Monday 22nd April, the EFCC may be in the process of effecting the illegal arrest of the former Governor.

"If this happens, 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."

The CSOs called on the President to ignore and rebuff all attempts by political jobbers to influence him to move against one of his most dependable allies.

"Their voices of blackmail and wicked, false allegations may be loud, but truth remains constant and justice shall prevail ultimately. As Nigerians, we cannot allow hatred and injustice to win," they declared.

The Coalition for Democracy and Justice is a Committee of activists and Civil Society Organizations that concern themselves with issues of justice as they affect individuals, organizations and corporate entities as well as maintaining vigilance to forestall anything that may threaten our democracy as a nation.

Renowned prophet, Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere a.k.a Odumeje has sparked online controversy after sending a stern warning to famed performer Poco Lee.

It should be noted that the controversial preacher is now in London for a concert at the Lighthouse Theatre.


He took out time to write a note to Poco Lee, the dancer and hypeman.

In a video, he declared, with a wagging finger, that he is coming after Poco Lee.

Watch him below;

According to latest report trending in the media space, Nigerian actor Junior Pope Odonwodo who was briefly resuscitated has now been confirmed dead by doctors.

Producer Stanley Nwoke who had been with the actor throughout the aftermath of the incident revealed that the doctors had made the confirmation.

He took to his Instagram page to share the news, saying that there was no....https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/10/breaking-actor-junior-pope-confirmed-dead-video/

Actress Uchenna Nnanna has stated that her colleague Junior Pope is still alive.

Reports that the actor died in a boat accident circulated on the internet on Wednesday.

Hours later, some media reports claimed that the actor was resuscitated and has been taken to the...https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/10/breaking-actor-junior-pope-revived-few-hours-after-he-was-declared-dead-video/

The Genius Media Nigeria reports that real cause of Junior Pope's Death has emerged.

TGM earlier reported that Nollywood actor, Junior Pope Odonwodo popularly called, Jnr Pope died few minutes ago

The actor died this afternoon, while filing in....https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/10/rip-real-cause-of-junior-pope-odonwodos-death-revealed/

Actor Junior Pope Odonwodo has died.
According to reports, four actors including Junior Pope fell into Anam River in Anambra State, on their way to a movie location and their bodies have been recovered.

The actor had earlier shared a video of himself and others on a boat, on their way to the movie....https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/10/breaking-nollywood-actor-junior-pope-is-dead-videos-photo/

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; Alex Iziyon, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, who appeared for INEC, governor and APC, respectively, argued that the petitioners did not list the name of the witness in their proof of evidence and that the witness statement on oath was not front-loaded alongside the petition.

They also contended that the petitioners served the reports of the witness' analysis on them 20 minutes before the commencement of the proceedings.

But Okutepa insisted that the forensic expert was listed on Page 56 of the petition as item 10, adding that his statement was also front-loaded.

He, however, admitted that the report was served on the respondents a few minutes to the proceedings.

The lawyer, therefore, prayed the tribunal to allow him lead Udoh in evidence and stand down the matter for 30 minutes for the respondents to study the report.

Udoh, who described himself as a digital forensic expert living in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, begged the tribunal to allow him amend Paragraph 7, Line 3 of his statement on oath, which he submitted on January 12 2024, before adopting it.

"The particular words that I used were not proper. I said, 'There was some very suspicious software.' I apply to change it to 'there was no suspicious software used,'" he prayed.

But Agabi, Iziyon and Ukala disagreed with Udoh's oral application.

"If this kind of amendment is permissible, then there is no kind of amendment that cannot be permissible," Agabi said.

The judge asked them to reserve their objections for their final written addresses.

Iziyon and Ukala, who backed Agabi's submission, agreed to raise the objection at the appropriate time.

While giving evidence, Udoh said he had 12 certificates in support of his qualifications.

And when Okutepa sought to tender the certificates of the witness as exhibits, the respondents' lawyers objected.

They queried why the counsel only sought to tender photocopies of the certificates without supporting the documents with the originals.

The witness responded that he forgot to come with the original certificates.

"The originals were mistakenly left in my office in Port Harcourt but I have them," Udoh said.

Although the tribunal refused to admit the photocopies, the petitioners' lawyer pleaded, insisting that the certificates were personal documents and that they could be admitted.

Justice Birnin-Kudu admitted the documents and urged the counsel for the respondents to reserve their objections till the final address.

While being cross-examined, the witness was asked if he was the only one that worked on the report, and he said eight other experts worked on it with him.

His attention was drawn to the fact that he did not signify the names of these experts in the report and that their signatures were not also included.

Udoh responded that his name and signature were on the report because he was the team leader.

"Eight of us conducted the analysis. As digital forensic experts, our qualifications are identical.

"I signed the report as the team lead. The reason I did not include their name is because I was the team lead," he said.

The witness was also asked if he knew the meaning of BVAS Machine and what it contained. He said they were supposed to contain information on accredited voters and registered voters and any other information.

The Respondents' counsel asked if such information included Form EC8A and he said yes, it might include it.

The respondents' lawyer then asked if all the snap shots of BVAS Machine that were included in his report contained Form EC8A.

Udoh said the snap shots were only for accredited voters and registered voters.

The INEC guideline provides what BVAS should contain and Form EC8A is one of it.

When asked if he examined the ballot papers and if his findings on the ballot papers were contained in his report, he said no.

He, however, confirmed that INEC gave him the voters register but that he could not remember the number given to him.

A major discrepancy observed during the hearing was that figures reflected in the witness' report conflicted with the figures contained in SDP's petition.

But he said he did not depend on the petition to write his report.

The witness, who was said to have used a word, dactylography, in his report was asked if he knew the meaning, he said yes, that he was an expert in finger print.

His attention was then brought to his CV, as tendered, which did not mention that.

When asked if he knew that there was a certificate for experts in dactylography, he said he didn't know.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reportedly arrested popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky.

Bobrisky was arrested at Pinnock Estate of Lagos State earlier today 3rd of...https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/03/breaking-hours-after-verydarkmans-uproar-efcc-reportedly-arrests-bobrisky/

BREAKING: Hours After #VeryDarkMan’s Uproar, #EFCC Reportedly Arrests #Bobrisky----The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reportedly arrested popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky.

Bobrisky was arrested at Pinnock Estate of Lagos State earlier today 3rd of......https://www.thegeniusmedia.com.ng/2024/04/03/breaking-hours-after-verydarkmans-uproar-efcc-reportedly-arrests-bobrisky/

Kogi: My lawyer's name is 'my lawyer', witness tells Tribunal, says 'I spoke to him in vernacular'


. I forgot to say I was SDP agent in my deposition - Witness



Hearing continued at the Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday with four witnesses testifying for the petitioners, the Social Democratic Party.

The witnesses' accounts, like in previous sittings, followed virtually the same patterns even when they voted in different polling units.

Visible contradictions were also discovered during cross-examination, which, in most cases, could not be explained by the witnesses concerned.

While one of the four witnesses, Danlamin Abaji Yakubu, from Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, claimed that he was an agent of the SDP during the election, others said they were not agents.

Yakubu, who said he was a member of the SDP, a voter and the Party's agent during the election, however, noted, under cross-examination, that he had lost everything that could prove that he was an agent.

When asked if he stated in his deposition that he was an agent in the election, he told the Tribunal that he forgot to say so.

He also admitted that he did not write his deposition but explained to his lawyer, who he said wrote it for him.

When his attention was also brought to the fact that in Paragraph 4 of his deposition, he did not indicate the total number of accredited voters, he said it was a mistake by the typist.

The Respondents' counsel asked him to state the number he meant to write if it was a mistake. But he said, "I don't know the number."

In his deposition, he indicated that the number of registered voters in his polling unit was 771, but when he was asked to confirm the number, he said, "I did not indicate that I voted in my deposition."

This was amusing because his answer did not tally with the question he was asked.

Another witness, Abdulkareem Muhammed Ogeja, also from Ajaokuta, created room for a mild drama under cross-examination.

He said though he was a member of the SDP, he did not state in his deposition that he was a member of the party.

But he confirmed that he was not the party's agent during the election and that the SDP had an agent at his polling unit.

The Respondent's counsel asked, "Are you surprised that the SDP agent did not complain and you were the only one that complained? He said, "I'm not surprised."

The interesting part of his appearance was when he was asked if he wrote the deposition by himself and he said his lawyer did after he explained what happened to him.

When he was told to mention the name of his lawyer, the witness said, "His name is my lawyer."

The Respondents' lawyer then asked him, "Which language did you use to communicate with your lawyer?" Ogeja said he communicated with his lawyer "in vernacular".

Investigations, however, revealed that there was no illiterate jurat in his deposition as required.

He also noted that he did not know the number of registered voters in his polling unit and that he did not also receive any paper indicating the number on the day of election, whereas he was said to have quoted the figures in his deposition.

On his part, Emmanuel Ohiare, from Okehi Local Government Area, said he was not a member of the SDP neither was he an agent but noted that the party had an agent at his polling unit.

It was therefore an issue of concern that the SDP agent did not complain of irregularities but a random voter.

He also admitted, under cross-examination, that the election went on smoothly and proper procedures were followed, noting that voters were validly accredited. But he maintained that there was over-voting even though it was observed that he could not substantiate this during cross-examination.

He told the Tribunal that his lawyer prepared the deposition for him but did not know the name of his lawyer.

The judge observed that the witness, Ohiare, was being evasive during cross-examination.

Abdullahi Musa, from Ajaokuta Local Government Area, said he was not at his polling unit as the agent and did not know whether the SDP had an agent.

He told the Tribunal that proper procedures were not followed, but during cross-examination, he was confronted with Paragraph 5 of his deposition, where he had said that the procedures were properly followed.

He indicated there that there was voters' accreditation and that he was fully accredited.

Another interesting twist to his claims was that he had made reference to a particular Form EC40H(1)PWD in his deposition. But when asked, during cross-examination if he knew the said form, he said no.

When the witness' attention was drawn to Paragraph 5(F) of his deposition, which contained the Form EC40(1)PWD, and the fact that his response meant that the statement in that paragraph was not correct, he said, "I know."

Sitting was subsequently adjourned to April 4, 2024 for continuation of hearing.

Four witnesses had testified on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and they all confirmed that they were voters and not party agents.

One of the witnesses, Abdulsalam Adamson, from Okehi Local Government, had said no one threatened him not to testify in court, contrary to claims that the SDP witnesses were being threatened.

Others that testified on Tuesday were Salawudeen Abdulraheem, Adavi Local Government;
Abdulazeez Abdulkareem, Okehi Local Government; and Raji Usman, also from Okehi.

The lead counsel for the petitioners at the hearing on Wednesday was Pius Akubo, SAN.

Kanu Agabi SAN represented the Independent National Electoral Commission,
A.M. Aliu SAN, appeared for Governor Usman Ododo, while
E.C. Ukala SAN, represented the All Progressives Congress.

On Tuesday, Alex Iziyon SAN appeared for Governor Ododo.

The SDP is challenging the victory of Gov. Ododo of the APC in the November 2023 Governorship election in the state.

A fresh round of squabbles is currently rocking the board of First Bank of Nigeria, a development shareholders fear poses major threat to the bid by the first generation financial institution to strengthen its capital base in line with the recent directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria to all banks operating in the country to recapitalize.

The current crisis rocking the bank stems from protests by shareholders who are kicking against the bank’s internal governance and shareholding structure, as a result of which some of them have taken their grievances to the court. One of such is the case of Olusegun Samuel Onagoruwa v. FBN Holdings Plc in Suit No. FHC/L/CP/1271/2022), which is challenging the capacity of the Board of Directors of FBN to appoint new persons to fill vacant slots.

Onagoruwa in his suit is seeking “an order setting aside, nullifying, annulling and/or quashing the appointments and approvals of Mr. Olusola Adeeyo, Mr. Viswanathan Shankar, Mrs. Remilekun Adetola, Mr. Anil Dua and Mrs. Fatima Ibrahim as Non-Executive Directors of First Bank of Nigeria Limited made on the 20th day of March, 2024, by FBN Holdings Plc during the pendency of this action and in defiance of the subsisting order of this Honourable Court made on the 15th day of July, 2022.”

The motion also seeks an order restraining the above-named non-executive directors from acting or taking any steps as non-executive directors of the bank.

The current court case follows similar four other cases pending at the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja challenging the internal governance of FBN Limited, in addition to existing court injunctions restraining the bank from holding the last two Annual General Meetings which the bank went ahead to hold.

According to one of the workers union leaders in the bank, “as the tenure of the imposed directors is expiring, the same illegitimate Management of FBN, whose legitimacy is being challenged, has gone further, during the pendency of the cases challenging their competence to lead the bank, to arbitrarily appoint further five independent directors. Where they derived the power from remains a mystery.

“Mismanagement and manipulation of shares are also being alleged in some of the cases pending against the bank while the legality of the AGMs and the imposed board of directors remain a challenge.” The union leader expressed the fear that the spate of litigations and board squabbles currently rocking the bank may bring a quick collapse of the over 100-year- old bank.

Also speaking on the development, a shareholder, Mr. Olalekan Babalola, said “it is imperative for the authorities to find a solution to this lingering crisis as Nigeria cannot afford another major bank’s collapse at this critical time when President Bola Tinubu is working hard to revamp the nation’s crumbling economy. This is because the current crisis will definitely impede the bank from getting the new Central Bank’s capitilisation threshold.”

He called for urgent resolution of all court cases in the overall interest of depositors, shareholders and other stakeholders of the bank before further damage is done to the oldest Nigerian bank.

Warn 'desperate' politicians to stop portraying image of State in bad light


Youths from Kogi State, on Tuesday, declared that they had decided not to fold their arms and allow those they described as desperate politicians continue to drag the name of an otherwise great state in the mud.

The youths, from the three senatorial districts of the state, under the aegis of Kogi Independent Youths Association, particularly cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to be wary of politicians who they said meant no good for Kogi State but were out to use the Commission to achieve selfish objectives detrimental to the wellbeing and unity the state had enjoyed in the past years.

They made these remarks after an emergency leadership meeting, in Abuja, insisting that, as critical stakeholders, they had decided not to keep quiet but to warn all embittered politicians in the state to stop portraying its image in a bad light before the whole world.

Comrade Mohammed Abdulrazaq, from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, who spoke on behalf of the youths, stressed that they would not allow "embittered politicians" to turn Kogi State into an ethnic enclave of crisis and would employ every legal means to protect the integrity of the state.

The youths, however, said they were confident that the current leadership of the EFCC would not fall for the antics of the said politicians and would also not allow themselves to be used as a tool to achieve the selfish interests of a few embittered people.

The Kogi Independent Youths Association is made up of about 500 registered members, mainly graduates, with thousands of nominal members and supporters across all the 21 local government areas of the state.

Abdulrazaq said, "We will not wait to gather money for a proper press conference because this is a very important issue. We believe we must use every means at our disposal to speak up, defend the truth, expose the real enemies of Kogi State and warn them to change their ways.

"We are here to caution the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to advise them that they must be wary of those individuals whose intentions are not noble and who are out there to use the Commission as a tool to fight their political battles.

"There are some desperate Kogi politicians who are hell bent on using the EFCC to fight and achieve their selfish political interests and we, as youths of Kogi State, we must not keep quiet because an injury to one is an injury to all."

In between solidarity songs, the youths stated, "We must not keep quiet on this for a man who has done well for Kogi State. We know and they know that the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has done well in the area of infrastructure. We know and they know that the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has done well in the area of youth empowerment, youth inclusion and women inclusion in politics as far as Kogi State is concerned.

"We know and they know that former Governor Yahaya Bello has done well in the area of education, also lifting the face of our institutions in Kogi State. And when he needs a rest now, after serving Kogi State diligently for eight years, we cannot pay him back with this bad coin.

"This is why we are here today to condemn some Kogi State politicians, desperate Kogi State politicians, embittered Kogi State politicians, who feel they can divide the state along ethnic lines. We are saying Kogi State is one and we are one united people. We will not allow them to turn Kogi State into an ethnic enclave of crisis.

"We must stand as youths to fight against this. We are critical stakeholders in the present and future of Kogi State. We are not just leaders of tomorrow but the champions of the change today that is critical to the development process. Of course, if our leaders in the state are quiet on this, we will not remain quiet.

"So we are cautioning and warning all the embittered politicians of Kogi State to stop portraying the image of Kogi State in a bad light in the face of the whole world. Kogi State is not like that and we must also ensure that we maintain the name and integrity of our dear state."

"If all our demands fall on deaf ears, we will be left with no option than to utilise all legal means to drive home our demands," they declared.

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, stated in his deposition that there was no validly accredited voter for the said election.


Upon cross examination, however, he said he was validly accredited to vote and he voted.


When his attention was drawn to his witness deposition on oath, which said there was no validly accredited voter for the election that he witnessed, he denied the deposition, saying he did not write it.


Another witness, Yakubu AbdulAzeez, said he stood at a particular point throughout the voting period on election day observing the proceedings, and that it was from that point he saw that there was over-voting.


AbdulAzeez, who said he stood watching the voting process, however, could not stand during the tribunal hearing.


He told the panel that he had been suffering from a leg problem since 2008 and the panel directed that he should be given a seat.


Claiming that he stood for hours in a spot to monitor an election that took place in November 2023 thus became an issue of concern.


On his part, Hamza Abdul Azeez said he wrote a letter of complaint to the tribunal that there was over-voting.


But when asked how many votes each political party actually scored in his polling unit, he said he did not know.


The witnesses said their lawyers wrote their depositions for them, but added that they couldn’t remember the names of the lawyers.


The tribunal adjourned the matter until April 2 after Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, sought an adjournment.


While Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ibrahim Sani Muhammed, SAN, appeared for Governor Usman Ododo, and AbdulWahab Muhammed ,SAN, represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the sitting.


The witnesses who testified on Monday were Hamza Abdul Azeez, Said Muhammed, Yakubu Abdul Azeez and Rufai Muhammed, all from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.


It would be recalled that the SDP is challenging the victory of Governor Usman Ododo of the APC in the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

Kogi Govt Accuses SDP of stage-managing attack because its petition is suffering irreversible setback 





The Kogi State Government has debunked what it described as a headless allegation by the Social Democratic Party that it masterminded attacks on witnesses at the ongoing Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, saying the allegation was not only reckless, but stands logic on its head.


The state government said, contrary to the propaganda of the SDP, discerning members of the public were following the Tribunal case and would know that there was no way anyone would plot an attack against witnesses that were already testifying against those who paid them to testify and doing enough to make SDP lose woefully.


The Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was, however, important to enlighten the SDP that the case at the Tribunal was between parties and that the State Government, which it accused, was not one. 


Fanwo, who spoke at a press conference in Lokoja, on Saturday, noted that if any attack did happen as claimed by the SDP, "it must have been stage-managed by the SDP to justify their failure to produce the number of witnesses they claimed to have in line with their modus operandi as witnessed during the campaign."


"Why would anyone attempt or even attack a witness that has testified against those that paid him to witness for them? The discerning public is following the tribunal case and understands there is no need to attack witnesses that are doing enough to make SDP lose woefully in the law court," he said.


The state government noted that it was absurd and incomprehensible for the SDP to continue to exhibit anti-democratic tendencies and provoke the sensibility of the people in such a reckless manner, adding that "if they are so confident in their incompetent petition, why resort to self help?" 


"As a legitimate Government, we won't be soiled in the oil of subjudice that the SDP has engaged in with impunity. We will protect all the people and residents of the State and also protect our integrity and image," the Commissioner stated.


He said, "We wouldn't have bothered to respond to the barking of the SDP and its leadership as the State Government is busy with governance; but it is important to set the record straight and address the minds of the public to the tradition of lies by the SDP. 


"The Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo, the democratically elected Governor of the State, will be undaunted in its resolve to serve the people of the State rather than be entangled in the propaganda festival by a jobless and idle party."


According to him, the Kogi State Government is unwavering in its stance on security and constitutionalism as the basic minimum in ensuring a peaceful and secured state.


The Commissioner added that it was the responsibility of the Government to protect all citizens, irrespective of their political or religious persuasions. 


"To this end, the State Government did not receive any report of politically stirred crisis and therefore surprised at the blatant, false, spurious and pedestrian claims by the Social Democratic Party in the party's usual way of whipping up sentiments and spreading falsehood to win public sympathy," he said.


The state government stated, "It is clear that SDP's petition is suffering an irreversible setback at the Tribunal as the comedians they presented as witnesses probably didn't rehearse their lines well or they are falling because their claims have their foundation in fiction. It will be unacceptable for them to vent their impending failure on the State Government that is doing all it can to provide security for all in the State.

 

"The Kogi State Government doesn't subscribe to violence and actions that breach the peace of the State. We will also not accept statements deliberately made to incite the people against the Government and possibly spark panic. The SDP must always be prepared for the consequences of their actions and utterances against the Kogi State Government or its officials. 


"The illogic of the SDP's claims is characteristic of a party that is desperately making efforts to hug the limelight through propaganda. 


"The Governor of Kogi State is a law abiding gentleman who is working hard to consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past administration. He promised to protect all Kogites irrespective of their political and religious beliefs. His commitment to fulfilling such promises is iron cast and unimpeachable. 


"For the National Chairman of the SDP to make false claims against the Kogi State Government before gentlemen of the Press is further proof of the party's irrelevance and the reason the party is not controlling any state in the Federation. Kogi State cannot be a podium for the SDP to test its songs of division, ethnic bigotry and violence. 


"We urge the people of the State to go about their normal businesses as there won't be any chance for anyone to attack any Kogite. No stone will be left unturned to ensure peace and security in the State."

Kogi Tribunal: Confusion as SDP witness contradicts self on alleged 'affidavit forgery'

.Renders testimony baseless


The testimony of a witness of the Social Democratic Party at the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Kogi State governorship election went awry, on Thursday as the witness' statement before the Tribunal contradicted the documents submitted.

The petitioners had delved away from BVAS, after their star witness claimed he was not in Kogi State during the said election, and alleged that the All Progressives Congress candidate, now the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, forged his age declaration affidavit.

The witness, one Dan Musa Williams from the FCT High Court, in Abuja, who had said the document did not emanate from the Court, upon cross examination, could not substantiate his claims.

When asked whether he checked the record of the registry to ascertain that it was a forged document, he said he just looked at the date, being a Saturday and concluded that it could not have been from them.

It was, however, found that the "declaration of age" affidavit was sworn in Okene, Kogi State, and not in FCT, but the witness claimed that a lawyer forwarded the one he was talking about to him.

Confusion, however, set in when the witness claimed that he also concluded that the affidavit submitted by the APC candidate was fake because it did not have the name and picture of the deponent on it.

At this point, the attention of the SDP witness was drawn to the fact that the affidavit with INEC, which he also annexed, had both the picture of the deponent and name, and that it was sworn in Okene and not FCT.

The contradictions between what the witness said in court and the documents he (the same witness) presented to the court, seemed to have damaged his testimony beyond repair, as he could not give further defence after the discrepancies were pointed out.

Sitting was thereby adjourned to March 30, 2024 for continuation of hearing.

Pius Akubo, SAN, represented the petitioners, while Kanu Agabi SAN, JB Daudu SAN, and DC Denwigwe SAN represented the Respondents.

. Says I didn't operate BVAS machines during election

The star witness of the Social Democratic Party and its candidate in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, in a dramatic twist, on Monday, told the Election Petition Tribunal that he was not in Kogi State on the day of the election.

The star witness, who is a data analyst with the Independent National Electoral Commission, said this as he completed his Evidence-In-Chief and was cross-examined after 11 long days of his testimony before the Tribunal.

The witness, Abdulmalik Njidda, had earlier testified to events that took place during the election in Kogi State, with regard to entries on the BVAS machines used for the election in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, Ogori Magongo and Lokoja Local Government Areas of the State.

However, drama ensued when, during cross examination by Counsel to the Governor of Kogi State, the APC and INEC, he turned around to say he was nowhere near Kogi State on the day of the election.

The INEC data analyst confirmed that he was posted to Imo State for the Governorship election, which held on the same day the election in Kogi State was held.

Specifically, the witness admitted that he was never at any of the polling units complained about on election day and in respect of whose BVAS machines he examined before theTribunal.

He said he was therefore not in a position to know or show how the BVAS machines were operated at those polling units.

In his further testimony under cross examination, the witness also admitted that as an INEC data analyst, he was never assigned any function on the day of the election in Kogi State, meaning that he had no reason to operate the BVAS machines he was brought to Court to prove its contents.

When further cross examined on the serial number of the BVAS machines that he was called to demonstrate in Court, the INEC data analyst said he did not know the serial number of the machines, adding that the BVAS machines he demonstrated in Court were not the entirety of the BVAS machines used for the election in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, Ogori Magongo and Lokoja Local Government Areas of Kogi State.

The witness could, however, visibly be seen trying to evade some of the questions put to him by the team of defence lawyers.

Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN represented INEC; Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, represented Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and E.C. Ukala, SAN, represented APC.

In summary, the witness said he had no business with the election that took place in Kogi State, that it was the duty of the Presiding Officers to operate BVAS machines at any polling unit; to have the picture of Form EC8A on the respective BVAS used in their polling units and to transmit the result to IRev.

He noted that BVAS machines used for an election were meant to contain Form EC8A but that the BVAS machines he demonstrated in open court did not all have the picture of Form EC8A.

The witness added that he could not tell which ones had the picture of the Form EC8A used at the various polling units.

From what transpired at the Tribunal on Monday, the evidence of the INEC data analyst, who seems to be the main witness for the SDP and its candidate, appears to have been badly damaged.

Attempts by Counsel to the Petitioner, J.S.Okutepa, SAN, to repair the damaged witness through re-examination questions were objected to by the defence team and were overruled as the objections were well rooted in law.

. Advise EFCC boss to shut out selfish politicians, concentrate on genuine struggles


Civil Society Organisations and human rights lawyers have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to save the image of Nigeria by not prioritising political battles that are counterproductive to the robust anti-corruption policy of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The scores of acitivists and lawyers, under the broad umbrella of the Committee for The Defence of Democracy and Rule of Law,
particularly noted that the seeming fixation of the anti-graft agency on particular targets, fierce media trial and the network of opposition figures publicly displaying their affinity with the Commission on particular matters easily reflected political hatchet jobs that must be discouraged.

The Co-Convener of the Committee, Barrister Kayode Mogbojuri, who spoke on behalf of the over 100 CSOs at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, said the EFCC could not afford to become a tool of political witchunt in the hands of every disgruntled politician seeking political retribution against opponents or perceived enemies and advised the helmsman, Ola Olukoyede, to shut out real enemies of the Commission.

"For instance, the way it (the EFCC) is handling the current corruption allegations against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is becoming a case of clear political witchunt by his political opponents for whom the EFCC seems to be a ready tool to be manipulated into fighting their proxy wars.

"In every country that the fight against corruption has been politicized, corruption has not only thrived but also imploded. Politics and law enforcement should be water and oil that cannot mix," he stated.

The activists said the fact that the ammended charge read that the former Governor committed the said offence sometime in September 2015, when he had not even become Governor, also showed that it was a hurried attempt to nail him without due dilligence, adding that saying it was an error would only compound the embarrassment this had earned for the nation's anti-corruption struggle.

The CSOs also made particular reference to the EFCC's statement that the former Governor was at large, stating that it was the greatest evidence of political persecution, considering the fact that there had been no prior publication that he had been invited.

According to them, curious statements against the former Governor and the state government, credited to one JS Okutepa SAN, a counsel to the Social Democratic Party candidate in Kogi State, already gives political colouration to the fresh EFCC allegations.

The CSOs said that their suspicion of political persecution was aroused by the particular elements of EFCC's method of handling the matter in question.

"First, the EFCC is attempting to stand the rule of law on its head by violating a clear Court order that it is yet to vacate by a counter Court order. The High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division has given a restraining order on the EFCC to stay any action either to arrest, prosecute or persecute the former Governor or any of his appointees pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

"The EFCC may not agree with that order, but it cannot violate it unless the subsisting order is vacated...The question is why the desperation to disobey an unambiguous and subsisting Court order if political persecution is not involved? Corruption cannot fight corruption. There is no greater corruption than disrespecting an express order by a Court of competent jurisdiction," the Activists said.

According to them, the slant of the EFCC's operations, if not checked, could attract unnecessary local and international suspicion as to the real intentions of the Commission if it becomes obvious that it is tending towards political persecution rather than legal prosecution and trampling on the sacred principles of the rule of law.

The Co-Convener said, "No sensible Nigerian would oppose the fight against corruption considering its horrible effects on the socio-economic wellbeing of the country. It is a phenomenon that must be decisively fought, no doubt. We support the anticorruption drive of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which has clearly stated and so far demonstrated its total intolerance for corruption of any sort.

"However, the agencies constitutionally charged with fighting corruption must have to avoid fighting corruption with corrupt means of political compromises and means that are against it as this will surely run counterproductive to the robust anticorruption policy of the Tinubu administration."

"We advise the Commission to leave politicking to politicians and concentrate on professionalism and delivery of its constitutional anti-corruption mandate without political pollution which has the potential to make it lose local and international support," the activists concluded.

False, Fictitious Charges Against Yahaya Bello: EFCC Executing Political Agenda, Not Fighting Corruption – Kogi Govt….The Kogi State Government has once again told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to come clean on the reason behind its unrelenting persecution and media trial of the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, saying that the world would be eager to know why the Commission is trying so hard to find what is not missing.


The state government, for the umpteenth time, insisted that its funds were not missing, and called on the EFCC to desist from mentioning the name of Kogi State in its ongoing persecution, allegedly orchestrated by some political actors around the Presidency bent on destroying the image of the former Governor.


“We believe that this ignoble agenda is unknown to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who trusted those people with power with the hope that they will use it judiciously for the greatness of our nation. Unfortunately, they have decided to use the privileges given to them as tools for political vendetta,” the statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said.


“The amended charges in which the name of the former Governor was mentioned are false, frivolous, fictitious and far from the truth. They are cooked-up charges that signpost their desperation to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The intention was to sensationalize the whole scenario and promote a media war against the former Governor and other officials of Government.


“We have seen how low EFCC and its paymasters can go in order to pander to the political agenda of those afraid of the rising profile of Alh. Yahaya Bello,” it added.


The state government called on President Bola Tinubu to order a special probe into “what is happening in Kogi State before the EFCC is pushed into being used as a hired gun by political hawks who are acting a selfish and overambitious script.”


It said those who had personal grievances could vent their grievances without dragging the name of Kogi State in the mud, maintaining that Kogi Government “believes in transparency, accountability and probity in line with the trend from 2016.”
The statement reads, “As a subnational in the Nigerian nationhood, we wish to express our utmost respect for agencies set up to perform specific functions towards the greatness of Nigeria. The Kogi State Government is also conscientiously committed to the determination of the present administration to stop corruption and fight corruption.


“As an administration, we inherited the zero tolerance for corruption policy from the immediate past administration of His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello, CON. From 2016, the Government of Kogi State has continually strengthened her anti-corruption brakes and bumps to ensure the commonwealth of the people works for the common good of Kogites. This has won the State Government a lot of credible awards from national and international organizations, including the World Bank.

“A few years back, we witnessed a worrisome trend and torrent of witch-hunt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, unrepentantly striving to force corruption claims on our Government and its officials. The Commission started with claims that it discovered a non-existent fund in an alleged Fixed Deposit Account.


“It eventually shot itself in the foot with a badly scripted skit of conniving with the now discredited Emefiele-led Central Bank to claim the money was returned to the Central Bank. This is the hight of witch-hunt and unprovoked attack on the integrity of the Government and People of Kogi State.


“The desperation of the EFCC to hastily and for glaring political reasons, hound the immediate past Governor on their corruption list is unfortunate and speaks volume on how we reward altruistic leadership in our nation. For the records, we wish to make it clear that Kogi’s funds are not missing and that the EFCC is trying so hard to find what is not missing.


“We therefore call on the EFCC to desist from mentioning the name of Kogi State in its ongoing persecution, orchestrated by some political actors in and around the Presidency bent on destroying the image of Alh. Yahaya Bello and Kogi State. We believe that this ignoble agenda is unknown to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who trusted those people with power with the hope that they will use it judiciously for the greatness of our nation. Unfortunately, they have decided to use the privileges given to them as tools for political vendetta.


“The amended charges in which the name of the former Governor was mentioned are false, frivolous, fictitious and far from the truth. They are cooked-up charges that signpost their desperation to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The intention was to sensationalize the whole scenario and promote a media war against the former Governor and other officials of Government. We have seen how low EFCC and its paymasters can go in order to pander to the political agenda of those afraid of the rising profile of Alh. Yahaya Bello.


“The Kogi State Government wishes to call on Mr President to order a special probe into what is happening in Kogi State before the EFCC is pushed into being used as a hired gun by political hawks who are acting a selfish and overambitious script.

“As a Government, we will continue to support the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government, howbeit, such crusade should be based on the rule of law, purity of conscience and devoid of political scheming. We cannot afford to politicize our fight against corruption. We will continue to have faith in the judiciary to protect our name and integrity.


“Those who have personal grievances can vent their grievances without dragging the name of Kogi State in the mud. Our Government believes in transparency, accountability and probity in line with the trend from 2016.


“We also wish to assure the good people of our State that nothing will be spared to protect the integrity of our Government. Our administration will continue to act in a way that Kogites will be respected wherever they go and for us to retain the respect of our international development partners who have persistently commended our anti-corruption credentials.”

Kogi: Those Who Protested At EFCC Are Known Political Jobbers, Yahaya Bello will forever be celebrated by true Kogites----IT has come to the attention of the Kogi Collective Interest Group, KOCIG, the renewed onslaughts of some disgruntled political elements in Kogi State to resurrect their agenda of blackmail via unproven corruption allegations against the immediate former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.

KOCIG has over one million active members across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State, all the 21 local governments. Members believe in the unity and progress of our dear state and hold leaders accountable at all levels.

We saw the ragtag crowd of hungry non-Kogites that they assembled to go to the national headquarters of the EFCC today to submit their baseless petition, alongside some rejected former office holder who does nothing now other than go from one top politician to the other begging for alms all in the name of being able to mobilise rallies against their opponents. Kogites have gone beyond senseless propaganda.

We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is a politically motivated protest sponsored by political desperados and ethnic jingoists who see that they have been thoroughly thrashed at home and are seeking crooked means of staying relevant. That they are hellbent on blackmailing the former Governor who has done nothing but excellent jobs in Kogi State during his eight years as Governor is not news. What may be news is the fact that they are confronted with the reality that in Nigeria of today, under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is no longer easy to witch-hunt political opponents without regard for the rule of law.

For one, as bona-fide citizens of Kogi State, we are aware of the clandestine conspiracy by some disgruntled local politicians who are still licking the wounds of their defeat in the last governorship election to blackmail Alhaji Yahaya Bello with baseless allegations of corruption and attempting to drag the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, into their dirty political fights to nail a man who many attest to his achievements.

This is where the EFCC leadership must be wary of becoming an accidental tool of vendetta in the hands of politicians who are so desperate to get their evil and dark objectives achieved at all costs. The EFCC must be above board and treat all petitions strictly on their merits and not pay attention to political miscreants who are playing to the gallery.

Looking at the unprecedented infrastructural developments in Kogi State under the eight-year administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Kogites are forever grateful for the insight and management expertise of the former Governor. With all the legacy projects in education, healthcare, roads, security and so forth, there is nowhere left for any money to be misappropriated. It is public knowledge that an international financial institution like The World Bank gave Kogi State a clean bill of health in the areas of transparency and fiscal accountability more than once under Yahaya Bello.

All investigations of corruption allegations against the former Governor till date have come back empty because there was no substance to them but his political enemies have remained implacable.

The man who led today's protest further alleged that Yahaya Bello has been suppressing the news of his group's activities. The question is what activities has his group been engaging in that were suppressed by anybody? This can only mean that he is desperately trying to justify the humongous resources he has been milking from the unsuspecting financiers to stage such protests.

In the first instance, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to the best of our knowledge, does not own a media organization. Moreover, he is not a member of the editorial board of any media company and, therefore, cannot influence any news that should get published or not.

News media determine which activity is newsworthy or not and decide which deserves to be published or not. But because of the ignorance and deliberate mischief of these political jobbers, they attributed their failures to a third party.

This is not an age where some hungry political miscreants can just gather and make spurious allegations in the public and think they should not be held accountable. As responsible Kogites, we do not take kindly to bringing down leaders who have served us well.

In this particular case, we will demand that these imprudent characters show proofs of their reckless allegations against Yahaya Bello to the public or a Court of competent jurisdiction. It is the sole responsibility of who alleges to show indubitable proofs of their allegations and they must be ready to prove that.

We will employ all legal means to hold them accountable for the gross indiscretions and blackmail that they have committed because their ill-conceived actions are also rubbing off negatively against the image of Kogi State and its people.

The EFCC must beware and not fall into the manipulative agenda of disgruntled politicians that want to use the Commission to achieve their selfish goals against a perceived political enemy. This won't augur well for the Commission in terms of local and international perception.

Sgd
Abdulganiyu Yusuf
Chairman