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The Tinubu Youth Network (TYN), a group in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence.
The group also implored the president to order a probe into Matawalle’s alleged links with bandits — a claim the minister has repeatedly denied.
Ali Gusau, a retired general, had accused Matawalle of working in cahoots with bandits for initiating dialogue with terrorists.
Last week, Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, said if he were Matawalle, he would resign and work towards clearing his name.
Lawal detailed how the government house was allegedly used to pay ransom for abducted permanent secretary’s children under Matawalle’s administration.
However, Matawalle dismissed the allegation, saying that the dialogues initiated with bandits freed abducted victims, including Lawal’s brother, without ransom payment.
The ex- governor defended his anti-banditry measures, citing “success” from “dialogues with bandits” during his tenure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Yusuf Muhammad, TYN secretary general, said the allegations leveled against Matawalle demand urgent investigation.
The group demanded the minister’s resignation for a “thorough” probe, adding that ignoring the allegations would harm the party long-term.
“These issues include the accusation of sponsoring bandits and misappropriation of state funds by his predecessor and the junior Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle,” the group said.
“These are serious matters that strike at the heart of governance, security, and the welfare of the people of Zamfara State and should not be handled lightly.
“We consider it our responsibility as youths to seek a thorough investigation into these serious claims to uphold the integrity of our party and our esteemed leader, the President.
“Failing to address these issues could hurt our party in the future. We want to emphasize that the issues at stake here are not just political problems.
“They encompass matters of life and death, economic survival, and the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara state, the Northwest, and Nigeria as a whole.”
Speaking further, Muhammad urged Tinubu not to ignore the claims made against his minister, adding that these allegations could tarnish his administration.
“The investigation we want the President to conduct is not to castigate the minister, but to safeguard the integrity of the APC and the President’s good image,” he said.
“It is imperative that Bello Matawalle be removed from his position for a panel to be set up to investigate the allegations against him”.
“The minister should clarify his connections with dangerous individuals like Bello Tagoji, Musa Kamarawa, and Ardon Zuru.
“The Tinubu Youth Network believes that where there is smoke, there is fire.
“In the interest of upholding transparency and fairness, we strongly urge Bello Matawalle to step down from his position and subject himself to a thorough investigation.”
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says outstanding revenues due to the federal government in the oil and gas industry rose to $6.071 billion and N66.4 billion, respectively, as of June 2024.
NEITI disclosed the outstanding in its ‘2022/2023 Independent Oil and Gas Industry Report’ unveiled in Abuja on Thursday.
Breaking down the debt, NEITI said outstanding liabilities were $6.049 billion and N65.9 billion in unpaid royalties and gas flare penalties, due to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as of August 31.
Also, outstanding petroleum profit taxes, company income taxes, withholding taxes, and value-added tax (VAT) amounting to $21.9 million and N492.8 million were due to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as of June 2024.
NEITI said among other key findings in the report, is a significant reduction in petrol importation — which fell from 23.54 billion litres in 2022 to 20.28 billion litres in 2023.
Also, NEITI said N15.87 trillion was claimed as under-recovery or price differentials between 2006 and 2023, with the highest amount, N4.71 trillion, recorded in 2022.
“On crude production, fiscalized crude production in 2022 stood at 490.945 million barrels, compared to 556.130 million barrels produced in 2021, representing an 11% decline,” the agency said.
“However, in 2023, NEITI’s independent report revealed total fiscalised production of 537.571 million barrels, a 46.626 million-barrel or 9.5 percent increase from total production recorded in 2022.
“A 10-year trend (2014–2023) of fiscalised crude oil production in Nigeria shows the highest production volume of 798.542 million barrels was recorded in 2014, while the lowest, 490.945 million barrels, was recorded in 2022.”
According to NEITI’s data on crude lifting, in 2023, 534.159 million barrels were lifted, compared to 482.07 million barrels in 2022 and 551 million barrels in 2021.
“On oil theft and crude losses, a total of 7.68 million barrels of crude were either stolen or lost in 2023, representing a significant drop of 79% (29.02 million barrels) compared to 36.69 million barrels either stolen or lost in 2022,” the report said.
“On overall revenue generation in the oil and gas industry, the report showed that material companies accounted for US$15.549 billion (96%) and non-material companies for US$695.604 million (4%) in revenues generated in 2022.
“In 2023, material companies accounted for US$21.415 billion (95%), and non-material companies accounted for US$1.238 billion (5%). The revenues came from 17 identified revenue streams, including proceeds from taxes, oil and gas sales, dividends from NLNG, royalty payments, signature bonuses, gas flare penalties, and concessions.”
‘NEITI REPORT PROVIDES VALUABLE INSIGHTS TO GUIDE POLICY’
Speaking at the public presentation of the reports in Abuja, Ogbonnaya Orji, NEITI’s executive secretary, said the report provides valuable insights to guide policy, encourage public debate, and improve governance in managing Nigeria’s natural resources.
“The report remains a vital tool for identifying leakages, improving revenue collection, and promoting resource management reforms,” Orji said.
“It serves as an authoritative document that provides comprehensive data and information on revenues, governance structures, operations, and compliance within the oil and gas sector for the 2022/2023 period.”
In his remarks, George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and chairman of the NEITI board, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to NEITI’s principles.
“We consider the EITI not only as a global standard for promoting transparency in the management of revenues from natural resources but also as a tool to strengthen public trust, accountability, and economic growth,” Akume said.
He assured that the government will thoroughly study the report to ensure effective implementation.
On his part, Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), vowed to investigate and recover debts owed to the government, citing NEITI’s reports as crucial in the fight against corruption.
“Where NEITI’s work stops, EFCC’s begins,” Olukoyede said.
He said the EFCC will probe companies identified in the report.
“This demonstrates the effectiveness of NEITI’s reports in recovering public funds and promoting accountability,” Olukoyede said.
He also said as of Wednesday, over N1 billion has been approved for remittance to the federation account as a result of investigations sparked by NEITI’s previous report.
Olukoyede said additional investigations are ongoing and every recovered funds would be sent to the federation account.
In November 2023, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) said Nigeria may be suspended if it fails to meet requirements for validation commencing January 1, 2026.
NEITI, on April 24, said it had developed a corrective action plan to address issues identified in its validation report by the EITI.
Edo Election: ‘I Have A Lot Of Evidence To Win The Case At Tribunal’ – PDP’s Ighodalo Declares
AFOLABI
The candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed strong confidence that he will reclaim his supposedly ‘stolen’ mandate at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.
Recall that in the closely contested governorship election held on September 21, Ighodalo faced defeat against Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with a significant vote difference of 44,393.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ighodalo won 247,274 votes, while Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes. Olumide Akpata, representing the Labour Party (LP), finished in third place with 22,763 votes.
However, while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ighodalo asserted that the election resulting in Okpebholo’s election as governor was neither free nor fair.
He further noted that his legal team has pinpointed over 150 polling units where the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was not utilized.
“There is a lot of data, information, evidence that we have. We are fully confident that we will win the case going through the tribunal.
“We will regain our mandate and we are clear without any doubt that we are the winners of the election last Saturday,” Ighodalo stated.
During the broadcast, the PDP candidate charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and law enforcement officials with undermining the desires of the people of Edo.
Ighodalo asserted that the citizens of Edo had decisively cast their votes in favour of him and his party in the previous Saturday’s election.
He claimed, without providing any supporting evidence, that the APC manipulated the election in conjunction with electoral authorities.
“We didn’t rig. When APC and INEC saw that APC was losing woefully, they then subverted the electoral laws and the guidelines.
“Collations are done at the polling units and then you go to the ward and then the local government collation centre and then the state. There was a jump, from ward straight to the state,” Ighodalo maintained.
The Nigerian Government has disbursed N24.78 billion to 991,261 poor households as part of efforts to tackle economic hardship.
The initiative, themed: ‘the National Cash Transfer Program’ is spearheaded by the National Social Investment Programme Agency with beneficiaries across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement on Thursday, NSIPA National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Badamasi Lawal, said the disbursement was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at cushioning the impact of high prices of goods and services as inflation stood at 32.15 percent in August.
He explained that the Federal Government had in August 2024 paid N3.83 billion to 153,038 households.
Lawal stated that in September 2024, the agency shared N20.96 billion among 838,223 households and each beneficiary household received N25,000 through their designated Financial Service Providers.
“The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer is aimed to cushion the economic shocks of the beneficiaries who are mostly the poor and vulnerable Nigerian households,” the statement added.
The development comes as the government said it made the second tranche of payments to approximately one million beneficiaries of its cash-based Social Investment Programme.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, disclosed this during a meeting with the Presidential Panel on the Social Investment Programme.
This comes months after a scandal rocked the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.
Consequently, in January 2024, President Tinubu suspended the Minister, Dr Betta Edu and Halima Shehu, the then National Coordinator of NSIPA over alleged financial misappropriation.
Femi Otedola, the chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings and majority shareholder, has further increased his stake in the company to 13.15 percent.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Secretary, FBNH, Adewale Arogundare released by the Nigerian Exchange, NGX on Thursday, Otedola increased his stake after purchasing 534,094,407 shares at N30.00 per share between September 23 and 25.
The acquisition raised his interest in FBN Holdings from 11.67 percent (4,187,602,704 shares) to 13.15 percent (4,721,697,111 shares), worth N136.9 billion as of Wednesday.
It also expands the gap between Otedola and Barbican Capital Limited, FBN Holdings’ second majority investor with an 8.67 percent stake, which represents 3,110,400,619 shares, valued at N90.2 billion as of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, there has been contention over the exact shares Barbican Capital holds in FBN Holdings.
In a lawsuit (no. FHC/L/CS/1172/24) against FBN Holdings, Barbican Capital, owned by Oba Otudeko, claimed that about 5,386,397,202 units of shares representing 15.1 percent of FBN Holdings were acquired over the years and at different times.
Barbican Capital said its shares purchases and dates of issue, were adequately captured by Meristem Registrar and Probate Service Ltd, the financial institution’s appointed registrars, and further acknowledged in the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), which contained its value of shares with the bank.
In response, FBN Holdings said Barbican Capital only notified the financial institution on July 7, 2023, that about 4,770.269,843 units of shares were acquired.
FBN Holdings told the court that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was only able to verify 3,110,400.619 units of shares out of the 4,770,269,843 shares Barbican Capital claimed it acquired.
Edo State Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo has said he is expecting a congratulatory message from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the just concluded gubernatorial election, Asue Ighodalo.
Okpebholo, who received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday before visiting the Presidential Villa to meet with the President, Bola Tinubu, said he will govern as a servant-leader.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate also revealed that he is ready to work with the opposition if they have useful ideas to add to the value of the state.
Okpebholo said, “For me, I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. That is what is required of me, and that is what exactly I’m going to do. So very soon, you will see a lot of development coming up in Edo.
“We are going to employ teachers. We are going to renovate our schools…a lot will be happening over time. So with time, you recognise that a new dawn has happened.
“If they have an idea that is beautiful, that is acceptable by the people, then why not? My door is open to everybody.
”They have to bear it. They have to wait. It has happened. If I had lost I would have borne it, and I would have, by now, congratulated the winner. So I’m expecting them to congratulate me.”
Former Governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole, who was part of the delegation to the Presidential Villa, said the state is now blessed with a governor the people can relate to easily.
Oshiomhole said governance is not necessarily building roads and schools but about a leadership that is compassionate and listens to the feelings of the people.
He said, “Only God can confer power. Man can make all the effort. If God chooses not to crown it, it will be in vain. So politicians campaign in vain, unless God campaign for you. And I think that is our case, and I am excited not only for the fact that we have reclaimed Edo state, almost in the same manner that we reclaimed it from PDP in 2007, before Obaseki took it away back from us.
“My joy is the fact that Edo people will now have a governor that they can hug, they can touch, they can feel, and the governor that will open the doors. Edo State people now have a governor that will not send pregnant women to jail on account of N20,000 fine by a mobile court and who might end up delivering inside prison.
“We have a man with compassion, with human feeling; because governance is not just about building roads and schools. It is that human touch; a governor with empathy, humble enough to recognise that public trust is not like a corporate Chief Executive.
“Corporate chief executive can behave the way he wants because he heads the business because it is his father’s money.
“But with public trust, the vote of the labourer and the vote of the professor, the vote of the pauper, the beggar and the vote of the wealthiest person, one man, one vote is equal. And so we have a governor who understands this, and who went through this process just about a year ago, and his people entrusted him with the senatorial representation in Edo Central. And what is going for him is precisely what the other guys fail to understand.
“The fact that he’s at home with the ordinary man, is at home with the ordinary woman. He understand the challenges of the rural poor. So they are all excited now that they are back again with a governor that they can say, ‘this is my governor”.
Federal government employees will begin receiving the new minimum wage payment starting Thursday, September 26th.
Confirming the development, the Spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, told journalists on Thursday that employees under the federal government payroll can expect to receive notifications regarding their updated minimum wage salary payments from today.
However, Mokwa did not clarify whether the minimum wage would be disbursed along with any outstanding arrears.
“Federal Government civil servants will start getting the new minimum wage from today(Thursday) this September 2024. What I can tell you is that the minimum wage salary payment is today I am not sure of the arrears,” he told Daily Post.
Naija News reports that Mokwa’s update comes shortly after the confirmation by Ekpo Nta, the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, on Tuesday regarding the government’s endorsement of an increase in the consolidated public service salary structure, known as CONPSS, in accordance with the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act of 2024.
This development came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sanctioned a new minimum wage of N70,000 on July 18, 2024.
Following this, the Senate enacted the new minimum wage bill into law.
Ealier, the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), announced that the payment of the revised minimum wage officially begin from July 2024.
This was disclosed by the NSIWC Chairman, Ekpo Nta, during a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nta explained that the July start date aligns with when President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law after its passage by the National Assembly.
This announcement contradicts an earlier statement made by the Minister of State forLabour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who had claimed that the new wage would take effect from May 1, 2024.
The new decision means that only two months of arrears will be paid if the government begins disbursement by the end of October.
The announcement also confirmed the approval of the revision of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure along with other salary frameworks for federal workers.
Last week, the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants met to discuss the new minimum wage structure and agreed to backdate the implementation to July 29, 2024.
Additionally, the committee, led by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, recommended that the previously discontinued wage award should be paid up until July 28, 2024.
The government reportedly considered the current economic situation in the country before reaching its conclusions.
However, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the July backdate decision, with NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah, expressing discontent, calling it “unfair and unacceptable.”
Similarly, the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Timmy Etim, criticized the move, referencing Onyejeocha’s previous promise on May Day that the wage would take effect in May.
At the press briefing, Nta addressed these concerns, clarifying that the minimum wage will take effect from July 29, 2024, as this was the date when the President officially approved the bill.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, denied sacking the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for alleging that $49.8 billion went missing from the country’s coffers.
Jonathan said Sanusi was suspended because the Financial Reporting Council queried CBN’s expenditure and his tenure elapsed.
He said an international audit firm was employed to scrutinize the CBN and it was discovered that no amount went missing, contrary to Sanusi’s claim.
Jonathan spoke at the launch of the book, ‘Public Policy and Agents Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World’, co-authored by former Minister of Finance, Shamshudeen Usman, who served as Minister of Planning under his government.
According to Jonathan: “Let me mention that I did not agree with some issues raised by one of the contributors. But I don’t intend to join issues because he is our royal father. And he is here.
“The one he raised that he was sacked because he blew a whistle that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion is not quite correct. He was not sacked, he was suspended because the Financial Reporting Council queried the expenditure of CBN. And there were serious infractions that needed to be looked at. That was the reason.
“But somehow, the time was short. So before we finished, his tenure elapsed. Probably, he would have been called back.
“On the issue of $ 49.8 billion, till today, I am not convinced that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion.
“And that year, our budget was $31.6 billion. So for a country that had a budget of $31.6 billion to lose about $50 billion and salaries were paid, nobody felt anything. The researchers that wrote this book need to do further research.
“And more so, when our revered royal father came up with the figures. First $49.8 billion, later $20 billion and later $12 billion. I don’t even know the correct one.”
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata has claimed that members of his party sold out their votes to other political parties.
DAILY POST recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Sunday announced Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the election conducted on Saturday.
The APC candidate polled 291, 667 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Asue Ighodalo, who also garnered 247,274 votes.
Olumude Akpata, however, came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Speaking on the election, Akpata who was featured in an interview on Channels TV blamed his failure on poverty, stating that his supporters and even LP members sold their votes.
Akpata, who described the situation as a tragedy, said the decision of the electorates to go for cash was a big lesson he learned.
He said, “Some of my supporters stayed at home but a large number of them sold their votes.
“What happened was a tragedy. Let us remove focus from Akpata and the Labour Party and interrogate our electoral process.
“Members of my party sold their votes. It is something that we must look into closely. They decided to go for cash. That was a big lesson to learn. I meant that if you think you know the people, you have to think again and look inward”.
The Nigerian Senate has approved a bill to establish the South-West Development Commission.
The bill seeks to address environmental, ecological, and other development challenges in the southwest region of Nigeria
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the House of Representatives had passed a bill for an Act to establish the South-West Development Commission.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Southwest Caucus of the House of Representatives, noting that the bill was aimed at addressing critical infrastructural, ecological, and developmental challenges in the southwest region.
According to the statement issued by the House of Representatives at the time, the bill would be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.
"The Southwest Caucus of the House of Representatives is pleased to announce the successful passage of the ‘Bill for an Act to Establish the South West Development Commission (HB.283)’ by the House of Representatives on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
"The bill, which aims to address critical infrastructural, ecological, and developmental challenges in the Southwest region, will now be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence,” the statement said.
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed and approved the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to qualified bureau de change (BDC) operators at a rate of ₦1,590 per dollar.
Naija News understands that the latest action is aimed at addressing the demand for invisible transactions.
In a circular issued yesterday, titled ‘Sales of Foreign Exchange to BDCs to Meet Retail Market Demand for Eligible Invisible Transactions,’ the CBN announced that it will provide $20,000 at the rate of ₦1,590 per dollar to each BDC.
The announcement was signed by the acting director of the trade and exchange department, W.J. Kanya.
The apex bank stated: “This is to inform the Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators and the general public that the CBN will be providing additional liquidity to this segment of the foreign exchange market.
“To this end, CBN has approved the sale of US$20,000.00 to each eligible BDC at the rate of N1,590/5. This is to meet the demand for invisible transactions.
“All BDCs are allowed to sell to eligible end-users at a margin of NOT MORE THAN one percent (1%) above the purchase rate from CBN
“Eligible BDCs interested in this transaction are directed to make the Naira payment to the CBN Deposit Account Numbers with them.”
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has filed 16-count charges against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Umar Shuaibu Oicha, and Abdulsalam Hudu at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
The charges, filed on September 24, 2024, in Case No: CR/7781, include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property. The case is pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
Key allegations include conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust involving N110.4 billion in 2016 and misuse of state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).
Other properties allegedly acquired with misused funds include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).
Additionally, the defendants are accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from BESPOQUE BUSINESS SOLUTION LIMITED.
Prosecutors include Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa (SAN), Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa, Zeenat Atiku Bala, Abubakar Salihu Wara, Chinenye C. Okezie, Abbas O. Muhammed, Bilkisu Buhari Bala, and Suleiman I. Suleiman.
The charge sheet reads, “That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N950,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N920,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N170,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1773 Guzape District, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N100,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: A02/176 Block 488B, Lome Street, Wuse 1, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime between 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N66,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 739 Aminu Kano Crescent, wuse 2 at No. 13 Citiscape-Sharriff Plaza, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N550,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 2934A Cadastral Zone A06 also known as No.1 Ikogosi Spring Close, Maitama District, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N650,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as No: 1058, Measuring about 1450.77sqm in Cadastral Zone A08, Wuse 2 also Known as NO.2 Durban Street Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Eight Dirhams for the acquisition of a property located at Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, lying, being and situate at Plot 160, Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No.401, Floor4, Dubai U.A.E.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N60,000,000 for the acquisition of a property known as Block 18 (337) flat B Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2017, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly used the total sum of N310,443,450 to tastefully renovate a property known as No: 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly sent the total sum of $570,330.00 to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United State of America.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, whilst having dominion over the state’s treasury, dishonestly sent the total sum of $556,265.00 to account No. 4266644272 Domiciled with TD Bank, United State of America.
“That YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO sometime between 2017 and 2018, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, had under your control the total sum of N677,848,000 unlawfully obtained from BESPOQUE BUSINESS SOLUTION LIMITED.”
Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of attempting to tarnish his image.
Bello, in a statement on Wednesday by his media team, said the EFCC is desperately trying to nail him in order to please some persons with interest in the case.
The statement, signed by the Director of the media team, Ohiare Michael, said the procedural errors and blunders already committed by the EFCC are enough evidence to prove the desperation of the anti-graft agency.
He said the EFCC, by its actions so far, has shown it is not fighting corruption, but rather executing a political vendetta against Bello.
Michael specifically questioned the disposition of the EFCC last Wednesday when the former governor voluntarily submitted himself to the agency but was not interrogated or detained after four hours, only for EFCC operatives to launch an attack on the Kogi Government Lodge at night.
He said, “If the EFCC was truly interested in prosecution and not a deal by some unknown persons to humiliate the former governor and probably harm him for political reasons, would the agency not have taken him in on that day with a view to arraigning him in court on the next adjourned date?
“Why turn a money laundering allegation into an embarrassment for the whole country ostensibly to massage the ego of some collaborators?
“We want Nigerians to help us ask: What exactly does the EFCC want from former Governor Yahaya Bello?”
“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will have his day in court. No one is contesting this. But it will be in line with the rule of law, not as prescribed by the EFCC.”
Michael charged the EFCC to stop dragging the name of President Bola Tinubu in the mud and face its core mandate of fighting corruption.
“The interesting thing is that the more the Commission issues press statements under tension, the more glaring this assertion becomes.
“It is, however, sad that an agency as important as the EFCC has now degenerated to the level of crafting press statements in rogue styles to satisfy the hirers of the gun.
“Even if he is striving hard to keep his shirt by satisfying some supposed benefactors, like some have insinuated, the EFCC Chairman must be reminded that we are a member of the global village.
“What the Commission should be doing now is self re-appraisal with a view to repairing whatever is left of its battered image and not still dragging the name of our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the mud with practices that are completely alien to the fight against corruption the world over,” he added.
The media office stated that Yahaya Bello is not afraid to appear in court but the law must be fully obeyed by the EFCC.
“We want to reiterate that former Governor Yahaya Bello has acted like a democrat by subscribing to the rule of law and by approaching competent courts of jurisdiction to protect him. He is never afraid of facing justice, hence his submission to the trials at various courts.
“The laws allow for representation and he has constantly been represented by his lawyers. As a Nigerian, he has the right to explore all avenues within the rule of law to protect his fundamental human rights. The EFCC cannot dictate to him, or anyone for that matter, how to go about this.
“Right now, it seems the only task before the EFCC is to execute a desperate hatchet job of destroying the former governor’s reputation and defaming him for no justifiable reason.
“But the EFCC must enlighten itself on the fact that former Governor Yahaya Bello remains innocent of the trumped up charges against him until proven guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction.
“As we write, many informed Nigerians, at home and abroad, cannot still understand why an anti-graft agency, which had declared the former governor wanted, would beg him to go after four hours, after voluntarily presenting himself at the EFCC office.
“The most disturbing aspect of the whole saga is that officials of the same EFCC that said the former governor could not be interrogated or detained because he came with a sitting Governor, went to the official lodge of the same sitting governor, while he was there, shooting sporadically, to forcefully arrest a man that had previously been in their office for over four hours!
“No matter how much the EFCC tries to call an albino a white man for Nigerians in this case, the truth is gradually being uncovered.
“Former Governor Yahaya Bello will fight to the end on the lane of constitutionality and will not succumb to the baits and traps of an Agency that has shown bias, contempt and a clear attempt on his life.
“We want to put it on record here again that former Governor Yahaya Bello is a respecter of the rule of law. He had, only all along, sought the enforcement of his fundamental human rights like any other citizen is entitled to.
“On the other hand, the EFCC, despite being a creation of the law, has demonstrated gross disrespect for the rule of law.
“This is evident in the agency’s bullying, oppressive and reprehensible tactics of disregarding valid orders in cases relating to perceived enemies of their “sponsors or paymasters” and choosing to obey orders when they concern those in the good books of their godfathers.
The statement further accused the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of using the office to fight a personal battle and, therefore, called on President Tinubu to investigate his actions.
“In this particular case, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has shown clearly that he is either fighting a personal battle for reasons he must explain sooner than later or striving so hard to keep the trust of certain enemies of former Governor Yahaya Bello, who might have given him an assignment that he must execute at all costs.
“We sympathise with the Commission in this very trying time of a badly battered image, as Nigerians have become more aware that the so-called fight against corruption is not only selective, but also one that could damage the noble intentions of our dynamic President with respect to the all-important fight against corruption, and more importantly, the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.
“We call on Mr. President to please order a thorough investigation into the EFCC-former Governor Yahaya Bello face-off, since inception, with a view to unravelling the real motives of the persecutors.
“The chronology of events since April this year will reveal clear bias, intimidation, oppression, and total disregard for the rule of law by the Commission.
“We stress again that as of the time of the initial siege on the former Governor’s residence in April, the EFCC had no business there because he had a valid court order restraining such action, which had not been vacated. The Commission cannot also provide proof of a formal invitation to him.
“To set the records straight, the Court of Appeal only vacated that order a few weeks ago, which prompted our principal to present himself at the EFCC headquarters on September 18, even while still pursuing the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
“If the EFCC was truly interested in prosecution and not a deal by some unknown persons to humiliate the former governor and probably harm him for political reasons, would the agency not have taken him in on that day with a view to arraigning him in court on the next adjourned date?
“In normal circumstances, the EFCC should not be the investigator and prosecutor at the same time. But the law allows it. It is, however, strange that the Commission has now assumed the position of the judge. We must remind them that this is Nigeria, and Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians.
“We implore the authorities to advise the EFCC Chairman to face his job as an investigator and refrain from allowing personal interests to continue to push him into avoidable blunders.
“The more the Commission issues controversial press statements on former Governor Yahaya Bello, the more the world is made to see the desperation to achieve an aim that is not clear yet. But the law is definitely stronger than their might.
“We salute the Kogi State House of Assembly for speaking up and we thank all Nigerians who have come to realize that there is more to this desperation by the EFCC to humiliate former Governor Yahaya Bello than they are telling the world,” the statement added.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has claimed that China could be taking over assets belonging to Nigeria.
The group gave the warning over an alleged Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) signed between the Governor Peter Mbah-led government and Chinese companies.
They insisted that the MOU could lead to the seizure of Nigerian assets in the future if legal disputes over contentious land in Enugu are not properly resolved.
The rights group said it was deeply concerned that Mbah recently entered into agreements with some Chinese companies, allegedly giving away the ownership of ancestral lands in Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, despite ongoing litigation over the land.
Speaking via a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA warned that the governor was undermining the rule of law by signing away the land to foreign companies while legal cases were still pending.
The statement read in part, “Chinese companies could seize Nigerian assets internationally, such as embassy buildings in Beijing, if the court rulings favor the original landowners.
“The Enugu State Government should refrain from taking action on these lands until the legal disputes are resolved.
“If the governor proceeds with this transaction, Nigeria could face another embarrassing situation similar to that in Ogun State, where foreign companies confiscated Nigerian assets.
“Enugu State does not have any assets abroad, so it will be Nigeria’s international assets that will be at risk.”
HURIWA called on the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify whether the Nigerian President was aware of the MOU signed by the Enugu State Government with Chinese companies