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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the redeployments of the Commissioners of Police in charge of Rivers, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory Police Commands.
According to the directive, the CP Rivers State Command, CP Olatunji Disu has been redeployed as the new CP FCT; CP Delta State Command, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi has been moved to Rivers State Command as CP while CP FCT, CP Peter Opara has been redeployed as new Delta Command’s CP.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said in addition, following the approval of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police has also deployed four CPs as Commissioners of Police for Abia, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Akwa-Ibom State Commands.
The deployments include the posting of CP Danladi Nda to Abia State Command; CP Olanrewaju Ishola Olawale to Lagos State Command; CP Anthonia Adaku Uche-Anya to Ebonyi State Command and CP Festus Eribo to Akwa-Ibom State Command.
He said, “The posting of these strategic managers reflects the mission of the Inspector-General of Police to strategically reposition the Police Force and ensure maximum utilization of human resources available to the Force.”
The IGP has, however, urged the new CPs of State Commands to ensure diligence in the discharge of their lawful duties and adopt innovations that could mitigate security challenges in their respective areas of responsibility.
He further charged them to key into the police reform plans, which will help the progress of the Nigeria Police Force and the growth of the country in general.
[Leadership]
Ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial election, the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has disclosed that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will accept the outcome of a properly conducted election.
The governor stated this on Thursday in a post on his official X handle while sharing updates on his meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa.
Obaseki added that his major demand was for the Edo people to be allowed to freely go to the polls to elect the candidates of their choice.
“We are not asking for any favour but are stating that Edo citizens should be free to go to the polls to elect the candidates of their choice. We will accept the outcome of a properly conducted election.
“For eight years, the security forces in the state have been highly cooperative in helping us address security concerns. Together, we have established Forward Operating Bases and designed a digitised security architecture that has made Edo one of the safest states in the nation,” he posted.
Substandard products, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices, with a total value of ₦43 billion, were recently set ablaze by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Naija News reports that NAFDAC destroyed the said items on Thursday at the Moniya dump site located in the Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Representatives from various security agencies and the Oyo State Government monitored the exercise.
During the proceedings, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Christiana Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by Pharm Shabba Mohammed, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement, indicated that the products were voluntarily surrendered to the agency by compliant companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and trade unions.
Professor Adeyeye elaborated on the extensive measures that facilitated the confiscation of numerous registered and unregistered pharmaceutical products, highlighting a series of raids conducted in various locations.
The confiscated items encompassed aphrodisiacs, sex enhancement medications, over-the-counter drugs, and prescription-only pharmaceuticals.
“Over thirty different products were seized in total,” Adeyeye noted, highlighting that the confiscated items included banned substances such as codeine and narcotics, with a total value exceeding ₦48 million.
“The agency has been actively gathering intelligence on illegal warehousing, sale, and distribution of narcotics by pharmaceutical vendors in Lagos and other states.
“Recent raids conducted by the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate resulted in the confiscation of products worth over ₦700 million.
“In addition to counterfeit pharmaceuticals, the operation also targeted contraband items such as unregistered soaps, tomato paste, and counterfeit beverages,” the NAFDAC DG noted.
Adeyeye underscored the critical role of public participation in the fight against counterfeit medications and substandard food items.
She encouraged individuals to report illegal activities to the closest NAFDAC office for prompt investigation.
“Through these measures, NAFDAC seeks to safeguard public health and safety while fostering adherence to regulations within the pharmaceutical sector,” she remarked.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has firmly denied any involvement in a purported plan to remove the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
Naija News reports that this comes after a viral social media post alleged that Ganduje was leading a renewed effort to dethrone the emir, a claim the former Kano State governor has dismissed as baseless.
The controversy stems from a previous incident during Ganduje’s tenure as governor, when Emir Sanusi was removed from his position, a decision upheld by the courts.
Many at the time speculated that the ruling was influenced by the government of the day.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ganduje, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, categorically distanced himself from any fresh moves against the Emir.
He stressed that since he no longer holds the office of governor or speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, he has no authority over such matters.
The statement also ridiculed the idea that Ganduje would be plotting to influence the emirate’s affairs, noting that his current focus is on leading the APC and ensuring the continued success of the party.
The statement read, “Ganduje has nothing to do with the present enthronement or dethronement of Emir Mohammad Sanusi in Kano. It should be noted that he is no longer the executive governor or the speaker of the House of Assembly and therefore cannot have anything to do further with the Emirship of Kano.
“It is laughable that Ganduje who has left office as governor for some years now would be accused of masterminding a fresh plot to remove or enthrone an Emir. He is now very busy with leading the APC. He is satisfied with the enormous contributions he made in terms of massive dividends of democracy, infrastructural developments, and the good governance he provided while he held sway as governor.
“Those who are behind this sinister move to malign the APC national chairman have revealed the clandestine and dangerous motive of the sponsors to create bad blood between Ganduje and the presidency.
“Let me reiterate here that he has great respect for the national leader of the party, President Bola Tinubu. The relationship has been very cordial and no amount of blackmail can destroy the solidity of the partnership.”
The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the 2024 SSCE internal results.
This was disclosed on Thursday, September 19, by the NECO’s Registrar/Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi.
He briefed journalists in Minna during the release of the 2024 SSCE internal results.
Also, Wushishi said that NECO blacklisted 21 supervisors in 12 states. They also de-recognised one school in Ekiti state for mass cheating in three subjects.
How to check NECO 2024 results
Below are the easy steps to check your NECO 2024 results online:
1. Visit NECO portal at https://www.neco.gov.ng. This is the only official platform for accessing your results.
2. Select ‘NECO Results’: On the homepage, pick the ‘NECO Results’ option. Clicking this will take you to the result-checking section.
Click “Check “Results”.
Alternatively, just go straight to the result portal at https://results.neco.gov.ng/.
3. Enter your examination details: Provide your exam year (2024), exam type (June/July or Nov/Dec), and your unique examination number.
4. Input your token: You can buy it directly from the NECO website. Input the token in the appropriate field.
Special notes
You can buy token from
a) Official NECO website, which remains the most secure and reliable source for purchasing tokens.
b) Authorised retailers: Ensure the third-party retailer is officially approved by NECO to avoid being scammed.
c) Result-checker token will only allow you to check a candidate’s result once. Five attempts at most. You cannot use another token to check the same result again.
Any further checks of the same result will require you to use the NECO E-Verify Result Verification Portal to verify or confirm such results. So do not exhaust your token’s access.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday granted the request of the Federal Government and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to settle out of court an appeal challenging his removal from office.
The decision of the court followed information that the two parties in the suit have intensified efforts to reach an amicable settlement of all issues in the dispute.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019 removed Mr Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria during the pendency of a charge against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
However, at Thursday’s proceedings in the appeal, counsel to CJN, Dr Ogwu Onoja, SAN, informed a three-member panel of the Appeal Court that the two parties were involved in discussions on a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Mr Onoja informed the court that the parties had an engagement up until Wednesday and expressed optimism that the discussion would bear fruitful results.
He subsequently appealed to the appellate court for a one-month adjournment for final settlement of the matter.
Counsel to federal government, Tijani Gazali confirmed the submission of Onoja and requested that the matter be shifted for a possible amicable settlement.
“My Lords, I wish to humbly confirm the information. It is our position to settle the matter out of court,” he said.
Justice J. O. Oyewole, who presided over the proceedings, directed them to file terms of settlement for adoption when eventually agreed upon.
Justice Oyewole held that the terms of settlement must be documented and filed before the adjourned date for the court to adopt as its judgement in the matter.
He subsequently adjourned until Nov. 4 as the return date for the two parties.
Mr Onnoghen was prosecuted in 2019 by the federal government on false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT) he was pronounced guilty and removed from office.
He was also made to forfeit the undeclared assets to the federal government.
Mr Onnoghen not satisfied with the judgment of CCT appealed, praying the Court to set aside the judgment that removed him from office and ordered the forfeiture of his five bank accounts.
NAN
The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Mr Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.55 per cent.
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Mr Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
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” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,” he said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Mr Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.
NAN
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of four new Police Commissioners to oversee Commands in Abia, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Akwa-Ibom State.
The newly appointed Commissioners are CP Danladi Nda (Abia State Command), CP Olanrewaju Ishola Olawale (Lagos State Command), CP Anthonia Adaku Uche-Anya (Ebonyi State Command) and CP Festus Eribo (Akwa-Ibom State Command).
These deployments reflect the IGP’s mission to reposition the Police Force, maximize human resources, and enhance security across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Egbetokun charged the new Commissioners of Police to demonstrate diligence in their duties and develop innovative strategies to address security challenges in their respective areas.
He also encouraged them to support the ongoing police reform plans, which will contribute to the progress of the Nigeria Police Force and the nation’s growth.
This move is reminiscent of previous redeployments, such as the 2023 election duty redeployment of senior police officers, including AIG Abutu Yaro and CP Okon Effiong. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring effective policing and maintaining public safety.
On the other hand, the IGP has mandated the immediate transfer of Police Commissioners to different areas.
This tactical decision is designed to improve the Police Force’s performance and guarantee successful law enforcement.
Naija News understands that the transfers will involve the following adjustments: CP Olatunji Disu will lead the Police Force in the Federal Capital Territory, with CP Peter Opara moving to Delta State to become its new head. At the same time, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi will become the leader of the Police Force in Rivers State.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has attributed the ongoing conflict between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery to alleged inconsistencies in government policies and fraudulent actions.
During a media briefing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajaero voiced his dissatisfaction with the ongoing dispute, stating that such conflicts are unwarranted in a deregulated market that should be promoting competition and consumer choice.
The NLC President sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu‘s administration for attempting to influence Dangote’s business operations, specifically its pricing, which he referred to as fraudulent interference.
He highlighted that it is unfair for the government to demand that Dangote’s locally produced petroleum products be sold at the same price as imported products, especially considering that local production eliminates added costs like foreign exchange and landing fees.
Ajaero said, “In a truly deregulated market, there should be no interference in how private sector entities like Dangote operate. Imposing restrictions or dictating prices goes against the principles of a free market.
“For a locally produced product, with no reliance on imported dollars or landing costs, they’re demanding he sells it at the same price as the imported ones. That’s both fraudulent and unacceptable.
“What you’re witnessing is a mix of fraud and policy inconsistency. Nigerians were led to believe that the sector had been deregulated, and in a deregulated market, competition and choice should prevail. So why is there now an attempt to control how much Dangote should sell his product for?
“When the Port Harcourt refinery becomes operational, both NNPC and Dangote should be able to sell freely. But trying to dictate Dangote’s pricing is dishonest.
“This is the time for Nigerians to speak out. We were told that deregulation would put the private sector in charge and limit government interference in business. Now, the government is trying to regulate how private businesses should price their products.
“They expect him to sell at the same price as the imported product, even though it was produced locally without the additional landing costs. That’s outright fraud.”
This standoff between NNPCL and Dangote has ignited public debate, raising concerns over the government’s role in shaping the competitive dynamics of the energy industry.
The chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday governorship election have been strengthened after nine political parties unanimously collapsed into the party in Edo State.
The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Sam Arase, announced on behalf of the Assembly of Registered Political Parties in Edo State that the parties prefer the APC candidate and are confident of victory.
The parties include the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Peoples Party (APP), Accord (A), Young Progressive Party (YPP), Action Alliance (AA), and National Rescue Movement (NRM).
The parties demand a violence-free election and urge Edo citizens to come out en masse and vote for APC.
The parties mandated their members to work towards the enthronement of the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the next governor of Edo State.
Seventeen parties are vying for the Edo State governorship, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2014, with a winner expected to emerge after voting procedures.
Okpebholo and other governorship candidates in the state would be hoping to succeed the outgoing Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, who supports the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo.
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The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of fuelling internal divisions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed claimed that the ruling party had deliberately planted moles within the PDP in Rivers State.
He stated that the APC picked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to serve in its administration because they do not have people who can perform better than PDP members.
The governor stated this when the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) paid him a visit on Wednesday.
He expressed concern over the power struggle between Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Wike.
According to him, “We have to close ranks. It is something that is baffling some of us but any challenge is not insurmountable; it will be surmounted by the grace of God and we will find a solution to that and that is why there is a problem.
“It is only PDP with the experience of governance that is being challenged. And you will notice that this is a creation of the other side (APC).
“They want us to be in disarray; it (the crisis) is the creation of the APC. They always want to have moles within us; they want to have the knowledge of what is happening within us
“And you can see that even Wike who is in the APC and in the PDP is performing very well. They (APC) don’t have people who can perform like our members and that is why they chose to pick him and give him a state-like structure to run, and to us, it is a commendation.”
However, Mohammed assured that efforts are underway to take decisive action to unify the party, stating, “We cannot compromise the peace and unity of our great party.”
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has disclosed that Nigerians living abroad contribute $20 billion annually to the country’s economy, representing 6.1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This was announced by NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during her presentation at the “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” event, part of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the remarkable achievements of Nigerians in various sectors globally, commending their role as strategic partners in the country’s growth. She noted that the remittances have played a crucial role in supporting families, boosting local economies, and aiding national development.
The Chairman also emphasized NiDCOM’s efforts to engage the diaspora through the National Diaspora Policy, which seeks to harness the resources, skills, and expertise of Nigerians abroad. This policy aims to create opportunities for increased participation in the nation’s development, including investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
She stated, “Nigerians abroad continue to significantly impact both the Nigerian economy and their host countries. Their contributions in areas such as technology, medicine, education, and business have elevated Nigeria’s global profile.”
The “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” event provided a platform for discussions on how African diasporas can drive positive change in their home countries. Dabiri-Erewa stressed the importance of stronger ties between the Nigerian government and its diaspora community to ensure continued contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The statement issued by Gabriel Odu of NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit also highlighted the need for more initiatives to mobilize resources from the diaspora for national development, as well as fostering collaboration between Nigeria and other African countries with large diaspora populations.
There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu may scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as part of a major cabinet rejig.
The exercise would also see some portfolios split and others merged into a single entity, while some ministers would be relieved of their duties, a Presidency source told The PUNCH.
Tinubu has been facing increasing pressure from within and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress, to sack underperforming ministers in his cabinet.
Although the President had warned against underperformance about 10 months ago, the cabinet had remained largely intact, save for the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
Last November, after a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides, Tinubu announced that a Central Delivery Coordination Unit headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, would measure the performance of ministers and other top government officials.
Their performance would determine who would leave or remain, Tinubu stated.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk,” the President told participants.
In early September, Sunday PUNCH stated that a cabinet reshuffle was imminent.
However, sources in the Presidency who confided in our correspondent said the reshuffle would transcend portfolio swaps. Instead, some portfolios and ministries would be split, merged or scrapped.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, whose helmswoman, Dr. Betta Edu, was suspended in January, would be scrapped entirely. Nonetheless, the officials were reluctant to disclose which other ministries would be affected.
“I think it is overdue now. In fact, he (Tinubu) was supposed to announce the changes last week, but he was out of the country; that was why. But he wants to do it while he is around.
“It is not just about reshuffling his cabinet. He is also going to restructure some of the ministries for effectiveness and output because the current structure in some of them is not effective.
“Just to let you know, he may be scrapping the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs because he does not think there is a need for it. There are several agencies that are performing those functions already and they can do it without a ministry. So, he sees no need for it,” the source said.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was established in August 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari said its formation was part of his strategy to streamline and coordinate humanitarian interventions, disaster response, and social welfare programmes in the country.
Nigeria has been dealing with numerous crises such as internal conflicts, particularly from Boko Haram insurgencies, natural disasters, and a rising number of internally displaced persons.
The ministry was tasked with managing these matters, along with various social investment programmes such as the N-Power scheme, Conditional Cash Transfer and the Homegrown School Feeding Programme, amongst others.
While announcing his new ministers in August 2023, President Tinubu re-scoped the ministry to ‘Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.’
However, the ministry had been mired with various allegations of corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency, with most of these controversies centering on its first minister, Sadiya Farouq, who served from its inception until 2023.
Farouq’s successor, Edu, was also suspended for allegedly diverting ₦585m in ministry funds to a personal bank account.
While announcing her suspension January 7, the Presidency said Tinubu had tasked a panel, headed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to, among other functions, “conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes to conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.”
On the timing of the reshuffle, another source disclosed that the President planned to finalise it before departing for New York, USA to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Soon, I can say it will happen soon. The arrangement is that he is supposed to do it before leaving for the UNGA this week. And I see nothing hindering that for now.
“It is confirmed. There is a particular portfolio that has to be split into two. Others will be merged, and some will be scrapped. That is what I know,” the source said.
Meanwhile, a third source confirmed that some frantic lobbying had begun as some cabinet members had been contacting their godfathers to prevail on the President in their favour.
“Yes, that is a typical thing. Some of the ministers will be calling their godfathers to influence the President. It is a normal thing. But the President will still do what is on his mind for the country.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, beseiged the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja in an attempt to arrest former govenor, Yahaya Bello.
The Director of Yahaya Bello’s Media Office, Ohiare Michael, raised the alarm in a statement on Wednesday night, titled, “Despite voluntary visit, EFCC officials surround Kogi Government Lodge, Abuja in an attempt to forcefully arrest former governor Yahaya Bello, fire gunshots.”
Earlier in the day, the ex-governor’s media team and the anti-graft agency were engaged in a verbal dispute over the controversial visit of the ex-governor to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
A statement on Wednesday by Bello’s media team said the ex-governor finally surrendered himself and visited the EFCC headquarters months after being declared wanted by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N80.2bn fraud.
Michael said Bello went to the EFCC headquarters voluntarily to clear his name but the anti-graft agency refused to attend to him.
But the spokesman for the EFCC, in a statement, insisted that Bello was not in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
In their Wednesday night state, Bello’s media office raised the alarm about attempt by EFCC operatives to arrest Bello at the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja.
Michale said, “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically.
“It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro.
“We want to place it on record that the EFCC should be held accountable if anything untoward happens to him.
“Tonight’s attack was needless as the former governor made himself available to the EFCC in their office for interrogation. The EFCC had no question to ask Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the morning, but suddenly, they are out to arrest him.
“ This action is condemnable. They have displayed the very reason many Nigerians believe they were fighting political battles instead of the mandate to fight corruption. This action reflects much more than the fight against corruption.”
The PUNCH reports that the EFCC preferred 19 charges against the former Kogi governor alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu, for money laundering offences amounting to N80,246,470,088.88.
After failed attempts to arrest and arraign him, the EFCC in April declared the former Kogi governor wanted.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on August 20 ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
However, on Wednesday, Michael said the ex-governor honoured the EFCC invitation after consultation with his legal team and political associates. Michael added that Bello had nothing to hide.
Reacting, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, denied that the former governor was in its custody, adding that Bello remained wanted.
Oyewale said, “Media reports today that a former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is incorrect. The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody. Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
The EFCC’s statement contradicted the one released by Michael, which claimed that the former governor had voluntarily honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation.
But Bello’s team, in another statement by its director, said Bello was at the EFCC office alongside his successor, Usman Ododo. Michael alleged that the EFCC did not interrogate him and told him he could leave.
Michael said, “Earlier today, we reported the voluntary visit of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission office to honour the commission’s invitation.
“In the statement, we reiterated the former governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process.
“The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Recall that the case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing. The former governor decided to honour the invitation to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”