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FEATURE: How Long Will Yahaya Bello Continue With This Lawless Act? By Richards Ibe

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FEATURE: How Long Will Yahaya Bello Continue With This Lawless Act?

By Richards Ibe

 

The ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who handed over to the current governor of the state, Usman Ododo in January this year after his two terms of four-years-tenure, has consistently been in the news in the past eight months.

It has been from one drama to the other bordering on his stewardship and how he handled the affairs of the state under his tenure.

Bello, who was alleged to have defrauded the state to the tune of N84 billion during his tenure, have done everything in and out of the books to avoid his trial spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the EFCC had dragged the former governor before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering offences, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.

The Anti-graft agency was prosecuting the quartet on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of fund to tune of N84, 062,406,089.88 (Eighty-four Billion, Sixty-two Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo).

To make way for Yahaya Bello’s inclusion in the trial, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court of an application before it for the amendment of the charges against the defendants, dated February 5, 2024, and filed the same day.

After prayers that the amended charges be read to the defendants for them to take their pleas, the judge had granted the prayer, overruling objections from A.M Aliyu SAN, and Olusegun Joolawo SAN, counsels to Ali Bello and Suleiman, first and second defendants.

Count one of the charges had read: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Yahaya Adoza Bello (still at large) and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large), sometime in September, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.”

Also distancing itself from the proceeds of fraud, the American International School, Abuja had in April 2024 refunded to the EFCC the sum of $760,000 paid by Yahaya Bello as advanced school fees for his children at the tail end of his administration as governor of Kogi State.

Bello was alleged to have paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children in Grade Levels 2 to 8 in the school from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.

Confirming the development in April, the EFCC Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, had declared “The school has refunded the entire $760, 000 to the EFCC’s recovery account,”

Going into hiding, Yahaya Bello had severally refused to appear in court in person to clear the allegations raised against him.

Some eminent Nigerians had pleaded with Yahaya Bello to come out and answer the charges against him and that he should not be giving former governors bad name.

One of those who gave the advice was the immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, 28th of April 2024.

Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides for his 63rd birthday celebration, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding and answer his case with the EFCC.

Ortom had said that Yahaya Bello’s continued hiding would bring disgrace to former governors across the country.

“I want to use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, Governor Yahaya Bello, not to disgrace former governors.

“You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and respond. The EFCC (officials) are human beings. If they are making inquiries, the laws are there.

“I have tried to get him on the phone, but I could not. I have tried those around him but I could not, so I want this to be noted. Wherever he is, if he can hear me, thank God the press is here, he should come out.” Ortom had stated.

Even though immunity no longer covers the ex-Governor, he has reportedly been assisted to evade arrest by his successor, Kogi State Governor Ododo, presently enjoying immunity as the sitting governor of the North Central state.

To ensure that justice is served, some eminent Nigerians have also called on Governor Ododo to hand over Yahaya Bello to the law for prosecution.

A political activist, Usman Okai Austin had cautioned Governor Ododo against being hypocritical and obstructing anti-graft war.

He had charged Ododo to demonstrate his dedication to fighting corruption by taking concrete steps to hand over Yahaya Bello to the EFCC for investigation.

In a statement, Okai had also questioned Ododo’s commitment to fighting corruption, particularly in light of allegations that he is protecting Bello.

He criticized the enacted Kogi State anti-corruption Bill under Ododo, as he accused Ododo of hypocrisy and labeled the legislation as a mockery of the entire anti-corruption system.

Okai cited and faulted an occasion when Ododo was reportedly seen “accompanying Bello to a Sallah celebration in Okene, despite Bello’s alleged involvement in corrupt activities.

“This perceived complicity has raised concerns about the governor’s true intentions in the fight against corruption and has prompted calls for him to take decisive action to uphold the rule of law.

“As a prominent figure in Kogi State politics, it is imperative that governor Ododo addresses these concerns and takes concrete steps to demonstrate his commitment to combating corruption and promoting good governance in Kogi State.

“Despite his declaration to ‘attack corrupt practices and make it impossible for corruption to thrive,’ his actions suggest otherwise.

“To genuinely demonstrate his dedication to fighting corruption, Governor Ododo must take concrete steps, such as handing Yahaya Bello over to the EFCC for investigation.

“Until then, his actions will be seen as hypocritical and obstructing the anti-corruption war.

“We urge Governor Ododo to practice what he preaches and take meaningful action against corruption by handing over the wanted Bello to the EFCC.”

A popular activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju also charged Governor Ododo to hand over his predecessor, Yahaya Bello to the EFCC for trial.

“Ododo, the impunity-loving governor of Kogi State should hand over Yahaya Bello to the EFCC to face trial for all his corrupt acts.” Adeyanju wrote on his Facebook page.

While Ododo has failed to heed the advice, the anti-graft agency has been seeking ways to bring Yahaya Bello to justice.

In an attempt to bring the ex-Governor to justice, some EFCC operatives had on Wednesday 17th of April 2024 stormed Yahaya Bello’s Abuja home at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

Ododo had reportedly assisted in whisking away Bello in his official car from the scene to evade the arrest.

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

Despite Yahaya Bello been declared wanted and going into hiding for several months, especially after the sting operation in his Abuja home, he is reported to be perpetually hanging around his successor Ododo to evade arrest.

On Wednesday September 18th 2024, Yahaya Bello came out of hiding for months and visited the EFCC office in the company of Ododo.

At the EFCC office, he was said to have snapped pictures with security guards, and to create the impression that he has turned himself in to the anti-graft agency.

But the EFCC was said to have been hindered from arresting Yahaya Bello as Ododo’s governorship immunity prevented the operatives from taking further action.

Doing otherwise, would have resulted in confrontation between the security personnel protecting the governor and the anti-graft agency, which may lead to gun duel and lost of lives.

Speaking on the latest development on Wednesday, EFCC officials said Ododo helped Bello to escape again just like in April.

One of the officials said, “Yahaya Bello has not been arrested. The Kogi State governor prevented operatives from doing their work yesterday just like he did the other time. He took him away and our men could not do anything because of the immunity he (Ododo) is enjoying.”

In another attempt to get Bello to answer the charges against him, EFCC operatives again on the same night of Wednesday September 18th 2024 stormed the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja.

Yahaya Bello, again was reported to have evaded arrest by EFCC operatives with the assistance of his successor, Governor Ododo, leveraging on the immunity being enjoyed by Ododo as a sitting governor.

Apart from Ododo’s immunity covering, which Yahaya Bello has been hiding under in the past eight months, some questions are also now on the lips of some well-meaning Nigerians.

Topmost of these questions is if Yahaya Bello is also getting support and protection from another influencial personality in the Presidency, who has security background.

With these dodging of the law going on for months, it is hightime the fight against corruption in the country is really allowed to thrive.

As a matter of urgency, Yahaya Bello should immediately turn himself in for the N84 billion money laundering trial.

He should have nothing to fear if his hands are clean and has served the people of Kogi State to the best of his ability for eight years.

Even though Bello played a great role in Ododo’s emergence as the governor of Kogi State, Ododo should now start concentrating on serving the good people of Kogi State as he has sworn to do and allow Bello to carry his cross and face the course of the law.

Any other influential person backing Yahaya Bello in the Presidency, irrespective of whatever he has gained from Bello in the past, should also stop forthwith in order not to soil the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who didn’t shy away from suspending a Minister linked to corruption.

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FG MOVES TO FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION OF DASIN HAUSA DAM, OFFERS RENEWED HOPE FOR FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITIES

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FG MOVES TO FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION OF DASIN HAUSA DAM, OFFERS RENEWED HOPE FOR FLOOD-PRONE COMMUNITIES

as ICRC takes concrete steps to address perennial flooding caused by Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam

 

The Federal Government, through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has commenced concrete steps to accelerate the construction of the Dasin Hausa Dam, aiming to end decades of devastating floods affecting Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, and other river basin communities. The dam, first planned in the 1980s as a strategic buffer against floods caused by Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, has remained stalled for over 40 years, resulting in recurring humanitarian crises.

 

Under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) recently convened a high-level meeting with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited to advance the project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The session, led by ICRC Director-General Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, reviewed implementation timelines, addressed regulatory concerns, and identified immediate actions to expedite construction.

Dr. Ewalefoh emphasised President Tinubu’s directive for innovative private-sector participation in critical infrastructure, highlighting that the Dasin Hausa Dam would mitigate annual flooding disasters, generate over 300 megawatts of electricity, and provide irrigation to more than 150,000 hectares of farmland in Adamawa, Taraba, and Benue states.

“The completion of Dasin Hausa Dam is not just about stopping floods—it’s about securing our future,” Dr Ewalefoh stated. “We have witnessed enough devastation from floodwaters released from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. This dam will protect communities, preserve livelihoods, boost industrial growth, and create thousands of jobs through enhanced irrigation farming and stable power supply.”

Engr. Lamu Audu, Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Solutions, expressed the company’s commitment to mobilising private-sector funds and technical expertise for the dam’s completion. He confirmed strong interest from international financiers, donor agencies, and the World Bank in supporting the project.

The Ministry of Water Resources assured stakeholders of its full support and agreed to set clear timelines to resolve all outstanding issues swiftly.

With this renewed momentum under President Tinubu’s administration, the Dasin Hausa Dam project is positioned as a transformative infrastructure investment, promising lasting solutions to flooding and unlocking significant economic opportunities for the nation.

Signed:
Ifeanyi Nwoko
Acting Head, Media and Publicity
07034335888
12 March, 2025
For enquiries send a mail to: info@icrc.gov.ng

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LASU GRADUATE MURDER: POLICE UNCOVER BURIAL SITE AS PRIME SUSPECT CONFESSES

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LASU GRADUATE MURDER: POLICE UNCOVER BURIAL SITE AS PRIME SUSPECT CONFESSES

…Prime Suspect Apprehended After Alleged Escape to Benin Republic

…Police Seal Off Church, Cite Threats of Retaliation

 

Tension has escalated in Lagos following the latest developments in the gruesome murder of Adedamola Ogunbode, a Lagos State University graduate, as the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the location of his burial site. This confirmation comes after the arrest of the principal suspect, Olaoluwa Ajisomo, who had been on the run amid speculations that he had fled to the Benin Republic.

It was  gathered that Ajisomo was leading detectives to the site where Ogunbode was buried, signaling a major breakthrough in the case that has shocked the state and sent waves of outrage through the academic community and civil society.

Police Crackdown: Key Suspects in Custody

The Lagos State Police Command had earlier announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with the case, while five others remained at large. Among those apprehended was Whepetoji Sunday, a pastor who allegedly received N70,000 from the victim’s account, and Sheriff Adebayo, a church member accused of collecting N300,000.

Adding another twist to the chilling case, the police arrested the prime suspect’s mother, Omolara Ajisomo, who reportedly aided her fugitive sons, Olaoluwa and Teniola Ajisomo, in evading law enforcement after they each withdrew N300,000 from Ogunbode’s account.

The arrest of the principal suspect, which took place on Monday morning in the Alakuko area of Lagos, has shed new light on the case. Confirming the development, Lagos State Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that Ajisomo was directly responsible for emptying Ogunbode’s bank account using the deceased’s mobile phone.

“The principal suspect, Olaoluwa Ajisomo, was arrested yesterday (Monday) morning in the Alakuko area. He was the one who cleared the victim’s bank account through the victim’s mobile phone,” Hundeyin disclosed.

Shocking Confession Leads Police to Burial Site

Hundeyin further confirmed that Ajisomo had confessed to the murder and was cooperating with the police to locate the shallow grave where Ogunbode was buried.

“The shallow grave is not within the church premises, as some social media speculations suggested, but it is located in the same community,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, sources involved in the investigation informed PUNCH Metro that police detectives were en route to exhume the victim’s remains.

“I just received information that the newly arrested suspect has confessed to killing the LASU graduate, and the police are on their way to the burial site,” the source disclosed.

When our correspondent reached out to Hundeyin for further confirmation, he responded with a single word: “Confirmed.”

Police Seal Off Church, Prevent Retaliatory Arson

Amid rising tension, the Lagos State Police Command has taken preemptive action by sealing off the church where one of the arrested clerics worshipped. This move comes after intelligence reports suggested that an angry mob was planning to set the building ablaze in retaliation for the murder.

“The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it out of vengeance, and we do not want that to happen,” Hundeyin stated.

Growing Public Outrage and Demand for Justice

The gruesome killing of Ogunbode has sparked widespread condemnation from students, human rights groups, and Lagos residents, with many demanding swift and severe justice for the perpetrators. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take full control of the case.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State University Students’ Union, angered by the brutal murder of their colleague, had earlier threatened a statewide protest to demand accountability. With the latest arrests, attention is now focused on the legal proceedings that will follow, as Nigerians call for the full weight of the law to be brought down on the killers.

As the investigation intensifies and more details emerge, the Lagos State Police Command has assured the public that justice will be served.

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DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK: LAGOS GOVT LAUNCHES EMERGENCY VACCINATION AT KING’S COLLEGE, URGES PARENTS TO REMAIN CALM

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DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK: LAGOS GOVT LAUNCHES EMERGENCY VACCINATION AT KING’S COLLEGE, URGES PARENTS TO REMAIN CALM

…Government Officials Inspect Facilities, Enforce Public Health Measures

…Students, Staff Receive Emergency Vaccination Amid Growing Concerns

 

Panic gripped parents and stakeholders as the Lagos State Government rolled out an emergency vaccination campaign at King’s College Annexe, Victoria Island, following a confirmed diphtheria outbreak that has already claimed a life. The swift response is aimed at halting the spread of the highly infectious bacterial disease, which poses a severe public health risk if left unchecked.

Leading the urgent intervention, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, along with key government officials, stormed the school premises for an on-the-ground assessment and vaccination rollout. The delegation included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke. Their mission: to contain the outbreak and restore confidence among worried parents.

Authorities Move Swiftly to Prevent Further Casualties

Addressing the press, Prof. Abayomi acknowledged the gravity of the situation but assured the public that rigorous containment measures were already in place.

“We were very concerned about the ongoing outbreak of diphtheria at King’s College Annexe, which has persisted for about ten days. Tragically, we lost a student, but since identifying the outbreak, we have screened affected individuals, placed them on antibiotics and anti-serum treatment, and I am pleased to report that those under medical care are responding well,” he stated.

To ensure the safety of students and staff, the government has intensified its response strategy, conducting a thorough inspection of school facilities, including dormitories, classrooms, kitchen areas, dining halls, and sanitation units. Officials emphasized that improving hygiene and ventilation is critical in combating the spread of the airborne disease.

Emergency Vaccination Begins as Officials Clamp Down on Risk Factors

The most critical phase of the containment strategy is the immediate administration of diphtheria booster vaccines to students and staff. With medical teams deployed by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, the government is racing against time to build herd immunity within the school community.

“Routine immunization covers diphtheria, but immunity wanes over time. This booster vaccination will strengthen the students’ defenses and prevent further spread,” Prof. Abayomi explained.

Acknowledging concerns over the potential spread beyond the affected location, he confirmed that vaccination efforts would extend to the school’s main campus in Igbosere, as students and staff frequently move between both sites.

Parents Urged to Keep Students in School Amid Containment Measures

Despite mounting fears among parents, health authorities strongly discouraged the withdrawal of students from the school, warning that premature exits could worsen the crisis.

“We understand the anxieties of parents, but pulling children out of school could backfire. A student may seem healthy but still be incubating the bacteria. If they return home, they could unknowingly spread the infection to family members and the wider community,” Prof. Abayomi cautioned.

He reassured parents that King’s College is currently operating under strict medical supervision, almost as an isolation center, with health professionals on-site to monitor and respond swiftly to any emerging cases.

What Happens Next?

As the emergency vaccination exercise continues, the Lagos State Government remains on high alert, ramping up surveillance efforts to ensure that no additional cases slip through the cracks. Schools, parents, and health officials are urged to cooperate fully to mitigate the crisis and prevent a full-blown epidemic.

The next few days will be critical in determining the effectiveness of the containment strategy. Meanwhile, public health experts stress the importance of hygiene, timely vaccination, and community awareness in averting further tragedy.

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