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EFCC Advised to Follow Due Process in Its Case Against Yahaya Bello
EFCC Advised to Follow Due Process in Its Case Against Yahaya Bello
By: Michael Mike
Amidst the legal fireworks on the warrant of arrest on former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, and the restraining order issued by the Kogi State High Court, a coalition of anti-corruption groups led by the Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI) have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to follow due process in the prosecution of the former governor.
Bello is under investigation over alleged embezzlement of N80.2 billion.
On Tuesday, a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the EFCC to serve the money laundering charges against the former governor through his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed.
Nwite, relying on section 382(4) and (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), also ordered Mr Mohammed, having announced an unconditional appearance for the former governor, to accept service on behalf of the defendant.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the publicity director of the Anti-corruption and Research-based Initiative (ARDI), Mr Nwabueze Anyanwu, who led a coalition of CSOs, said the groups had, over the last few weeks, followed with keen interest the current impasse between the EFCC and Bello, which culminated in the raid on his private residence in Abuja.
He said the Coalition’s “concern hinges on the need for both parties to work within the ambit of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to avoid subjecting the War on Corruption in this country to further odium in the eyes of right-thinking people, as well as do our bit to avert the ongoing and needless overheating of our polity.”
The coalition claimed that the anti-graft agency has not extended to Bello the customary investigation to visit her offices for the purposes of assisting her in any investigations
It stressed that it could not also find evidence anywhere, no matter how remote, where the Commission has asserted that she did extend such an invitation to him.
Ozugbi said the coalition knows that the Commission would usually send an invitation letter, and often several reminders, to a respondent in any petition before even seeking warrants of arrest, and certainly long before taking drastic actions like the raid it conducted last Thursday.
He added: “The attempt by officers of the EFCC to arrest Alhaji Yahaya Bello is in flagrant disregard of a subsisting court order that comprehensively bars her from doing so based on a determination that their actions in the entire circumstances of the case amount to actual and threatened breach of all of his fundamental human rights
“The EFCC is currently at the Appeal Court to challenge that subsisting order of the High Court of Kogi State and the Appellate Court has insisted that parties should maintain the status quo pending determination of the appeal. We are convinced that the EFCC has breached both the principles of the sanctity of court orders and the pendency of suits by her subsequent actions.
“This informs our conclusion that the EFCC’s raid on Yahaya Bello’s Residence at No. 9 Benghazi Street, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, is in disobedience of subsisting orders of courts and practice procedure, making it both regrettable and an aberration under the Rule of Law.”
It further recalled that EFCC, under the leadership of Abdul Rasheed Bawa, had previously accused Bello of hiding the sum of $20 billion as bail-out money due to Kogi State in a Sterling Bank account and for his own aggrandisement and personal enrichment
It said that from 2022, when it first became breaking news at the instance of the EFCC, till today, the agency could not substantiate that particular allegation against Bello in any court of law with the same energy with which it tried and found him guilty of it in the media.
“The sundry allegations of embezzlement of a whopping sum of N80.2bn by EFCC against Alhaji Yahaya Bello is poorly presented and appear to be politically motivated
“The EFCC, under the leadership of Abdul Rasheed Bawa (former Chairman of the Commission), had previously accused Alhaji Yahaya Bello of hiding a whooping sum of N20billion being bail-out money due to Kogi State in a Sterling Bank account, and for his own aggrandisement and personal enrichment
“From 2022, when it first became breaking news at the instance of the EFCC, till today, the agency could not substantiate that particular allegation against Alhaji Yahaya Bello in any court of law with the same energy with which it tried and found him guilty of it in the media. As it is, those allegations seem to have evaporated with the exit of Bawa as chairman, while new allegations have surfaced under the newest leadership.
“The EFCC originally alleged that the N80.2bn embezzlement occurred in September 2015, except that will put the alleged offence several months before Alhaji Yahaya Bello assumed office for the first time as Kogi State Governor, having not been an official or servant of the Kogi State Government in any capacity prior to then.
“Perhaps, confronted with the incongruity of that accusation, the Commission later amended the date to February 2016, that is, just 3 weeks after he assumed office, and by which time the records show that his administration was yet to collect its first federal allocation. The Anti-Corruption Coalition will really appreciate deeper insight from the Anti-Corruption agency on the mechanics of these charges.
“The inconsistencies in the allegations by the EFCC against Alhaji Yahaya Bello clearly show that the allegations lack substance. Moreover, the EFCC has continued a sensational media trial of Alhaji Yahaya Bello with media releases in a staccato fashion that call to question how they serve the interests of justice in the matter.”
EFCC Advised to Follow Due Process in Its Case Against Yahaya Bello
NAPPS decries multiple taxation in Adamawa, urges review
Nigeria Associate of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Adamawa Chapter has decried on multiple taxations by the State and Local government councils and urged review for education development in the state.
Malam Muhammad Musa, Chapter Chairman, stated this at the NAPPS Day 2025 and magazine lunching in Yola on Saturday with the theme “working the talk to build collaboration between the government and private education sector”.
He appreciated the state government commitment for the development of education in the state and urged for the review of local government taxes.
According to him, before private schools were paying N10,000 as a tax and now some LGAs jack it up to N150,000.
He added that the operation of private schools is not a business but provides services for education development in the state and country.
Musa said, NAPPS is the umbrella for all private schools and urged members to be united and cooperate with the ministry of education to succeed.
In his remarks, Malam Mustapha Midawa, Registre, Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola congratulated the Association and appreciated them for their contribution to education development in the state.
He urged NAPPS members to encourage their students to get all the requirements for admission into MAU as they were now offering all courses.
Mr Hassan Hassan, Area Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Jimeta expressed the agency confidence that the synergy between the agency and NAPPS would pave the way for sensitising students on the danger of drug abuse.
Hassan, represented by Timothy Urum, Assistant Superintendent Narcotic said, the agency has been committed to ensure that the rate of drug abuse is eradicated in the state.
He said they were always ready to embark on sensitisation and awareness creation to pupils and students to understand the effect of drug abuse that led some young people to commit a crime.
The NAPPS also presented an award to some philanthropists for their outstanding performance in sponsoring orphans, scholarship and support to education development in the state.
NAPPS decries multiple taxation in Adamawa, urges review
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved ₦1 billion for the immediate commencement of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship in Bama.
Governor Zulum announced the donation on Monday while receiving an inter-ministerial delegation on an assessment visit to the Government House.
The team included officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Head of Service.
The institution was established after a bill sponsored by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan was signed into law by the President on May 22, 2025.
Governor Zulum had previously handed over the existing Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology in Bama to the federal government to facilitate a quick start of academic activities.
“I want to announce the donation of ₦1 billion for the take off of the University,” Zulum stated. “I hereby direct the Commissioner for Education to facilitate the process and identify the immediate priority areas and gaps to channel the resources.”
He explained the state’s proactive role, saying, “The federal government announced the establishment of the university, but the state has to provide the enabling environment for the immediate take off of the institution.”
“Although the institution belongs to the federal government, the services that would be rendered is for the good people of Borno State,” he added. “For me, every federal institution, especially the tertiary institutions belong to Borno State government.”
The governor also promised to construct staff quarters and provide additional support.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, sponsor of the bill, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, minister of education for ensuring that the university becomes a reality.
Leader of the federal delegation, who is also the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Rakiya Gambo Iliyasu, reported that the team was impressed after inspecting the Bama facility.
“Your Excellency, the team went round the institution this morning and what we saw was quite encouraging,” Rakiya said. “We can tell His Excellency that the institution has everything it needs to take off.”
She confirmed that the institution is ready to begin operations and that the team would proceed with staff verification.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur; Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, SAN; Member representing Monguno, Marte and Nganzai federal constituency, Hon. Bukar Talba; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Malumbe; other members of the State Executive Council as well as Special Advisers.
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Forty-five kidnapped persons have been released from captivity in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State following engagements under the Operation Safe Corridor peace accord.
The victims, comprising men and women abducted from Guga in Doguwar Dorawa Fulani settlement camp and Gidan Danmayaki villages, were freed on Monday through a negotiation channel linked to a bandit leader identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.
Zagazola Makama report that the victims regained freedom at about 1400hrs and were immediately received by the member representing Bakori Constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker transferred the victims to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Bakori, where medical personnel conducted evaluations to ascertain their physical condition after prolonged captivity.
Authorities said the freed hostages have since been reunited with their families.
Security personnel and community leaders are maintaining close monitoring as part of efforts to consolidate the peace process and prevent further attacks.
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
NAPPS decries multiple taxation in Adamawa, urges review
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
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