Connect with us

News

EFCC seals 50 houses, other properties owned by Yahaya Bello over N10bn fraud

Published

on

Spread the love

…as Kogi workers celebrate bleak Christmas

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed off over 50 houses and other properties in different choice locations across the country belonging to the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, over his involvement in an alleged money laundering case to the tune of N10.2bn.

The governor is being investigated for allegedly siphoning over N10.2 billion from the state government account through his nephew, Aliyu Bello, and one Abdulsalami Hudu, a cashier of Kogi State House Administration (now at large).

Aliyu alongside Abdulsalami Hudu were arrested and arraigned before Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, by the EFCC on Thursday on 10 counts bordering on misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N10.2 billion.

This is as the hope of many workers and pensioners in the state to mark this year’s Christmas still hangs in the balance, as the civil servants and retirees lament non-payment of their salaries and pensions by the government.

A source within the anti-graft agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that some of the properties, including a five-bedroom fully detached duplex and 150-room five-star luxury hotel in Kogi and Abuja, respectively, were allegedly acquired with proceeds of the N10bn money laundering fraud.

Maduka College Advert

“Yes, I can authoritatively confirm that properties of the governor, including 50 houses, hotels and others in different locations in the country have been sealed by detectives of the EFCC attached to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering,” the source said.

“Some of the properties so far sealed were said to have been allegedly acquired from proceeds of the money siphoned by the governor through his nephew. The EFCC is committed to pursuing the case despite the distractions from the governor and his sympathiser and the governor may finally forfeit the property among other consequences if finally proven guilty.”

Meanwhile, workers in Kogi State who shared their pains and agonies with our correspondents expressed disappointment over the government’s inability to pay them their salaries and pensions, leaving them unable to meet their daily needs.

Noting that the development has ruined their plans to celebrate the season with their loved ones, the workers lamented that they have for months been receiving salary payments piecemeal with some getting as little as 20 percent.

“It is quite shameful that we will not be celebrating the yuletide season with our colleagues from other states across the country because we have a selfish, non-performing, wicked and corrupt government led by Yahaya Bello who has continued to deny us our salaries and pensions,” Yakubu Oseni, a civil servant in the employ of Kogi State, said.

“It is a few hours until Christmas and while other state governments have paid their workers December salaries and even a 13th month salary, we are yet to see November salary. Is this not wickedness? A government of favouritism, cronyism and nepotism,” Oseni said.

“Imagine not being able to pay workers their due salaries and wages but siphoned over N10bn of public funds through his nephew, and he is busy buying houses and other properties in different choice locations across the country. This is apart from the huge public funds he expended pursuing his joke of a presidential ambition.

“Who did this to us as a people? How did we get here? This man is the worst thing that has happened to Kogi State. EFCC must further investigate him and help Kogi people recover all our monies looted by this man through his families and cronies,” he said.

Nigerian Observer

News

Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom

Published

on

The abducted children
Spread the love

A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.

The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.

The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.

Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.

According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.

When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

Maduka College Advert

Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.

He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”

Continue Reading

News

Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note

Published

on

Ifechukwu Dennis, the suspect
Spread the love

The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.

The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.

In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.

Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

Maduka College Advert

An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.

Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.

Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.

Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

Continue Reading

News

Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held

Published

on

Spread the love

Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.

Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.

The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.

He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.

Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.

The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

Maduka College Advert

The statement reads:

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.

“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.

“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).

“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.

“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.

It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert