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EFCC threatens to involve military in arresting Yahaya Bello

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‘EFCC is an illegal organisation,’ Ex-governor Yahaya Bello tells court
Yahaya Bello
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to involve the military in executing the order issued on Wednesday by Justice Emeka Nwite for the arrest of the immediate past Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.

EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), issued the threat on Thursday while accusing Bello’s successor, Usman Ododo of frustrating his client’s effort to execute the order on Wednesday.

Pinheiro said: “What happened yesterday was that a person with immunity (Ododo) came to whisk him (Bello)  away to abort his arrest.

“We know that he is being kept in his successor’s house. Immunity is not attached to a building but to a person.

“We can invite the military to enter the building where he is being kept to execute the order of this court,” he said.

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Pinheiro noted the law allows the EFCC to break into a building to effect arrest, adding that “what is edifying for him (Bello) is to come to court and not to continue to play game.

”He  urged the court to give the prosecution up till next week to produce the defendant, adding: “We know what to do. He cannot stand in the way of the Constitution.

“A former president of the United States was indicted, he is attending court. He did not play pranks by filing frivolous cases.

“If he believes he is innocent, he should come before the court and defend it here,” Pinheiro said.

Earlier at the mention of the case, Pinheiro told the case that the matter was slated for the arraignment of the defendant (Bello).

He said since the defendant was not in court but represented by a team of lawyers, they should be served with the charge filed against their client, who escaped being served and arrested the previous day.

Pinheiro urged the court to find out from the lawyer who announced an appearance for the defendant.

On being asked why Bello was absent, his lawyer, Abdulwahab Muhammed (SAN) said the ex-Governor was not in court because there is a subsisting order of a High Court of Koki State barring the EFCC from arresting and prosecuting him in respect of the current case.

Mohammed added that the restraining order the fundamental rights enforcement suit, HCL/68M/24 filed by Bello had since been appealed by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) one of the lawyers who represented the EFCC in the case.

He said the appeal was pending at the Court of Appeal, adding that rather than await the outcome of the appeal, the EFCC rushed before the Federal High Court to file the 16-count charge and obtain an order for Bello’s arrest.

Mohammed said his client filed a preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to look at the charge and to also issue the arrest warrant it issued on Wednesday.

He added: “This court should ask them (lawyers to the EFCC) whether there is an order restraining them, whether they have not appealed and whether they are not trying to place this court on a collision course with the Court of Appeal.

“What happened in Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja yesterday when they laid siege on the house of the defendant was uncalled for. A major blood bath was averted.

“He (Bello) presented them (EFCC’s officials) with an order, they quickly ran to this court to obtain an order for a warrant of arrest.

“We are saying this court has no jurisdiction. The only business of this court today is to determine whether or not this court has jurisdiction to issue the order of warrant it made.”

Mohammed told the court that the substantive suit was decided on Wednesday in favour of his client, adding that the court held that Bello cannot be arrested or detained.

Responding, Pinheiro faulted Mohammed’s claim that the substantive suit was decided in Bello’s favour.

He read part of the judgment, where he noted that the Kogi court ordered that the EFCC must first obtain the leave of a superior court before arresting of prosecuting Bello.

Pinheiro added that since the substantive suit had been decided, the ex-parte order being referred to by Mohammed was no longer alive.

He said the EFCC has fully complied with the order of the Kogi court because it has filed a charge and has also obtain an order for his arrest.

Pinheiro then applied that since ‘attempt to serve the defendant and bring him to court in line with the court’s order was frustrated yesterday by person of immunity, we now apply that a lawyer representing him should be served or accept service on his behalf.

He cited  Section 382(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and sought the leave of court to deliver the charge and supporting documents to the defence lawyer, who has unconditionally announced his appearance for the defendant.

He added: “Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to serve the defendant personally, since the objective of service is to bring to the knowledge of the defendant the subsistence of the charge, the defendant having fully briefed a counsel to represent him and the counsel has also filed processes on behalf of the defendant.

“The issue of impracticability or impossibility does not arise. More particularly,  having formally filed processes on behalf of the defendant, the necessity for the complainant to file a formal application for leave is dispensed with, because in furtherance of the decisions of the Supreme Court, this court can make use of materials in its file to make any findings or decision it deems fit.”

Pinheiro noted that there was already an application filed on behalf of the defendant by his lawyer, who is physically present in court and announced an unconditional appearance for the defendant.

He added: “It therefore becomes unnecessary to bring a formal application to present the same materials to the counsel already before the court. Criminal proceedings before this court are summary trial.”

He faulted the prosecution’s suggestion that the charge be served on defendant’s lawyers, arguing that the procedure was that the prosecution must first attempt personal service before resorting to substituted service.

He added that the prosecution also needs to file a formal application for leave to effect service on the defendant through substituted means.

The defence lawyer said he did not appear unconditionally by virtue of the notice of preliminary objection he filed on April 12

He noted that the EFCC filed an application on April 17 in which it also prayed the court for order of substituted service, which the court refused to grant on Wednesday, but only issued arrest warrant.

Mohammed submitted that the only option to the EFCC was for it to file an appeal and not to make similar application again.

He added: “To repeat the same application orally is an abuse of the court’s process. In the unlikely event that the court wants to take cognisance of this oral application for substituted service, it is our submission  that Section 382(5) of ACJA is subject to sub-section 4.”

Mohammed said sub-section 4 of Section 382 of the ACJA  provides that there should be evidence that attempt was made at personal service, which failed before leave could be obtained for substituted service.

“There is no such evidence before the court. We urge this court to refuse the prayer, cognisance of the fact that it is a criminal trial.

“We don’t have the authority of the defendant to accept service of the charge,” Mohammed said.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned till April 23 for ruling on whether or not the prosecution could serve the charge on Bello through his lawyer. (The NATION)

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Obi donates ₦10m to Faith Foundation Nursing College, urges Youths to reject ethnic politics

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Mr. Peter Obi (right) presenting the ₦10 million cheque to the Proprietor of Faith Foundation College of Nursing Sciences, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Agbo (left), during his visit to inspect ongoing projects at the institution in Nsukka.
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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress( NDC) in the 2027 elections, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday visited the Faith Foundation College of Nursing Sciences, Nsukka, where he expressed delight at the progress of projects underway at the institution.

Obi, who inspected some of the ongoing projects, was received by the Proprietor of the College, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Agbo, who expressed appreciation for Obi’s longstanding support for the institution.

Agbo disclosed that Obi’s earlier financial contributions had played a significant role in giving the institution the confidence to embark on many of the projects currently under construction.

The Proprietor said the support had encouraged the management to continue investing in the development of the institution and its facilities.

In continuation of his support for the institution, Obi presented a cheque of ₦10 million towards the ongoing projects.

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He also assured the management that he would continue to partner with the institution until it realises its objective of producing its first set of nurses.

Obi said his intervention was part of his broader commitment to supporting education and healthcare, particularly the training of quality healthcare professionals who would contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He thereafter proceeded to St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nsukka, where he participated in the 68th Annual Conference of Anglican Youths.

Addressing the youths, Obi urged them to recognise their responsibility in building a new Nigeria, stressing that the country they desire cannot emerge without their active participation in shaping its future.

He urged them to reject politics based on tribe, religion or language and instead insist on electing leaders with proven character, competence, capacity, integrity and strong ethical values.

According to him, the future of Nigeria depends not only on the leaders the country produces but also on the standards citizens demand from those who seek public office.

“Our future depends not only on the leaders we produce but also on the standards we demand. Together, we can build the New Nigeria that is possible,” he said.

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Gunmen invade Kogi communities, kill residents

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Bandits kill over 30 in fresh attack on Benue
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Several people were feared killed on Thursday when armed men reportedly attacked three communities in Kupa Kingdom — Abugi, Kuchinda and Mikugi — in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State in an alleged reprisal attack.

Residents said the incident began around 8am when a herder, suspected of being a cattle rustler, was shot and killed during a heated altercation with local vigilantes at a checkpoint in the community.

“Few hours after the checkpoint incident between a herder and vigilantes, armed hoodlums invaded the town, shooting sporadically from different directions.

“In the process, several residents were killed, with many others sustaining injuries, as the armed hoodlums attacked streets, markets and even the palace of our paramount traditional ruler in the town.

“As of yesterday night, seven people were confirmed dead. The death toll may rise in the days ahead as the search for and confirmation of victims is still in progress.

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“Moreover, the situation will become clearer when families who sought refuge in safer communities start returning from their various hiding places,” Ahmed, a resident of Abugi, said.

A son of the Mayaki of Kupa, Prince Aliyu Isah Kabir, who is the APC Youth Leader of Kupa South Ward, was confirmed to be among the victims of the attack.

The Lokoja Local Government Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the incident, saying the attack on the Kupa communities had led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

Adamu said: “We have charged the relevant security agencies to swing into action and arrest anyone who has a hand, directly or remotely, in the attack and bring them to face the law.

“The government is saddened by this devilish act and will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for the deceased. I want to appeal for calm while the relevant security agencies take action.”

The Kogi State Government also condemned the attack, describing it as tragic, senseless and unacceptable.

In a statement issued on Friday, the state government described the incident as a reprisal attack and vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding it, identify those responsible and prosecute them as a deterrent to others.

In the statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the government said: “The Kogi State Government condemns in the strongest terms both the killing of the unarmed herder and the subsequent reprisal attack.

“These are criminal acts that have no place in our society. Anyone found to have participated in either incident, regardless of status or ethnic affiliation, will face the full weight of the law.

“We appeal to all residents to remain calm and resist the temptation of reprisals. We also urge members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing investigations and the arrest of all those responsible.”

According to the statement, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo sympathised with the families of the deceased and directed “security agencies to immediately restore calm, take control of the situation and apprehend those responsible for the killings.”

The government also appealed for calm, urging residents to avoid further retaliation and provide security agencies with credible information as investigations into the incident continue.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command was contacted over the development, but its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls and a text message as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)

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PFIPC probe: ICPC uncovers two more fake agencies linked to Adeyemi

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Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered two more fake agencies operated by the self‑styled Director‑General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi.

ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after he submitted the commission’s interim report on the existence and operation of the fake agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dr. Aliyu said the investigation revealed that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was never established by law or executive order.

According to the interim report, the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was forged, while the PFIPC illegally appropriated offices and instruments from the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

He said the fake agency, using the former PEAC office, engaged in false representation, widespread impersonation and various illegal activities that exploited weaknesses in verification and inter‑agency oversight.

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He further stated that the investigation uncovered two additional fake government agencies: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (PIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (PIPA).

“These agencies were created using forged legislative instruments and were used to open bank accounts for illegal activities,” he said.

The ICPC boss said Adeyemi changed the name of the fake agency from Foreign Investment Promotion Council to Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and attempted to expand its mandate to include revenue generation.

He said: “The investigation found no funds were approved or disbursed for the fake PFIPC/PEAC, and there were no weaknesses in the State House or CBN system.”

Some recommendations of the committee, which was given 30 days to unravel the mystery behind the existence of the fake agency, include prosecution of Mr. Adeyemi; imposing administrative sanctions on public officers who facilitated the illegal operations; and instituting reforms to improve internal controls

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The public officers who were said to be collaborators are from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Accountant‑General’s Office, the Budget Office and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.

“The report is interim and the investigation continues to uncover more details to file criminal charges against Adeyemi and his collaborators,” he said.

Dr. Aliyu added that President Tinubu has taken note of the findings and has expressed his commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing the issue.

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