
News
Yahaya Bello’s alleged money laundering suit adjourned to 2025
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned hearing in the money laundering case preferred against the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until January 21, 2025.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter after EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Michael Adoyi, made their submissions in favour and against an application by the anti-graft agency.
At the resumed hearing, Pinheiro told the court that he had two witnesses already in court. He, however, told the court that he had two applications to make since the defendant was not in court.
The first application, he said, was to formally apply that the court should enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the former governor, even in his absence.
“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence. The second point is, notwithstanding his physical absence, this will be in full compliance with Section 276 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

“Flowing from that entry, my Lord, it is a humble request that we call the first witness,” he stated.
The senior lawyer, in defending his application to enter a plea of not guilty for the defendant, said “the right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waived by the defendant.” He, therefore, urged the court to hold that Bello had waved that right.
“What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence? Even if he was in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation will still be the same. The entry of plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations,” he said.
But Michael Adoyi, who appeared for the defendant, disagreed with Pinheiro’s submission, arguing that the prosecution’s application was made contrary to a subsisting order of the judge.
“Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning – that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant.
“The prosecution has stated severally that the court cannot demonstrate helplessness. A court cannot demonstrate any helplessness in any proceeding and if at all helplessness exists in this proceeding, that helplessness is demonstrated by the prosecution,” Adoyi argued, further noting that the court, in a criminal trial, is immune and distinct from the prosecution.
He cited previous Supreme Court decisions to back his argument. According to him, the application made by learned senior counsel for the complainant this morning is a dangerous invitation to this honourable court to aid the prosecution in the performance of its duty of presenting the defendant before the court for arraignment and subsequent trial.
He argued that civil proceeding is different from criminal proceeding contrary to the argument of the EFCC’s lawyer.
He said that the prosecution’s application could not be anchored on any of the provisions of the ACJA, 2015 that he had cited, as “those provisions do not excuse the need for physical presence of the defendant.”
Adoyi then prayed the court to refused the oral application of Pinheiro.
The prosecution counsel, however, told the court to dismiss Adoyi’s arguments and go ahead with his ruling on entering a plea of not guilty for the defendant.
Speaking, Justice Nwite pointed out that the ruling might not be ready this year, considering the fact that he was just coming as a vacation judge. “So, what are we agreeing on now learned silk?” he asked.
Pinheiro said the matter would be adjourned for ruling and/or arraignment of the defendant.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter until January 21, 2025 for ruling on the application by the EFCC and/or arraignment.
It will be recalled that at the last hearing on September 25, Adoyi had told the court that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal entered by the defendant at the Supreme Court with the Appeal Number: “SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024”.
He said the most appropriate thing to do was to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to pull the rug off the feet of the apex court. (NAN)
News
Gunmen on rampage in Awka: Popular media personality- Isaac Nwosu shot dead
• Police Commissioner visits family, vows to get perpetrators
By Chuks Collins, Awka
Some yet to be identified three-man assassins suspected to be cultists have k!lled a very popular media personality in Awka Sunday afternoon.
The popular public announcer and broadcaster/radio guest artiste, comedian -Isaac Nwosu, aka ‘Aiza Nwosu’, was according to eye witnesses shot point while on the steering on the street of the Anambra capital city of Awka.
He was said to have been shot alongside two other victims at separate locations, point-blank, gangster style.
The State Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, today 31st August 2026 after a 2-hour closed-door strategic meeting with the Command’s strategic and operational officers as part of ongoing efforts to reassess information from the public especially within Awka to strengthen security operations and sustain the fight against violent crime, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Nwosu.

In his reaction shortly after the visit, Ama vowed to fish out the assailants.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to journalists said the unfortunate acts were apparently by the same assailants on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Late Nwosu was shot along S.M. Okeke Street, Amaikwo area of Awka.
Whereas the other victims were shot dead along Capital City Road, Amaenyi area in Awka.
Eyewitnesses and residents believed the dastardly act. were cult related.
According to one of the witnesses, “The assailants, numbering about three and driving in a tinted vehicle, trailed the comedian from his home, double-crossed his vehicle and before attacking and shooting him dead.
“They left the victim in a pool of blood inside his car. As they drove some distance away, they also shot another victim d3ad by the roadside, dispossessed him of his belongings and fled.
“The assailants fired some shots into the air before leaving the scene in a commando-like manner, thereby creating tension in the area. After they left, the security operatives arrived at the scene and recovered the lifeless bodies of the victims.
“The security operatives later beefed up security around the areas following the incident.”
Some videos circulating online showed the lifeless bodies of the victims lying in pools of blood at different locations as onlookers gathered around the scenes.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, August 31.
News
Kano APC Chairman shot dead by terrorists
Terrorists have shot dead the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Garba Buba, during an attack on the community.
Buba was killed on Sunday night, August 30, 2026, after terrorists reportedly invaded Rantan community and opened fire on residents. Another resident identified as Sulaiman Zunduma was also killed during the attack.
A resident of the community, Hamza Isah Rantan, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post, saying the attack forced residents to flee their homes in search of safety.
According to Hamza, the terrorists shot Buba inside his house before he was taken to a hospital for treatment. He, however, died from the injuries sustained during the attack.
Hamza also said Zunduma was shot during the invasion and died instantly. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims while praying for the recovery of those who sustained injuries.

“On Sunday night kidnappers attacked our town, Rantan, where they shot Alhaji Garab Buha, the APC ward chairman in Rantan, who later died in a hospital. They also killed another resident, Sulaiman Zunduma,” Hamza said.
The development was also confirmed by the Kano State APC spokesperson, Alhaji Auwalu Soja, who said Buba was killed on Sunday. He added that the party would issue an official statement on the incident.
The killing occurred less than 24 hours after another attack in the area, where three residents of Garun-Mallam were reportedly killed by unidentified attackers. The successive attacks have heightened concerns over the security situation in communities around the area.
The latest killing has further raised concerns over the safety of residents in Kano communities, with calls growing for security agencies to strengthen operations and prevent further attacks.
As of the time of this report, the identities and motives of those responsible for the Rantan attack had not been officially established.
News
Ex-Bayelsa Gov, Timipre Sylva dumps APC, gives reasons
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, citing what he described as the party’s departure from its founding ideals.
Sylva, a founding member of the APC, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said he made the decision after consulting his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.
Sylva also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it had disappointed most Nigerians and expressing confidence that voters would seek a change in the 2027 general elections.
In the letter, which was electronically delivered, Sylva said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders appeared to believe that “all is fair in politics.”

He wrote, “Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.
“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.
“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.
“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.”
The former governor said the APC-led government had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, adding that he saw no realistic effort to change its direction.
“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he said.
Sylva said he had therefore decided to leave the party rather than remain part of what he described as a “floundering ship.”
“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he stated.
Sylva also explained why he copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in his resignation letter.
He said he knew the decision could lead to increased scrutiny of him and his associates but was prepared to face the consequences.
“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he said.
Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and the APC Chairman in Bayelsa State.
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