News
Group Urges Governor Ododo To Hand Over Wanted Yahaya Bello To EFCC, Threatens To Occupy Govt House
Some residents of Kogi State under the aegis of People of Kogi have called on the state governor Alhaji Usman Ododo to hand over former Governor Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In April, SaharaReporters reported how Governor Ododo prevented the arrest of his immediate predecessor and political godfather, Yahaya Bello at his (Bello’s) Abuja residence.
EFCC operatives had on laid siege to Bello’s house to arrest him but the Kogi governor prevented the EFCC personnel from arresting the embattled former governor, Bello.
Ododo took Bello out of the area in his official vehicle.
The anti-graft agency in a statement signed by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, lamented the action and warned “members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties”.
Bello is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing allegations of money laundering involving N80.2 billion. He has however refused to appear in court.
A statement issued by the group of Kogi people on Sunday, said, “We, the citizens of Kogi State, stand united against the corrupt governance that has plagued our state and nation for far too long. We will not be silenced or intimidated by hollow warnings from a government that has consistently failed to address our grievances.
“The recent press release from the Kogi State Government is nothing more than a desperate attempt to quell the voices of a populace fed up with bad governance.
“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: The Government of Kogi State, under the administration of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, must immediately hand over the fugitive former governor Yahaya Bello to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We will no longer tolerate the shielding of corrupt individuals who have looted our state’s resources and left us in abject poverty.
“ACCOUNTABILITY NOW: The Kogi State Government’s claims of solidarity with national economic efforts are laughable. The real solidarity should be with the suffering people of Kogi State, not with a corrupt elite. We demand transparency and accountability from those who have betrayed the public trust.
“EMPTY PROMISES: The so-called economic policies and investments touted by the Kogi State Government are a smokescreen to distract from their failures. We see through the lies. Our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure remain in shambles while they line their pockets with our hard-earned money.
“RIGHT TO PROTEST: The right to protest is enshrined in our constitution and is a fundamental part of our democracy. The government’s attempt to paint peaceful protests as violent and unpatriotic is an insult to every citizen who demands a better future for themselves and their children.
“WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED: The citizens of Kogi State will not be cowed by threats or misinformation. We stand firm in our demand for justice. If the government refuses to hand over Yahaya Bello to the EFCC, we will have no choice but to take matters into our own hands and occupy the Government House.
“UNITY AND ACTION: We call on all Kogi citizens to join us in this fight for our future. We must remain united and resolute in our demand for justice and accountability. Together, we can bring about the change we so desperately need.
“MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT: Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, your attempts to silence us will fail. Hand over Yahaya Bello to the EFCC or face the full force of a people’s movement that will not rest until justice is served.
“CALL TO ACTION: We urge every citizen to prepare for a massive, peaceful protest. This is not a time for fear but for action. Let us show the world that the people of Kogi State will not be silenced or oppressed.”
News
Nigerian Man Nabbed For Stabbing Fellow National To Death In France
A 27-year-old Nigerian man, identified only as Popori, has been arrested in Grenoble, France, for allegedly stabbing a fellow citizen, Monday, to death.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on the evening of Friday, November 22, when a fight broke out between two men during an altercation in a grocery store in Grenoble, Isère, France.
DayFR reports that, according to Grenoble Prosecutor Eric Vaillant, who confirmed information from Dauphiné Libéré, the incident occurred around 8:30pm.
The two men were inside an exotic grocery store when an argument broke out, quickly escalating into a violent altercation.
One of the individuals suddenly stabbed the other in the chest, for reasons still unclear.
Emergency services arrived on the scene but were unable to revive the victim.
On Saturday, the Grenoble public prosecutor announced that a 27-year-old Nigerian man had been taken into police custody at 12:30pm as part of an investigation initiated by the local judicial police service.
News
Longest serving monarch dies at 111
Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa, the longest serving traditional ruler in Bauchi State, is dead.
Inuwa, the village Head of Beli (Sarkin Beli) in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi, passed away at the Federal Medical Center Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of the state.
The monarch who was 111-year-old spent 91 years on the throne.
Chief Imam of Beli, Liman Musa Abubakar, confirmed the death of monarch which he described as a great loss to the entire people of Northern Nigeria.
During one of the interviews with Daily Trust in his lifetime, the late monarch had said, “Their grandfather was appointed as village head of Beli. He spent 12 years on the throne. He died and our father was appointed the village head. He spent 17 years. After that, I was appointed to the throne when I was 19 years old. This means that by my calculation, I was born around 19 12 or 1913. I was appointed to the throne around 1933 by the Emir of Katagum, AbdulQadir.”
The monarch lived and worked with four different first class Emirs of Katagum.
“We lived with the Emir of Katagum Abdulqadir who appointed me for 12 years before he left the throne and died six months later. Emir Umaru Faruqu was appointed. We spent 35 years with him.
When he died, his son, Muhammadu Kabiru was appointed. We spent 38 years with Emir Kabiru before he died, Again, after Muhammadu Kabiru, the present Emir of Katagum, Umaru Faruq II, was appointed. We lived with him for Six years.
Late Inuwa had said, “I am almost 91 years old on the throne. Alhamdulillahi, we live in peace with the people. And I gave birth to 11 people. Some of them died, but there are seven of them alive – four men and three women.
Many people interviewed said he was a peaceful ruler who [had] listening ears and worked for the peace of the land.”
News
Katsina gov presents N682bn 2025 budget to State Assembly
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State on Monday presented the State’s 2025 Budget Proposal to the state House of Assembly.
This is the second full year budget the governor is presenting to the House, which is in the sum of N682,244,449,513.87, covering Recurrent Revenue and Expenditure.
The Budget’s Recurrent Expenditure stands at the sum of N157,967,755,024.36 representing 23.15% while, Capital Expenditure stands at N524,274,694,489.51 representing 76.85%.
The Governor in his speech, announced that, the total of this budget when compared with that of the 2024, has an increase of N200,535,619,501.61, representing 40% increase.
The Governor, at the beginning of his speech, assured the House that his administration has achieved many of its goals and is on course to meet and exceed its targets.
He insisted that his administration has successfully reversed the tide of insecurity which severely threatened the peaceful co-existence of people in the State.
“Many of our local governments have been restored to normalcy while pushing the bandits to the fringes of the forests and, Insha-Allah, to the end of their existence.
“We have expended a lot of resources in fighting insecurity, and we shall continue to do all we can to protect lives and livelihoods in our dear state. I thank the Honourable Members for your support and dedication to ultimate victory,” he said.
The Governor while ranking MDAs by allocations, revealed that the Economic Sector got N302,246,140,569.76 representing 44.3%, followed by the Education Sector with 95,995,873,044.70 representing 14%.
In the same vein, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development got 81,840,275,739.70 representing 12% while the Ministry of Rural and Social Development got 58,728,146,293.72 representing 9%.
Other sectors such as the Ministry of Water Resources, 53,832,219,322.46 representing 8%, Ministry of Environment, 49,835,521,799.25 representing 7%, Ministry of Health, 43,881,752,172.75 representing 6%, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs 18,938,508,746.95 representing 3%, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport 9,684,806,758.56 representing 10%.
Other sectors he said are in the sum of 230,759,902,908.71 representing 31% of the total proposed budget
-
Metro16 hours ago
Farmer allegedly beats suspected thief to death in Ondo
-
Sports17 hours ago
Lukaku keeps Napoli top of Serie A with Roma winner
-
Foreign17 hours ago
Hezbollah launches largest attack on Israel, hits Ashdod naval base, Tel Aviv
-
Metro16 hours ago
Army destroys 34 illegal refineries in Niger Delta
-
News16 hours ago
Many Pastors Are Not Enjoying Their Marriages Due To Wives’ Behaviours – Bamiloye
-
News16 hours ago
Abia bans unauthorised free medical outreaches
-
Sports17 hours ago
Mbappe on target as Real Madrid cruise to Leganes win
-
News10 hours ago
Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters