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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.”
Monthly disbursements to the federal, states and local government areas dropped for the third consecutive time yesterday. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N1.58 trillion to the three tiers for March
The committee announced N2. 411 trillion as the total revenue generated in March at its April meeting in Abuja yesterday.
The total distributable revenue comprised N931.325 billion from statutory sources, N593.750 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), N24.971 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) and N28.711 billion from Exchange Difference revenue.
According to the communiqué issued by FAAC, the gross revenue available for March stood at N2.411 trillion. The deductions for cost of collection stood N85.376 billion, while N747.180 billion went to transfers, interventions and refunds accounted consumed.
Despite the lower net revenue available for distribution, the March statutory revenue of N1.718 trillion showed an increase of N65.422 billion over the N1.653 trillion received in February.
However, revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) dropped to N637.618 billion last month from the February figure of N654.456 billion – a decrease of N16.838 billion.
From the total distributable sum of N1.578 trillion, the federal government received N528.696 billion; states collectively got N530.448 billion, while the 774 local government areas received N387.002 billion. Additionally, N132.611 billion – representing 13 per cent of mineral revenue – was allocated to oil-producing states as derivation revenue.
The breakdown of the N931.325 billion statutory revenue shows that the federal government took N422.485 billion, the states got N214.290 billion and N165.209 billion shared to the councils. The oil-producing states received N129.341 billion from this component as derivation revenue.
From the VAT pool of N593.750 billion, the federal government got N89.063 billion, states got N296.875 billion and the local government areas got N207.813 billion.
For the EMTL revenue of N24.971 billion, the federal government took N3.746 billion, states received N12.485 billion and local government areas went home with N8.740 billion.
In the case of Exchange Difference revenue of N28.711 billion, the federal government received N13.402 billion, states N6.798 billion and local government areas was allocated N5.241 billion. A further N3.270 billion from this revenue was distributed as 13 per cent derivation to oil-producing states.
A deeper look into the revenue trends shows that while Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased significantly during the month under review, several other key sources witnessed declines.
These include Oil and Gas royalty, EMTL, VAT, Excise Duty, Import Duty, and Common External Tariff (CET) Levies.
A viral video showing several Nigerian police officers allegedly receiving N5,000 each from a Chinese man and his family has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over corruption and ethics in the Nigeria Police Force.
The footage, which surfaced online, shows uniformed officers lining up as a Chinese man hands them cash gifts.
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from the public and human rights advocates, who described it as disgraceful and damaging to the image of the police.
When contacted by Vanguard, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he was unaware of the viral video or the incident.
Similarly, the Lagos State Police Command distanced itself from the footage. Its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the incident did not occur in Lagos, contrary to claims circulating online.
Public figures have also weighed in. Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), described the video as “shameful” and called for the removal of the IGP.
“This is why I keep saying illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun must leave the police force. It is the shame of the nation,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Popular social commentator and human rights activist Martins Victor Otse, also known as VeryDarkBlackMan, called the act “disgraceful, disrespectful, and degrading,” urging the police leadership to address the matter transparently.
The incident has intensified calls for accountability, with many Nigerians demanding disciplinary action and systemic reforms to restore public confidence in the police force.
The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday.
He emphasised the importance of embodying the virtues of the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ, who had to die for the redemption of man, while greeting Christians on the joyous occasion.
In a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister called on Nigerians to use the holiday period to pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the nation.
He reassured citizens of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster national growth and development.
“Furthermore, he encouraged Nigerians to extend love and goodwill to their neighbours through acts of kindness and generosity.
“The minister wished all Christians a blissful Easter celebration and extended warm holiday greetings to all Nigerians,” the statement added.
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