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Alleged N80.2b fraud: EFCC seeks to arraign Yahaya Bello in absentia

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 21 for ruling on a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign and try in absentia former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for alleged money laundering charge pending against him.

In the charge, the EFCC accused Bello, among others, of laundering N80,246,470,088.88 belonging to Kogi State.

Justice Emeka Nwite chose the date yesterday after lawyers to the commission and Bello concluded their arguments.

EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), made the request, following Bello’s failure to attend court yesterday, despite a pending order of the court that he should submit to trial.

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Pinheiro claimed that the defendant’s continued absence from court was an attempt to truncate the court’s efforts and escape justice.

The lawyer argued that Bello’s continued absence in court for his arraignment was malicious, stressing that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Section 276 (Subsection 1) allows a judge to enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of a defendant and proceed to trial.

He insisted that the defendant was aware of the charges against him and had constituted a team of lawyers to represent him.

According to him, the court had, in its proceedings, granted more than six adjournments in the matter to enable the defendant do the needful.

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Pinheiro said the defendant’s continued nonappearance amounted to a deliberate refusal to enter a plea, describing the right to enter a plea in person as a constitutional right that could be waived by the defendant and should be deemed waived by the court.

The lawyer also argued that under jurisprudence operable in several countries, particularly the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.A), the question of arraignment and trial in absentia had long been overcome for over two centuries and created equality between civil and criminal jurisprudence.

But Bello’s counsel, Michael Adoyi, averred that the procedure for arraignment is provided for in the ACJA.

Adoyi explained that by Section 352, sub-sections 1 and 2 of ACJA, “the court, in a criminal trial, is immune and distinct from the prosecution so the application by the complainant is a dangerous invitation to the court to descend into the arena to aid the prosecution in the performance of its duty of presenting the defendant before the court for arraignment and trial”.

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The lawyer insisted that civil proceedings are distinct from criminal proceedings.

According to him, whereas the former does not require the presence of a party, the latter mandates the physical presence of the defendant for trial.

In an earlier ruling, Justice Nwite found as meritorious an application filed by Adeola Adedipe (SAN) for the variation of the court order referring him and Abdulwahab Mohammed (SAN) to the Legal Privileges and Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for their alleged roles in the Bello’s continued failure to appear in court.

The judge granted Adedipe’s prayer that his name be deleted from the earlier ruling.

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In another ruling, Justice Nwite dismissed an application praying that the case be further adjourned.

The judge recalled that he had warned that no such applications would be tolerated in the case until the defendant presented himself for arraignment.

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Abuja raid attack: Three NDLEA officers sustain gunshot injuries, hospitalized

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Three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have been hospitalized for gunshot injuries sustained after they came under attack from some armed men during a raid operation in Jahi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Thursday night.

The incident occurred when a team of NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence and surveillance report raided an uncompleted building at NNPC area of Jahi where 74 bottles of codeine, 10 litres of codeine syrup, 48grams of tramadol 225mg and 4.9kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, as well as five android phones were recovered.
As the NDLEA team made their way out of the location, they came under gun attack.

Three of the NDLEA personnel involved in the raid sustained gunshot injuries: one in the rib and two others on their back and leg.

The wounded officers were initially stabilized at the Police Clinic in Garki Area 1 before they were transferred to the National Hospital Abuja for further medical attention.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) expressed appreciation to the staff of the Police Clinic for their prompt support. He also thanked the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital who was personally reached by him for overseeing the treatment of the wounded officers.
The NDLEA boss who is in Kano on official engagements also spoke on phone with the injured officers to wish them quick recovery. He assured them that the Agency will deploy every means at its disposal and work in collaboration with other security agencies to fish out those responsible for the attack on them.

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Tinubu preaches hope at Easter gives directive to military to end insecurity

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday asked Christians in the country to use the Holy Week and Easter to reflect on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope.

The President made the call in a message he signed on Good Friday, two days to the Easter celebrations.

According to Tinubu, he was saddened by the recent insecurity in the country. He also directed security operatives to decisively end the insecurity without delay.

“The recent tragic incidents and the loss of lives in some parts of our country deeply saddened me. I understand the pain and fear these incidents have caused. Let me assure you that my administration’s resolve to restore peace and security remains unshakable. Forces of evil will never prevail over our country,” Tinubu said.

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I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability.

“As President of our blessed nation, I draw inspiration from this timeless message of hope and renewal. I remain steadfast in my commitment to delivering the promise of a Renewed Hope, a better, more just, and prosperous Nigeria for all.

“The Holy Week, which spans Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday and culminates in Easter Sunday, calls us to reflect deeply on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope.”

“I have given clear directives to the Armed Forces and all relevant security agencies to end insecurity decisively and without delay. With the unwavering courage and commitment of our gallant men and women in uniform, we are turning the tide and making steady progress in reclaiming peace and stability.

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“As President of our blessed nation, I draw inspiration from this timeless message of hope and renewal. I remain steadfast in my commitment to delivering the promise of a Renewed Hope, a better, more just, and prosperous Nigeria for all.

“The Holy Week, which spans Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday and culminates in Easter Sunday, calls us to reflect deeply on the enduring values of sacrifice, redemption, love, and hope.”

The President also expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their “patience and resilience as our economy begins to show encouraging signs of recovery.”

“We understand the economic challenges many of you are facing, and we are working tirelessly to restore investor confidence, stabilise key sectors, and build an inclusive economy that serves the interests of all Nigerians.

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“During this Easter, we join the global Christian community in thanking God for Pope Francis’s recovery. We pray that his renewed strength continues to inspire his leadership and service to humanity.

“I earnestly pray that Easter’s spirit fills every heart and home with renewed faith in the immense possibilities ahead of us as a nation. Just as Christ triumphed over death, so too shall our country triumph over every challenge we face. The present moment may be cloudy, but it will usher in a glorious day,” he added.

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Easter: HoR Minority Caucus celebrates with Christians, urges love, peace, national cohesion, calls for end to killings nationwide

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The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives congratulates the entire Christian community in Nigeria, as they join others around the world on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebrations; marking the end of the Lenten period.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by leaders of the caucus, Rep Kingsley Chinda, Leader, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Isa J.C
(Minority Whip) Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki , (Deputy Minority Leader)
Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi
(Deputy Minority Whip) stating that:

” Indeed, Easter is a very unique, and sacred time for every Christian faithful, as it is of significance following the successful completion of the 40-day fasting; which is one of the cardinal tenets of Christianity.

“As our Christian brethren across the country join others around the world to mark this auspicious day; and confident that God Almighty has accepted all prayers and supplications during this time, the Caucus admonish all to sustain the teachings, practice, and lessons of the Lenten period which embodies spiritual, personal, and leadership growth. More importantly, it is necessary to deepen the pivotal messages of the Easter celebrations which are anchored on renewal of faith, resilience and re-invigoration of good deeds, forgiveness of wrong doings, expression of love, joy, and peace to one another, and fostering of compassion, and empathy to all mankind.

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“Given our commitment to the preservation and protection of the lives of all Nigerians, and the need to ensure good governance, the Caucus calls on the Federal Government to tackle, headlong the disturbing trend of wanton killings in the country.

“The resumed cases of violence, maiming, kidnapping, and bloodletting in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country, portends serious dangers to meaningful growth and development.

“It is appropriate to call on all security agencies to ensure that the negative actions and vicious activities of this group of marauders are comprehensively curtailed, if not entirely wiped out.

“The Caucus urges Christians (and all other Nigerians) to continually pray for our Leaders; at all levels for the right wisdom, knowledge, and understanding towards navigating the country through multi-sectoral, and multi-layered challenges that are not only limiting the realization of Nigeria’s potentials but throwing our people into immeasurable hardship, debilitating hunger, and corrosive poverty.

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“Finally, Easter is not just a period for feasting, but also for reflections, new beginnings, and connection with other people, the Caucus admonishes all Nigerians to constantly emphasize virtues that promote unity, and development above negative tendencies that cause divisiveness.

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