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Just in: Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello in trouble as EFCC lay siege to his house in Abuja
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have barricaded the house of immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in Wuse, Abuja.
Reports indicate that the EFCC siege is coming days after the former governor held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, at the State House.
It was gathered that there is currently no movement in and around the house located at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 in the nation’s federal capital.
On Wednesday, a top source shared the photograph showing how operatives of the EFCC barricaded the access road to the Bello’s house.
The source said: “EFCC barricades Bello’ house in Abuja. No movement in the area as EFCC barricaded the house. They are yet to gain access.”
Although there was no immediate information available to the reason while the anti-graft agency stormed the former governor’s residence, it may be connected with the N84 billion fraud case against him which the EFCC is prosecuting.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with financial fraud to the tune of N84 billion.
The anti-graft commission in an amended charge, accused Bello of diverting N80 billion of state funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office.
Recall that the EFCC had arraigned Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for alleged money laundering to the tune of N10 billion belonging to the State government.
The State Government faulted the charge describing it as “ridiculous” and “laughable”, argued that it is impossible, as the former governor was not yet in a position to access or misappropriate state funds at said time.
The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, had on February 7, 2024, accused the EFCC of being “infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of ‘Mr. President’ to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”
Media had reported that the EFCC had dragged former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering.
EFCC, which joined Bello’s nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu as co-accused, had said it is prosecuting them on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of fund to tune of N84, 062,406,089.88.
The anti-graft agency had claimed in the amended charge that former governor Bello is still at large.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Yahaya Adoza Bello (still at large) and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large), sometime in September, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-nine Naira, Eighty-eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended,” the EFCC said in a release sent to media.
“While ex-Governor Yahaya Bello and Hudu are still at large, Ali Bello and Suleiman, first and second defendants respectively, who were present in court “pleaded not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.
Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, is dead.
He passed away on Saturday morning, December 28, 2024.
He will be buried today at his home on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.
The governor and others have sent their sympathies to his family and loved ones.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye confirmed the development also confirmed in a statement.
The statement said: “In total submission to the will of Allaah, we regret to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Prince AbdulKadir Mahe.
“He died this morning, December 28, 2024, as has been destined by Allaah.
“The late CoS will be buried today at his residence on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.
His Excellency deeply mourns the death of Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, a perfect gentleman, community leader, urbane public servant, and a statesman.
“The governor commiserates with the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the immediate family of Prince AbdulKadir; government establishments; and cabinet members.
“We ask for the understanding of everyone at this mournful period as the government and family mourn the quintessential public servant.
“We pray that Allaah accept his return, ease his accounts, admit him to al-jannah Firdaus, and uphold his family upon goodness
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced planned power outages in certain areas this weekend to allow for maintenance work on its transmission equipment.
According to a statement by the General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the exercise is aimed at ensuring better service delivery.
On Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Gwagwalada and nearby communities will experience a temporary power outage. This is to allow engineers to perform maintenance on a 60MVA transformer and related switchgear at the Gwagwalada Transmission Substation.
Similarly, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, power will be interrupted in several areas, including Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp. The outage will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as engineers carry out work on another 60MVA transformer at the Kukwaba Transmission Substation.
In the statement, TCN apologized for the inconvenience caused by the outages and sought the understanding of affected customers. It emphasized the importance of the maintenance work to ensure the power equipment functions optimally. “TCN apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause, especially during the end-of-year season. However, it is important that maintenance is carried out as scheduled for optimal performance of power equipment,” the statement read.
* As train is delayed, NRC officials demand tickets
By Emmanuel Agaji
The much publicised tree train ride for passengers travelling to different destinations along the Itakpe/ Warri route may be a hoax as officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) at Itakpe, Kogi State, demand e-tickets and other evidence of payment for the trip.
Naojablitznews observed that upon arrival at the train station, travellers are accosted by the train operators to show their tickets to confirm their booking for the ride.
When a passenger shows his ticket, he is allowed to move into the Departure Lounge while those who had arrived on the assumption that the train ride was free are shoved aside , told to write down their names on a sheet of paper and stay under a canopy until those who paid for the trip have been allocated seats on the train.
The Federal Government had, a few days ago announced that Nigerians will enjoy free train rides during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The government also announced that transportation by road would be subsidised up to fifty per cent. However, these promises appear to have been mere propaganda.
The situation has left many travellers confused and stranded especially as
the train which ought to take off from Itakpe at t 2 pm on Saturday has not shown up at the station as at 3.16 pm.
Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded and waiting under the scorching heat of the sun as officials continue their discriminatory admission of passengers into the Departure Lounge.
There are fears that the train may not hit the station until about 4 pm and many passengers may not have space on it because of the perceived underhand dealings by the train officials.
While the officials of the Itakpe Train Station continue to plead for understanding over the delay of the train, their emphasis has been on how to cater for those who booked online for the trip and very little or no emphasis is made to reassure those who came for the free ride announced by the Federal Government that they were at the right place.
More details later
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