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Money Laundering: More drama as Yahaya Bello heads to Supreme Court
By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until October 30, 2024, for a ruling.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment following Bello’s move to appeal to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.
During the hearing, defence counsel A.M. Adoyi informed the court that the matter of Bello’s arraignment, which is under appeal, had been taken to the Supreme Court.
He noted that the Court of Appeal ruling on August 28, which directed Bello to appear before Justice Nwite for arraignment, had been challenged at the apex court.
Adoyi also brought the court’s attention to the September 23 affidavit of record filed in connection with the appeal.
“The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” He said.
The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro wasn’t having any of it. He told the court that the defendant and his counsel had turned the court into a place for entertainment.
He said the various applications are a gross abuse of court, he urged the trial judge to use his powers and sanction Adoyi for contempt of court and being irresponsible.
Pinheiro said, “The first thing I want to say is that this court is not vaudeville (a vaudeville is a place of variety entertainment). No party must turn a court into a vaudeville, that court must resist it.
“This court has adjourned four times for the defendant to appear for arraignment.
“The defendant has refused to respect the Constitution and this court. Rather than respect the sanctity of this court, the defendant and his solicitors have deployed all manner of deception to achieve a purpose.
Arguing against the defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.
“Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.
“The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further steps until he submits himself. But they took another step. The appellant was ordered to present himself for arraignment and not take any further steps on this until he honours this order.”
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Wike inspects new ministry of livestock site
By Francesca Hangeior.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu has directed the FCT Administration through the Federal Capital Development Authority to refurbish the former Ministry of Agriculture building for the newly created Ministry of Livestock.
The minister stated this following an inspection tour of the ministry’s building in the Central Business District of Abuja, and the ongoing construction of the Kugbo International Market along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, on Wednesday.
Wike, while addressing journalists after the inspection, described the project as “an emergency work” and said the FCTA would invite companies to assess the building and give quotation for the project.
He added that an integrity test had been conducted on the building, which came back “okay”.
“Well, it is the former Ministry of Agriculture, and we have a directive from Mr President to go and immediately refurbish the place and furnish it for the new Ministry of Livestock, and that is why we went there to see things for ourselves. We will get some companies to come and look at it, and quote for it. It is an emergency work because the creation of the Ministry of Livestock is a welcome development, and you can see people are happy, waiting for it to start.
“We are bringing some companies to look at it, and then we will take the best, or what do we call it, the most responsive builder that we know that the government will afford to handle. But don’t be in a rush, what is important is that we have gone there to see for ourselves, and the job will soon start,” he said.
The minister also said he had directed the Department of Development Control to demolish buildings obstructing a road corridor leading to the Kugbo International Market from Mpape.
Noting that the market was constructed under a Public Private Partnership, Wike added that the administration will also liaise with the investor to make the completed first phase of the project affordable to traders, to dissuade roadside trading in the FCT.
“This is an investment that should be encouraged, as an international market of this standard. There are a lot of problems, there is encroachment, and I have directed the Development Control to immediately demolish anything that will cause an impediment. This is a road corridor, and we will not allow that, and the Development Control Director is here, he has been ordered to move in with his men to demolish whatever is an obstacle.
“Somebody invested his money. But that is not why we should allow traders to be on the road, we must take into cognisance all of those things. An investor must also make profits. I mean, we are not running a socialist economy. People should know, that when you invest your money, you don’t expect that the investor will just come, open it for you, and then you pack in for free, nobody does that, and we should not encourage that. And that is not why I will allow people to sell on the road.
“Anyway, we will not also allow the investor to take advantage of that, and then people cannot afford it, no. We will look into that, we will do the costing and we will ask the MD and Chief Executive of Abuja Investment Company to sit down with the investor, to see what agreement we can reach. And we can put our stake to see that people get allocations there,” he stated.
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I can’t go home’, VeryDarkMan cries out for safety after house address goes public
By Francesca Hangeior.
Popular social critic, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has expressed fears for his safety after his home address was leaked online.
In a recent video, VDM revealed that he discovered his current residence in a cease and desist letter shared on social media.
The controversy stems from a legal letter issued by Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjueyi Atsepoyi, the wife of Mr. Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi, popularly known as Mr. Jollof.
The letter, which has circulated widely, contains a threat of legal action against VDM in response to allegations he made against Mrs. Atsepoyi.
VDM clarified that while the letter was not sent directly to him, it was addressed to him or his legal representatives.
However, he raised concerns about the public disclosure of his address, claiming that it has now put him in danger.
In the emotional video, VDM said, “I can no longer go home, my current address has been compromised. I have to start looking for another house. I am living in a hotel, and I am scared to even go home to pick up my clothes.”
This incident follows another controversy involving VDM, who previously leaked an audio recording in which Nigerian cross-dresser Bobrisky allegedly claimed to have paid EFCC officials N15 million to have money laundering charges against him dropped.
The viral audio stirred significant reactions on social media, further elevating the public attention surrounding VDM.
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