TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kogi State

  • 2023: Gov Bello wants to visit violence on Kogi State, group alleges

    2023: Gov Bello wants to visit violence on Kogi State, group alleges

    Igala Vanguard, a socio-political organisation, has berated Governor Yahaya Bello over his alleged threats to visit violence on the state in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    In a statement signed by the secretary of the organization, Engr Lawrence Akpa, Governor Bello’s alleged threats in a viral video was made in Ihima, Okehi LGA over the weekend.

    However, Akpa said it will not be business as usual during the general elections and Kogi state governorship polls expected to hold in November 2023.

    He challenged Governor Bello to tackle dearth of under development, insecurity, kidnappings, banditry and lack of social services confronting his failed administration in the last six and half years, saying the threat to continue with “his abrasive and contrived political empire is an empty threat from a drowning Governor”.

    He wondered why the Governor still have the courage to speak on the political leadership of Kogi, “having used the common patrimony of Kogi to prosecute his failed ambition to rule Nigeria, the exercise that some Kogi delegates he so much boasted of did not even vote for him”.

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    “For a Governor, who does not have a grip of state delegates despite amassing them through forceful means, it is shameful and a huge embarrassment of our time. Rather than hiding his head in shame, he has decided to portray his usual folly.

    “It is obvious that Yahaya Bello is in a political logjam, hence his utterances between now and the next political dispensation will be in form of a dirge, having betrayed his political benefactors both front and back in all areas.

    “He is left with how to confront the anti-corruption agencies with his awaiting fraudulent cases and at the same time seeking for a political solution, soft landing and favour from the next dispensation, hence his thoughts of replaying the use of force and violence to achieve the next political arrangements in Kogi,” he said.

    Engr Akpa warned government appointees and accomplices at all levels not to “mortgage their lives beyond their present predicaments of working in Governor Bello’s administration, that had made them vulnerable to anti graft agencies soon after they leave office.”

    He stated that whoever attack or kill for politics, no matter how highly placed, will have him or herself blame in the next dispensation, saying nobody had monopoly of violence both within the Igala race and Kogi state as a whole.

    The secretary urged the people of the state to remain unperturbed over the governor’s alleged threats, adding the era of using violence to win election is gone in Nigeria forever.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to feign ignorance over the threats under the guise of retaining political power at all levels in Kogi state and Nigeria.

    He said the Igala Vanguard will set the ball willing to alert the international communities on the plans by the Governor to truncate the next political transition in Nigeria, saying Kogi Governor was already selling the ideas of violent approach to 2023 elections, not only in Kogi state, but across Nigeria.

  • 45 passengers escape death as luxury bus plunges into drainage in Kogi

    45 passengers escape death as luxury bus plunges into drainage in Kogi

    Forty – five passengers on-board a luxury bus escaped death as about 13 other persons sustained various degrees of injury when a luxury bus plunged into a drainage on Ejule-Ochadamu road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    According to an eye witnessed account, the bus driver lost control due to brake failure.

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    The Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the accident said the incident occurred around 8am and that the injured were taken to Grimard Hospital, Anyigba, and Holy Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

    Dawulung warned motorists against speeding which, he said, was always the cause of accidents and deaths on the highways.

    He said, “Fleet operators should also adhere strictly to minimum safety standards, especially regarding their vehicles and drivers in line with the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme of the FRSC and provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations.”

  • Gov Bello signs outdoor advert regulation, three other bills into law

    Gov Bello signs outdoor advert regulation, three other bills into law

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has, on Tuesday, signed a law to provide for regulation of outdoor structure for the display of signage and advertisement bill and three others into law.

    Also signed into law is a bill to provide for the establishment of Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board Law 2022, a law to provide for the movement of Agricultural produce within Kogi state and other matters connected therewith Law 2022.

    The rest is a law to provide for the Repeal and Re-enactment of Hotel and Tourism Board Edict of 1995, establishing the Kogi state Hotel and Tourism Board and other matters connected.

    The Governor assured that all laws made were citizen friendly and aimed at making Kogi great.

    The governor urged the State Assembly to identify all the laws previously passed and Signed but unimplemented by the various Ministries, Agencies or parastatals so as to engage in joint monitoring and evaluation.

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    Armed robbers invade Kogi banks, cart millions away

    Bello stressed that his administration inherited a state that was lawless but has witnessed tremendous improvement adding that the 7th assembly had performed efficiently.

    He asked that the legislative arm should continue to work in synergy with the other arms of government as that was a standard disposition of his administration.

    He further called on all citizens, business owners and those earning their living in the state to comply with the laws stating that the newly signed laws would facilitate a clean environment and an increase in revenue generation.

    In his address, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, RT. Hon Matthew Kolawole assured that they as an arm of government were committed to the development of the state and improvement of revenue generation.

    He conveyed to the governor that the KSHA was investigating certain companies who have been short-changing the state government and they would transmit their resolution in no distant time.

  • Armed robbers invade Kogi banks, cart millions away

    Armed robbers invade Kogi banks, cart millions away

    Armed robbers invaded branches of UBA, Zenith and FirstBank in Ankpa, Kogi State, on Tuesday, and carted away unspecified sum of money.

    The robbers, numbering 20, were said to have entered the town around 2pm.

    They first attacked UBA, before proceeding to Zenith Bank and later FirstBank.

    An eyewitness said the robbers arrived town in several cars, buses and motorbikes.

    The witness said after robbing the banks and nearby POS operators for almost an hour, the gunmen drove out of Ankpa town, shooting sporadically.

    “They zoomed off via Okpo road, but no one could come out as they kept firing. Most Ankpa residents are still hiding,” he said.

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    It was unclear how many people were killed at the time of this report.

    “We cannot rule out casualties. The attack went on for over an hour” said Ahmed, a resident of Ankpa.

    Another resident our correspondent that after they left, a combined team of security operatives moved towards the area.

    Kogi state police public relations officer, SP William Aya, did not respond to calls or text message.

  • Suspected illicit drug dealer/cultist nabbed at Kogi Poly gate

    Suspected illicit drug dealer/cultist nabbed at Kogi Poly gate

    Operatives of Kogi State Polytechnic Security Unit have intercepted one Friday Momoh who was in possession of hard drugs while making his way to the main campus of the Polytechnic in Lokoja.

    The culprit is also suspected to be a member of a secret society.

    Momoh, 26, an indigene of Lokoja Local Government of Kogi State was apprehended at 11:40am of Tuesday 6th of September, 2022 with 66 wraps of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp, 4 containers of weed, assorted charm, scissors, 52,000 cash and other hard drugs called ‘ICE’.

    According to the Chief Security Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr. Emmanuel Onuh, Momoh who is not a student of the institution, was held on his way to the Polytechnic with a bag full of the stated materials.

    Mr. Onuh said the security unit was on alert based on intelligence reports that students were organizing a picnic as one of the activities to mark the 2022 Students’ Week.

    However the report at the disposal of management was that cultists were regrouping to test the security might of the Polytechnic but nipped in the bud by the proactive personnel of the Polytechnic.

    During interrogation, Momoh confessed to be a member of secret cult group called “Aro Bagger Confraternity”.

    He has since been handed over to the security agents for further investigation.

    The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman who commended the effort of the security unit in Momoh’s apprehension noted that the success was another milestone of the present management in eradicating cultism, cult related activities and other social vices.

    Dr. Usman however warned all criminally minded persons to steer clear of the campuses of the Polytechnic as the management would not take matters capable of breaking down of law and order on campus lightly.

  • Education remains my first priority – Gov Bello

    Education remains my first priority – Gov Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has again restated his commitment to the education sector, saying it remains his first priority.

    He noted that that sector would experience revamping in the areas of standard infrastructures and quality work force before the end of his tenure.

    According to Bello, the education sector was pivotally positioned in his thematic blueprint, hence funds would be harnessed towards ensuring world class positioning before the end of his administration.

    The governor made this known after inspecting ongoing projects at the college of Nursing and Midwifery Obangede, where he assured that critical needs of the institution ranging from logistics, other additional infrastructures and man power would be met in no distant time.

    While conducting an on-the-spot-assessment at Government Technical College, Oboroke- ihima in Okehi LGA, the governor promised to remodel the long forgotten but crucial academic institution to a standard worthy of reckoning.

    He noted that the school would be captured amongst the list of soon to be remodelled secondary schools selected across the entire state and would be fully equipped with gadgets and facilities of global repute in a bid to ease learning, create a suitable academic environment and ensure that products from these schools could compete globally.

    The Governor during the inspection of the Ebira Community Secondary School, Ogaminana commended the work done so far while urging the contractors to deliver quality GYB standard in record time in a bid to commission the academic infrastructures for judicious use.

    In her remarks, Provost College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede Mrs. Oziohu Abraham thanked the governor for yet another historic visit to the college asserting that his visit was always followed by good news to the institution of learning.

    She specifically appreciated the governor over the ongoing constructions of hostel accommodations stating that the governor’s dedication towards education and health was incomparable to any other leader.

    The provost noted the school of Nursing and Midwifery was merely having students until he gave it a Midas touch and the number grew while assuring that with the ongoing and planned projects by the governor as well as accreditation of new courses, the college would record yet another historic increase in the number of in take.

  • 2023: Court dismisses suit against Mrs Uduaghan

    2023: Court dismisses suit against Mrs Uduaghan

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday dismissed a suit challenging the candidature of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Natasha had on May 25, won the party’s primary election monitored by INEC, as PDP Senatorial Candidate for Kogi Central District for the 2023 general elections.

    The poll was, however, challenged by Adamu Atta before the Federal High Court.

    But Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Mallong in his judgment, dismissed the suit on the ground that it was grossly incompetent, incurably defective and strongly robbed the court of jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “Looking at the origin of this suit, it was first of all, improperly filed as noticed by the defence counsel, and therefore this Honourable Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “Consequently, the suit is defective and is hereby subsequently dismissed in its entirety, ” the Judge declared.

    Atta, who also contested the PDP primary, had in his Originating Summons, alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not win the primary election for Kogi Central Senatorial District and therefore her victory  should be nullified.

    He had prayed the court to nullify Uduagha’s emergence as PDP Candidate in the May 25 primary election, claiming it was flawed and not validly conducted as required by law.

    But Natasha, in her Preliminary Objection, through her Counsel, MrJohnson Usman (SAN), objected to the hearing of the suit on the ground that it was wrongly filed through Originating Summons.

    “Filing such a suit through originating summon is not endorsed as required by law and so this Honourable Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it.

    “According to section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, the originating summon is incurably defective and incompetent, having not been endorsed in line with provisions of the law.

    “Besides the incompetence of the originating summons, the primary election conducted on May 25, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and she validly won.

    “My Lord, It’s based on these facts that we urge your Lordship to dismiss this suit for lack of competence, having improperly commenced and denied this Court the jurisdiction to entertain it, ” she prayed.

    In his judgment, Justice Mallong agreed with the submission of the defendant that the suit was improperly filed and that the Court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

    He dismissed the suit in its entirety.

  • 2023: Kogi slams N10m on presidential candidates for billboards

    2023: Kogi slams N10m on presidential candidates for billboards

    The Kogi State Government has slammed a N10 million fee on presidential candidates to have their billboards erected, and their campaign posters pasted in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is coming after the State House of Assembly passed the State’s  Signage Agency Establishment Law on Thursday in Lokoja.

    The State legislators, who considered the bill clause by clause at plenary, said the law would regulate the outdoor display of signage and advertisement across the state.

    The law also aims at curbing the indiscriminate pasting of posters on sidewalks, walls, bridges and public buildings in the state.

    By the new law, all governorship candidates are to pay N5 million, Senatorial candidates, N2 million and House of Representatives, N1 million.

    The law also stipulates that House of Assembly and Council Chairmanship candidates are to pay N500, 000 each.

    Consequently, the law provides for the establishment of a signage agency saddled with regulatory functions.

    This means that until permits are issued no politician, political party or organisation can erect any billboard or paste a poster at any designated place in the state.

    Also at plenary, the House passed a second bill regulating pool betting in the state.

    By the new law, if assented, all operators of pool centres in the state must register with the state government before operating such a business in Kogi.

    The speaker of the House, Mr Matthew Kolawale, explained that with the passage of the two bills, defaulters would face the wrath of the law.

  • 2023 Elections: Thugs attack Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kogi state

    2023 Elections: Thugs attack Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kogi state

    The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso was pelted with sachet and bottled water by hoodlums and louts in Kogi state on Wednesday.

    The presidential candidate of the NNPP had traveled to Lokoja the state capital to launch the party’s secretariats and his campaign office in the state before being pelted with sachet water.

    On getting to a popular hotel where he was meant to address his supporters, suspected hoodlums invaded the venue and started throwing sachets of water at the candidate.

    Kwankwaso had earlier visited Ogbonicha, the country home of late Abubakar Audu, where a similar scenario played out.

    The political thugs accused him of masquerading under the canopy of a former governor in the state to woo some of the All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters in the state.

    However, Kwankwaso’s media aide, Musa Yunusa, confirmed the incident and described the action as normal in the political terrain, saying the Kogi is the home of the  NNPP presidential candidate. 

     

     

  • Kogi Man kills, buries friend over Sienna Bus

    Kogi Man kills, buries friend over Sienna Bus

    A middle-aged Kogi man, Francis Julius, has killed his friend, Kehinde Ajayi over his desire to steal the deceased’s newly acquired Sienna Bus.

    The incident took place at Felele Area of Lokoja, Kogi State.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reliably gathered that the suspect immediately buried the body of Ajayi for fear of being discovered.

    A resident of the area, Nathaniel Israel said it was a shock for everyone in the community, as prior to Julius’ arrest, no one believed he was capable of killing his friend because of their closeness.

    “They were close friends,” he told our correspondent. “I was surprised Mr Ajayi’s family brought the police to arrest Mr Ajayi brcause we all thought he was not capable of taking a life, let alone a friend’s life.

    “But when we heard he had confessed to the crime and was leading the police to where he buried the remains, we then relaised he had actually committed the crime,” Mr Israel said.

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    On a visit to the Kogi Command of the Nigerian Police, our correspondent sighted the vehicle; an ash coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number LSD 228 HJ.

    Another source informed TNG that the arrested killer is an Air Condition repairer and that he tricked the late Kehinde at about 10 am to come along with him to celebrate the new car he just bought.

    The source disclosed further that the deceased and others went to an unknown place but was never seen again.

    When the family of the late Kehinde reported him missing to the Police, one of his friends who was a suspect was arrested last week and he gave a useful information to what happened to the late Kehinde.

    The source said after killing him, the suspect went away with his car.

    It was gathered that on Monday this week he took the policemen to his own house where he allegedly buried the body of Kehinde.

    Meanwhile, some angry youths who were around when police recovered the body attacked the house of the suspect from where the body was exhumed.

    When Contacted the Kogi State Police Public Relation Officer, SP William Ayah confirmed the incident.

    He disclosed that the body of late Kehinde has been recovered and investigation is still on to arrest others who might have involved in killing of late Kehinde.