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Tag: kogi

  • KOGI VS EFCC CASE: Court adjourns ruling on asset forfeiture to April 20

    KOGI VS EFCC CASE: Court adjourns ruling on asset forfeiture to April 20

    Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday, fixed April 20 to rule on a Kogi State Application seeking to vacate an interim order of court freezing 14 properties linked to Kogi State governor.

    The judge fixed the date after taking submissions from the Governor’s counsel, Mr Abdulwahab Mohammed SAN and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Counsel, EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedopo SAN.

    The court had on February 22, made an interim forfeiture order following an exparte motion to confiscate 14 properties and firms in Lagos, Abuja, and the United Arab Emirates as well as N400m, recovered from one Aminu Falala.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that when the matter came up on Tuesday, the Kogi State counsel told the court that he had an application dated March 9, 2023 seeking to vacate the order of the court made on February 22.

    Mohammed, while moving the application stated that about the third quarter of 2021, EFCC approached the court to freeze Kogi State’s N20bn salary bail-out loan that was allegedly hidden in Sterling bank.

    He said that when the Kogi State government called Sterling Bank, the bank denied that such an account existed and that they challenged the freezing order made by Justice Tijjani Ringim that the order was obtained illegally.

    Mohammed further stated that EFCC instead of apologising, sent a press release that the money had been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    According to him, the Kogi State Government approached the State High court, presided over by the present Chief judge justice Majebi who granted an order restraining the EFCC from having anything to do with Kogi State until the substantive matter was determined.

    He argued that the order of the Kogi State High Court restraining EFCC from taking any step against Kogi State Government was still subsisting.

    “The EFCC in flagrant disregard of the said Order of the Kogi State High Court and her pending appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division, arrested one Ali Bello Nephew of the Applicant herein, who is an associate of the Kogi State Government on the 29th of November, 2022.

    “That the EFCC in flagrant disobedience of the subsisting Order of the High Court of Kogi State, interrogated the said Alli Bello and coerced him to oblige them information pertaining to most of the properties listed in the Order of this Honourable Court made on the 22nd of February, 2023.

    “That the said Ali Bello aggrieved by his illegal arrest and forced interrogation, filed a fundamental rights enforcement application at the High Court of Kogi State, Lokoja Judicial Division agafnst the EFCC in Suit No: HCL/696″/2022: Ali Bello V. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) & Anor.

    “That the High Court of Kogi State in a Judgement delivered on the 12” of January 2023 granted all the reliefs sought by the Applicant and made an Order declaring his arrest, detention and interrogation illegal and unconstitutional and further Order of perpetual injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, their agents, servants, privies or howsoever called from further arrest, detention, harassment and intimidation of the said Ali Bello, nephew of the Applicant herein. The Judgement of the High Court of Kogi State delivered on the 12 of January 2022 is herewith attached and marked “EXHIBIT D”

    “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in continuous disobedience of the extant Orders of Court barring it from inviting or doing anything with respect to the affairs of the Kogi State Government and its officials, brought the instant application for a preservation order of properties they alleged are reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity stemming from the purported misappropriation of funds belonging to Kogi State Government.

    “That the Application filed by the EFCC on the 20″ of February 2023 upon which this Honourable Court made the order dated 22 February 2023, sought to be vacated herein, is a continuous disobedience of subsisting Orders of Courts of coordinate jurisdiction, that had restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from doing anything with respect to the affairs of the Applicant including the employees, appointees or associates of Kogi State Government,” he said.

    Oyedepo in his response said that the applicant had brought nothing before the court to convince the court to vacate the order.

    He urged the court to dismiss the application of the applicant seeking to vacate the order earlier made by the court.

  • Kogi APC screens suspended guber aspirant after Yahaya Bello’s intervention

    Kogi APC screens suspended guber aspirant after Yahaya Bello’s intervention

    The Leadership of the  APC in Kogi has finally screened Alhaji Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, a frontline governorship aspirant after his purported suspension by the party on Thursday.

    Also screened by the party were the State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, all anxious to lead the people of Kogi come Jan. 27, 2024.

    Yakubu-Ajaka ‘s screening was made possible after Gov.  Yahaya Bello waded into the crisis.

    He was suspended for alleged anti-party activities, which the governor frowned at.

    Bello, being the leader of the party in Kogi, warned against bickerings that could undermine the peace and unity  the APC had been known for, under his leadership.

    He had directed all aspirants in the forthcoming governorship primaries in the state to focus on their strengths in wooing party members and refrain from divisive tendencies in the interest of the party.

    Yakubu-Ajaka from Kogi East is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the  APC.

    Shortly after his screening, Yakubu-Ajaka described his purported suspension as an “avoidable distraction” and thanked  the governor for his fatherly role at solving the matter.

    “I will rather remain focused so as to emerge victorious in the forthcoming APC primary election scheduled for April 10.

    “All I want is for all members of the party,  especially my supporters across the state to remain calm, because in a political contest of this nature, there is room for clash of interests.

    “By the grace of God,  everything legitimate will be done to ensure a well deserving victory for me at the forthcoming primary election, ” he assured.

    20 people from different political parties are jostling for the number one seat in Kogi after Bello’s exit on  Jan. 27, 2024.

  • Kogi: INEC cancels 11 polling units results over thuggery, BVAS

    Kogi: INEC cancels 11 polling units results over thuggery, BVAS

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled the results of 11 polling units in Kogi on Saturday, over thuggery and failure of a Presiding Officer (PO) to operate the BVAS correctly.

    The results of 10 polling units were cancelled in Ofu Local Government Area (LGA) due to activities of political thugs, and a polling unit in Yagba East LGA due to the ineptness of a PO.

    Dr Alhassan Abdulrahaman, the Collation Officer for Yagba LGA, on Sunday disclosed cancellation in his area, while presenting the results to the State Collation Officer, Prof. Wahab Egbewale (SAN), Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin.

    Abdulrahaman had barely finished his presentation, when Egbewale asked him whether any result was cancelled in the area and he answered in the affirmative.

    “Yes Sir, we do have cause to cancel some results in Yagba East Local Government during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “At Unit 006 of Ward 10, we have no option than to cancel the results of that particular unit on a simple reason that the PO didn’t know how to operate the BVAS issued to her for the exercise.

    “It looks as if she wasn’t trained for the job, because we tried to help her but she couldn’t pick up. We were so amazed.

    “At that point we had no option than to cancel the result of that very unit,” Abdulrahaman explained.

    Prof. Abdullahi Musa-Yusuf, Collation Officer (CO) for Ofu LGA of Kogi, while presenting his results, said results of 10 units had to be cancelled due to activities of political thugs.

    Musa-Yusuf said the political thugs invaded the affected units in Itobe and Ayaji wards and packed away the election materials, a situation he said disrupted the election in those units.

    He disclosed that more than 6, 600 votes in those units had to be cancelled.

    NAN reports that results of a total of 14 out of 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi were received by the Prof Egbewale led team at the Kogi Situation Room/Collation Centre, including, Bassa, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Umala, Okehi and Olama-Boro.

    Dekina, Adavi and Ibaji LGAs, whose results could not tally were asked to go and tidy up and return on Monday to represent theirs.

    Egbewale, thereafter, thanked all stakeholders including patties’ agents, security operatives, observers, journalists and INEC officials adjourned the collation to 11. am on Monday, Feb. 27 for continuation.

  • N3bn fraud: Court returns Gov. Yahaya Bello’s nephew to prison

    N3bn fraud: Court returns Gov. Yahaya Bello’s nephew to prison

    Ali Bello, a nephew of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Monday, was returned to prison by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Bello is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N3 billion fraud and answering 18 counts which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him and three others.

    Some of the counts against them, read, “That you, Ali Bello, Abba Adauda, Yakubu Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Rashida Bello (at large) sometime in June 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court procured E-Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

    “That you, Ali Bello, Abba Adauda, and Rashida Bello (at large) sometime in November, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court procured E-Traders International Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330 to account number no; 426-6644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to with: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

    Other defendants in the case are Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyada Sadat.

    At the resumed proceedings on Monday, Ahmed Raji, SAN, told the court that the anti-graft agency served him with a counter-affidavit towards the close of work last Friday.

    N3bn fraud: Court returns Gov. Yahaya Bello's nephew to prison

    Though the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr M.K. Hussein, confirmed the development, Justice Egwuatu noted that the process was not in the court’s file.

    It was discovered that the process was forwarded to another court.

    As a result, Justice Egwuatu deferred hearing of the bail applications and the EFCC’s counter-affidavit till Tuesday.

    He ordered that the defendants should be returned back to prison custody.

    Earlier, trial Justice Obiora Egwuatu, had on February 8, remanded the defendants in Kuje prison after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The defendants, through their lawyer, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, prayed the court to release them on bail pending the hearing and determination of the case against them contending that the charge contained bailable offenses.

    Opposing the bail application on the premise, the EFCC argued that the defendants posed a flight risk and requested a trial date as well as time to file a counter-affidavit in opposition to the defendant’s bail request.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the charge against the defendants bordered on conspiracy, fraud criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.00.

  • FRSC recovers, returns N3.2m to accident victim

    FRSC recovers, returns N3.2m to accident victim

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kogi Sector Command on Tuesday recovered and returned the sum of N3. 2 million to the family of an accident victim in the state.

    According to reports, the money belonged to one Mrs. Beatrice Ehimare who was involved in a road traffic crash on Jan. 23, along Lokoja-Abuja road.

    The recovered cash was presented to the victim’s son, Mr. David Ehimare by Unit Commander RS8.38 Gegu.

    During the ceremony held in Lokoja, the Kogi Sector Commander, Corps Commander Stephen Dawulung, commended the officers and men for their diligence and patriotism.

    “I wish to reiterate here today that it’s my Command’s resolve to continue to execute its mandate of saving of lives and protection of property with the highest level of commitment, diligence, and integrity of which the FRSC is known for.

    “As a Command, we wish Mrs Beatrice quick recovery from the injury sustained from the unfortunate road crash that occured on Monday.

    “We hereby advise motorists to avoid speeding and other unwholesome road traffic behaviours that could expose them to road traffic crashes that could jeopardize the lives of innocent passengers, ” Dawulung said.

    The victim was travelling in a Siena Commercial Bus conveying eight passengers from Edo to Abuja, which lost control at Ohono Bridge around Gegu on Lokoja-Abuja road at about 2.30 p.m.

    The bus crashed under the bridge resulting to the death of three persons while four others, including Ehimare sustained injuries.

    The injured were rescued by FRSC personnel who evacuated them to Ideal Hospital, Koton-Karfe, and Specialist Hospital Lokoja, for medical attention.

    The N3.2 million was among the items recovered at the scene and after conducting due diligence, the owner was identified and the full amount was returned on Tuesday.

  • EFCC is desperate to tarnish our image – Kogi Govt laments

    EFCC is desperate to tarnish our image – Kogi Govt laments

     

    … ask them what happened to bail-out probe’

    The Kogi State Government has debunked an allegation of money laundering levelled against it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, describing it as a sustenance of the persecution of the government by the Abdulrasheed Bawa-led EFCC.

    The government in a sharp reaction to a statement by the EFCC on Thursday, observed that the Commission, with its present allegations, had shown clearly that it was desperately seeking to save its face after the Commission hit a road block in its N20bn Sterling Bank media trial.

    The Commissioner for Information and Communication in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, however, noted that just as with the Sterling Bank affair when the commission went to the media before proper investigation, the EFCC was again set to embarrass itself and its legacy by again jumping to the media to continue its persecution of the Kogi government.

    While insisting that no money belonging to the Kogi State Government was laundered, the Commissioner insisted that Nigerians should ask the EFCC if its “biased” corruption searchlight was only meany for Kogi State.

    “The media trial by the EFCC is a calculated and orchestrated plan to embarrass the State Government by going after its Officials and Associates with trumped up charges to satisfy the destructive fangs of their paymasters,” Fanwo noted.

    The government in its reaction said that the inclination of the EFCC was against the acknowledgment of due process and financial accountability given to the Kogi State Government by international organisations. It particularly cited the recent honour accorded the Kogi State Government by the World Bank funded SFTAS project in which Kogi was lifted above peers in financial accountability.

    The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement on the website of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to the effect that they arraigned some persons who they alleged were linked with laundering monies belonging to the Government of Kogi State.

    “Inasmuch as we would not want to delve into the depth of the matter which is now sub judice, it is pertinent to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that the desperation of the EFCC to crucify Kogi State at all costs may have landed them in another trouble. Unlike the EFCC that has been known for serial contempt of court under the current leadership; we are committed to allow the law to take its due course on the matter and our innocence, again, proven beyond reasonable doubt.

    “It would be recalled that this same EFCC once accused the Kogi State Government of stashing 20 billion naira bailout funds in a fixed deposit account in Sterling Bank. When the legal fireworks were about to ruffle their biased feathers, they quickly backed out and claimed the money had been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Till date, they have not shown Nigerians any proof of the return even when Sterling Bank Plc has under oath denied the return of any monies belonging to the Kogi State Government. It is trite that what does not exist cannot be taken or returned.

    “The media trial by the EFCC is a calculated and orchestrated plan to embarrass the State Government by going after its Officials and Associates with trumped up charges to satisfy the destructive fangs of their paymasters.

    “Let it be on record that no money belonging to the Kogi State Government was laundered. SFTAS is a World Bank accountability project to ensure the Government stays accountable to the people. For many years, Kogi has won Awards as one of the most transparent State Governments in Nigeria. A responsible anti-graft agency would have made Kogi an example of transparency and excellence. However, with its endless wild goose chase, Nigerians would even wonder if EFCC’s obviously biased corruption binoculars are only designed for Kogi State.

    “It is not unexpected that the EFCC would feel disappointed that the monies they claimed had been stolen from the coffers of the state have been used to build Nigeria’s best hospitals, good roads, best schools that are about to be commissioned. We cannot help their descent into political pawn. We will continue to make the resources of our state work for our people.

    “Nigerians know that the recent Gestapo-like operation against the State was occasioned by EFCC’s failure to sell the “fixed” Bailout funds debacle to the people. They became desperate to save their face from the disgrace bestowed on them by their “Destroy Kogi” Agenda.

    “We urge our people not to take the laws into their hands as we are prepared in fact and in conscience for the legal battle ahead.”

  • Just In: Panic in Kogi as bandits reportedly abduct bus load of passengers

    Just In: Panic in Kogi as bandits reportedly abduct bus load of passengers

     

    Unspecified number of passengers in an 18-seater bus have been reportedly abducted at Ochadamu along Anyigba-Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.

    Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), the state security adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello, confirmed the attack on Thursday, saying the state government was in complete control of it.

    We have fought them; we will fight them; and we will continue to fight them until they are neutralised in that axis of the state.

    “Security agents have been alerted and they will do the needful,” Omodara said.

    As of the time of filing this report, it could not be verified if the Abuja-bound vehicle was fully occupied, but it was gathered that the incident happened around 4 pm on Monday at a kidnapping hotspot on the Anyigba-Itobe highway.

    The criminals, numbering about 12, flagged down the bus at gunpoint and whisked the travellers into the bush.

    According to locals, kidnapping activities in the Ochadamu flash point had greatly reduced, but picked up recently after the Nigerian Army checkpoint in the area was taken down following a deadly accident.

  • Kogi, China sign MoU on $60m first-of-its-kind smart security architecture

    Kogi, China sign MoU on $60m first-of-its-kind smart security architecture

     

    …targets N591bn investments in five months

    To conquer terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements that may want to infiltrate the state and others it shares boundaries with, the Kogi State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese investors for the provision of a first-of-its-kind high technology security architecture that will capture movements in and out of Kogi State from a control centre.

    The state government said, in sealing this laudable security control deal, all stakeholders, including the Army, Department of State Services, Navy, Police and local vigilantes, among others, were carried along.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Kogi State Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership Agency, Abdulkareem Siyaka, disclosed that a lot of work went into the conceptualisation and design of the project with the Chinese firm, Hytera, to eventually arrive at an investment deal that would greatly improve the state’s economy while also grinding insecurity to halt in Kogi State as well as across adjoining states.

    He made this disclosure at the opening of a two-day interactive workshop on “Kogi State Mission Critical Support System: A 21st century integrated smart state/security architecture”, held in Abuja.

    He noted that the project was expected to create over 685,000 jobs, attract over N591bn investment, yearly, while also encouraging migration to rural areas in the state, adding that a 5G licence had already been acquired by the state from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

    Siyaka said, “We are putting the whole state on the map, real-time, virtual, audio and visual, so as you enter Kogi State from anywhere, even though the bush, we will see you. I won’t go into too much details because of the sensitivity of the architecture. But the components will be manned by a command/control centre.

    “The idea is that the moment you come into the state, we will see you; if you’re driving, if you’re walking, you have metal, if you’re talking, we will be able to pick it and then if you do something wrong, we will be able to intercept you using our field personnel on the ground etc.”

    The KOSIPA CEO added, “Our boss, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, is futuristic in everything he does. He is not a leader that jokes with the security of the state. That is why we are Number One in that area today.

    “He knows that, to develop Kogi State, he will need to be ahead of criminals by using artificial intelligence, by using super crime fighting infrastructure. We are bordered by 11 states we don’t have control over, so the best way to immunize, to arm ourselves is to go into this kind of project.”

    Governor Yahaya Bello, while declaring the workshop open, said he was confident that the project, which would be driven by 5G network and a 30Megawatt gas-powered electricity plant to be built by an American company, would not only ensure a safer Kogi State, but would improve economic and infrastructural development, greatly.

    Governor Bello said, “There cannot be any meaningful development without adequate security. We are a serious government ready to harness every of our resources for the benefit of our people. We will continue to do our best. We have received several awards in terms of providing safety and security for our people. That is a call to do more and we will do more.

    “I want to assure the people of Kogi State that to my last day in office, I will continue to cooperate with all our law enforcement agencies and our citizens across board to make sure we fight these criminals to a standstill.”

  • Dangote’s suit incompetent,amounts to window shopping, Kogi govt tells Court

    Dangote’s suit incompetent,amounts to window shopping, Kogi govt tells Court

     

    The Kogi Government on Tues said the suits filed by Dangote group before a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja are incompetent and amount to ordinary window shopping.

    The state government made this known before Justice Binta Nyako in two separate preliminary objections filed by its counsel, Mr Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, challenging the companies’ originating summons.

    In the applications marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1876/2022 and FHC/ABJ/CS/1877/2022 dated Nov 8 and filed Nov. 18, the state government sought the order of the court, striking out the suits “for want of jurisdiction and/or compliance.”

    Justice Nyako had, on Oct 26, made an interim order restraining the Kogi government from shutting down Dangote Cement PLC at Obajana in the state pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suits.
    The court also stopped the state government from disrupting or suspending the activities of Dangote Coal Mines Ltd and Dangote Industries Ltd in Okaba, Ankpa Local Government Area and in Olamaboro Local Government Area respectively.
    The judge had given the interim order following two separate ex-parte motions moved by counsel for the companies, Regina Okotie-Eboh, but filed by Rickey Tarfa, SAN.

    The Kogi government and Dangote group recently locked horns over the ownership of Obajana cement factory.
    The state government had, on Oct. 13, given the cement factory at Obajana 48 hours to shut down in honour of the Kogi House of Assembly which ordered the company to sealed until the conglomerate furnishes it with the requisite documents demanded by the state legislature.

    But the companies, in the first motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1876/22, had sued the Kogi House of Assembly, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and Mining Cadastre Office as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the second motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1877/22, all the defendants in the first application, except Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), were listed as defendants.
    The plaintiffs in these suits are Dangote Coal Mines Ltd., Dangote Cement PLC and Dangote Industries Ltd.
    But in the preliminary objections, the Kogi government challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suits which it described as “incompetent.”
    In a 14 ground-argument brought before the court by counsel to the state government, Mr Muhammed, the state said that the plaintiffs had instituted similar suit at a Lokoja division of the FHC.

    Muhammed said that the plaintiffs, in a suit number: FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2022, had sued the Kogi House of Assembly seeking the determination of the exact question in the current suit.

    The senior lawyer told Justice Nyako that they, however, quickly withdrew the suit when the Lokoja court refused to grant their ex-parte application for interim injunction.
    “The plaintiffs have now filed the suit before this honourable court with the intention of obtaining a favourable outcome in the suit.

    “The filling of the instant suit before this honourable court is forum shopping, that ought to be discouraged and condemned,” Muhammed argued
    He said premised on the above, the plaintiffs’ suits are incompetent and cannot be entertained by the curt.
    The lawyer said the plaintiffs, by the amended originating summons, challenged the power of the state assembly to investigate the loss of revenue internally generated in the state.

    He said they also challenged its authority to issue a resolution to suspend, disrupt or in any manner stop or shut down the mining operations of the plaintiffs or any of their subsidiary companies.
    He said that the shares which the state legislature is investigating belonged to the people of Kogi.
    Muhammed, who said that the state assembly and the office of the attorney general were not Federal Government’s agencies, stated that the power of the state’s lawmakers “is not within the province of Section 251(p) (gq) and (r) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    When the matter came up on Monday, counsel to the companies, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, said the matter was adjourned for mention.

    He said he was in receipt of counter affidavits and preliminary objections of the 1st and 2nd defendants and that he planned to respond to the applications before the next adjourned date.
    Jalaawo therefore sought to amend the name of the 3rd defendant (Minister, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development) and the judge granted the prayer after the defence lawyers did not oppose the request.
    The court also granted the state government lawyer, Michael Adoyi, to deem all their processes to have been properly filed.

    But Jolaawo, in apprehension that the state might shut down the companies before the next adjourned date, urged the court to compel Adoyi to undertake that the status quo would be maintianed until the case is determined by the court.
    Responding, Adoyi said contrary to Jolaawo’s submission, the companies, including the Obajana cement, had been operating seamlessly.

    The lawyer, who described Kogi as a law-abiding state, said the state government is bound by the rule of law.

    “They cannot do anything, the matter is sub judice,” the judge said.

    Nyako, who said though the case was nit a pre-election matter, assured that it would be given accelerated hearing.

    She directed parties to regularise their processes before the next date, including the 3rd defendant’s lawyer, Abdulhamid Ibrahim, who pleaded for more time to file his application
    The judge, who adjourned the matter until Jan. 23 for hearing, said all applications, including the state’s preliminary objection, would be taken.

  • I remain transparent in managing state resources – Yahaya Bello

    I remain transparent in managing state resources – Yahaya Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Monday said his administration remained transparent and accountable in managing the state’s resources.

    The governor stated this when he received members of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji Study Group, at the  Government House, Lokoja.

    Bello said he remained transparent in managing the state’s resources by opening up the books of income and expenditure to the people.

    According to him, people are able to trace government expenditure to his activities, through the transparent allocation of state resources, making them better informed of the happenings.

    Bello emphasised that he had been able to manage the state resources equitably; the reason for his administration’s giant strides.

    The governor said he had reduced youths’ restiveness by bringing in a large poll of the younger generation of youths and women into his administration, which had helped greatly in reducing tension and acrimony.

    He reaffirmed his commitment to be sincere in leadership, with no pecuniary interest other than the people, and assured that his administration would leave the state better than he met it in 2016.

    He noted that he inherited a state largely divided along ethnic and other mundane lines but the people were now more united than ever.

    He said his administration had dealt a heavy blow on insecurity and other maladministration associated with governance.

    The governor described the team’s visit to Kogi as timely and very important, saying it was a better place to learn, particularly with a lot of human and natural resources that abound the state,

    Earlier, Air Vice Marshall Oluwarotimi Tuwase, Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, said the team was in Kogi to have first-hand information about the state.

    He said the team wanted to know about the state’s economic growth, income, employment status, poverty, inequality, riches, agriculture, and overall transformation.

    The commandant commended the governor’s efforts toward the advancement of the socio-economic development of the people.

    He said the theme of the study tour, ”Youths Unemployment and National Security in Nigeria”, would enable the team to make recommendations as it related to youth empowerment.

    He particularly praised the achievements of the governor on youths’ employment, education, health, agriculture, funding governance, infrastructure, human capital development, entrepreneurship, youths engagement, and security.

    He described the feat as what made the state a place for learning by the study team.

    He said the college was established to train members of the armed forces,  particularly the middle class.

    He added that the tour was aimed at preparing the officers toward handling greater tasks and to familiarise the students with socio economic issues affecting the state.

    He stressed that the tour would also expose the students to the realities on the ground and compare them with what they had been told about the state.

    This, he said, would enable the students to understand the challenges of the state compared to other states and in writing their research paper toward ensuring adequate security in the state.

    He sympathised with the state over the recent flood and commended the governor’s efforts that ensured a quick response in mitigating the effect.