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Alleged ₦80bn fraud: Court shifts Yahaya Bello’s arraignment to June 27

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in an alleged money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to June 27, 2024 following an agreement by the lawyers of the two parties.

 

Today, June 13, 2024, had earlier been fixed for arraignment of the former governor at the instance of the EFCC lawyers.

 

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, a lawyer to Bello, Adeola Adedipe, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached the lead counsel to the former governor, Abdulwahab Mohammed, that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them to proceed with the arraignment.

 

He added that all parties agreed at the meeting that June 13 was not convenient and June 27 would be more convenient to produce the defendant in court.

 

Adedipe said he was surprised at the posture of the prosecution team because it seemed there was a breach of communication between EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Phinhero; and Rotimi Oyedepo, who made an appearance for the anti-graft agency.

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Oyedepo, however, said he was not aware of any meeting that happened outside the court and he did not know about the understanding to adjourn Bello’s arraignment to June 27.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite thereafter adjourned the case to June 27 after an undertaking by Bello’s lawyer, Adedipe, that the defendant would appear in court on that day.

 

He added that ordinarily, an agreement outside the court, that a new date should be picked, should not be enough to ignore the previous undertaking.

 

Bello was the governor of Kogi State from January 27, 2016, to January 27, 2024, when he handed over to his fellow party man in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo.

 

On April 17, 2024, armed EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s Abuja residence to arrest him but Ododo arrived at the house and allegedly whisked away his predecessor.

 

The EFCC subsequently declared Bello wanted, warning that obstruction to its operations won’t be tolerated, a move backed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

READ  Labour’s June 3 strike notice premature, illegal — AGF

 

Fagbemi advised Bello to turn himself in.

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Family demands justice as ‘senior colleagues kill’ air force student in Kaduna

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The family of late Felix Aliyu, a 15-year-old student of Air force Comprehensive School, Kaduna, has demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

 

Aliyu, who was the newly appointed deputy head boy of the school, was alleged to have been killed on June 19 by two outgoing senior students of the school.

 

The students were said to have finished writing their final examination — Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) –and were waiting to write the National Examination Council (NECO) exam.

 

Speaking in an interview with journalists on Sunday, Paul Samson, the deceased’s nephew, said he visited Aliyu during the Sallah break and met him hail and hearty.

 

Samson described Aliyu as a “brilliant and disciplined student to the core” and said the family members were still in shock over his death.

 

He urged the management of the school to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure that justice is done.

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“The management of the school and the authorities of Nigerian Air Force (NAF), can do honour to our son by intensifying efforts to unravel what led to his death”, he said.

 

“We were assured that an investigation is currently going on to fish out the culprits and see that justice is served.

 

“We, as a family, trust in the integrity of the school and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). We are confident that the killers of our son will not escape punishment.”

 

Reacting in a statement, Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesperson, said in order to avoid all sorts of speculations, a thorough investigation has commenced to unravel what actually led to the death of the student.

 

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and indeed the entire NAF family are saddened by the painful and unfortunate incident of the untimely death of one of our students at Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna on 19 June 24,” the statement reads.

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“To avoid all sorts of speculations, a thorough investigation is currently ongoing to unravel how, why and what actually led to the death of the victim.

 

“Rest assured that this matter is receiving the utmost urgency it deserves, and we won’t rest until it is unravelled.”

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Air Force destroys illegal oil sites in Rivers, others

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said that its airstrikes destroyed 13 illegal oil refining sites and seven boats in Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states.

 

NAF spokesman Edward Gabkwet made this known in a statement on Sunday.

 

He said between June 18 and 22, 2024, its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe destroyed the illegal refining sites, seven Cotonou boats as well as dispersed five buses attempting to siphon suspected crude oil products from surface tanks.

 

“Some of the illegal sites were discovered near Imo River on 18 June 2024 with 7 overhead tanks, which were subsequently destroyed while several suspected bunkerers were seen fleeing,” the statement partly read.

 

“Airstrikes were also extended to Wilcourt in Rivers State on 19 June 2024 after an illegal site and canoe filled with illegally refined products, as well as some gun boats, were seen.

 

“Similarly, following intelligence of some illegal refining sites located about 6km from Tunu in Bayelsa State, the aircrew proceeded to the location to identify and destroy the site, a task carried out with the utmost precision.

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“Another significant strike undertaken by the air component was carried out on 22 June 2024, when the crew spotted 5 x J5 buses, probably reconfigured into mini tankers, at the bank of Imo River attempting to siphon illegally refined products.

 

“Amazed at this change of tactics by these economic saboteurs, the crew did not hesitate to immediately destroy the illegal refining sites feeding the buses. The J5 buses were later seen dispersed with some taking cover under trees to avoid detection.

 

He said airstrikes against economic saboteurs and oil thieves would be sustained until the activities of the criminals are reduced to the barest minimum.

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Policeman guarding Rivers monarch kidnapped

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A police orderly attached to HRH Cornwell Ihunwo, the paramount ruler of Rumu-Elechi community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has been kidnapped.

 

Godstime Ihunwo, an executive member of Diobu Vigilante and Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu-Orowurokwo, said he received a call about the abduction at 9pm, on Saturday.

 

He said the kidnappers had planned to abduct the traditional ruler but ended taking away the police orderly and driver.

 

He added that upon hearing the news, he rushed to the house of the monarch at Eagle Island area of Port Harcourt, where the monarch confirmed the incident.

 

Ihunwo said, “I received a call about the abduction about 9pm on Saturday 22nd June, 2024.
“I rushed down to his house at Eagle Island where I met him. Chief Cornwell told me it is his driver and Police orderly who were abducted.

 

“We condemn the planned abduction of HRH Cornwell Ihunwo and call on the Police to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.”

READ  EFCC arrests 18 suspected illegal oil bunkerers in Port Harcourt

 

The Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, the case had been transferred to Octopus Strike Force Police unit for investigation.

 

 

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