Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cautioned anti-state actors threatening the sovereignty of the country.

Tinubu said this while speaking on the security situation in the county during a meeting with leaders of Afenifere, the respected Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organisation, at the State House in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The president’s warning comes barely few days after the attack on Oyo State secretariat by suspected members of the Yoruba Nation group.

He said: “I am irrevocably committed to the unity of Nigeria and constitutional democracy. Constitutional democracy is reflected greatly here since we assumed office.

“What we face now is the challenge of terrorism. Security of life and property is very necessary for development. I can tell you we are achieving success. We have degraded terrorism to a level that they cannot threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria any longer.

“Banditry and kidnapping will be defeated. And there is no payment of ransom whatsoever. We are taking the battle to them. We are getting results more rapidly than before. We are working hard on intelligence gathering.

“Those who think they can threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria will have themselves to blame. They have a price to pay. And we are not going to relent,” the president affirmed.

President Tinubu said his administration remained undeterred in its pursuit of comprehensive economic security for the country while addressing foundational challenges and creating a fair and equitable system in which all Nigerians could thrive.

The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said his administration was re-engineering Nigeria’s finances and seeking to boost the purchasing power of citizens, and spread prosperity down the line, by instituting a credit system where the element of cash is not an impediment to a significantly enhanced standard of living for all citizens.

Earlier in his remarks, His Royal Majesty, Oba Olu Falae, commended the president for his courageous decisions and for the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, as well as other critical ongoing projects.

He urged the president not to relent in ensuring fairness and equity for all Nigerians while noting the importance of a constitutional amendment to devolve more powers to the states.

The delegation was led by Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of Afenifere; Oba Falae, alongside other eminent citizens.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to use the military to move the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, out of hiding place.

The commission and the former governor have been playing hide and seek game in the last few weeks.

The commission invaded the Abuja residence of Bello on Wednesday to arrest him but couldn’t do owing to some external forces.

According to reports, the former governor may have been hiding in the Kogi State Government House under the immunity of Governor Ahmed Ododo, his successor, who is covered with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The EFCC has been hunting for Bello, to arrest him over allegation of financial mismanagement while in office as governor.

Bello was supposed to be arraigned in court this Thursday but the planned arraignment could not take place due to his absence.

During the proceedings on Thursday, Counsel to EFCC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the commission will drag Bello before the court to face his trial, even, if it means engaging the military to get him.

He said, “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding.

“We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding.

“No one is above the law. Immunity covers only the governor and not everyone around him.”

The House of Representatives has postponed its plenary from April 23 to April 30, marking the second time it has done so since the Easter and Sallah break. The move was made to allow for renovation work on the main chambers.

The Clerk to the House, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria said in an internal memo to the lawmakers that the extension is aimed at allowing more time for constituency outreach and preparing for legislative summits on State Police and Tax Reforms, Revenue Enhancement, and Digital Transformation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

This was contained in a statement by the anti-graft agency seen by our reporter on Wednesday night.

According to the statement, Bello will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2 million.

Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Count one of the charges reads: That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu (Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight 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(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”.

Count 17 of the charges read: “That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account number 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.”

Count 18 of the charges reads: “That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly procured E-Traders international Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand , Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust 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”.

The commission’s attempt to execute the Warrant of Arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle.

“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024,” the statement noted.

“It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the EFCC stressed.

The National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of the acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, but still in acting capacity.

However, this is subject to the decision taken at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which will kick off hours from now.

Addressing journalists after the Caucus meeting at Bauchi Governors lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the decision was aimed at ensuring reconciliation and unity in the party.

He said, “Umar Damagum will continue to be the acting National Chairman of the party until the next meeting of NEC. The party considers that it is important to have more consultation on that issue.”

“NEC meeting will not discuss any change in leaders. Rather, attention is focused on unity and reconciliation. Caucus agreed that all congresses in the states and local government should be concluded between June and August this year. Caucus agreed on the extension of the constitution review committee of the party to accept new recommendations.”

Before the caucus meeting, the National Working Committee of the party had passed a vote of confidence on Damagum.

But the North Central zone had insisted that one of their own should be allowed to complete the tenure of the suspended National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

At a meeting at the Grand Ibro Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday, the North Central asked Damagum to revert to the position of Deputy National Chairman North, the position he was holding before his elevation as Acting National Chairman.

The region is insisting on Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution which provides that “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the office of the Party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure”.

Before the Caucus meeting, Governors elected on the platform of the PDP had declared that only the NEC could decide the fate of Damagum.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, both attended the caucus meeting.

It was the first time that the duo were publicly seen together since the 2023 elections which worsened the PDP crisis as Wike worked for President Bola Tinubu, Atiku’s main rival in the election.

Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, demolished the building where the Yoruba Nation agitators led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola are operating from in Ibadan, the state capital.

PUNCH Online reports that some masked persons, who invaded the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Saturday morning, were arrested by the joint security personnel who were drafted to demobilise them.

The building was said to be located on Toye Oyesola Street in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state.

When contacted the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd.), on the telephone, he confirmed the demolition but declined further comment.

“You can get more details from the Commissioner of Police,” he simply said.

Details later…

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from infringing on the fundamental human rights of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

In a two hour judgement delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit No: HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant (Bello) except as authorised by the Court.

The court’s latest consequential order followed the earlier interim injunction given by the same court.

The judgement followed the suit brought before the court by Bello as the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the EFCC.

The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecute the Applicant.

Earlier in the judgement, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC.

The Applicant’s Counsel, SA Abbas, and MS Yusuf, described the judgment as a landmark while the Defendant’s Counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril, also aligned themselves to the judgement, describing it as thorough.

LEADING REPORTERS earlier reported a standoff at Bello’s Abuja residence on Wednesday when armed EFCC operatives stormed the premises to carry out Bello’s arrest.

President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to formulate necessary modalities for the inclusion of National Open University (NOUN) graduates within the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) framework, particularly those within the service age bracket, as allowed by the law.

The president gave the directive during his presentation at the 13th convocation ceremony of the university on Saturday, April 13, 2024. at the University’s Convocation Arena, Jabi, Abuja.

Represented by Biodun Saliu, Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), President Tinubu also disclosed the resolution of the longstanding issue regarding the admittance of NOUN law graduates to law schools in the country.

With the changing demographics of our great nation, the government has recognised the importance of allowing NOUN graduates to participate in the NYSC scheme.

“The doors of the Law School are now open to the graduates, ensuring equal opportunities for all. Any remaining concerns or uncertainties should be promptly addressed by the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

The Abuja Municipal Area Council has announced its intention to honour the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and his nephew, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, by naming streets after them.

This was made known in a statement by the spokesperson for the Osun State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, shared on X on Tuesday .

According to the statement, the recognition is to appreciate Adeleke’s contributions to infrastructural development in Osun State and Davido’s impact in the entertainment industry.

The statement partly read, “The Abuja Municipal Area Council has nominated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for the distinct honour of naming a street after him, saying the recognition was as a result of his outstanding contributions and commitment to laudable infrastructural development in Osun State.

“The development which was conveyed in a letter dated April 15, 2024, put Governor Adeleke on the famed list of eminent Nigerian leaders and public servants immortalised, which the street naming within the Abuja Municipality in the nation’s capital represents.

“The council added that the governor’s nephew, Mr. David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, will have a street with the Abuja Municipality named after him, noting that ‘To add to this honour, your nephew, David Adeleke, who no doubt has been a character to be emulated by Nigerian youths due to his enormous contributions in the entertainment industry, has honourably been included in the nomination.

“Subject to your acceptance of this nomination, kindly confirm your formal acceptance.”