politics
Alleged N80b fraud : Legality of EFCC has Power to Arraign Yahaya Bello, will take Place Today
The legal tussle over the legality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) having the power to arraign former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello for alleged N80.2 billion fraud will begin today at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appellate court is expected to hear EFCC’s application seeking to set aside the interim injunction of a High Court in Kogi barring the commission from arresting the former governor.
NAN also reports that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to deliver a ruling tomorrow on EFCC’s request for the court to grant an order to effect substituted service of the charge on Bello.
Justice Isa Abdullahi of a Kogi High Court, on February 9, gave an interim order restraining the EFCC from taking any action against Bello, pending the determination of the substantive matter.
But the EFCC later approached the Court of Appeal on March 11, asking the appellate court to set aside the interim restraining order.
The commission informed the appellate court that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to assist Bello to escape prosecution for his alleged offence.
It averred that Bello could not use the lower court to escape invitation, investigation, and possible prosecution.
But hearing of the EFCC’s appeal over the interim order will also face a fierce legal argument as the Kogi High Court on April 17 delivered its substantive judgment in the matter.
The court directed the commission to seek the leave of the Court of Appeal before taking further steps against Bello.
This development indicates that the EFCC will have to appeal against the fresh substantive judgment, get the appellate court’s pronouncement before it can proceed with any action against Bello.
Also, in the ensuing altercations between the former governor and the EFCC, some Nigerians have faulted the commission’s propriety to prosecute the former governor.
Others, however, said Bello should submit himself for the commission’s scrutiny, if he has nothing to hide.
Groups that have condemned the EFCC for allegedly witch-hunting Bello include the North Central Integrity Group and the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL).
Also, some APC chieftains, including the Chairman of Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG), Jesutega Onokpasa, as well as Abubarkar Iliyasu and Comrade Felix Etedjere, urged sitting governors, former governors and politically exposed persons to stand against what they called the unjust persecution of Yahaya Bello.
The APC chieftains, who spoke yesterday in Abuja through Onokpasa, described Bello’s travail as a coordinated witch-hunt.
He said: “The remedy against an order of court is to vacate the order or to appeal the same and most certainly not for law enforcement to thump its nose against the court and decompose into lawlessness and brigandage…
Also, Ebira Land Youths Coalition urged the Federal Government to ensure that the former governor is not put in harm’s way in the course of his ordeal with the EFCC.
But the Network of Professional Kogi State Youths urged Bello to submit himself to the EFCC for trial over N80 billion money laundering charges levelled against him.
In a statement by its spokesman Abdulquadri Shuaibu, the network said frowned at Bello’s alleged disregard for the rule of law, including evasion of a lawful arrest.
It described the former governor’s action as “regrettable, disgraceful and embarrassing”.
“As a united Coalition representing the citizens of Kogi State, we issue a 24-hour ultimatum to Governor Yahaya Bello to vacate the Government House and surrender to the EFCC or the nearest Police Station. Failure to comply, we will occupy the Government House in a mega protest to ensure Governor Bello’s accountability and safeguard the integrity of our judicial system,” the statement said.
politics
Breaking : INEC Confirms Oyebanji’s Re-election in Ekiti, First Consecutive Governorship Victory Since 1999
Governor Biodun Oyebanji casting his vote at his Okeelele Unit 003
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.
The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Olumayokun Oluyede and African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”
While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40, 533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.
There are 988,251 registered voters, and 384,940 are accredited.
Out of the 382,109 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 375, 777.
According to INEC result, the PDP candidate, who hails from Ikere Ekiti, lost in his Ikere Local Government area.
While the APC and its candidate, Oyebanji, scored 8,742 votes, the PDP, which came second in the LGA, garnered 2,051 votes.
Below are the full results of the governorship election as collated at the State Collation Centre from the 16 LGAs on Sunday.
Efon Local Govt
Collation officer: Prof. Joseph Ojo
ADC – 201
APC – 8742
PDP – 2051
Ijero LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Olaniran Akanni
ADC – 2026
APC – 25506
PDP – 2479
Ikere LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Jayeoba
ADC – 245
APC – 11116
PDP – 9872
Emure LG
Collation Officer: Prof Emmanuel Oluwafemi
ADC -732
APC – 14325
PDP – 851
Ekiti South West
Collation Officer: Prof. Kola Oladunmoye
ADC – 1076
APC – 14705
PDP – 1800
Ido/Osi
Collation Officer: Prof. Otalobi Akintunde
ADC – 561
APC – 17901
PDP – 1449
Ekiti West
Collation Officer: Prof Bolaji Stephen
ADC – 674
APC – 28258
PDP – 3644
Ado LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Toye Fasinmirin
ADC – 1054
APC – 38026
PDP – 3817
Ilejemeje LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Mogaji
ADC – 579
APC – 8984
PDP – 1243
Ise/Orun LG
Collation Officer: Dr John Isa
ADC – 365
APC – 12907
PDP – 1627
Oye LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Jide Popoola
ADC – 998
APC – 18975
PDP – 2891
Moba LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Suleiman Adegboyega
ADC – 994
APC – 20500
PDP – 1572
Ayekire/Gbonyin LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Oso Bamidele
ADC – 314
APC – 17133
PDP – 1563
Ikole LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Sadiat Adifala
ADC – 812
APC – 26508
PDP – 750
Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Michael Adeyemi
ADC – 511
APC – 29278
PDP – 2119
Ekiti East LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Olabode Olatunbosun
ADC – 1730
APC – 26359
PDP – 2795
politics
BREAKING: Rivers State Assembly Begins Impeachment Process Against Governor Fubara and Deputy
The Rivers House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
The move followed a plenary session on Thursday presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
During the session, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, formally read the notice of allegations and claims of gross misconducts levelled against Governor Fubara.
He disclosed that the notice was endorsed by 26 members of the Assembly, who alleged that the Governor had acted in violation of provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Speaker Amaewhule stated that the notice of impeachment would be served on Governor Fubara within the next seven days in line with constitutional procedures.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read out a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Oduh, marking the formal commencement of impeachment proceedings against her as well.
politics
Breaking : Accord Party Faces Internal Crisis in Osun as Bamigbola Emerges for 2026 After Adeleke
A faction of the Accord Party has produced Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer.
Newsthumb recalls that Adeleke had emerged on Wednesday as the party’s candidate, being the sole aspirant in the exercise.
However, a faction of the party rejected his emergence, insisting that Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem is not the legally recognised national chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, about 300 delegates of the Accord Party from across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional candidate during a primary held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.
Bamigbola emerged through a voice vote conducted by the delegates, after which the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, declared him the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Following his declaration, Ogundare and other party leaders formally presented the party’s flag to Bamigbola ahead of the 2026 contest.
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