Bello made the declaration during a visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders from the senatorial district, saying, “I accept to run for the Senate in 2027,” the former governor said while addressing the gathering.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was present at the event, alongside other political figures and community leaders.

According to newsmen, Ododo appealed to his predecessor to accede to calls from party leaders and constituents urging him to represent the district at the National Assembly.

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He accused Ododo of teaming up with his godfather and former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, to mismanage the state.

According to Ijele, “I don’t know if you believe that payment of salaries and wages — even the holy books say labourers are worthy of their wages, and it’s a sin to withhold the wages of labourers.

“It’s not an achievement but a compulsory commitment on the side of the government. They can’t keep working if you are not paying them.

“I keep saying that what was Ododo’s manifesto in line with his performance? During the election, we were seeing him campaigning alongside former governor GYB. How many times did you see him talking? He never granted any interview.

“We are talking about the dividends of democracy and doing what is right for democracy. What is an achievement in paying salaries? We are talking about infrastructural development and insecurity in the state.”

He accused Ododo of failure in fighting insecurity across Kogi State.

Ijele insisted that the SDP has managed the affairs of the opposition in the state.

The post SDP reveals Gov Ododo’s ‘sin’ in Kogi appeared first on Afinju FM.

Justice Nwite noted that the report, marked as Exhibit B, which was the medical report provided by a doctor, was not signed by its maker, and as such, could not be accorded any probative value.

The judge stressed that an unsigned document carries no weight in law and therefore, considered worthless.

He said, “In other words, Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the court.

“The defendant has failed to place sufficient materials before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel. Consequently, this application is hereby refused.”

The judge faulted the argument by the prosecution that the application constituted an abuse of court process.

He noted that Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu had argued among others, that his client was a known hypertensive patient for about 15 years.

On the prosecution’s argument that Bello’s sureties were not involved in the defendant’s application, noting that the case was only between the prosecution and the defence.

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Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on alleged money laundering charges involving about N80.2billion.

Daudu drew the court’s to Bello’s fresh application during Friday’s proceedings and urged the court to grant his client’s prayers.

Prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said he filed a counter-affidavit and contended that the application by Bello is technically incompetent.

Pinherio, who argued that the application amounted to an abuse of court’s process, said Bello filed similar application before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, where he is also being prosecuted by the EFCC on another criminal case.

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The governor,who was visibly emotional, said he remains committed to the values of loyalty and gratitude. “Where he (Bello) picked me from and how God used him to elevate me remain fresh in my memory. I will never forget where I came from,” he stated.

Ododo added, “I will not and cannot betray him. When you see a child angry with his father, such a child is no longer truly one. I’m not that kind of person.”

Governor Ododo’s remarks come amid ongoing political conversations around continuity and party unity in Kogi State.

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The document purportedly addresses the payment or refund of school fees, relating to the ongoing trial of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who the EFCC charged with an N80.2 billion fraud.

Ojehomon had on Thursday testified that Ali Bello contacted the American International School, Abuja, offering to pay the school fees of Yahaya Bello’s children until their graduation, which the school management accepted.

He stated that the fees were paid for four of Bello’s children, who were enrolled in grades 8, 6, 4, and 2.

Ojehomon further revealed that Bello also made payments for future school fees of children not yet enrolled in the school.

At the continuation of the trial today, Daudu sought to tender receipts related to the recertification of the documents.

Pinheiro, however, objected, stating that the prosecution had not yet closed its case and citing Section 232 of the Evidence Act.

In response, Daudu argued that the admissibility of documents in criminal or civil cases is governed strictly by their relevance to the proceedings.

Daudu further contended that the document was relevant and admissible under Section 4 of the Evidence Act.

Reading a portion of the document, he noted that while a specific relief had been denied, the fee agreement was upheld in the judgment.

He added that the document, a public record involving AISA, was pertinent because the witness was the sole representative of AISA in the matter.

Pinheiro maintained his objection, urging the court to reject the document because the defence counsel had not demonstrated its compliance with Section 232 of the Evidence Act.

Read Also: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail

Meanwhile, Ojehomon, in his testimony, confirmed multiple payments made to the school on behalf of Yahaya Bello’s children from various company accounts.

He identified a document shown to him as a bank telex sent to the school via email by Ali Bello, confirming that it represented a transfer made by Forza Oil and Gas in favour of Bello’s children.

The witness also identified another document as a telex from Whales Oil and Gas to AISA, along with other related transactions.

He further confirmed payments of $42,170 from Aleshua Solution Services and $25,000 from Uliati General Training LLC, both received by AISA. Additionally, a $90,000 payment from Dada Rand Merchant Limited, based in Kasanga, Uganda, was also verified, among other amounts.

During cross-examination, the EFCC counsel asked the witness to specify in whose names the payment receipts were issued. Ojehomon responded that they were issued in the names of four of the former governor’s children.

The defence counsel, Daudu, interjected, requesting the witness to read the names directly from the receipts, arguing that the witness should not infer or import information not explicitly stated in the exhibits.

The cross-examination was interrupted as the judge adjourned for a ruling on the admissibility of the FCT High Court judgment related to the payment of school fees.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, fixed May 8 and 9 for the ruling on the admissibility of the FCT High Court judgment.

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Justice Anenih had on December 10 refused the former governor’s bail application, saying it was filed prematurely.

While delivering the initial ruling, she said that having been filed when the 1st defendant was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.

There was, however, room for the governor’s lawyers to file a fresh application for bail and apply for hearing date.

The former governor is facing an alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N110bn, along with two others.

Read Also: Court Grants Yahaya Bello ₦500m Bail over alleged ₦80bn fraud

He had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

At the day’s proceedings, Counsel for the former governor, Joseph Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the defence counsels had filed a further affidavit in response to the counter affidavit filed and served by the prosecution counsels.

He, however, applied to withdraw the further affidavit, saying, they do not want to make the matter contentious.

There was no objection from the prosecution counsel, Olukayode Enitan, SAN. The court, therefore, granted the application for withdrawal, striking out the further affidavit.

Daudu also informed the court that discussions had taken place with the leader of the prosecution counsels, resulting in an agreement to ensure a speedy trial.

In light of this understanding, he urged the court to grant the bail application.

He further requested that if the court would grant Bello bail, the court should kindly review the bail conditions for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants.

The post Breaking: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail appeared first on Afinju FM.

Justice Emeka Nwite who presided over the court session on Friday ordered that the former governor must produce two sureties in like sum.

He said the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of Properties in Abuja.

In addition, the title documents of the properties, which must be in Abuja, will be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

Read Also: EFCC set to arraign Yahaya Bello on fresh charges today

Justice Nwite ordered that the former governor must deposit his international passport with the court, while he and his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.

He also ruled that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Bello pleaded not guilty to the alleged ₦80 billion fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC.

EFCC had arraigned Bello before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 19-count charge, bordering on alleged money laundering.

At the resumed hearing, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, notified the court of his intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgment of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events.

Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not object to this and Justice Emeka Nwite, accordingly granted the request, striking out the application.

The post Alleged ₦80bn Fraud: Court Grants Yahaya Bello ₦500m Bail appeared first on Afinju FM.

The former governor would be docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, on 19-count charges of alleged money laundering.

He is to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite where his plea will be taken.

Although the arraignment was slated for January 27 next year, it was gathered that the EFCC pushed for bringing forward the arraignment following the presence of the former governor before the anti-graft agency.

It was gathered that the hearing notice for the arraignment had already been served on the legal team of the former governor and that of the EFCC to ensure a hitch-free arraignment.

Read Also: EFCC seizes Range Rover, others from suspected fraudster in Abuja

This will be the second time the EFCC will be putting Bello on trial having docked him on Wednesday, November 27 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on alleged breach of trust.

He denied the 16-count charges brought against him and requested for bail to enable him prepare for his defense in the charges.

Justice Maryann Anenih, who presided over the arraignment, however, fixed December 10 for ruling on the bail application.

The Judge ordered that the former governor and two others arraigned along with him be remanded in the EFCC custody till the ruling is delivered.

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Daudu had pleaded with the court to admit the former governor to bail on various grounds.

Among others, the senior lawyer said that the law presumes him innocent until the contrary is established by the anti-graft agency.

Read Also: EFCC did not interrogate Yahaya Bello – Media office insists on visit

Daudu also submitted that Bello was not a flight risk as he had not traveled out of the country for the past seven years, adding that the former governor would not interfere with witnesses and exhibits since EFCC had already completed the investigation and filed charges against the defendants.

However, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued otherwise, adding that Bello may likely interfere with the witnesses and exhibits.

Justice Anenih announced that she would make her decision known on December 10, and ordered that the three defendants should remain in EFCC custody until the rulings are delivered.

Umar Shoaib Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu had earlier been admitted to administrative bail by the EFCC while the former governor appeared before the court for the first time.

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