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Adopt national confab recommendations on security, others, S’West leaders tell FG
South-West leaders including state governors, traditional rulers and ministers have demanded a review of the nation’s architecture and reports of the 2014 and previous national conferences and adopt relevant recommendations on security and other troubling national issues.
The meeting hosted by Lagos State Government hosted was at the instance of all the six governors of the region, to forge a common front with traditional institutions in addressing the issues that led to the recent nationwide youth protest, which ended in violence.
President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Current members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from the region and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, attended the event.
This obviously is the fallout of the threat resulting from the recent destruction of key public and private assets in Lagos and other states in the unrest that followed the #endSARS protests and sought to find the way forward.
The leaders, in a communique issued after the meeting stated and signed on behalf of the participants by Chairman of the South-West governors, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, stated, called for a “review of reports of constitutional conferences including 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations, especially with reference to security, economy and equal treatment for citizens all over the country.”
They stated, “The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the South west states.
“While there are legitimate concerns contained in the initial ENDSARS movement, these have been hijacked by criminal and other elements with ulterior and negative forces and degenerated into anarchy.
“There is a need to undertake preventive actions aimed at prevention of repeat of what happened in the country following the ENDSARS demonstrators. Security needs to be strengthened in all states.
“We wish to encourage the Nigeria Police by responding to their needs and appeal to them to do more to protect lives and properties and enhance security all over the country.”
They noted that the prolonged closure of the border had caused economic difficulties and sought its review with a view to permitting the resumption of economic and trading activities.
The need to address youth unemployment and empowerment was also raised and demanded a comprehensive programme on this.
“We recognize the damaging and negative impact of fake/false news and worry about its destructive and dangerous potency of fake news. We call on Federal Government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and those regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. 2015 Cyber Act will also be fully used.
“The Federal Government should ensure that technology is used effectively for the advancement of the Nigerian security and not its destruction by working with the technology cum social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The regime of checks and gate keeping should be fully employed,” the communiqué stated.
On the prolonged faceoff between the FG and university lecturers, the leaders called for urgent resolution of the crisis so that students could return to school in earnest.
They also “endorse the call by traditional rulers call for regular consultations with state governors and federal authorities on challenges facing the state and for appropriate recognition of their role in the constitution.”
Earlier at the meeting, President Buhari, who spoke through Professor Gambari, had said the political class must go beyond the lip service and equip the young people with skills that would make them competitive in market.
He said, “Our government’s efforts are emerging from multiple levels. The vice president and governors are designing an engagement framework through the National Economic Council that will be rolled out across states of the federation.
“Chief among them is police reform across all its dimensions; community policing as an additional layer that can resolve some of our security issues.”
Ministers who attended were Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Babatunde Fashola (Works and Housing), Olurunnimbe Mamora (Health – State), Rauf Aregbesola (interior), Olamilekan Adegbite (Mines and Steel Development), Niyi Adebayo (Industry, Trade and Investment) and Sunday Dare (Youth and Sports).
Royal fathers in attendance are The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Akinruntan Obateru, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi and Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.
Also at the forum are the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi; the Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru Olagbegi; the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, among others.
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Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence
Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence
There were gunshots on Wednesday in Abuja when Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State was leaving the residence of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had laid siege to Bello’s residence located at Wuse Zone 4, to arrest him in connection with a fraud case.
The security operatives had to call for reinforcement with backup from the police and Department of State Services (DSS) when it was becoming clear their mission would not be actualised after many hours.
The plan was to forcefully arrest the former governor as they cordoned off the residence on Benghazi Street.
They allowed Ododo into the residence. But by time he drove out, there were hints that Bello was in the car with tinted glass.
This made the security operatives to open fire.
The EFCC, in a statement later by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, warned that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
“Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years,” it stated.
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BREAKING: EFCC operatives storm ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence over N84bn fraud case
BREAKING: EFCC operatives storm ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence over N84bn fraud case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has barricaded the house of Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State, in Wuse, Abuja.
According to SaharaReporters, the EFCC siege is coming days after the former governor held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, at the State House.
It was gathered that there is currently no movement in and around the house located at Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4 in the nation’s federal capital.
On Wednesday, a top source shared the photograph showing how operatives of the EFCC barricaded the access road to the Bello’s house.
The source said: “EFCC barricades Bello’ house in Abuja. No movement in the area as EFCC barricaded the house. They are yet to gain access.”
Although there was no immediate information available to the reason while the anti-graft agency stormed the former governor’s residence, it may be connected with the N84 billion fraud case against him which the EFCC is prosecuting.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with financial fraud to the tune of N84 billion.
The anti-graft commission in an amended charge, accused Bello of diverting N80 billion of state funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office.
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Recall that the EFCC had arraigned Bello’s nephew, Ali Bello, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, for alleged money laundering to the tune of N10 billion belonging to the State government.
The State Government faulted the charge describing it as “ridiculous” and “laughable”, argued that it is impossible, as the former governor was not yet in a position to access or misappropriate state funds at said time.
The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, had on February 7, 2024, accused the EFCC of being “infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of ‘Mr. President’ to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”
Recall that the EFCC had dragged former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering.
EFCC, which joined Bello’s nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu as co-accused, had said it is prosecuting them on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of fund to tune of N84, 062,406,089.88.
The anti-graft agency had claimed in the amended charge that former governor Bello is still at large.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman, Yahaya Adoza Bello (still at large) and Abdulsalam Hudu (still at large), sometime in September, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-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(b) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended,” the EFCC said.
“While ex-Governor Yahaya Bello and Hudu are still at large, Ali Bello and Suleiman, first and second defendants respectively, who were present in court “pleaded not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.
BREAKING: EFCC operatives storm ex-Gov Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence over N84bn fraud case
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EFCC has no powers to prosecute people over naira abuse – Odinkalu
EFCC has no powers to prosecute people over naira abuse – Odinkalu
Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lacks the powers to prosecute naira abuse.
To the professor of law, spraying of the naira does not fall within the commission’s prosecutorial purview.
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Odinkalu stated: “The law that establishes the EFCC defines ‘economic and financial crimes’ to mean ‘non-violent criminal and illicit activity committed with the objectives of earning wealth illegally either individually or in a group or organised manner thereby violating existing legislation governing the economic activities of government and its administration.’ “
Socialite and barman Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, is set to challenge the charge filed against him by the EFCC, having pleaded not guilty.
He was arraigned on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos and granted N10million bail.
EFCC has no powers to prosecute people over naira abuse – Odinkalu
Security men open fire to arrest Yahya Bello at Abuja residence
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