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Nigerians appalled over EFCC’s inability to arrest Yahaya Bello

Published

6 months ago

May 29, 2024

Former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello and EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede

Nigerians appalled over EFCC’s inability to arrest Yahaya Bello

Nigerians have taken to social media to mock the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over it’s failure to arrest the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

Yahaya Bello, who seems to have gone into hiding was accused of stealing over eighty billion naira funds which belongs to Kogi State.

Recall that the EFCC failed in its initial bid to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence as the former governor was whisked away by the incumbent and his successor, Usman Ododo.

The failure of the agency to arrest Bello ever since the first attempt have however irked Nigerians on social media who lampooned the anti-graft agency over what they termed as its ineffectiveness in fighting corruption.

Expressing disappointment X user and Disc Jockey, DJ Spotlight tweeted, “Don’t omit EFCC when you want to count useless institutions that should be scrapped off like sars. They are deadlier that they chase shadows when a man like Yahaya Bello that stole up to 100 billion is being protected. Too bad.”

Another X user, iDAN said, “@officialEFCC are now cowards and seems to lack the vigor to apprehend Yahaya Bello who allegedly embezzled over 80 billion naira. Yet, they forcefully enter the homes of innocent students in universities just because they own a laptop”

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Calling for the arrest of the former governor, Ugo Godwin, on his X handle queried, “It’s been over 40 days that @officialEFCC declared Yahaya Bello wanted for fraud. Is it that he is above the law or his case has been settled behind the scene? I think ALL NIGERIANS ARE EQUAL before the law. EFCC please update us. Its taking forever”

Giving his thoughts on the EFCC X user, Murphy Nnaji posted, “The EFCC in Nigeria appears weak and seems to lack the vigor to apprehend and properly prosecute most of the country’s corrupt leaders. Recently, Yahaya Bello, who allegedly embezzled over 80 billion Naira, has not been located or brought to justice.

“Meanwhile, the EFCC forcefully enters the homes/hostels of innocent university students simply because they own a laptop. The EFCC should be at the top of the list of ineffective institutions to be scrapped, much like SARS.

“They are ineffectively pursuing minor targets while protecting significant figures like former Governor Bello, who seems to be above the law. Would he be “untouchable” if he were in a different political party, like the Labor Party or PDP?”

“Failing to arrest ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello for N80 billion fraud is a disgrace. We demand accountability and justice with his resignation!” Collins Opera posted on his X handle.

Recall last month the chairman of the anti-graft body, Ola Olukoyede, during a press conference promised to resign if he fails to arrest Yahaya Bello.

“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the EFCC Chairman”, Olukoyede said while speaking to journalists at the conference.

Nigerians appalled over EFCC’s inability to arrest Yahaya Bello

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

Published

14 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

metro

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

14 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

metro

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

Published

14 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.