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Alleged Fraud: Court Refuses Yahaya Bello’s Bail Application

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Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has refused to grant a bail application filed by the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, saying it was filed prematurely.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Anenih, said having been filed when he was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.

The former governor is standing trial, along with two others, in an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In the arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “Before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on 22nd November. The 1st defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.

“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”

She said the defendant’s counsel JB Daudu (SAN) had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.

He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.

In opposing, the prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro had argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.

He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but the 1st defendant’s counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority.

While delivering her ruling, Justice Maryann Anenih said, “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on the 22nd of November. This shows that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”

Reading from the ACJa section, the judge said the provision provided that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court.

Bello had filed an application for his bail on 22nd November but was taken into custody on 26th November and arraigned on 27th November.

The second defendant Umar Oricha was granted bail in the sum of N300m with two sureties.

The sureties must be a holder of a property in Maitama valued at not less than the bond sum, they must also deposit their original title document before the court.

The sureties must depose to an affidavit of means and copies of passport of sureties be deposited.

The court also ruled that Oricha shall deposit travel documents and be remanded in prison custody pending fulfillment of the bail conditions.

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Crime

Tragedy in Imo: Son Fatally Stabs Father Over Land Sale Dispute

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A tragic incident has rocked the community of Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, where a 39-year-old man, Ifeanyi Odinka, allegedly stabbed his 75-year-old father, Dennis Odinka, to death following a dispute over proceeds from a land sale.

Confirming the incident, the Imo State Police Command said Ifeanyi was arrested by operatives from the Orlu Division on August 12, 2025. According to police spokesperson ASP Henry Okoye, the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation.

“He was immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Owerri for further investigation and prosecution,” Okoye stated.

The gruesome killing has left residents in shock, with community members describing the incident as deeply disturbing and calling for justice to take its course.

The police have assured the public that the suspect will face the full weight of the law. They also reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order across the state, urging residents to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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Crime

16 Inmates Escape in Keffi Prison Break

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Sixteen inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 12, 2025, after breaching the facility’s security and overpowering prison staff.

According to a statement by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, the inmates launched a coordinated attack on duty personnel, leading to the breakout. Five officers were injured in the process, with two currently in serious condition and receiving treatment at a government hospital.

Abubakar confirmed that seven of the escaped inmates have already been recaptured, while a manhunt is underway to track down the remaining nine.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public of an incident… where some inmates breached the security of the facility and attacked personnel on duty, enabling 16 inmates to escape custody,” the statement read in part.

Following the incident, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, visited the Keffi facility and ordered a thorough investigation. He warned that any staff found complicit in the escape would face disciplinary action.

Nwakuche also directed immediate efforts to recapture the fleeing inmates, in collaboration with other security agencies.

The public has been urged to remain calm and vigilant and to report any suspicious movements or sightings of the escapees to the nearest security post.

The NCoS reassured citizens of its continued commitment to public safety and the integrity of custodial facilities across the country.

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Crime

JUST IN: NCAA Clarifies Role in Passenger Incidents, Says Ibom Air Filed Charges Against Comfort Emmanson

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified its involvement in two recent incidents involving unruly passengers, stating that it was not the regulatory body but Ibom Air that initiated legal action against passenger Ms. Comfort Emmanson.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, explained that the authority steps in only when necessary and within the limits of its mandate.

Addressing the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate or Kwam 1, Achimugu noted that the airline involved in that incident chose not to pursue legal action. As a result, he said, the NCAA petitioned relevant authorities to prosecute the passenger and issued an advisory to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) recommending a ban.

“In K1’s case, the airline did not activate its right to take the passenger to court. Therefore, NCAA stepped in and petitioned for prosecution, while advising the AON to ban the individual from flying,” Achimugu said.

However, in the more recent incident involving Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted an Ibom Air staff member during a flight, the airline immediately initiated legal proceedings.

“Perhaps because their staff was assaulted, Ibom Air acted swiftly and took the case to court themselves. NCAA has no role in that case,” he clarified.

Achimugu said both incidents point to rising tensions within the aviation environment, stating, “The system is being tested, and there’s enough blame to go around—FAAN, AVSEC, cabin crew, and passengers alike.”

He reiterated the global stance against unruly behavior aboard aircraft and stressed the importance of passengers complying with cabin crew instructions for safety reasons.

Achimugu also revealed that during the confrontation involving Emmanson, other passengers reportedly seized and turned off her phone.

Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Emmanson across all member airlines. The ban was announced on Monday in a statement issued by AON spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, who warned that similar acts of misconduct would attract the same penalty.

The incident occurred aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Lagos.

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