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Confusion as EFCC names ex-Kogi Gov in amended corruption allegations perpetrated before he became Governor

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. Ali Bello, Suleman refute EFCC’s allegations in amended charges

There was confusion on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, following amended charges filed against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman, including the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed they allegedly diverted about N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months before former Governor Bello assumed office as Governor.

Governor Bello was not a defendant in the original suit, and was not in court. However, Ali Bello, currently Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor and Dauda Suleman have denied the fraud allegations in the amended charges brought against them at the fresh aaraignment on Thursday in Abuja.

Their plea was taken by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso.

Both Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman vehemently denied the allegations contained in the 17 counts amended charges.

Earlier, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, A.M. Aliyu, SAN, had objected to reading of the amended charges to his client.

His ground of objection was that the anti-graft agency had failed woefully to comply with Section 218 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The senior lawyer submitted that a copy of the amended charges was not served on them as required by the provisions of the ACJA Act.

EECC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN asked the court to reject the arguments of the defendant, adding that the court had on its own endorsed the amendment.

In a brief ruling, Justice Omotoso recalled that he had granted accelerated hearing in the matter and had also ordered that all forms of objections must be kept in abeyance till address stage.

He then directed the Registrar of the Court to read the amended charges.

In the first count, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were accused of conspiring with each other in September 2015 and converted N80, 246, 470, 089 to their personal use.

They were alleged to have run foul of section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 because they ought to have reasonably known that the money was a product of fraud and criminal breach of public trust.

In other charges, Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman were alleged to have concealed several millions of naira with one Rabiu Musa Tafada, a Bureau De Change BDC operator trading under Global Venture in Abuja.

Alli Bello’s counsel, Aliyu SAN, at this point, applied that one of the EFCC witnesses, Edward Fanada, be recalled for fresh cross examination in view of the contents of the amended charges.

The request was granted by Justice James Kolawole Omotoso due to no opposition from the EFCC lawyer.

Meanwhile, Justice Omotoso has ordered that Alli Bello and Dauda Suleman should continue to enjoy the bail conditions granted them in the previous charges.

Crime

BREAKING: Village Head Killed, Others Abducted in Suspected Herdsmen Attack on Tiv Community in Nasarawa

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Suspected herdsmen have launched a deadly attack late Sunday night on Tse Yange, a Tiv-dominated community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The attackers reportedly killed the village head and abducted several residents during the raid.

It was gathered that the gunemn stormed the agrarian community on motorbikes in the night, unleashing terror and destruction.

An eyewitness revealed that the assault lasted into the early hours of Monday, leaving many people injured and several homes deserted.

As of the time of this report, the exact number of those abducted and injured remains unclear.

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Crime

BREAKING: Scores dead, Many injured as suspected herdsmen attack Benue capital

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An unconfirmed number of people have been reported killed, with many others injured, following a deadly overnight attack by suspected herdsmen on Mtsewnem, Akondutyough village in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

According to reports, the assailants stormed the community around 3:00 a.m., attacking residents in their sleep.

Reacting to the incident, humanitarian worker and human rights advocate, Ukan Kurugh, described the attack as “deeply disturbing.”

He said, “At 3:00 a.m. today, I received a heartbreaking distress call, accompanied by chilling video footage and photographs of yet another suspected herdsmen attack.

“This time, the horror unfolded in North Bank, less than a 40-minute drive from Makurdi town.

“These brazen attackers continue to strike with impunity, undeterred by the presence of state and federal authorities. They have defied the President, the Governor, and our entire security apparatus.

“To the wounded and to the families who lost loved ones, my heart grieves with you. Your pain is our pain. We will not turn away.

We will not be silent. We are wide awake and we will continue to speak, to mourn, and to demand action.”

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Benue State Police Command PRO, Edet Udeme were not successful as of the time of this report.

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Crime

Court Orders Remand of 34 Individuals Over Alaba Rago Street Trading

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At least 34 persons have been remanded in prison custody by a Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade Oshodi on Tuesday till July 22.

The traders were arrested for engaging in street trading along the median of the Alaba Rago -Ojo on the Lagos -Badagry Expressway.

According to reports, the arraigned persons made up of 32 male and 2 female were arrested over the weekend in an operation by KAI and LAWMA operatives to clean and clear the median of the Alaba Rago Ojo road which has been taken over by different traders that have erected illegal structures.

Some of those arrested include miscreants who slept in makeshift shed errected on the median to perpetrate crime in that area.

Those arrested and arraigned were identified as Ibrahim Abu – 35yrsIsiaka Ashafa – 31yrsShaibu Isa – 55yrs.Abubakar Haruna – 29yrs, Aminu Haruna – 21yrs, Aminu Abdullahi – 20yrs, Zakariyahu Yahusa- 50yrs, Sunmola Musa – 25yrsSamsideen Ali – 21yrs.

Others include Anthony Oyibo – 68yrs, Abubakar Yusuf- 25yrs,Muhammed Oseni – 27yrs, Aliu Mohammed – 45yrs, Lookman Adebayo – 43yrs, Igudu Ibrahim – 25yrs Awalu Umar – 25yrs, Sani Babangida – 25yrs, Abdullahi Usman – 24yrs, Aliu Ibrahim – 25yrs Roland David – 19yrs, David Timothy – 18yrs, Yusuf Adamu – 23yrs, Abdulsalam Sanusi – 25yrs, Nura Yusuf – 25yrs, Idris Isa – 23yrs, Nasiru Ali – 25yrs, Mayi Daniel – 22yrs Isaac Samuel – 25yrs, Yahaya Mamuda – 18yrs, Salisu Ibrahim – 28yrs, Yusuf Adamu – 20yrs, Abdullahi Musa – 20yrs, Fadipe Bose – 33yrs – Female and Ebere Ndubuisi – 35yrs – Female.

While speaking on the development, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, reiterated the resolve of the present administration to enforce the law on all those who exhibit deviant behaviours.

He urged all residents to exhibit the minimum standard of decency by contributing to a cleaner and sustainable Lagos.

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