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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

Bandits storm Zamfara communities, kill 14

The bandits were said to have carried out the operation for about four hours before they left the communities.

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Suspected bandits this afternoon invaded two communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State and killed fourteen people in a sporadic shooting.

Eyewitness accounts said that the bandits stormed the Rubuki and Yargalma communities on motorcycles in the afternoon and started fire sporadic gunshots as well as setting ablaze houses with occupants, vehicles and food stuff in the troubled communities.

The bandits were said to have carried out the operation for about four hours before they left the communities.

It was learned that 9 people were killed at Rubuki while five others were killed at the Yargalma community.

They left eight people with different degrees of injuries who are now receiving medical care at the hospital.

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Crime

Angwa-Rukuba killings: Plateau Government Files Charges Against Five Suspects Arrested By DSS

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Few weeks after President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State and promised justice for victims of serial attacks, the State Government on Friday filed charges against five suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the March 2026 killings of several persons in Angwa- Rukuba, Jos North LGA of the state.

The government filed charges ofcriminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offences against the quartet of Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro.

On his part, Adamu Isa Alhassan, who is one of the five defendants, was charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.

They were arrested between April 3 and April 10, 2026.The State Attorney General, Philemon Audu Daffi, who filed the charges, said the actions of the four men were “contrary to Section 269 and Punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.

“The particulars of offence read, “That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area, Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (Now at Large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offences relating to terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, and contributed money to carry out the attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court; you thereby committed the above offence.

“That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area, Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (Now at Large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did commit the offence of terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, contributed and received money to carry out an attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over thirty (30) people in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

“Part of the particulars of Alhassan’s offence read, “That you Adamu Isah Alhassan together with one Ibrahim Musa (Now at Large), Imarana Sa’idu (Now at Large), Yusuf Sa’idu (Now at Large) Aliyu Usaini (Now at Large), Yahuza Adamu (Now at Large), Mubarak Yunusa (Now at Large), Yakubu, whose surname is unknown (Now at Large) and others also at large between the months of January to December, 2025 and in January, 2026 at Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death, when you armed yourselves with guns, attacked and killed the residents of Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, and you thereby committed the above offence.”

Recall that, on Friday March 28, 2025, no fewer than 30 persons including children were killed after suspected herders attacked some communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas and their environs, of the State.

Following the killings, many called for the cancellation of a state-,organized programme,”

Experience Plateau, Arts Meets Fashion.”Brushing aside the calls, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said cancelling the event would satisfy the agenda of the attackers.

Remarked the governor, “Last week, Bokkos Local Government Area came under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit.

“Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit.

“But I said no! Life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God.

The genocide on the Plateau will come to an end. What is happening is not a farmer-herder conflict.

Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note,” declared the governor.

During the President’s visit early this month, he met with victims of the attacks, assessed the damage, and promised justice for those who suffered losses.

“We are optimistic that ongoing interventions will help restore lasting peace,” assured the President, even as he charged citizens of the state to be vigilant

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Crime

Delta Police Command Arrests, Recover Large Cache of Hard Drugs

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain the operations, urging the public to continue to support the Police with credible information.

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The Delta State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing operations, foiling a kidnap plot and disrupting drug networks through coordinated raids.

ARREST OF NOTORIOUS DRUG BARON; LARGE QUANTITIES OF SUSPECTED HARD DRUGS RECOVERED:

On 15 April 2026 at about 2223hrs, Anti-Crime Patrol operatives of orerokpe division raided a drug hideout in Ugholo community, arresting Justina Onokpasa (F), 33.

During the raid, the operatives Recovered exhibits which includes two large bags of weeds suspected to be Canadian loud and also three hundred (300) small cans of substances also suspected to be Canadian Loud, thirty (30) bottles of CSC codeine, ten (10) sachets of tramadol, two (2) sachets of ‘Super Royal’ (Redboy), twelve (12) sachets of Swinol, twelve (12) pieces of molly drugs, and four hundred (400) empty distribution cans. Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.

RAID OF DRUG HIDEOUT; THREE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN ABRAKA:

On 16 April 2026 at about 1145hrs, operatives of State Anti-cult Unit (SACU) raided drug spots in Abraka, and arrested three suspects.

During the raid, large quantities of weed suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs were recovered. Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the operatives and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain the operations, urging the public to continue to support the Police with credible information.

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