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Yahaya Bello in custody of Kuje CC Pending Bail, January 29 Hearing

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The Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday, held the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in custody of Kuje Correctional Centre pending his bail application.

Justice Maryann Anenih also adjourned hearing in the N110 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to January 29 and 30 and February 25 and 27 for hearing.

The judge had earlier refused to grant a bail application filed by the former governor, saying it was filed prematurely.

Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling said, having been filed when the 1st defendant was neither in custody nor before the court, this instant application was incompetent.

“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.

The former governor is standing trial along with two others, in an alleged N110 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Recalling 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, 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 “that says that an application can only be filed when it is ripe for hearing.”

While delivering her ruling, Justice Maryann Anenih said, “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on 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 an application for bail could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court. Mr 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 2nd Defendant, Umar Oricha, was, however, granted N300 million bail, with two sureties, “who shall have property in the Maitama District of the FCT, within the jurisdiction of the court.

He shall not travel outside without the leave of the Court and shall remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

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Dangote Refinery IPO: SEC Warns Investors, ‘Don’t Pay Into Wrong Hands’

The warning effectively places investors on notice that interest in the IPO should not override basic due diligence, particularly in verifying where subscription applications are submitted and where payments are made.

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Aliko Dangote , flanks by her daughters and capital market regulators, during the gong opening ceremony on the NGX, Monday September 14,2026

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned prospective investors in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Initial Public Offering (IPO) against fraudsters and unauthorised platforms seeking to divert subscription funds.

The warning came as the refinery’s was quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Monday, September 14, 2026, marking a major milestone in the company’s planned public offer.

With strong public interest expected around one of Nigeria’s largest capital-market offerings, the SEC urged investors to deal only with officially designated and approved receiving agents, subscription channels and platforms.

“The public is hereby advised to exercise caution and ensure that all applications and payments relating to the IPO are made only through the officially designated and approved receiving agents/subscription channels and platforms,” the Commission said.

The regulator’s alert highlights growing concerns over the possibility of fake investment websites, cloned platforms, fraudulent payment channels and individuals posing as authorised agents to exploit the huge interest generated by the Dangote Refinery offer.

The SEC therefore advised prospective investors to obtain information about the IPO only through the Commission’s official channels, the issuer’s official channels and other channels specifically established and approved for the offer.

The warning effectively places investors on notice that interest in the IPO should not override basic due diligence, particularly in verifying where subscription applications are submitted and where payments are made.

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Bamanga Tukur, former Adamawa gov, ex-PDP Chair dies at 90

Tukur, who died three days before his 91st birthday, was one of the prominent political figures whose career cut across Nigeria’s military and civilian administrations, the private sector and continental business circles.

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BAMANGA Tukur, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former governor of Gongola (now Adamawa)State, is dead, aged 90.

Family’s sources confirmed his death on Saturday, although details surrounding his passing were not immediately made public.

Tukur, who died three days before his 91st birthday, was one of the prominent political figures whose career cut across Nigeria’s military and civilian administrations, the private sector and continental business circles.

Born on September 15, 1935, he began his public service career at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, where he served as General Manager from 1975 to 1982.

He moved into elective politics and won the Gongola State governorship election in 1983, but his tenure was cut short by the military coup in December of the same year.After leaving office, Tukur turned to business and founded BHI Holdings, popularly known as the DADDO Group of Companies.

He later returned to government as Minister of Industries between 1993 and 1995 under the military administration of General Sani Abacha.Tukur also played prominent roles in African business and economic affairs, serving as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.

He held advisory positions with several international trade organisations.

In March 2012, he returned to partisan politics when he was elected National Chairman of the PDP with the backing of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

His tenure, however, was overshadowed by prolonged internal disagreements within the party, culminating in his resignation as national chairman in January 2014.

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Albert Horsfall, Ex-SSS Director-General dies

“Details of funeral arrangements and other related activities will be communicated in due course.”

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A former Director-General of the State Security Service and pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Albert Horsfall, has passed on.

Horsfall’s death was announced in a statement released on Friday, signed by his son, Donald Horsfall, and obtained by our correspondent.

According to the statement, the transition of the elder statesman and great son of Rivers State occurred peacefully, describing him as a “beloved patriarch.”

While the family mourns his death, the statement said they would be comforted by the extraordinary life he lived and the indelible mark he left on the sands of time.

“Details of funeral arrangements and other related activities will be communicated in due course,” it added.

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