Politics
Drama as EFCC’s lawyer tags Yahaya Bello’s trial political
After the examination by the prosecution, the judge adjourned to tomorrow, June 27, for cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, rejected a move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ‘cross-examine’ its third witness in the ongoing alleged money laundering case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
While delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite noted that there was no provision in the law that permits the court to allow the prosecution to re-examine its witness in the manner proposed.
This was just as the EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, during the proceedings, described the case instituted against the former governor as a political case.
He emphasised that he was not prosecuting a bank official, but a political figure, “one who had even aspired to contest for presidency”.
He said this while arguments were being raised on whether the defence counsel would cross-examine the 4th witness when the prosecution concluded its examination at 2.30pm or wait till the next day.
The judge responded, “Political? If that is the case, then those handling political cases should prepare to take over the matter.”
On the ruling against the cross-examination of PW3 by the EFCC, the judge said, “I must agree with the learned counsel to the defendant that the prosecution can only cross-examine after it has declared the witness a hostile witness.
“The argument of the learned counsel to the prosecution is misconceived…This honourable court is not shutting the prosecution from re-examining the witness, but must restrict itself to pages 1, 14 and 15 of Exhibit 19.
“The prosecution is not allowed to re-examine the witness outside the pages prescribed.”
Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at the American International School, Abuja, had, at the last hearing, said there was no wired transfer of fees from the Kogi State Government or any of the local Governments in the state to the account of the American school.
On cross-examination, he also read out a part of a previous Federal Capital Territory High Court judgment that said there was no court order for AISA to return fees to EFCC or any judgment declaring the money as proceeds of money laundering.
After a brief re-examination, and the withdrawal of an earlier question posed to the witness, the EFCC lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the Commission had three other witnesses for the day.
During examination, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, confirmed that the certificates of identification were attached to the statements of account provided by the bank in the seven sets of documents presented, as requested.
The court, thereafter, admitted the statements of account of Kogi State Government House Administration, and six others, as exhibits.
The witness, on subpoena, educated the court on the withdrawal limits allowed for individuals, corporate organisations and government, saying that before the cashless policy, it was pegged at N10 million for government.
The prosecution then took him to the 23rd of May, 2016 on the printed documents, and pointed at a transaction under the name, Abdulsalami Hudu.
When the witness was asked to explain the transaction, he said, “It is a cash withdrawal of N10 million in accordance with the then maximum threshold allowed for cheque withdrawal per transaction.”
He, however, said that he had nine cash transactions on the same date.
The witness was then told to go to the credit transactions of 30th January, 2018, and he confirmed that there were 10 separate credits of various sums, totalling about N1.092 billion.
When asked to mention the total amount of withdrawals, the Defendant’s counsel cut in: “He (Pinheiro, SAN), knows that they are for security votes.
“The witness aggregated the total amount of withdrawals to N1.968 billion, saying they were on different dates.”
He also read out the inflow and outflow between 2nd of May 2018 and 19th May, 2018.
After the examination by the prosecution, the judge adjourned to tomorrow, June 27, for cross-examination by the Defendant’s Counsel.
Politics
PDP Governors Who Have Left the Party And Those Still in The Party
Seyi Makinde – Oyo State (South-West
This is a compilation of PDP Governors who have defected from the party to the APC since 2023 tilldate, and on the other hand, those who are still in the party.
Governors who have defected
- 1. Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom State (South-South)
2. Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta State (South-South)
3. Peter Mbah – Enugu State (South-East)
4. Douye Diri – Bayelsa State (South-South)
5. Siminalayi Fubara – Rivers State (South-South).
GOVERNORS STILL IN THE PARTY (as of December 2025)
Ahmadu Fintiri – Adamawa State (North-East)
Bala Mohammed – Bauchi State (North-East)
Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau State (North-Central)
Agbu Kefas – Taraba State (North-Central)
Dauda Lawal – Zamfara State (North-West)
Seyi Makinde – Oyo State (South-West
Source: The Punch
News
PDP Accuses Rivers Governor Fubara of “Self-Inflicted” Defection, Warns of Threat to Nigerian Democracy
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the formal defection of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “self-inflicted injury,” insisting that the governor voluntarily walked into the political trap that led to his exit from the party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP invoked the Latin legal principle *Volenti non fit injuria* (“to one who is willing, no harm can be done”) to argue that Governor Fubara cannot claim abandonment or lack of support after choosing the path that culminated in his defection.
“Everyone who has followed the developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the Governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination,” the statement read.
“Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party, or any other person or group, of abandoning or not protecting him.
”The PDP commended civil society organisations and Nigerians who, it said, “freely stood up in his defence” throughout the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, adding that Governor Fubara “should have nothing less than praise” for those who supported him until he “capitulated.
”The party expressed pity for the governor and prayed he does not develop “Stockholm Syndrome, where a victim falls in love with his captor,” while wishing him well in his new political home.
In a broader critique, the PDP described the Rivers crisis as evidence of the “dysfunctional nature of our democracy,” where powerful individuals wield federal might to suffocate political opponents and force them into submission.
“Democracy is terribly threatened by acts of this kind,” the statement continued, urging all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn what it called the “progressive decline of democratic norms.
”The opposition party further accused the ruling APC of pursuing a “one-party state” agenda and deliberately constricting Nigeria’s political space, warning that the country is sliding toward “electoral authoritarianism.”
“Nigerians and the global community must note that democracy is under severe attack in Nigeria. Everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism,” the PDP declared.
Governor Fubara’s defection marks the latest chapter in the long-running political feud between him and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who remains a prominent figure in the PDP.
Politics
BREAKING: Governor Adeleke Joins Accord Party, Says Citizens, Workers Welfare Top Priority
I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago, precisely on November 6, as the platform to seek re-election in 2026.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Tuesday officially joined the Accord Party ahead of the party’s governorship primary, scheduled for Wednesday.
Adeleke resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last month before the party’s primary recently which produced Adebayo Adedamola as its candidate.
Adeleke formally announced his move to the Accord Party thus evening at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Osogbo, in the presence of national and state leaders of the party.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor confirmed that the Accord Party would serve as his new political platform to seek re-election in 2026.
Adeleke said that he joined the party on November 6 after extensive consultations with stakeholders.
“I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago, precisely on November 6, as the platform to seek re-election in 2026.
This was after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare.
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