Crime

JUST IN: Yahaya Bello Vs EFCC: Court adjourns to January 21 for ruling or arraignment

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

306 Views

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned hearing in the money laundering case brought against the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to January 21, 2025.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told Justuce Emeka Nwite that he had two witnesses already in court.

He said his first application was to formally apply that the court should enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendant, even in his absence.

“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence. The second point is, not withstanding his physical absence, it is in full compliance with Section 276 of ACJA.

“Flowing from that entry my lord, it is a humble request that we call the first witness,” he stated.

Pinheiro, SAN, in defending his application to enter a plea of not guilty for the defendant, said “the right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waved by the defendant.

“My lord should hold that the defendant has waved that right.

“What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence? Even if he was in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation will still be the same.

The entry of plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations,” he added.

Michael Adoyi, who appeared for the defendant, however kicked against this, saying that the Prosecution’s application was made contrary to a subsisting order of the judge.

“Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning – that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant.

“The prosecution has stated severally that the court cannot demonstrate helplessness.

The court cannot demonstrate any helplessness in any proceeding and if at all helplessness exists in this proceeding, that helplessness is demonstrated by the prosecution,” he said.Adoyi argued that the court, in a criminal trial, is immune and distinct from the prosecution.

Citing Supreme Court verdicts on similar matters, he said, “The application made by learned senior counsel for the complainant this morning is a dangerous invitation to this honourable court to aide the prosecution in the performance of its duty of presenting the defendant before the court for arraignment and subsequent trial.

“He argued that civil proceeding was different from criminal proceeding.

The Defendant’s Counsel noted that the prosecution’s application could not be anchored on any of the provisions of the ACJA, 2015 that he had cited, as “those provisions do not excuse the need for physical presence of the defendant.”

“In view of this, we urge my lord to refuse the application made by the senior counsel to the complainant,” he said.

The Prosecution Counsel, however, told the court to dismiss Adoyi’s arguments and go ahead with his ruling on entering a plea of not guilty for the Defendant.

Justice Nwite, however, said it might not be possible to deliver the ruling this year.

“It may not be possible to deliver this ruling this year.

You know I am just coming as vacation judge. So what are we agreeing on now learner silk?” he asked. Pinheiro said the matter would be for ruling and/or arraignment of the defendant.

The Judge thereafter adjourned to 21st January, 2025 for ruling on the application by the EFCC and/or arraignment.

Recall that, at the last hearing on September 25, the Counsel to the defendant, A.M. Adoyi, had told the court that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal entered by the defendant at the Supreme Court with the Appeal Number: “SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024”.

He said the most appropriate thing to do was to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to pull the rug off the feet of the Supreme Court.

Crime

BREAKING: Gunmen Abduct Six Worshippers from Celestial Church in Ondo State During Midnight Service

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

Charles Flames

43 Views

….. Police Rescue One, Arrest Suspect

Suspected gunmen stormed a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, in the early hours of Wednesday, abducting six worshippers during an ongoing midnight service.

The attackers reportedly invaded the church located along the Uso/Owo Expressway at approximately 12:50 a.m., forcefully taking the victims to an unknown destination while the service was in progress.

Confirming the incident to journalists in Akure on Wednesday, the Ondo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the command received prompt reports of the abduction and swiftly responded.

“Upon receiving the report, operatives of the command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, immediately mobilised to the scene and commenced coordinated rescue operations,” Jimoh said.

He disclosed that sustained joint efforts have yielded positive results: one of the kidnapped victims has been successfully rescued, and one suspect linked to the incident has been apprehended.

The arrested individual is assisting investigators with useful statements.

“Operations are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of all perpetrators involved,” the police spokesperson added.

Jimoh urged residents of the area to remain calm and vigilant while cooperating fully with security agencies by providing credible and actionable information to aid the ongoing efforts.

The incident has heightened tension in the agrarian Uso community, amid recurring security challenges in parts of Ondo State. Authorities have not yet released details on the identities of the victims or the motive behind the attack.

Further updates are expected as rescue operations continue.

Crime

Family seeks help over missing 20-year-old UTME applicant in Lagos

“I am appealing to the public to help us find him. I can be reached on 09037316811.

Published

1 day ago

February 25, 2026

OCHEFA

48 Views

•AbdulBasit Muhammad

The family of a 20-year-old, AbdulBasit Muhammad, has appealed to the public for assistance in locating him after he went missing while attempting to register for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination.

Muhammad was last seen on Thursday, February 12, 2026, when he left his uncle’s residence in Igbede to complete his JAMB registration in the Ajangbadi area of Lagos.Speaking on behalf of the family, his uncle, Taiwo Adesina, said he reported the case at the Ajangbadi Police Division on Friday, February 13, 2026, but had yet to receive any update.“

He left home around 8 a.m. for his JAMB capturing in Ajangbadi. I expected him back at night because he usually goes to work afterwards and returns by 9 p.m.

“I waited from 9 p.m. till late, but he never returned. This has never happened before, so I immediately reported to the police.

“Before I reported to the Police, some people called demanding N40,000 for his release. I told them I only had N20,000 and sent it. Since then, their numbers have not been reachable.

I informed the police about everything.”He described AbdulBasit as quiet and reserved, noting that he rarely socialised.

He described AbdulBasit as quiet and reserved, noting that he rarely socialised.

“He was wearing a polo shirt and shorts, with a bag across his shoulder, when he left home.

“I am appealing to the public to help us find him. I can be reached on 09037316811,” he said.

(Source: The Punch)

Crime

BREAKING: DSS Arrests Sixth Suspect in 2022 Owo Church Massacre

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Charles Flames

49 Views

In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have captured the sixth suspect linked to the deadly June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers and left many others injured.

The suspect, identified as Sani Yusuf, a high-profile commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had evaded capture for nearly four years, making him one of Nigeria’s most wanted fugitives in connection with the massacre.

According to security sources, Yusuf was apprehended in the Iguosa community along Powerline in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, where he had been hiding in a relatively quiet village setting.

Following the Owo church attack, Yusuf reportedly fled to Kano State temporarily before relocating to Edo to lay low. Sources revealed that he has since confessed to his direct involvement in the planning and execution of the Owo church massacre.

In addition to the Owo incident, Yusuf allegedly admitted to participating in other ISWAP operations, including the July 2022 attack on the Suleja military barracks, the Zuma Rock checkpoint assault that killed five soldiers, and multiple kidnapping incidents in Kaduna State and surrounding areas.

He further disclosed serving under prominent ISWAP figures, including Abu Ikirimah, who was arrested by the DSS in 2024.

The DSS is already prosecuting five other suspects in the Owo attack case: Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).

They face charges related to terrorism and are currently standing trial.

“This arrest represents a significant step forward in delivering justice for the victims of the Owo church attack, the soldiers slain at Zuma Rock, and others affected by ISWAP’s reign of terror,” a security source stated. “It highlights the DSS’s unwavering commitment and persistent efforts in combating terrorism across the country.

“The development comes amid ongoing court proceedings in the Federal High Court in Abuja, where witnesses, including DSS operatives, have provided evidence linking the earlier suspects to the crime through technical intelligence, confessions, and forensic analysis.

Authorities have not yet released further details on when Yusuf will be arraigned or additional charges he may face, but the arrest is seen as a boost to national security operations targeting ISWAP remnants.