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Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello docked, pleads not guilty to 16-count corruption charge…

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Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to a 16 -count charge bordering on diversion of N110 billion from the state government’s coffers.

 

The ex-governor was arraigned by the EFCC at the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024,

 

He had spent the night in the anti-graft agency’s custody, and was driven to court at about 8:50 a.m.

 

Bello was docked before Justice Maryann Anenih, alongside two other defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who were granted bail at the court’s last hearing on the case.

 

The defendants were accused of complicity in a N110billion fraud. Dressed in white caftan and blue cap, Bello, mounted the dock around 9:45am.

 

The charge against the defendants, marked: CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

 

The EFCC is alleging that the former governor converted state funds to personal use to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

 

Other properties include Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

 

They were further accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

 

Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC in April this year and shunned several summons but finally surrendered himself to the anti-corruption agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

 

On 18 September, Bello, in company with his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, went to EFCC to make a dramatic, controversial attempt to surrender himself to the anti-graft agency but the EFCC refused to arrest him. However, later that day, its officials attempted to arrest him at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, where he was being sheltered by his successor.

 

The encounter resulted in hours-long shootout following a confrontation that reportedly ensued between EFCC operatives and the governor’s security details.

 

While the commotion was going on, Bello escaped from the scene in Ododo’s convoy and was not seen till Tue

sday when he turn himself in.

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Lagos Takes a Giant Leap Towards a Cleaner, Greener Future with Proper Waste Disposal Bins

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24 hours ago

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December 11, 2024

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Join the Movement to Build a Culture of Proper Waste Segregation and Disposal in Lagos. 

 

As part of its efforts to promote a cleaner, greener, and healthier environment, The Architects Place Ltd In conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has launched an initiative to provide proper waste disposal bins across the state.

 

The initiative, which is aimed at building a culture of proper waste segregation and disposal, is designed to encourage residents, businesses, and institutions to properly dispose their waste and recyclables.

The proper waste disposal bins, which are designed to accommodate different types of waste, including recyclables, organics, and non-recyclable waste, will be strategically located in public spaces, markets, and other high-traffic areas.

 

This will help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and waterways, improving environmental health and reducing the risk of disease. By providing separate bins for recyclables, the initiative will encourage residents and businesses to recycle more, reducing waste and conserving natural resources.

 

We urge all residents, businesses, and institutions in Lagos to join us in this effort to build a culture of proper waste segregation and disposal. Together, we can make a difference and create a cleaner, greener, and healthier environment for all.

 

For more information on the proper waste disposal bin initiative, please contact:

 

Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, Alausa Lagos State.

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National Grid Collapses 12th Time In 2024

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1 day ago

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December 11, 2024

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Nigerians were left in darkness on Wednesday following yet another collapse of the national power grid.

 

Since January 2024, the grid has collapsed 11 times.

 

 

In just one week in October, the grid failed three times, causing widespread blackouts and prompting reactions from Nigerians

 

 

A tweet from Nigeria’s National Grid official handle confirmed the collapse at approximately 2:09 pm on Wednesday.

 

“The major grid setback has occurred and the restoration is to commence,” the tweet stated.

 

 

 

 

More to come…

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Just In: Abuja High Court Denies Yahaya Bello’s Bail Request…..

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2 days ago

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December 10, 2024

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has rejected the bail request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

 

Bello is standing trial, along with two others, on an alleged N110bn money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

Justice Maryanne Anenih, in a ruling on Tuesday, faulted the competence of Bello’s bail application, stating that it was filed prematurely.

 

Justice Anenih held that, since the application was made when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, it was deemed incompetent.

 

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

 

 

 

More to come…

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