The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed the receipt of the refund of $760,000 paid as advanced school fees by a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for his children at the American International School, Abuja.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.

“The school has refunded the entire $ 760, 000 to the EFCC’s recovery account,” he said.

Earlier, the American International School of Abuja had asked the EFCC to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of the former governor.

Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi State Government.

The children are in Grade Levels 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.In a letter addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date.”

AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.

It added, “Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 in tuition and other fees have been deposited into our bank account.

We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84.

“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”

The school said it would draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there were any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said, “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.”

The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had earlier revealed that the former governor transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s school fee.

Olukoyede revealed this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.

“In a poor state like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?”

Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Sulaiman as the new Gomo Babye of Gade Chiefdom in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

This appointment, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barrister Muhammad Ubandoma-Aliyu follows the successful selection exercise conducted on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

According to Ubandoma-Aliyu, the new Gomo Babye succeeds the late Alhaji Aliyu Baba Daudu who died on Monday, 24th July, 2023.

Describing the new traditional head, he said, “Alhaji Aminu Sulaiman, the new Gomo Babye attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Lagos State University where he obtained Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies and a Masters Degree in Social Works, respectively.

“Until his recent appointment, the new Gomo Babye was a retired Deputy-Controller of Customs (Federal Operations Unit) and loves community and cultural development, long and table tennis.

“He is happily married with children.”

Gomo Babye is a first-class traditional chief in Nasarawa State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has decided to withdraw its application at the Court of Appeal against the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The EFCC said the notice of withdrawal is predicated on the fact that the application filed has been overtaken by the decision of the Kogi State High Court.

This was made known in court application filed on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal Abuja judicial division by J. S. Okutepa, SAN and others on behalf of the Commission.

The commission said the subject of the appeal has been determined by the Kogi High Court Judge, Justice Jamil J. on April 17, 2024.

The EFCC, therefore, told the court that the notice of appeal was filed out of time and now pray that the appeal be struck out for being filed out of time and incompetent.

The EFCC, on Tuesday stepped up its bid to prosecute the ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Bello has also been declared wanted by the EFCC, and is alleged to have stolen about N80 billion from the Kogi treasury.

The Ondo State government says it will establish entrepreneurial centres in secondary schools to enable students to acquire vocational skills.

The state commissioner for education, science, and technology, Laolu Akindolire, stated this on Monday in Akure after visiting some schools to assess resumption for the third term of the 2023–2024 academic session.

Mr Akindolire said the ministry would collaborate with the Office of the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Entrepreneurship and Innovation on the initiative.

The commissioner said the initiative would equip students with entrepreneurial skills so that they could have a viable career to fall back on in the future.

Mr Akindolire commended the schools visited for having clean environments.

“I am satisfied with what I have seen in the schools I visited. Their compounds are neat, and the student enrollment is very encouraging and satisfying.

“There is hope for our education sector, and we will advance to the next level in the state,” he said.

The commissioner charged the school administrators to be more committed to their duties and show a good example, stressing that the students look up to them.

Also speaking, Okeowo Ogunleye, the principal of Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, one of the schools inspected, appealed to teachers to be more committed to their work.

He also appealed to parents to support their children and wards in their educational pursuits.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa praised President Bola Tinubu on Monday for enabling an environment for the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s governorship primary.

Mr Aiyedatiwa stated this in his acceptance speech after he emerged as the APC candidate for the November 16 governorship election.

Governor Usman Ododo, the governorship primary election committee chairman, declared Aiyedatiwa the winner on Monday.

Mr Ododo said the incumbent Ondo governor polled 48,569 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, who had 15,343 out of 95,178 valid votes.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also appreciated the party’s national and state working committee for ensuring that the “best candidate emerged” as the party’s standard bearer.

He also commended other contestants for their sportsmanship and urged them to join hands with him to ensure the party’s victory in the November election.

Mr Aiyedatiea said, “Democracy sometimes comes with discordant tunes. This is not the time to hold grudge against one another, but for all of us to come together so as to remain in power.”

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has clinched the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Aiyedatiwa’s emergence from the primaries was announced by Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, who served as the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee.

With Aiyedatiwa scoring the highest votes of 48,569, the result was declared almost 48 hours after the commencement of the exercise on April 20.

The primaries, marked by controversy and tension, saw Aiyedatiwa’s closest contender, Mayowa Akinfolarin, securing the second position with 15,343 votes.

Olusola Oke came third with 14,915 and Jimoh Ibrahim scored 9,456 to occupy the fourth position.

Another faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ganduje Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Kano state, on Sunday, announced the suspension of Abdullahi Ganduje, its national chairman from the party.

Haladu Gwanjo, who claimed to be the legal adviser of another APC faction in Ganduje Ward, last week announced the suspension of Mr Ganduje.

Mr Gwanjo, who cited alleged corruption and other vices as reasons for the suspension, said that the decision was taken by nine executive members of the party in Ganduje ward.

Also another faction represented by the ward chairman, Ahmad Ganduje, came out to declare support for Mr Ganduje, saying the ward officials were satisfied with his leadership style.

In passing the vote of confidence on Mr Ganduje, the factional ward chairman urged all party members in the ward and across the state to remain calm and law abiding.

However, in a new twist in the early hours of Sunday, another group, which claimed to be the legitimate exco, yet again announced the suspension of Mr Ganduje.

Addressing journalists, the secretary of the faction, Ja’afar Ganduje, who spoke on behalf of 11 other executive members, hinged the suspension on alleged anti-party activities by Mr Ganduje.

He said this was particularly during the last general election.

He also alleged that the APC national chairman had failed to pay his statutory dues to the party.

He further blamed Ganduje for contributing to the factionalisation of the party at the ward level, which he said had brought the party to disrepute.

“We are the authentic executives of Ganduje ward and we have passed a vote of no confidence and imposed a new suspension on Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for a series of reasons.

“First we have suspended Dr. Ganduje’s membership for creating internal conflict among party members at the ward level.

“Another major reason why the authentic executives resolved to suspend Ganduje is the issue of anti-party activities he generated during the 2023 elections which resulted in the party’s failure in the state”, he said.

Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honorable Yusuf Liman, has warned Bello El-Rufai, against threatening and intimidating the House over the probe of his father’s 8-year tenure in office.

The House of Assembly had on Tuesday set up a committee to investigate financial dealings, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015-2023, during the administration of ex-governor El-Rufai.

However, the speaker alleged that Bello took to social media with two tweets, insinuating a call to “fight” and disrespecting all the members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

He further expressed concern that Bello, a member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, sent insulting and subtly threatening messages to him.

The speaker in a statement by his Media Aide, Malam Suraj Bamalli said the screenshots of those tweets and messages have been widely circulated, causing concern among the citizens of Kaduna State.

“It is disheartening that a federal lawmaker, entrusted with representing the people, would resort to such behaviour, attempting to obstruct the lawful functions of the state Assembly,” he said.

According to him, threats and intimidation from anyone, including federal lawmakers, would not deter the Assembly from its pursuit of justice and accountability, adding that the House remained resolute in its mandate to provide checks and balances and uphold the rule of law in Kaduna State.

He urged the people of the state to remain steadfast in their support for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

He said the members of the Assembly took an oath to uphold the integrity of their office and ensure due diligence in their duties, regardless of any attempts at intimidation or threats.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a warrant of arrest on the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

The warrant was issued following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on April 17, 2024.

In the motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, the anti-graft agency prayed the court to serve Bello the charge and the proof evidence on the defendant through a substituted means.

The EFCC also sought an order seeking the immediate arrest of Bello for arraignment.

The EFCC reliefs partly reads: “An order granting leave to the complainant/applicant to effect service of the charge together with the proof of evidence on the defendant by substituted means to wit, by pasting the charge at the last known address of the defendant within the jurisdiction of this honourable court being 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

“An order directing and/or issuing an arrest warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant for the purpose of bringing him before this honourable court for arraignment.”

In his ruling on the motion Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered the immediate arrest of the former governor of Kogi State.

He also directed that the former governor be produced before him on Thursday April 18 for arraignment.

Nwite said: “It is hereby ordered as follows:

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing and/or issuing a warrant for the immediate arrest of the defendant to bring him before this honourable court for arraignment.

“That case is adjourned to the 18th day of April 2024 for arraignment.”

It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, had restrained EFCC from arresting and infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former governor.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has set up a fact-finding committee to probe all finances, loans and contract projects awarded under the former Governor Nasiru El-Rufai administration.

The PUNCH reports that Governor Uba Sani, during a town hall meeting on Saturday, lamented the huge debt inherited from his predecessor, El-Rufai, on May 29, 2023.

Sani had said the state was left with a few amounts, not enough to pay salary, adding that his administration inherited a total of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities from the ex-governor.

“Despite the huge debt burden of 587 million dollars, 85 billion naira, and N115 billion in contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

“We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly,” the governor had said.

However, on Tuesday, the state’s Assembly set up a fact-finding committee during plenary, among others, to also investigate the former governor’s top associate and Senior Counsellor on Investment, Jimi Lawal.

Besides, the panel would probe financial dealings, loans and grants and other project implementation from 2015-2023.

The State Assembly also mandated the committee to invite notable personalities including the former speakers of the 8th and 9th Assembly, commissioners of finance, former Managing Directors of Kaduna Markets, and Commissioners of Budget and Planning, among others.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has cleared the 16 aspirants seeking their ticket to contest the November 20 Ondo State Governorship election.

The seven-man screening committee, led by Sen. Joshua Lidani, gave all the aspirants the nod to contest the April 20 primary election.

A report submitted to the party’s Directorate of Organisation in Abuja on Saturday said the committee considered eligibility, suitability, character, and support base, among other areas.

Among those cleared were the incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Isaac Kekemeke, former APC National Vice-Chairman (South West), Olusoji Ehinlanwo, a former member of the House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema, and Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim.

Others are Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Akinfolarin Samuel, former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa, Chief Olusola Oke, Ohunyeye Felix and Morayo Lebi.Also cleared were Garvey Iyanjan; Prof. Francis Faduyile, Mrs Judith Omogoroye, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Okunjimi John.

“All aspirants demonstrated a willingness to support the aspirant that emerged as the party’s candidate for the November 2024 governorship election,” the report said.

It tasked the party’s leadership to ensure that the April 20 primary election is free, fair, credible and acceptable to all.

Some people suspected to be Yoruba nation agitators have stormed the Oyo State Secretariat in an attempt to take over the House of Assembly Complex.

The House of Assembly is located within the state secretariat and a few meters away from the governor’s office.

It was gathered that the agitators, Saturday morning, stormed the secretariat in an attempt to take over the Assembly Complex.

The agitators, who were dressed in military uniform, engaged in fierce gun duel with members of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), also known as Amotekun, the Police and Operation Burst personnel before they were eventually overpowered.

Sources said that the suspects had earlier taken over the assembly complex premises, and hoisted their flag before in arrival of backup security personnel.

At the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that the presence of Police, Amotekun, and other security personnel had put the situation under control.

It was also gathered that some of the agitators have been arrested.All roads leading to the secretariat have been deserted as a result of the incident.

The incident is coming few months after some agitators hijacked a radio station in Ibadan.

Chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress have expressed their condolences to the family and friends of the first civilian governor of Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Onu, an ex-minister of Science and Technology in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, reportedly died in a health facility in Abuja on Thursday following a brief illness.

He resigned in 2022 to join the APC presidential race.President Bola Tinubu won the party’s ticket.

Efforts to get the reaction of the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, were unsuccessful.

But the death of the 72-year-old politician was confirmed in separate interviews by two members of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee.

Speaking with PUNCH Online, Deputy National Organising Secretary of All Progressives Congress, Nze Chidi Duru, described the late party man as deliberate and focused, adding that his death was a big blow to the APC.

He said, “I also just heard about the sad news from a credible source. Although I don’t have all the details yet, we are waiting for the announcement by the family before we can make an official comment on his death.

“He was a gentleman, focused and very deliberate. Everything we know about life is a continuum. He has run his race and gone to his maker. We can only continue to wish for his soul to be at rest wherever he is.”

The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the party, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, also confirmed the death of the politician, who he described as a founding father of the APC.

“Oh, yes. I just heard the news myself. In fact, I am planning to go to his place (Abuja residence) in the next one hour,” he said.

Arodiogbu also confirmed that the late minister was nursing an undisclosed illness for a while before his death.

“He has been ill for a while and had not been seen in public circle. Ogbonnaya Onu was a wonderful man. He was one of our best.

“You remember he was a presidential candidate but had to drop his ticket for Chief Olu Falae when the presidency was zoned to the South West.

“During the merger, he was one of the founding fathers of the party and remained a party man until his death. He was a big wig of the party in the South East. We will miss him so much,” he stated.

Barely an hour after the news of his death went viral, his residence in the Federal Capital Territory has become filled with mourners.

A graduate of the University of Lagos, Onu became a teacher at St. Augustine’s Seminary in the Ezzamgbo area of Ebonyi State.

After the completion of his doctoral studies at the University of California, he became a lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt, where he rose to become the pioneer head of the department.

The ex-minister began his political career as an aspirant for a senatorial seat in the old Imo State under the umbrella of the National Party of Nigeria.

In 1991, he contested for the position of Governor of Abia State on the platform of the National Republican Convention and won.Onu was sworn in as the first executive governor of the state in January 1992.

Ogbonnaya Onu, former minister of science and technology, is dead.He was aged 72.

He was a former Abia governor.

His family has yet to make an official announcement about his demise.

According to the BBC, Mr Onu died from a strange illness in a medical facility.

“It is true that Mr Ogbonnaya Onu is dead, but it is up to his family to speak about it,” BBC quoted a ranking member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as saying.

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, has said the N30 billion recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, does not belong to her.

On January 8, President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu following allegation of N585.2 million fraud.

Tinubu also directed the EFCC “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction” involving her ministry.

But the anti-graft agency disclosed that N30 billion has been recovered, while over 50 accounts were being investigated.

In its bulletin titled “EFCC Alert,” the anti-graft commission said: “Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government.”

However, a letter issued on Wednesday by Edu’s lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, denied knowledge of the money recovered.

The letter reads: “Neither N30bn nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceed of crime been traced or recovered from her.

“First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting.”

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda has secured the release of 222 inmates from various correctional facilities in the state by settling their fines.

This is according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed on Tuesday in Katsina.

He said the decision was part of the compassionate move to bring happiness to the inmates in the Holy Month of Ramadan, to enable them celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr festivities with their families.

The inmates, according to him, were those detained due to their inability to pay fines imposed on them by different courts of law.

Kaula-Mohammed quoted the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Hajiya Fadila Muhammad-Dikko, saying that the initiative would go a long way in decongesting the custodial centers.

“The commissioner, who expressed sincere gratitude to the governor, also acknowledged the significance of this gesture by providing relief to those incarcerated for minor and non-capital offenses.

“The selection process for the beneficiaries involved thorough verification and recommendations to the state government for intervention in paying the fines holding them in the correctional facilities,” he quoted Muhammad-Dikko as saying.

The Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday remanded the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after he took his plea over alleged abuse of office and allocation of $4.5bn, N2.8bn.

Emefiele, who was earlier arraigned alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, on fresh 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The charge was marked ID/23787c/2024 and dated April 3, 2024.

The defendant’s lawyer, A. Labo-Lawal, however, pleaded with the court to grant Emefiele bail in self-recognisance and allow him to continue with the bail earlier granted him by the Abuja court.

He also urged the court to grant the second defendant bail earlier granted him by Justice O – Sule-Hamzat.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the bail applications.

But Justice Oshodi, after listening to the submissions of both counsel, remanded Emefiele to EFCC custody and the second defendant to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till April 11, for ruling on the bail and commencement of trial.

The attorney general and commissioner for justice in Ogun, Oluwasina Ogungbade, says the government will expedite action in fast-tracking inmate trials in courts to decongest prisons.

Mr Ogungbade said this on Thursday during a visit to Ibara and Oba prisons in Abeokuta.

He noted that the present administration was committed to a renewed focus on addressing the long-standing issues plaguing correctional centres.

The attorney general said that all efforts would be intensified to improve services at the correctional centres. He noted that the visit was necessitated by the need to assess the facilities, gain insights into issues affecting them, and serve as a beacon of hope for both the staff and the inmates.

“Various initiatives are in the pipeline to streamline legal processes and expedite the appearance of prisoners in courts for hearing. The ministry is working out strategies and efforts in facilitating the smooth transfer of prisoners to court when needed.

“This approach will allow us to understand the multifaceted issues affecting the correctional system and formulate targeted strategies for improvement,” he said.

The commissioner called for synergy between the ministry and correctional centre authorities to uphold the rights and dignity of inmates while ensuring public safety.

He added that the government remained committed to championing reforms that promoted fairness, efficiency and rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.

Saliu Adepoju, the controller of the prison in Ogun, appreciated the commissioner and his entourage for the visit, pledging to be more dedicated to upholding the ethics of the facility.