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Tag: Kogi State

  • Court dismisses suit seeking to sack Bello

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit seeking to sack the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/488/2017 was filed by three individuals, who described themselves as electorate in the state. They are Michael Elokun, Ibrahim Sule and Mrs Hawa Audi.

    In a judgment on Tuesday, Justice John Tsoho upheld the objection raised against the suit by Bello (who was sued as the 1st defendant), to the effect that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the suit.

    The judge added that the plaintiffs could not challenge the right of 2nd defendant (All Progressives Congress) to substitute/nominate the 1st defendant as its flagbearer in place of a dead gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 Kogi governorship election.

    Read Also: Kogi killings: Bello to set up judicial panel of inquiry

    He said such decision was the sole prerogative of the 2nd defendant and as such could not form a basis for any legal dispute between the plaintiffs and defendants.

    The judge noted that the plaintiffs were neither members of the APC nor aspirants in the primary election that produced Bello as the APC’s flagbearer in the governorship election. He agreed with the 1st defendant that the plaintiffs were not the only electorate in Kogi state.

    Justice Tsoho held that the subject matter of the suit was not within the jurisdiction of the court as it was not a pre-election matter.

    The judge further held that the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters outside the purview of Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). He said the subject matter and reliefs sought by the plaintiffs were predicated on issues on which only an Election Tribunal could exercise jurisdiction pursuant to Section 285(2) of the Constitution.

    Justice Tsoho said the suit, as presently constituted, did not disclose any reasonable cause of action. He added that the suit was bound to fail, because it was filed almost two years after Bello was sworn in as a democratically elected governor of Kogi state.

    Other defendants in the suit were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

     

  • Kogi: Monarch, nine others killed in suspected herdsmen attack

    In what appears a renewed attack on areas of Kogi East by suspected herdsmen, nine people including a traditional were on Monday killed in separate attacks on Agbenema, Ajichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages, in Omala Local Government Area.

    Several houses were also razed in the attacks which reportely into the the following day.

    The Onu of Agbenema, Musa Edibo along with his wife, we’re burnt in his palace, while the residence if the former vice chairman of Onslaught LG, Adofu Stephen was completely razed.

    Confirming the development, a former Majority Leader,  Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Azania Mohammed, said that the natives were unsure as to whether or not to approach or call on the security operatives for help.

    The armed attackers were said to have hidden in bushes around the villages from were they launched attacks on their targets.

    According to sources, the herdsmen mode of operation is to set houses ablaze and open fire on fleeing inhabitants, slit their throats and dealing victims matchete cuts.

    A source who did not want his name in print stated that the Administrator of Omala LGA, Ibrahim Aboh escaped the attackers’ guns by the whiskers.

    Residents said that the soldiers drafted to curtail the herdsmen killings allegedly refused to assist the locals to repel the Fulani herdsmen.

    “We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed at the Guest House at Abejukolo, for assistance. They refused to act professionally as they used their vehicle to block us from advancing to the troubled spot to help our people.

    “It is clear that the aim of the Fulani herdsmen is to kill us and take over our ancestral homes. They have razed down Ojuwo, Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages, so that they could use our land for their cattle colonies.

    “We want the world to come to our assistance before these Fulanis exterminate and inherit our land. We have lost confidence in the security agencies posted to us. We believe they have been instructed to adopt ‘siddon look’, while we are being massacred.

    “Right now, cordinated war is raging simultaneously in most villages in Omala, Dekina and Bassa LGAs. Our people are being killed and houses burnt  even as our women are being raped while many children who ran from the theatre of war are  still missing”, said a resident of Abejukolo, headquarters of Onslaught LGA.

    Governor Yahaya Bello on Saturday visited Oganenigu where scores were killed and houses burnt by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

     

  • Herdsmen attack: Bello on spot check to affected areas

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, is to make on the spot assessment of the affected communities attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The Director-General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement said that the governor will visit the areas to assess the situation and condole with the people of the affected communities.

    Reports had it that scores of people died in attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, in Ogane-Nigu and nearby communities in Kogi East.

    The statement read: ” On 14th March, 2018 at about 05:00hrs,  an attack was carried out on Ogane-Nigu and nearby communities in the Eastern Senatorial Zone of Kogi State by armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen.

    “The Kogi State government ensured that the military, the police and other relevant security agencies, including members of the Kogi State Vigilante Services were immediately mobilised to the affected areas following the initial reports.

    “The violence has since been contained and brought under control. The incident however remains under investigation while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice.

    “His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State will conduct on the spot assessment of the distressed communities today. He will meet with security chiefs and community leaders after which more information will be forthcoming based on available facts.

    “The governor believes nothing compares to the sanctity of the human life and that must be protected by all who believes in humanity.

    “We urge the people of Kogi State to ignore the conflicting casualty and other figures thrown about by different individuals, organisations and sections of the press as they are mostly baseless and speculative”.

     

  • Kogi partners Julius Berger to construct 10 key roads

    Kogi State Government says it is in partnership with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to construct 10 key roads across the three Senatorial districts of the state for infrastructure development of the state.

    Mr Abdulmumuni Sadiq, Commissioner for Works, disclosed this on Monday in Lokoja while addressing journalists at the end of a Reconnaissance Survey of the roads by a team of government officials.

    The team also include officials from Julius Berger on Monday in Lokoja.

    Sadiq said that invitation and visit of the construction company was part of efforts of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration to provide world class infrastructure for the state capital and the three senatorial districts.

    “Their visit to the state, today, is to do the reconnaissance survey of all the roads that we have enumerated in our proposal to them.

    ‘’This is necessary so that they can go back and come up with the design and estimate to construct the roads,” he said.

    Contributing, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Director-General, Media and Publicity to the governor said the state government was very close to concluding a workable partnership with Julius Berger to buttress its commitment to infrastructure development in the state.
    “This will go a long way in fixing many of our roads. We are conscious of the fact that for the state to develop, our infrastructure must be top notch,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Abel Ozigi, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Bello on Project Liaison and Management, described the partnership with Julius Berger as a long-term one aimed at transforming the infrastructure map of the state.

    Ozigi disclosed that the first phase of the project would address Lokoja, Kabba township roads and Takete-Idde road in the West senatorial district.

    “Shintakun-Anyigba road in the East,  Okene township roads and Eika-Okene road in the Central Senatorial District among the 10 roads slated for the construction,” he said.

    He expressed confidence in the ability of Julius Berger to handle the projects with the governor, given the political and goodwill of the state government to prosecute the partnership.

    NAN

  • Court orders monarch to vacate

    Court orders monarch to vacate

    The Kogi State High Court sitting in Isanlu, Yagba East Local government Area has sacked the Baake of Egbe, Abiodun Agbana.

    The court which gave the ruling on an interlocutory injunction brought by Folunrunsho Aremu, a retired Army captain, ruled that Agbana’s ascension to the throne was lacking in constitutional power.

    Aremu instituted the case against the monarch and three others, challenging the selection and appointment of Agbana as the paramount ruler of Egbe.

    Delivering judgment in the cases with number: KGS/IHC/10/2016 and KGS/EHC/5/2016, Justice Obayomi invalidated the appointment and asked parties to return to status quo.

    He barred the state government, the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs and the Yagba traditional council from going ahead with the planned coronation, just as he granted an order of mandatory injunction setting aside the recognition of Abiodun Agbana by the Kogi State government.

    He further granted an order of injunction setting aside the issuance and acceptance of the certificate of recognition earlier issued the traditional ruler by the state government, “and any act or acts made in furtherance of the said acceptance by the defendant”.

    The judge set aside the proposed coronation of Agbana, on grounds that he resorted to self-help while the case was still pending before the court.

    “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from parading, holding himself out and or in any manner whatsoever acting as the traditional ruler, pending the hearing and determination of this suit.

    “An order restraining the defendants, especially the traditional institutions from setting in motion any process for rhe appointment of the Baale of Egbe during the pendency of the consolidated suit,” Justice Obayomi ruled.

    Read Also:Mechanic to Court: My wife is having affair with herbalist

  • Double registration: Senate probes allegation against Bello

    Double registration: Senate probes allegation against Bello

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate allegation of double registration leveled against Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    The resolution to probe the allegation followed observation by Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South) on the need to establish the truth or otherwise of the allegation.

    Hassan told his colleagues that when it was reported that Bello did double registration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed it at a press conference the electoral umpire held on the matter.

    He said that it was also reported that the Kogi State Governor could not be prosecuted because of his immunity.

    Hassan noted that it was further reported that Bello had been issued another voter’s card by the same INEC that confirmed double registration allegation against Bello.

    He prayed the Senate to look into the matter with a view to establishing the true situation regarding Bello’s registration to vote or be voted for in any election in the country.

    He noted that it was necessary that the issue of double registration against Bello be cleared so that Nigerians would be more educated on the circumstances surrounding the allegation.

    Read Also: ‘Senate to ensure adequate funding for education’

    Hassan said, “There is this situation going round regarding the Governor of Kogi State. It was reported recently in the newspapers that the Governor of Kogi State was involved in double registration in the voter registration exercise.

    “Again, some days or weeks after, INEC held a press conference in which they confirmed it and sacked three members of staff of INEC.

    “Now, we are concerned again. It was reported again by the newspapers that he had been issued another voter card from another ward. We are concerned about this and I think it is very important that the Senate Committee on INEC investigates and get to the root of this matter. It is very important.

    “It was reported everywhere that he cannot be prosecuted because he has immunity but for the purpose of getting this picture very right, I think the Senate Committee on INEC should investigate this and get this matter right.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the allegation as important and directed the Senate Committee on INEC to look into the matter.

    Saraki said, “The issue that you’re talking about is one that is important because the stability of our democracy depends on the credibility of our electoral processes.

    “And as such, we must ensure that the processes are always what we can be proud of, especially now that countries all over are looking up to our electoral processes.

    “I am happy that the Chairman of INEC is seated here. It is something that he could look into and come back to tell us where the issue is.”

  • Exercise Cat Race: Military officer, three suspected kidnappers killed, victim rescued

    Exercise Cat Race: Military officer, three suspected kidnappers killed, victim rescued

    A military officer and three suspected kidnappers have been killed by the men of the Nigeria military force, “Exercise Cat Race”, in an attempt to rescue a kidnap victim.

    The officer was killed during the cross fire between operatives and suspected kidnappers in Okene, Kogi State. 

    It was gathered that the incident occurred yesterday at around 8am, at a check point along the Okene-Ajaokuta road when an unidentified man in company of the military men was to deliver the demanded ransom to the suspected kidnappers.

    An eyewitness account had it that when the suspected kidnappers saw the man and the military men, they opened gun fire on them, leading to the death of the officer and three suspected kidnappers. 

    The victim, who is the chairman of Always Petroleum and Gas, Alhaji Otinau Momohjimoh, who was kidnapped 10 days ago, in front of a mosque in Okene, was shot on the arm during the rescue operation, and is currently receiving treatment in a private hospital. 

    One of the suspected kidnappers was captured alive. 

    A source further disclosed that the officer who got married some months back, later died in the hospital while another man that was injured during the operation is currently receiving treatment. 

    Items recovered from the kidnappers’ hideout included charms and ammunition, while the body of the officer was deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Okene. 

    The Chief of Army Staff,  Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, recently launched the

    Exercise Cat Race, in Benue State to check security situation in the six states of the north central. 

    When contacted, the Public Relation Officer of the Command Army Record, Capt. Weri Finikumor said that the operation was ongoing, stressing that he cannot confirm anything yet, but at the end of the exercise, will address the press.

  • Kogi: Suspected Fulani herdsmen cart away 99 cows from late Daniyan’s farm

    Kogi: Suspected Fulani herdsmen cart away 99 cows from late Daniyan’s farm

     

    Unease has enveloped parts of Mopa, headquarters of Mopa-moro Local Government, Kogi State, following the carting away of 99 cows from the farm of the late Chief Silas Daniyan, SBD Farms Limited.

    The incident which occurred around 7pm on Tuesday has led to apprehension, even a one of the farm tenders, Laisi Musa, who had taken the cows out on grazing, was dealt several machete cuts by the attackers, and hangs in the balance, at Rehoboth Clinic and Maternity, Mopa, where doctors are reportedly battling to save his live.

    Confirming the incident a resident of Mopa, Mr. Sola Daramola said that unknown Fulani herdsmen, some of who he claimed had of late came into the area in their numbers, attacked Musa, who “went on normal daily work, taking those cows for pastures toward the hill within the farm land”.

    Read Also: Kogi:  Two killed, oil merchant kidnapped

    While he said that Musa was receiving treatment at the hospital, an unconfirmed sourced said he died from the several injuries he sustained in the hands of the attackers.

    According to Daramola: “They were to return at about 6pm, unfortunately he did not return. So, they were searching for him, on the instruction of his elder brother, by going through where they normally take their cows to pasture and met him seriously macheted. His fate is in hands of God”.

    Corroborating the development, another resident of the area, Monday Elere, said, “We learnt they are new (attackers) in that environment. The name of the boy that was attacked is Laisi Musa. He is working with the farm as one of the cattle rearers”.

    He added that the case had been reported at the Mopa police divisional office, “with the DPO and he promised to take it up with the area command office.

  • Kogi: Two killed, oil merchant kidnapped

    Kogi: Two killed, oil merchant kidnapped

     

    The chairman of Always Petroleum and Gas, based in Okene, Kogi State, Alhaji Otinau Momoh Jimoh was reportedly kidnapped Sunday evening by unknown gunmen.

    Momoh Jimoh, who is in his early 40s was said to have been kidnapped around 8pm, from opposite the Okene central mosque where he hung out with friends.

    An eyewitness said that unspecified number of gunmen stormed the area, shooting sporadically to scare people away.

    Read Also: 654, 804 Kogi kids for immunisation against measles

    The eyewitness, who identified himself as Usman Ishaq, added that as people ran for safety, two of the gunmen seized the victim and dragged him into their car, a Toyota Camry and sped away.

    He said that the kidnappers were yet to contact the family and that no ransom has been place on him.

    In a related development, two people including a masquerader were killed at Inoziomi quarters in Adavi Local Government Area during the Ebe festival.

    According to a source, the incident happened on Saturday evening between 9pm and 10pm, when unknown gunmen riding on a motorcycle opened fire, killing the masquerader and two others on the spot, while two others sustained injuries.

    The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Williams Aya, who confirmed both incidents, said that the perpetrators will be apprehended to made to face the wrath of the law

     

  • I’ve tremendous respect for the Catholic Church – Gov. Bello

    I’ve tremendous respect for the Catholic Church – Gov. Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has expressed “tremendous respect for the Catholic Community”, saying he will not do anything to disparage any religious organization.

    The Governor, who stated this in Lokoja through his Director General of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the reports in the media that he disrespected the Catholic Community and it’s leaders was “another low by his detractors in their desperation to portray him as an irresponsible leader”.

    “My statements to the Press were well documented. I was critical of corrupt leaders, who have been disconnected from the looting pipes.  These are the leaders who are launching campaign of calumny against Mr. President.

    “These categories of leaders belong to different faith and may attempt to mislead highly respected religious leaders into joining their antagonism towards the anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President. 2019 is a year of determination for our nation and I have no regret leading the charge for the re-election of Mr. President who had given hope to the hopeless in the society.”

    Governor Bello charged religious leaders to join the President’s fight against corruption, insisting that no good religion has a place for corruption and corrupt people.

    “The Catholic Church has done very well in promoting literacy and healthcare. I am quite familiar with a good number of Catholic Priests and I know their stance on the issue of corruption. Every church and religion must fight corruption because corruption oppresses the poor and destroy justice and fairness,” he said.

    The Governor urged the Media to uphold the tenets of objective reportage in order to promote peace and security in the country.