The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kogi State

  • Wada rejects tribunal verdict, heads for Appeal Court

    Wada rejects tribunal verdict, heads for Appeal Court

    The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada (PDP) has rejected the verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal which on Monday dismissed his petition challenging the emergence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the state governor.

    Wada who spoke through a special adviser, Jacob Edi, said he would appeal the tribunal ruling.

    He said that as a believer in the country’s judicial, he will challenge the decision at the appellate court.

    He stated: “We believe in the judiciary and we still have confidence in the judiciary of the country. Since the law of the land provides that we can still move ahead to a higher court, we will utilise the opportunities available to us.

    “We know that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, so we are definitely going to file our appeal and we are confident of getting judgment.”

  • Tragedy in Kogi State

    Tragedy in Kogi State

    TOMORROW, the Kogi governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja will begin delivering judgement in the disputed November 2015 governorship election case. Hopefully, it should bring to an end the tomfoolery being displayed by Governor Yahaya Bello. The state awaits justice in the case brought by James Abiodun Faleke asking to be declared winner of the poll, which he argued had been concluded. The governor does not rely on law to sustain his rule; he relies on his backers in Abuja and elsewhere whom he believes have done enough magic to keep him in office. It remains to be seen whether magic will trump law.
    Meanwhile, it is estimated that since he assumed office, he had received from the federation account more than nine billion naira and an additional N20 bailout money. But he has declined to pay salaries; and from inheriting about three months salary arrears, he now owes about five months. In addition, his legislative subversion, once supported by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, is now given fillip by the Nigerian Army which has sent soldiers to bar the legitimate, court-approved 15 lawmakers from sitting in the House of Assembly, and to guard Mr Bello’s five lawmakers as they purport to make laws for the state and approve his list of commissioners. If Kogi lacks shame, what of the presidency that connives at this monstrosity?

  • Money laundering: Ex- Kogi lawmaker jailed two years

    Money laundering: Ex- Kogi lawmaker jailed two years

    A former lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly, from Ogori/Magongo Mr. Gabriel Daudu was Monday sentenced to two years in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja for money laundering.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, found him guilty on 77 out of the 208 counts pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The charges brought against him by the EFCC bordered on conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N1.4 billion.

    But while Daudu was convicted on 77 counts and sentenced to two years on each count to run concurrently, Justice Ekwo, however, discharged and acquitted Albert Soje Adesina, a retired Army major, who served as majority leader of the Kogi State house of assembly between 2007 and 2011 on the one-count charged brought against him.

    Daudu’a trial started before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court Abuja before it was later transferred to the Lokoja division of the Federal High Court before Justice Ekwo, where Daudu and Adesina were re-arraigned twice on amended charges.

    The prosecution counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, presented 13 witnesses and tendered 47 exhibits to prove the charges against Daudu.

    Though Daudu, through his lawyer, Mr. O.J. Onoja (SAN), called seven witnesses in a bid to prove his innocence, the court however found him guilty as Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

    Daudu, who served as the caretaker chairman of the Ogori/Mangogo Local Government Area of Kogi State between January and July 2008, had been standing trial since April, 2010 alongside a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, Albert Adesina.

     

  • Fuel scarcity: Kogi transporters prohibit fare hike

    The prevailing fuel scarcity across the nation notwithstanding, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Kogi State chapter, has warned members not to bring further hardship on the people of the state by hiking transportation fare.

    Speaking Monday at Obajana, Chairman of the association in the state, Alhaji Audu Nabadua said that the association will not allow commercial vehicles to increase transportation fare despite the scarcity and hike in the price of fuel.

    He said the association haven considered the current economic hardship in the country, “NARTO has no option than to maintain the status quo in the interest of the citizenry.”

    He pointed out that the only way to give back to the society was to complement government effort, maintaining that NARTO can never add to the suffering of the people through increment in the transportation fare from Kogi State to other parts of the country.

    According to him: “Despite the high price of fuel, the association will not increase transportation fare paid to different parts of the country. It is not in our character to add to the suffering of our people”.

    Nabadua reinstated his vision to transform the association to greater heights noting that the welfare of members is one of his major priority.

    He called on members to shun vices that may tarnish the image of the association, warning that his tenure will not condone indiscipline among members.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, Comrade Habeeb Kareem called for the cooperation and support of newsmen in Kogi State at all times.

     

  • 27 suspected kidnappers paraded in Kogi

    Kogi State Police Command Friday paraded 27 suspected kidnappers that have been terrorizing the state in the last three months.

    The Kogi State Police Commissioner, CP Yakubu Usman while parading the suspects before newsmen at the state Police Command said they were arrested across the state with dangerous weapons.

    According to him, on the 2nd of March this year, there was information that some Fulani suspected to be armed robbers and kidnappers were sighted in a hotel in Idah, adding that his men swung into action and arrested them.

    He said that during interrogation the suspects confessed to haven kidnapped one Isah Ibrahim, with others and the sum of “two million five hundred thousand” was paid as ransom.

    He added: “The suspects also stated that in the month of December last year, they kidnapped one Mallam Isah Yusuf and the sum of five hundred thousand was collected and they killed the victim, because the victim can identify one of his captives.

    “As a result of the arrest of the suspect, his gang members went and killed the victim’s father named Mohammed Yusuf at Idah”.

    Also paraded was one Maha Musa who allegedly kidnapped Mr. Lily Yunpin, a Chinese nationale.

    According to the CP, the suspect was arrested and during interrogation he confessed to various armed robberies; kidnapping, and attack on SARS base at Ejule.

    He said the suspect further confessed that himself and six others kidnapped the victim last month and a ransom of N3 million naira was collected while N100, 000 naira was given to him as his share.

    Mohammed Isah and Iliyasu Abubakar were arrested for allegedly kidnapping an unnamed seven-year old boy in Aloma ib Ofu local government of the state.

    According to the CP, on the 20th last month, one Sule Adamu Usman of the Aloma Fulani camp reported that on that same day at about 4pm, one of his wives called him that his son named Halilu Usman (seven) was kidnapped by unknown gunmen while on the way to the stream.

    He said that the kidnappers called with phone a number demanding for a ransom of N1million, but that during the payment of the ransom, one Mohammed Isah was arrested by operatives attached to SARS and during interrogation the suspects confessed to the crime and led to the arrest of two others.

    The CP further disclosed that some suspects were killed during a shootout with his men, warning that kidnapping and armed robbery will soon be over as his men are ready to checkmate the activities of criminals in the state.

    On the activities of cultism in Lokoja, the state capital in the past few months, the CP said those involved in cult related activities which led to the killing of two young men have been arrested and charged to court.

    He assured the people of the state of adequate security, just as he appealed that whoever has information on criminals should report same at the nearest police station.

     

  • No crisis in Kogi State – Governor

    No crisis in Kogi State – Governor

    The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday said that there is no crisis in the House of Assembly and the state in general.

    He made the remark while speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the House of Assembly is sitting and all legislative works are ongoing.

    Ruling out crisis in the state, he said: “My house is sitting and we have absolute peace in Kogi state, I am not aware of that.  The National Assembly was supposed to have taken over, the state is absolutely in peace and the legislative activities are ongoing.

    “I am the executive and the executive is functioning and we are doing the best we can, so legislature is their own business and they are on it.

    “I have a speaker that is sitting right now. So I don’t know if there is any problem there.” He added

    On the application for bail-out funds for his state, he said: “We applied for it and its under processing right now I have not gotten any bail-out yet.

    “Well I think to the best of my knowledge, the last administration either did not go on with the process properly, we are now to trying to correct whatever was not done properly, so that we can access it for our people.”

    He urged the people of his state to remain calm, noting that the state has suffered for a long time.

    “This is not the time for political crisis. This is the time to work and I am here to work. I am not here to have any political fuss with anybody; whoever is ready should join me and let’s fix Kogi state,” he stated.

  • Kogi Assembly sealed off

    Kogi Assembly sealed off

    The police Wednesday morning sealed off the Kogi State House of Assembly (KSHA).

    The development which took the workers of the state assembly by surprise apparently because of initial inaction of the police to effect the Senate order for Inspector General to shut the assemble over the lingering crisis that has grounded legislative work in the state.

    An assembly worker who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed the development to our correspondent, saying, “They (the police) came sometime after 10 o’clock this morning (Wednesday)”.

    Another source however debunked the shutting of the assembly by the police, saying that the issue was “resolved”.

    The source who pleaded anonymity said workers were in their offices as at the time the Police came.

    “Yes, they have resolved it. The police came but they spoke over the matter and the issue was resolved,” the source said.

    The source, a lady, however added that lawmakers were yet to be allowed into the assembly complex”.

    The House of Representatives which instituted a fact finding committee to look into the Kogi assembly crisis has since taken over its activities, followed by the Senate, which endorsed the close order.

    The police has since the order looked the other way while the Umar Imam-led faction (G-5) of the assembly continued sitting, until around 10am Wednesday morning, when people were ordered out of the complex, while the Momoh Jimoh-Lawal faction otherwise known as G-15, which took its case before the National Assembly, have since stated away from the assembly.

  • Ocholi was loyal to Nigeria – Buhari

    Ocholi was loyal to Nigeria – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari in a tribute issued on Thursday maintained that the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi, was fully committed and loyal to Nigeria.

    Ocholi, who had died in a car crash on 6th of this month along with his wife and one of his sons on Kaduna-Abuja road, will be buried in Kogi State on Friday.

    Besides many other positive and pleasant things about Ocholi, Buhari said that he will always remember him for his loyalty to Nigeria, loyalty to the All Progressives Congress, and loyalty to his administration.

    According to him, Ocholi was part of the Change Cabinet determined to bring Nigeria out of the woods and place it among the greats in the comity of nations.

    The President declared that Ocholi will be ‘sorely missed’.

    Full Tribute by Buhari below:

    JAMES OCHOLI TAUGHT US THE MEANING OF LOYALTY

    How do I begin to pay this tribute to a man who was the epitome of civility, the archetype of intellectualism, and the paragon of loyalty? How do I begin to mourn James Ocholi, whom you can describe as one of my right hand men in the quest to reposition our country, and fashion a land of peace and prosperity, where no man is oppressed?

    A lot has been written about Ocholi since the tragic event of March 6, 2016, which took the life of our Minister of State, Labour and Employment, his wife, Blessing, and his son, Joshua. And a lot more will be written, for Ocholi was no mean man.

    He was a man among men, an Iroko in a forest of trees. How are the mighty fallen!

    Among many other positive and pleasant things, I will always remember Ocholi for his loyalty to our beloved country Nigeria, loyalty to our party, the All Progressives Congress, and loyalty to our administration, in which he had served for just about 4 months, before death took him.

    In 2011, Ocholi ran to be governor of Kogi State on the platform of our then party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). I believed so much in him, and in his ability to add value to the governance of his state, that I followed him round the state on campaign. We visited all the local governments, visited the paramount rulers, and urged the people to vote in a worthy man as governor. But politics is a peculiar game in Nigeria. The best often does not win.

    Ocholi did not win. But he bore it gracefully.

    In 2015, he threw his hat into the ring again. He sought to be governor on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he had helped midwife.

    He still did not win at the party primaries, an eventuality he bore gracefully again.

    When the APC was being negotiated into existence among the Legacy Parties, Ocholi did a yeoman’s job, contributing his quota to the legal processes. This he did under a junior lawyer, who was not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) like him then. But what mattered to Ocholi was the birth of a strong, solid party, which could wrest power at the centre, and bring change to our country.

    Hierarchy is important in the legal profession, just as it is in the military. But Ocholi subordinated pride and ego, served under his subordinate, and APC was born.
    Dream became reality.

    Steadily but sure-footedly,  he was part of the Change Cabinet, resolved to bring our country from out of the woods, and pedestal Nigeria among the greats in the comity of nations.

    Then the unthinkable happened. The Grim Reaper harvested Ocholi. What a pity! Sad and tragic. But we have this consolation: the departed has taught us fidelity, commitment and loyalty to party, to government, and to God.

    He will be sorely missed.

    MUHAMMADU BUHARI

  • Bello in unscheduled visit to ministry, discovers fraud

    Bello in unscheduled visit to ministry, discovers fraud

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Thursday paid an unscheduled visit to some ministries in the state, with “multi-billion naira fraud discovered in the ministry of commerce and industry.

    A government source privy to the visit told reporters that the sleaze was in connection in the Kogi State/CBN MSME which was allegedly diverted by some top directors in the ministry.

    He said that the governor was astounded by the discovery.

    He added: “The governor immediately directed the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to turn in a comprehensive report on the fund.

    “He also asked the ministry to collaborate with the Office of the Accountant General of the state for thorough investigation.

    “Alhaji Yahaya Bello promised to get to the roots of the fraud, assuring that he was ready to prosecute anyone found wanting in the MSMEgate.

    “He reiterated the determination of his administration to root out corruption from the civil service, saying his administration will not spare anyone who has constituted himself or herself to a drain pipe in the state”.

    Tension has enveloped the air in the ministries even as the Head of Service in the state, Mr. Moses Atakpa has been sent on a 30-day compulsory leave.

     

  • Ocholi’s remains arrive Lokoja High Court premises

    Ocholi’s remains arrive Lokoja High Court premises

    The body of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. James Ocholi (SAN), arrived Lokoja, Kogi State Thursday as part of the final burial rites for the deceased erudite lawyer, who died in a ghastly motor accident along with his wife and a son, along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The body which arrived at the Kogi State High Court complex at exactly 11.30am had the governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, at the head of mourners to receive the body and that of his late wife and son.

    The motor convoy that brought their remains into the premises was led by three ambulances belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).