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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Court orders Kogi Gov, others to release judiciary workers’ pay arrears

    Succour seems imminent for thousands of unpaid court workers in Kogi State as the National Industrial Court of Nigerian (NICN) in Abuja ordered Governor, Yahaya Bello and others to released forthwith,funds due to the state’s Judiciary, withheld since July 2018.

    Justice Edith Agbakoba, in a judgment, also ordered the state’s Chief Judge and other heads of courts. in the state to immediately commence payment of salaries, allowances and emoluments owed to court workers on their receipt of funds from the Executive arm of government.

    The judgment is on a suit marked: NCIN/LKJ/2019 filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) against the Governor of Kogi State and eight others.

    The others are the Attorney-General, Kogi State, Commissioner for Finance, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

    The plaintiff said its members in Kogi State have not been paid since July 2018 owing to the failure of the state government to release funds due to the Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the state, from which salaries and other payments are made to court workers in the state.

    Justice Agbakoba, in the judgment delivered on June 3, 2019, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja on Sunday, declared as a violation of sections 121(3) of the Constitution and 5 of the Kogi State Public Finance (Judiciary Special Provisions) Laws No. 6 of 1991 the failure of the first to fifth defendants  to release to heads of courts  funds due to the Judiciary from which the salaries, allowances and other payments are to be made.

    The first to fifth defendants are the Governor, the Attorney-General, Finance Commissioner, Accountant-General and Auditor-General.

    Justice Agbakoba, who held that the first to fifth lacked the power to withhold court workers’ salaries and other entitlements which are payable from any amount standing to the credit of the Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.

    Read Also: We didn’t arrest Kogi gov’s aide, says DSS

    The judge, particularly ordered “the 1st – 5th defendants are hereby directed to pay forthwith, the arrears of salaries, allowances and emoluments of the members of the claimant from the N1, 529, 885, 261.92 being eight months accumulated arrears standing to the credit of the said Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts from which salaries and emoluments of the members of the claimant ought to be paid. for the past eight  months since July 2018 to February 2019.

    “The 1st – 5th defendants whether acting by themselves, their agents. prlvies or servants, are by a perpetual injunction order of this court hereby restrained from continuing to withhold the monthly salaries, allowances and emoluments payable from subventions or amounts standing to the credit of Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts concerned in line with the provision of section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).

    “By order of this court the defendants are hereby directed to release the salaries, allowances and emoluments of the members of the claimant which are paid from subventions or the amount standing to the credit of the Kogi State Judiciary with effect from July 2018 to each heads of courts, the 6th 9th defendants, as follows: High Court (N13582 1049.83 (arrears per month); Customary Court (N26, 310 922.39 arrears per month); Sharia Court (N23,781,827.83 arrears per month); Judicial Service Commission (N5,32 1,807.69 (arrears per month), cumulatively amounting, for the eight months, a total sum of N1, 529, 885. 261,92 accordingly.

    “The 6th to 9th defendants are by an order of this court hereby directed to commence payment of salaries and emoiuments of the members of the claimants as Judicial staff upon the receipt of’ the subventions from the 1st to 5th defendants.”

    Listed as the sixth to ninth defendants are the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, the President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

    “It is hereby declared that payment to the members of the Claimant by hand by he |st-5th defendants is illegal and offends the principle of separation of powers as the Executive arm cannot pay Judicial workers being contrary to the clear provisions of sections 121(3), 125(23(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and therefore, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

    “The 1st-5th defendants are by a perpetual injunction of this Court hereby restrained from interfering with the mode of payment of the staff of the Kogi State Judiciary particularly members of the claimant to collect their salaries by hand from the executive as it is illegal and breaches the principle of separation of powers, therefore, is unconstitutional and null and void.”

     

     

  • Kogi gov poll: Bello, Kogi APC stakeholders meet for truce

    The two camps of the All Progressive Congress(APC) in Kogi state have met in Abuja as part of efforts to mend fences ahead of the November governorship election.

    The meeting, according to a statement by the leadership of the Kogi state APC Forum, Senator Alex Kadiri  was at the instance of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Kadiri, in a statement he signed, described the meeting as an interactive session.

    The statement reads in part: “At the meeting, Governor Yahaya Bello harped on the need for reconciliation in the Kogi state chapter of the party and for the unity amongst members.

    “He urged both sides in the protracted party dispute to resolve their differences and move forward as one united political party.

    “Speaking on behalf of the Kogi State Stakeholders’ Forum, Senator Alex Kadiri made two demands:

    Read Also: Hadiza Ibrahim: I will succeed Bello

    “First, that the state government should take steps to pay outstanding salaries and pension to workers and pensioners respectively so as to cushion the prolonged hardship they have been experiencing in the state.

    “Secondly, Dr Kadiri drew the attention of the governor to the non-implementation of the reports of the two reconciliatory committees led separately by Prince Tony Momoh and General Garba (Rtd), set up by Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the former National Chairman of the party.

    “He also reminded the Governor that the resolutions reached during the interactive session with Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo before the last general elections remained unimplemented.

    “Therefore, he urged the Governor to take time to read these reports as a basis for further genuine reconciliation.”

     

  • Bello to Ogah: tenants don’t dislodge landlords

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has advised an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Prof. Seidu Ogah to banish the hope of ever clinching the party’s ticket from his thought.

    Mohammed has advocated direct primaries to pick the party’s standard bearer for the November 16 election. He boasted to defeat incumbent Governor Bello in a free and fair contest.

    But a statement by Bello’s spokesman, Onogwu Mohammed, dismissed Oga’s claims as “day-dream by a political neophyte” who will be trounced and humiliated during the party’s primary election billed for August.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a day-dreamer whose new past time is to make fantastic claims to having some bogus political clout within our great party. But we dare say that there is no issue about who will fly the flag of the APC for the governorship election. Stakeholders within the party are unanimous that Governor Yahaya Bello is the only credible and popular candidate who can give the party victory at the November 16 governorship election.

    Read Also: Kogi APC exco splits over Yahaya Bello’s re-election bid

    “Prof. Seidu Mohammed and his imaginary supporters should know that members of the APC are politically sophisticated and would ignore the empty grandstanding of a political lightweight who has no record of winning any election in his life, not even a councillorship election.”

    Mohammed advised Oga to quietly withdraw from the race and proceed to enjoy his life in retirement after his tenure as Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

     

  • Kogi APC exco splits over Yahaya Bello’s re-election bid

    The Kogi State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has split into two factions over Governor Yahaya Bello’s bid for re-election ahead of the state’s governorship poll billed to hold on November 16.

    The split is coming on the heels of alleged adoption of Governor Bello by the state chapter, a move that is being resisted by a faction led by the State Secretary of the APC, Salam Tom Adejoh.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Adejoh debunked the alleged endorsement of Governor Bello, saying that the governor’s poor performance should not be rewarded with a second term.

    The State Secretary emphasized that the executive committee members are not in any position to endorse any aspirants, stressing that the party governorship ticket is open to every qualified party member.

    “We did not endorse anyone and we are not planning to. The party’s ticket is open to everyone in the party”, added.

    According to him, the last meeting of the state executive committee, which held on Saturday, did not discuss Bello’s endorsement.

    The party scribed dismissed media reports credited to a faction of the state executive, led by the chapter chairman, purportedly endorsing the governor for a second term.

    Read Also: Kogi APC in need of revival – Members

    Narrating the exco’s last meeting with the governor, Adejoh said, “Our discussion ended at the need for peace so that the party can move forward. He (governor) said he needed a sincere peace and we agreed on terms. There was nothing like endorsement.

    “The terms we agreed on was that our allowances and other packages that we are entitled to would be given to us and we all agreed on these terms.

    “The governor requested for the case in court to be withdrawn. We told him there are some processes to be followed. The issue of withdrawing the case is subject to another negotiation”.

    The executive members had dragged the governor to court over his refusal to pay arrears of their entitlements as party chiefs.

    On the suitability of Governor Bello’s re-election, Adejoh said, “The party has its own criteria on what they want from a candidate. If someone has performed well or is an achiever, it will speak for itself. Yahaya has been far away from us, since then he has not been properly directed.

    On the reported endorsement of the governor by traditional rulers in Kogi State at the presidential villa in Abuja last week, the party secretary said the governorship election is not a traditional affair.

    According to him, the traditional rulers are only entitled to vote at the election but that they are not in the position to decide who will be the APC candidate because they are not delegates.

    Other party chieftains that joined Adejoh at the briefing included the State Organizing Secretary, Alh. Isah Abubakar; Zonal Youth Leader, Noah Akwu; APC Bassa LGA Chairman, Mallam Isiaka Ibrahim among others.

     

  • Expose killers in your domain or get fired, Bello tells monarchs

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has given a seven-day ultimatum to local government administrators, traditional rulers and Kogi Security Adviser to fish out culprits of the recent killings in some parts of the state or risk losing their jobs.

    Bello gave the ultimatum at a stakeholders meeting on security held in Government House, Lokoja, on Wednesday.

    The meeting was part of efforts to unravel the root causes of recent killings in the state and proffer lasting solutions.

    ”We must set good examples. If you are failing in your primary responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of your immediate communities, then there is an issue for concern.

    “You have seven days to coordinate, fish out these culprits from wherever they are hidden in your domains or I strip every one of you, whose communities are affected, of your jobs,” the governor said.

    Bello added: “For those who think they can be used to cause mayhem in our state, we shall fish every one of you out. We will bring you out to face the full wrath of the law.”

    Read Also: Activists task Gov. Bello on LG elections

    He stressed that Kogi was known for peace, adding that his government had given its best to ensure that peace and tranquility was maintained.

    The governor reassured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to continue to work in synergy with security agencies to ensure safety that would attract investors to the state.

    He added that his government had been tactical and strategic about the issue of security, noting that he who “seeks equity must come with clean hands”.

    Bello, however, apologized to the families of the affected victims while appealing to them to remain peaceful.

    “I urge you to forgive. Do not take laws into your hands through reprisal attacks,” he pleaded.

    Earlier, the State Security Adviser, Mr Jerry Omodara, had warned the citizens to stop taking laws into their hands as anyone found wanting would be prosecuted.

    The Secretary of Miyetti Allah Association in Yagba West, Mohammed Mainasara, in his speech, claimed that 11 Fulani residents in the council were killed without provocation.

    In their separate remarks, Commander, Army Records, Maj.-Gen. Elvis Njoku, and Kogi Police Commissioner, Hakeem Busari, promised their agencies commitment toward ensuring tnat normalcy was restored to those communities, adding that some arrests had been made.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting drew traditional rulers, security officials, Fulani herdsmen and administrators of the 21 local government areas in Kogi.

     

    NAN

     

  • Bello to council chairs, monarchs: fish out killers of 15 Fulanis in seven days or else…

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has given four councils’ sole administrators and traditional rulers where 15 Fulanis were killed seven days to fish out the perpetrators or risk losing their positions.

    The governor, who gave the order during a security stakeholders meeting in the Government House Lokoja, lamented the killings which happened in Yagba West, Omala, Dekina and Igalamela.

    He warned his administration will not condone killings of any citizen in the state.

    While handing ultimatum to the sole administrators of the four local government areas and their traditional rulers, Bello vowed to apprehend and bring to book those behind the dastardly act.

    He said his administration will not allow the situation that occurred in Benue, Nasarawa and Zamfara states to happen in Kogi.

    “These Fulanis have been staying with us in the state peacefully without any rancour; any politician or detractor who are behind this killing will be made to face the full wrath of the law as my administration will not spare anybody no matter how highly placed in the society,” he warned.

    Read also: JUST IN: Gov Bello walks out Kogi CJ from function

    He commended the security agents for efforts in ensuring absolute peace in the state, urging them to do more to keep the state even safer.

    The administrator of Yagba West, where the killing of 11 Fulanis took place, Comrade Joseph Olutimi, stated he received a report that a farmer was allegedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen, noting that he quickly informed the security agents who swung into action.

    He pointed out the Fulanis were killed by yet- to- be identified gunmen, stressing the people of the local government have been lived peacefully with the resident Fulanis.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Commodore Jerry Omadara (retd.) reported last week a farmer in Yagba West was allegedly murdered in his farm by suspected herdsmen.

    He said some people took the law into their hand in a reprisal attack, killing ten Fulanis residing in some communities in the local government and dumped their corpses in the Omi dam.

    He disclosed three corpses of Fulanis were found in Oluja community, in Dekina local government while several cows were killed by unknown gunmen.

    He stated that Omiyowo, Ogar, Ejigba and Dekina recorded high rate of killing of innocent citizens.

    The Secretary of the Meyetti Allah group in Yagba West, Mohammed Mainasara, said that eleven Fulanis resident in the council were killed without provocation.

  • JUST IN: Bello walks out Kogi CJ from state function

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Tuesday walked out the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Nasir Ajanah from a function.

    The incident occurred at the Government House Lokoja during the swearing-in of the new Grand Khadi of the state.

    The function was attended by top government officials and others from the judiciary.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: Can Bello get second term?

    The CJ, who was said to have been officially invited to the function by the protocol officer of the Government House, was seated before arrival of the governor.

    However, some minutes later before the arrival of the governor, his Chief Security Officer allegedly approached the CJ and informed him the governor gave a directive that he should not be allowed to attend the function.

    The CJ thereafter left the government house and returned to his office.

    The development may not be unconnected to the face-off between the executive and the state judiciary, arising from disagreements over table payment of judicial staff.

  • Activists task Gov. Bello on LG elections

    Mr Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, to urgently conduct elections into the 21 local government councils of the state.

    Miliki made the call at a Quarterly Review Meeting for Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Anti-corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Elections in Kogi State on Tuesday in Lokoja.

    The meeting was organised by the CHRCR in partnership with Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation with support from MacArthur Foundation.

    Miliki urged the governor to put necessary machinery in place to conduct council elections, to address issues of illegitimacy and under-development at that tier of governance.

    The human rights activist said the usual complaints of lack of funds for the exercise often backed by the state House of Assembly was no longer tenable, in view of the several allocations the state received from the Federation Account.

    “Governor  Yahaya Bello cannot continue to hide behind a finger for his inability to conduct elections at the third tier level of government, inspite of the several allocations the state has received.

    He said that the non-conduct of election had denied the people at the grassroots their rights of participation and good governance.

    He lamented the inability of the state government in the last three years to allocate and appropriate funds for the conduct of local government elections in the state and described the action as illegal.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: Odds against Bello

    Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), said there was need to entrench citizens’ rights, adding that to fight corruption, the duty bearers must be put to task.

    He therefore urged the people to always ask questions in case of rights infringement.

    Mr John Amabi, a member of Kogi Non-Governmental Organisations Network (KONGONET), regretted that politicians were taking advantage of a clause in the Electoral Act to disrupt elections where they were not popular, adding that the clause for cancellation of results should be reviewed.

    Amabi enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a review of the provision, if elections must be free, fair, transparent and credible.

    NAN

     

  • Prioritise workers’ welfare, union tells Gov. Bello

    The United Labour Congress (ULC), has called on the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to prioritize workers’ welfare and clear salary backlog.

    Mr Simeon Opaluwa made the call in a statement by Wale Abydeen, President, Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) on Sunday in Abuja.

    “Opaluwa, the state chairman of ULC, while chatting with members of the NGIJ on Media Tour of the state in Lokoja, noted that the state civil servants were not happy.

    “Civil servants are not happy due to inability of the state government to clear outstanding salaries and pensions, and the ugly situation is having an adverse effect on the economy of the state.

    “Kogi is a civil service state and any development without payment of salary amounts to nothing.

    He said that the core responsibility of any government was to provide security and prioritise the welfare of the people.

    “I can categorically say that Bello has failed woefully in the area of welfare and he must address the issue of salary backlog without further delay,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: Odds against Bello

    Opaluwa, however, admitted that the governor had so far been able to eliminate many ghost workers from its payroll through the screening exercise, but salaries had not been regular.

    He commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, for what he described as “an impressive performance in area of health, security, road construction and revival of cultural activities, especially in Igala land’’.

    The labour leader advised the governor to sustain his achievement in area of security, so as to avoid the return of thuggery, hooliganism, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGIJ during the tour of the state met with some officials of the state including Mrs Folasade Ayoade, the Secretary to the State Government who represented the governor.

    The NGIJ team was also expected to meet with the state Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jubril, to get the official angle to the issue of staff verification, utilisation of bailout funds and payment of salaries.

  • Ramadan: Gov. Bello calls for peace, unity

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has urged the Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan to show more love to their neighbours and pray for sustainable peace and unity in the country.

    Bello said this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Onogwu Muhammed on Monday in Lokoja.

    He extended his best wishes to all residents of the state, especially the Muslim community, on the occasion of the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

    The governor also urged wealthy individuals to show compassion and extend hands of support to the less privileged in the spirit of the season.

    “The holy month offers another opportunity to all to be fair and just,” he said.

    Read Also: Kogi APC elders: no second term for Bello

    Bello described the month as one of the five pillars of Islam.

    “The month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, with the month-long fasting, it is a period of total devotion, spiritual rebirth and an opportunity for Muslims to re-evaluate their relationship with God,” he said.

    He urged the people to use the period to offer prayers to God to bring about healing, repentance and renewal.

    “As Ramadan starts, I want to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah for witnessing yet another season of spiritual importance.

    “We have enjoyed relative peace in Kogi State, and I want to urge all of us to use the holy month to reflect and re-dedicate ourselves to prayers for sustainable peace and progress of our dear state and country.

    “This is also a period to show more love to our neighbours, the less-privileged and other vulnerable members of the society,” Bello said.

    NAN