A devastating helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet county, Kenya, has claimed the lives of Defence Forces Chief General, Francis Omondi Ogolla and nine other senior military officers.
President William Ruto announced the tragedy on April 18, expressing deep sadness and convening an urgent meeting of the National Security Council.
The helicopter burst into flames after crashing, with only two survivors. Ogolla, 61, was a respected commander and trained fighter pilot who had served since 1984.
He was appointed Defence Forces Chief by President Ruto in April last year. The cause of the crash is yet to be determined.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the military and the nation, with President Ruto describing it as a “tragic air accident.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme, launched by the federal government to combat economic hardship.
In a press statement today, April 18, NANS PRO Sen. Mimidoo Joy Gundu questioned the programme’s advertisement, timeline, and beneficiary selection criteria.
She noted that unlike previous social security programmes, this grant’s communication lacked clarity and accessibility.
NANS demands to know when the grant scheme was initiated and communicated to Nigerians, the criteria used to select beneficiaries and why the students’ community was not engaged in stakeholders’ discussions
The association urges the Minister of Trade and Investment to put a hold on disbursement due to a flawed beneficiary selection process, open registration for at least 30 days and Advertise the process on TV, radio, national dailies, billboards, and major cities
NANS calls for an expanded stakeholders meeting and transparency briefing session to provide clarity on the programme’s inception, communication, and beneficiary selection.
For some days now, there have been altercations between the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering to the tune of over N80 billion. Yahaya Bello is just one of the people involved in the alleged deal, for which the EFCC operatives are seeking legal solution. Those who were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite are Yahaya Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470, 088.88.
One of the charges which EFCC filed before the court reads: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.” Count 17 of the charges read: “That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3, 081, 804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account number 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.” Count 18 of the charges reads: “That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly procured E-Traders international Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act.” Of course, from the initial stages, ex Governor Yahaya Bello and Kogi State government brushed the allegation aside, describing it as a move to embarrass the former governor. The whole thing took a dramatic turn on Wednesday, April 17, when officials of the EFCC went to the Abuja residence of the former governor to effect his arrest, ahead of the hearing in a case filed against him and others in court. Relying on the judgment of another court stopping EFCC from arresting him, Yahaya Bello refused to be “arrested” with his police orderlies and loyalists engaging EFCC in what obviously was a battle for and against. The incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo arrived at the residence of his predecessor in good time to drive him back to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital: probably to the government house for him to enjoy immunity that flows from the incumbent. Yes, in all the drama that has played out so far, and from the facts available, Yahaya Bello is right to refuse to submit to EFCC, based on the judgment of a competent court of justice. Similarly, governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is right too for standing up to shield his “master” from perceived danger. Remember that Yahaya Bello singlehandedly fished him out of the lot, brushed him and made him to be elected as governor. So, he’s only just playing a “good-boy” role in the whole scenario. If there is part of the law establishing the EFCC that cancels out court’s injunction restraining it from arresting any suspect or offender, it goes without saying therefore that the commission is also right in pursuing it’s mandate. As a way of digression, if it turns out that the commission violates or defies the court order as in the case of Yahaya Bello, it ought not to be the reason for the former governor to begin to play hide-and-seek game. After all, he can use the law to establish his case, either now or later. In other words, he could have submitted to the EFCC and simultaneously, in consultation with his lawyer, sue the commission for contempt of court. More seriously, why would Yahaya Bello dodge EFCC as if it is some kind of diety with the power of life and death; as if he doesn’t know that most of the governors in the past were arrested for questioning immediately after their tenures? Even Nasir el-Rufai and others have at one time or the other, visited EFCC, on invitation, without much public attention. As a matter of fact, EFCC has since made it a norm to invite, especially, immediate past Governors and their likes for questioning, one way or the other even if it is for public display, known as media trial. Ex Governor Yahaya Bello has all the advantages to fall back on if he submits himself to the EFCC, advisedly, by himself. He should not allow a situation where he would be arrested and “terribly embarrassed” by the angry EFCC. He needs to ask his team of lawyers where those advantages he has against the EFCC are hiding, including the latest one about him being declared wanted, as if he’s a dangerous criminal. These are the things even none professionals can gleen out.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), has advised the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to follow the path of decency and submit himself for investigation. In a statement he personally signed today, April 18, the Attorney General insisted that EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation. He described the action of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, who used his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest yesterday as ‘disquieting.’ According to him, such action amounted to a temporary self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go. He assured of his strict adherence to the rule of law and that he will ensure that no right of any Nigerian is trampled upon. “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern. “It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation. “A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it. “I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection. “I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world.” Yahaya Bello is being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor of Kogi State. In the last 24 hours, there have been dramas and hide and seek game between both parties over the move to arrest the former governor for arraignment today.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) has said that the commission will go to all length to drag the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello before the court to face his trial, even, if it means engaging the military to get him. “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding. “We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding. “No one is above the law. Immunity covers only the governor and not everyone around him.” The lawyer spoke today, April 18, during a proceeding in court where Yahaya Bello was supposed to be arraigned but the planned arraignment could not take place due to his absence. The EFCC and former Kogi State Governor have been playing hide and seek game in the last few weeks. Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello has accused the EFCC of trying to do the biddings of his political adversaries thereby trampling on the law itself.
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to establish a technical task force comprised of professionals to address the recurring collapses of the national grid.
Speaking via his spokesman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Obi emphasized the need for a non-political team to diagnose and correct issues such as frequent fire outbreaks leading to system failures.
Tanko stressed the importance of improved coordination between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and distribution companies (DisCos) to enhance power availability.
This proposal follows the recent national grid collapse, which plunged the country into darkness for the second time in a month, coinciding with controversial tariff increases by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and Nigeria Law School.
Speaking at NOUN’s 13th convocation ceremony, Tinubu emphasized equal opportunities for NOUN graduates, acknowledging the changing demographics of Nigeria.
He assured that the doors of the Law School are now open to NOUN Law graduates, reflecting his administration’s commitment to quality and accessible education.
Tinubu underscored the significance of Open and Distance Education in expanding access to higher education and achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, reaffirming the government’s support for enhancing ODL nationwide.
Nigeria LNG (NLNG) today signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with three hospitals to complete the second phase of its multi-billion-naira Hospital Support Programme (NLNG HSP). The NLNG Hospital Support Programme (HSP) is NLNG’s national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at boosting the healthcare delivery system in 12 federal university teaching hospitals and health institutions across the six geopolitical zones in the country. The programme started in 2022 with the signing and implementation of MoUs with six hospitals in the first phase. For the second phase, NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, signed MoUs with the respective medical directors of the Federal Medical Centre Asaba for the renovation and equipping of Neonatal Wards and Intensive Care Unit; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, for the construction and equipping of laboratory complex; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, for the renovation and construction of an oxygen plant. At the ceremony, Dr. Mshelbila recalled that the HSP initiative was conceived on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic when NLNG donated numerous intensive care medical equipment to medical institutions across Nigeria. According to the NLNG boss, one of the fundamentals of the HSP programme is to foster partnerships that support infrastructural development and encourage immediate utilisation of the facilities to deliver quality healthcare services to Nigerians. “Through this MoU, we will be able to channel our collective efforts towards addressing the healthcare needs of our people, promoting healthcare delivery, and driving positive change in the lives of vulnerable individuals. “The hospitals involved in today’s MoU have a proven and long-standing tradition of providing quality healthcare services to all sections of society. This MoU will amplify our collective impact, leveraging our resources, expertise, and locations to the outcomes of the Hospital Support Programme.” Digitaries at the event include NLNG’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr Olakunle Osobu; NLNG’s General Manager, Finance, Mrs Fatima Adanan; Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Dr. Osiatuma Azubuike; CMD, Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja; and CMD, Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Prof. Yusuf Jibrin. Beneficiaries of Phase 1 of the Hospital Support Programme include Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos; University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano; University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin; University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar; and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Yenagoa. Projects already delivered in Phase 2 include the equipping of the renal centre at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt; the renovation and equipping of an accident and emergency unit and theatre at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo; and the construction and equipping of a twin theatre suite at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos. NLNG has commissioned eight of the projects so far. The Hospital Support Programme is a multi-billion-naira scheme by NLNG to reshape the healthcare landscape and enhance medical training within teaching hospitals nationwide. All the completed projects are already in active use.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has given out the sum of N10 million to the victims of fire outbreak at the Yola Main Market in Adamawa State, and appealed to Nigerians to donate. “I passionately urge other Nigerians, well wishers, and friends of Adamawa State to join and add to my donation of N10 million in providing succour to victims of this particular disaster.” Atiku, who expressed deep sadness over the fire incident, said that he shares his sympathy with victims of the fire outbreak. The former Vice President, who is the Waziri Adamawa, appealed to other Nigerians of means to make donations into the Yola Market Fire Relief Fund, aimed at providing support to the Adamawa State Government in rebuilding the market and succour to victims of the fire outbreak. “I am deeply saddened by the report of a fire incident at Yola Main Market. “Losing a means of livelihood in the face of the current economic hardship is a troubling development.” Atiku, who contested the 2023 Presidential election on the platform of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), called for preventive measures to avert fire outbreaks and that infrastructure to deal with such outbreaks should be prioritised. He prayed that God will replenish the losses and grant reprieve to those affected by this disaster.
Policemen officers created a scene at the Abuja residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello when they prevented armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him. The confrontation between the EFCC operatives and the policemen, who are attached to Yahaya Bello occurred at Bello’s residence in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja today, April 17.
The EFCC officials had laid siege to ex Governor’s residence in an attempt to arrest him on corruption-related charges but his supporters, alongside the police officers, gathered at the residence and resisted the EFCC’s arrest attempt. The situation escalated as tensions mounted between the two law enforcement agencies. Yahaya Bello has been under EFCC investigation over allegations of misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of Naira. Despite obtaining an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from taking any action against him pending the determination of a substantive originating motion to enforce his fundamental rights, the anti-graft commission has insisted on arresting him. The interim injunction, which sought to shield Bello from detention, prosecution, or persecution during the ongoing legal proceedings, has been appealed by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency contends that the trial court lacked jurisdiction and argues that any order issued by a court lacking jurisdiction is null and void.
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello’s predecessor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo arrived at the residence of the embattled Yahaya Bello at about 2.30 pm today, April 17, in solidarity with him.
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