Crime
Yahaya Bello Seeks Court’s Permission For UK Medical Trip: ‘N80.2bn Fraud’
Yahaya Bello Seeks Court’s Permission For UK Medical Trip: ‘N80.2bn Fraud’
Yahaya Bello seeks court’s permission for UK medical trip: ‘N80.2bn fraud’. Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, is seeking the permission of a federal high court in Abuja to travel abroad for medical examination.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion.
At the resumed court session on Friday, Joseph Daudu, counsel to Bello, moved the application dated June 20.
Addressing the court, Daudu said the former governor was referred to a hospital in the United Kingdom (UK) by a cardiologist, noting that Bello has not travelled outside Nigeria throughout his eight-year tenure in Kogi.
The lawyer said Bello has pledged to travel within the court’s vacation period and return to the country for the continuation of his trial.
“My lord, this is a harmless and non-political issue that borders on the health of the defendant who is ready and willing to face his trial,” he said.
“He has never been late to court. The little misunderstanding that happened before this trial began was politically motivated. If permitted to travel, he will return before the end of August, and the court can also set a date.
“This is a criminal trial, not a political witch-hunt.”
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed the application, describing it as an abuse of court process.
Kemi Pinheiro, prosecution counsel, said the defendant cited hypertension and hypercalcemia or low potassium but failed to provide evidence that the condition was life-threatening.
The prosecution argued that there are well-equipped hospitals in the country that could effectively treat the ailments.
The EFCC counsel told the court that Bello claimed that he built ultra-modern hospitals with state-of-the-art facilities in Kogi state while he was the governor.
“This defendant insisted that the hospitals were built to curb medical tourism,” Pinhero said.
The EFCC lawyer told the court that Bello is facing serious allegations that have international dimensions, noting that he could be arrested by Interpol outside the shores of Nigeria.
“This defendant is already on the red notice. The EFCC sent a letter to Interpol when he was playing games with the prosecution, and he was placed on the red list,” he added.
“He doesn’t know what is awaiting him there. He can be Hushpuppied to the US or UAE. That is a risk because it will affect this trial.”
He noted that the former governor filed the same application before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court where he is facing another charge.
Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, fixed July 27 to rule on the application.
Meanwhile, earlier at the court session, a mild drama unfolded when the fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, denied claims that he was harassed by security personnel attached to Bello.
Pinhero had informed the court shortly after the case was called, alleging that the witness had been confronted by one of the security operatives attached to the defendant.
Yahaya Bello Seeks Court’s Permission For UK Medical Trip
“My lord, the witness told me that this is not the first time. A situation where a witness is harassed in a criminal case amounts to interference,” Pinheiro told the court, urging an investigation into the incident.
In response, Daudu assured the court that the defence team would look into the matter and report back.
However, before the matter was adjourned, the witness sought the court’s permission to speak and clarified that he had not been harassed.
“My lord, I want to put it on record that no one harassed or intimidated me. I only had a minor altercation with someone which had nothing to do with the defendant,” Bata told the court.
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
EFCC releases ex-AGF Malami after hours of interrogation. He said he would return for further questioning.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, after hours of interrogation by the anti-graft team.
Mr Malami confirmed his release in his X account on Saturday. The former minister said that he had been released and scheduled for another meeting with investigators.
He said that the reality behind the “fabricated allegations” levelled against him would become clearer with time.
“In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for his divine intervention. “The engagement was successful and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold.”
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
The EFCC had summoned Mr Malami through a letter dated November 24, and signed by Sunday Ofen-Imu on behalf of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
The EFCC did not disclose the specific allegations for which Mr Malami was invited.
Kano NSCDC Nabs 11 Suspected Hoodlums With Dangerous Weapons
Kano NSCDC nabs 11 suspected hoodlums with dangerous weapons. According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State command, says it has arrested a gang of 11 suspected hoodlums found in possession of dangerous weapons in Mariri, Kumbotso Local Government Area.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the command’s public relations officer, SC Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi.
He listed the suspects as Idris Muhammad,20, Abubakar Shuaibu,24, Sagiru Hassan Yusuf, 25, Idris Muhammad Morata, 25, and Anas Rabiu, 23.
Others were Yahaya Muhammad, 29, Khalid Idris, 28, Muhammad Adamu, 19, Muktar Auwal Muktar ,22, Salim Muktar, 18, and Saifullahi Nuhu,18.
According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, operatives of the command apprehended the suspects on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m, armed with dangerous local weapons.
NSCDC
“The gang was on a rampage after attending a local traditional festival in Mariri area and were attacking residents and dispossessing them of their belongings.
“The gang also stormed a nearby NSCDC outpost in Mariri, attacked and left a staff fractured in the office” he said
Idris-Abdullahi listed the items recovered to include six cutlasses, swords and a pair of scissors.
He added that the command’s intelligence and investigation department had concluded investigations and the suspects would be charged to court.
Idris-Abdullahi quoted the state commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, as reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling criminal activities, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding public peace in Kano State.
Lagos Police Nab 26 Over Counterfeit Currency, Adulterated Diesel
Lagos Police nab 26 over counterfeit currency, adulterated diesel. The police said N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The police command in Lagos has apprehended 26 suspects over counterfeit currency and adulterated diesel in the Eti-Osa and Lekki areas. The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
She said the suspects were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a joint operation conducted by police officers and officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline.
According to her, a total of N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The spokesperson said investigations revealed that four of the suspects were directly involved in the production and distribution of adulterated diesel and engine oil, locally known as ‘rice and beans’.
“The illicit product was sold to unsuspecting motorists across the area. Two other suspects were identified as suppliers of the adulterated petroleum products,” she said.
Police Arrests
Ms Adebisi said that police commissioner Olohundare Jimoh warned all criminally minded individuals to desist from their nefarious activities.
“CP Jimoh cautioned that anyone involved in acts that threaten public peace or economic stability will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
She assured residents that Lagos remains safe, reiterating that the command is in control of the security situation and has prioritised the safety and well-being of all residents.
She urged the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in apprehending criminals and preventing crime.
“Public cooperation remains essential to sustaining the peace and security for which Lagos state is known,” she said.
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