Muri/Sam Situation Report centre

10/12/2024

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has remanded Yahaya Bello in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending his bail application.

It also adjourned the case to January 29, February 25, and February 27, 2025 for the continuation of the hearing.

Justice Maryann Anenih had refused to grant a bail application filed by Bello, saying it was filed prematurely.

10/12/2024

Bello's bail application denied.

While delivering her ruling, Justice Maryann Anenih said, “The instant application for bail showed that it was filed on the 22nd of November. This shows that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”
Reading from the ACJa section, the judge said the provision provided that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court.
Bello had filed an application for his bail on 22nd November but was taken into custody on 26th November and arraigned on 27th November.

29/11/2024

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned proceedings in the N80 billion money laundering case against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

The court postponed the former governor’s arraignment until 13 December after rejecting a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign Mr Bello in the absence of his lawyer.

The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, said the adjournment was in the interest of a fair hearing, since the case had been adjourned to 21 January 2025.

The EFCC produced Mr Bello, who is on remand, in court from custody on Friday.

Note: this is different from the case he was arraigned for earlier this week.

28/11/2024

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello will this morning be arraigned at the federal high court in Abuja on fresh Charges different from yesterday’s. His Lawyers have been served already.

27/11/2024

Yahaya Bello to remain in EFCC’s custody until December 10th.

26/11/2024

Authoritatively: Yahya Bello Arrested by EFCC.

14/11/2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

29/08/2024

MURI SETS TO STORM HOME THIS FRIDAY.

Idah Federal Constituency, Dekina Federal Constituency and Ankpa Federal Constituency set to welcome home their illustrious son Murtala Yakubu Ajaka this Friday 30th, August 2024.

After the whole election and court tussle, the people of Kogi East prepare to welcome home their illustrious son who they have shown love and care throughout the process for a "Thank You" visit.

He will first land in Idah where he will be receiving the people of Idah (Idah town) Federal Constituency, same day to Dekina (Anyigba/Egume) Federal Constituency and Ankpa (Ankpa town) Federal Constituency as the last visit for the day.

All lovers are informed to gather in these locations to welcome him same day.

The date for other visitation will be announced here as time goes.

Welcome home Murtala Yakubu Ajaka

Feel free to pass this message across. - Opaluwa Omera Ugbede

23/08/2024

Greetings to all esteemed supporters of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and Lovers of Democracy in Nigeria.

I am pleased to extend a heartfelt invitation to each one of you to join us at the Supreme Court. Your unwavering support and dedication have been the pillars of our movement, and your presence at this critical juncture is invaluable.

As we stand on the threshold of justice, I believe in the supremacy of the Supreme Court as NEXT TO GOD IN THEIR JUDGEMENT AND THEY WILL GIVE JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE OF KOGI STATE

Join us at the Supreme Court as we uphold the principles of democracy, Your presence will not only inspire us but also send a powerful message of unity and determination to all.

Let us march forward together, with heads held high, as we seek justice and fairness for all.

Murtala Yakubu Ajaka
2023 Kogi State
Governorship Candidate
Social Democratic Party
23/08/2024

20/08/2024

18/07/2024

Alleged N80.2Bn Fraud: Court Crashes Yahaya Bello’s Moves against Arraignment
***Asks LPDC to Investigate Bello’s Lawyers for Professional Misconduct

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 turned down an application by a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello seeking a stay of proceedings and stalling of his arraignment in the alleged N80.2billion money laundering charge instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Also, the court has asked the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, to investigate Bello’s counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN and Adeola Adedipe, SAN, for professional misconduct for reneging on their undertakings to produce the former governor for arraignment.

The court had on June 27, 2024 slated Wednesday for ruling on an application by the EFCC’s lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro , SAN, praying the court to hold Mohammed and Adedipe for contempt of court At the resumed session of the court on Wednesday, Mohammed tried frantically to persuade the court to allow stay of proceedings arguing that appeals have been entered at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

Both prosecution and defence counsels held the court in fiery arguments over the ruling. Pinheiro submitted that Bello’s lawyers were only trying to “arrest” the ruling meant for Wednesday on their failed undertakings to produce their client for arraignment. He cited several authorities to establish the fact that since the matter brought before the appellate court had not been determined, the trial court should not halt proceedings on the matter before it.

Ruling on the EFCC’s application to hold Mohammed and Adedipe for contempt of the court in view of their failure to honour the undertakings they made to produce the former governor for arraignment, Justice Nwite asked the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC to investigate the two senior lawyers for professional misconduct. He stressed that Bello’s lawyers failed to bring their client for arraignment against their assurances and undertakings before the court.

“Ordinarily, I would have taken this matter headon, but I would prefer to refer the matter to the Legal Practitioner’s Disciplinary Committee to propose necessary recommendation and necessary sanctions against the counsels”, he said.

The judge also initially refused to grant the application of withdrawal of services to Bello by Adedipe. However, after passionate appeals by Pinheiro, he granted it but directed Adedipe to make a formal application before the court to that effect.
Meanwhile, Abdulwahab said he would try to bring Bello to court on the next adjourned date, though without taking any undertaking to that effect. Pinhero informed the court that the prosecution on its part would make the necessary arrangement to bring the former governor to court as the EFCC was making efforts to liaise with other sister security agencies to “extract the defendant from the Kogi State Government house where he is hibernating”.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter till September 25, 2024 for arraignment.

Bello is facing prosecution alongside his nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88k( Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty-Nine Naira and Eighty- eight Kobo) only.

Econimic and Financial Crimes Commission - DEMO Site

18/07/2024

Senate Moves to Establish Independent Electoral Commission for Local Governments

In a significant development, the Senate has introduced a new bill aimed at establishing a Local Government Electoral Commission. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, seeks to create a federal agency responsible for conducting local government elections.

The "Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024" marks a crucial step towards ensuring the autonomy of local government elections and enhancing the democratic process at the grassroots level.

This move follows the recent granting of financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria, and is seen as a major milestone in the country's democratic journey. If passed, the bill will provide a legal framework for the conduct of free, fair, and credible local government elections, and pave the way for a more robust and inclusive democratic process in Nigeria.