Nigeria Times

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello’s recent visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters has sparked controversy. While Bello’s media team claims he voluntarily visited the EFCC to clear his name of corruption allegations, the anti-graft agency denies this and insists he remains a wanted person.

According to a statement from the Director of Yahaya Bello’s Media Office, Ohiare Michael, the former governor honored the EFCC’s invitation following consultations with his legal team and political allies. Michael emphasized that Bello, respecting the rule of law, was determined to clear his name.

However, the EFCC contradicted this, with its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, asserting that Bello was neither in the agency’s custody nor had he been interrogated. The EFCC reiterated that Bello remains wanted on charges of money laundering amounting to over N80 billion, with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.

Bello’s team maintains that he was not interrogated and left the EFCC office, accompanied by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo. The EFCC has charged Bello and three others with 19 counts of money laundering.

The conflicting accounts raise questions about the former governor’s legal standing and the next steps in the case.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to reintroduce the controversial Cybersecurity Levy on electronic transactions, as part of its Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for 2024-2025. The levy, initially introduced in May 2024, faced backlash due to the financial burden it placed on Nigerians.

In the revised guidelines, the CBN has significantly reduced the levy from 0.5% to 0.005%. The levy is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity infrastructure, in line with the amended Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2024.

Banks and other financial institutions are expected to deduct the levy from all electronic transactions. While the CBN has not yet set a date for the reintroduction of the charge, this policy comes after its suspension earlier this year, following public outcry and an order from President Bola Tinubu for a review.

The initial announcement of the levy in May sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians lamenting the additional financial strain amidst ongoing economic challenges.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 23, 2024, to deliver its judgment on a suit challenging Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje’s position as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Originally set for judgment on September 18, the ruling was postponed as the court was not ready. The new date was communicated to the parties involved.

The North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, filed the suit, arguing that Ganduje’s appointment violates the party’s constitution as he is from Kano State in the North West, not the North Central zone. They claim that this appointment breaches Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution.

The plaintiffs seek an order barring Ganduje from continuing as APC chairman and preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any actions taken by the APC since his appointment in August 2023.

The EFCC seems to be walking a fine line with the handling of Yahaya Bello’s case. Offering him the option to be interrogated privately in the EFCC office, rather than with the presence of the media, is clearly a strategic move to reduce the political optics of the situation. However, Bello’s insistence on being questioned in his village suggests he’s either trying to maintain a narrative of victimization or hoping to avoid any scenario that might further implicate him in the alleged misconduct.

The specific mention of $720,000 being funneled through a bureau de change for personal reasons, such as paying school fees, raises serious questions about misuse of public funds. Whether the EFCC will pursue these allegations with the required level of professionalism remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the political and public perception will play a major role in how this unfolds.

Bello’s media team, as expected, continues to push back, invoking his rights as a citizen, which points to the possibility that this case could escalate further, possibly into a public showdown between both parties. The EFCC’s silence at this stage is interesting; their response, or lack thereof, will likely shape the direction of this narrative.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assigned 6,433 operatives to ensure the security of the Edo Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday. NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, confirmed the deployment, quoting Commandant General (CG) Dr. Ahmed Audi. Audi urged the personnel to remain neutral and professional during their duties, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials.

The deployed officers, drawn from special forces, intelligence units, and anti-vandal squads, will work with other security agencies to maintain peace. Audi also advised citizens to avoid violence and electoral malpractice.

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has revealed that both the state and federal governments are fully aware of the identities and locations of the bandits responsible for terrorizing communities in Zamfara and other northern regions. Despite this, no decisive action has been taken to apprehend or eliminate them.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Governor Lawal expressed confusion over the bandits’ motives, noting that unlike Niger Delta militants or Boko Haram, these criminals seem to lack a clear ideological or economic agenda. He questioned why innocent farming communities are being targeted by individuals who live among them.

The governor emphasized the need for stronger action from the federal government and security agencies, stating that while military and police forces are doing their best, more must be done to address the escalating violence. Lawal also highlighted the frustration of knowing the bandits’ whereabouts but being unable to act, calling it “the million-dollar question.”

Despite the challenges, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the state’s citizens and working with federal security forces to resolve the ongoing crisis.