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Insecurity: Rights Lawyer Drags Buhari, Makinde To Court Over Armed Herders In Oyo
Published
3 years agoon
By
EditorFemi Aborisade, a lawyer, has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, over alleged killings and abductions in Ibarapa local government area of the state.
The suit, with number FHC/IB/CS/17/2, was filed on Wednesday on behalf of the applicant by Falana and Falana Chambers at the federal high court in Ibadan.
Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, and Ngozi Onadeko, Oyo police commissioner, were also listed as respondents in the suit.
The applicant made a declaration that every person resident or working in Ibarapa central, Ibarapa east, Ibarapa north, including Igangan, Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki east and Saki west local areas (LGAs) of Oyo state is entitled to the fundamental right to life guaranteed by the constitution.
READ ALSO: sunda[BREAKING] PHOTO: Tension, Sunday Igboho’s House Razed In Ibadan
The applicant sought “an order directing the respondents to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected armed herders, suspected armed robbers and suspected kidnappers who commit criminal trespass, rape, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal offences in Ibarapa central, Ibarapa east, Ibarapa north, including Igangan, Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki east and Saki west LGAs of Oyo state”.
The suit further sought “an order directing the respondents to adopt adequate measures to ensure the protection of the life and property of every person” in the areas.
The lawyer also asked the court to direct the respondents “to establish conflict resolution committees among the various communities” in the affected areas listed in the suit.
Aborisade, in a separate affidavit, said he and the residents of the communities have been subjected to untold violent attacks by armed kidnappers and bandits consistently, particularly in the last three years.
READ ALSO: Quit Notice: Sunday Igboho, Supporters Hit Igangan Town
As a result of the violent attacks, he said several people have been killed, while many others have been shot by the assailants.
“Owing to several violent attacks by armed kidnappers and bandits, I have not been able to visit members of my family living in Itasa in Iwajowa LGA for the past one year.
“Scores of women and girls have been abducted and raped by the armed gangs and bandits in the aforementioned LGAs making up Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun geographical areas of Oyo state.
“The police stations in the said LGAs of Oyo state have failed or refused to arrest and prosecute the members of the armed gangs terrorising law abiding persons.”
READ ALSO: Igboho Reacts To His House Burnt, Says Yoruba Were Behind It
Recall there has been crisis in Ibarapa area of Oyo in the past weeks, following an ultimatum given to herders of Fulani extraction by Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Igboho.
Igboho had accused the herders of being behind killings and kidnapping in the area.
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How Yahaya Bello Moved $720,000 From State Coffers To Pay Child’s School Fees — EFCC
Published
1 hour agoon
April 24, 2024By
EditorFresh revelations have emerged on the probe of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the anti-graft commission says the embattled ex-governor withdrew $720,000 from the state’s accounts to pay his child’s school fees in advance just before he left office on January 27, 2024.
EFCC chief Ola Olukoyede made this known in a chat with journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja on Tuesday.
Olukoyede alleged that Bello moved the money from the state coffers to a Bureau de Change operator, and used the money for his child’s school fee in advance.
He said, “A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to Bureau de Change (and) used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance.
“Over $720,000 or thereabout, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House. In a poor state like Kogi? And you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life? Used by who?
“I didn’t initiate the case; I inherit the case, I called for the case file and I said there are issues here.”
READ ALSO: BREAKING: EFCC Chair Vows To Follow Yahaya Bello’s Prosecution To Conclusion
The EFCC chair sworn to follow the prosecution of the ex-governor to logical conclusion, saying that he will resign as EFCC chairman if Bello is not prosecuted.
He also vowed that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to book.
The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion.
He said that no matter what anyone does or the amount of attack against the anti-graft agency, he and his men will not relent in helping to sanitise the country.
Bello was the governor of the North Central state from January 27, 2016 to January 27, 2024 when he handed over to his fellow partyman in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Orders EFCC To Serve Yahaya Bello N80bn Fraud Charges Through His Lawyer
On April 17, 2024, armed EFCC operatives laid siege to Bello’s Abuja residence to arrest him but Ododo arrived at the house and allegedly whisked away his predecessor.
The EFCC subsequently declared Bello wanted, warning that obstruction to its operations won’t be tolerated, a moved backed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who advised Bello to turn himself in.
Legal Fireworks
Meanwhile, the EFCC has served a copy of the charge sheet of alleged fraud to the tune of N80bn against the immediate past governor on his lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohamed.
This followed a Tuesday order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja after Bello’s absence in court.
He was absent from court for his arraignment on a 19-count charge of alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80bn.
The judge relied on section 384 (4 and 5) of the Administrative and Criminal Justice Act 2015, directing the counsel to the immediate past governor to receive a copy of the charge.
READ ALSO: Why Yahaya Bello Was Absent In Court — Lawyer
The court held that where it had become impossible to effect personal service of a legal process on a defendant, such could be done through substituted means.
Justice Nwite further held that it was clear that the former governor failed to appear in court for his arraignment.
Although Bello’s lawyer, Mohammed, initially declined to accept the charges and proof of evidence, he was compelled to do so by Justice Nwite.
The judge rejected the plea by the senior lawyer that a junior lawyer in his team, AI Musa, be the one to accept the charges on behalf of the former governor.
A member of the legal team for Bello, Adedayo Adedipe, told the court that his client would have made himself available, but was afraid of lack of fair hearing and justice.
He added that Bello was ready to appear before the court to answer the 19-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC.
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Adedipe urged the court, to set aside the ex-parte order of arrest it had earlier issued against the former governor, saying that at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client.
Illegal Organisation?
Bello had argued that the EFCC was an illegal organisation. According to him, the Federal Government did not consult the 36 states of the federation before enacting the EFCC Act through the National Assembly. He added that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly to ratify the act before it could become operative.
Counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Phinheiro, however, urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting that the warrant of arrest should not be set aside until the defendant makes himself available for trial.
He argued that Bello did not have the legal ground to file numerous applications while in hiding.
Justice Nwite had last week issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application to that effect by EFCC.
The EFCC subsequently declared the former governor wanted for his persistent absence in court and for evading the criminal charges against him.
Source: Channels TV
Act through the National Assembly. He added that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly to ratify the act before it could become operative.
Counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Phinheiro, however, urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting that the warrant of arrest should not be set aside until the defendant makes himself available for trial.
He argued that Bello did not have the legal ground to file numerous applications while in hiding.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: EFCC Chair Vows To Follow Yahaya Bello’s Prosecution To Conclusion
The senior lawyer added that the applications he was filing, were tactics intended to delay his arraignment, as the main issue was to determine his whereabouts.
He adds that if Bello wanted the order of his arrest to be discharged, he should come before the court and make the application.
Justice Nwite then ordered that the charge sheet of the N84bn fraud allegation against Bello be served on his lawyer.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Court Orders EFCC To Serve Yahaya Bello N80bn Fraud Charges Through His Lawyer
The EFCC added that it would not execute the arrest warrant until the counsel to Bello undertakes to ensure his presence at the next adjourned date.
Justice Nwite had last week issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application to that effect by EFCC.
The EFCC subsequently declared the former governor wanted for his persistent absence in court, and for evading the criminal charges against him.
News
Nollywood Actress, Kate Henshaw Calls For Establishment Of More PHCs In Bauchi
Published
12 hours agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorNigerian Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has called for the establishment of more Primary Healthcare Centres in Bauchi state to enhance immunization exercise in the state.
The UNICEF ambassador made the call in Bauchi on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on her field trip with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office to observe immunization exercises in Bauchi state.
Kate Henshaw, who was very impressed with the turnout of women for the vaccine in the state, commended UNICEF and the Bauchi state government for their commitment to fight malnutrition and improve the health status of mothers and children in the state.
READ ALSO: Adolescent Girls Face Risks Of Sexual Violence – UNICEF
The 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award winner said “there is the need for the establishment of more Primary Healthcare Centres because I could guess that maybe the distance that the women have to travel in order to get care or to take their children could be a barrier.
“Also, I observed that the mode of transportation is motorcycles and I wouldn’t feel too comfortable carrying my baby on a bike going all the way.
“So, there has to be a better incentive which is bringing the care to them closer. Even if you will have to bring skilled workers to them at home but also make sure that they come to the hospital to deliver
“Bring it closer to them so that they don’t have an excuse not to bring their child either for nutritional stuff or immunization.
READ ALSO:UNICEF Urges women To Shun Home Child Delivery
“More of the community health centres and primary healthcare centres closer to the people is important”.
Also, Dr Rane Tushar, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi commended the medical practitioners in the state for amplifying its intervention and sought for more collaboration.
He urged them to keep sensitizing mothers through their reportage, the importance of immunization both the routine and the periodical on their children.
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