Crime
Alleged N110bn fraud: Former Governor To Appear In Court Today
Bello, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in April over an alleged N110bn fraud, was finally grilled after all efforts to have him arrested and stand trial proved abortive.
Since filing the charges against the former Kogi governor, the commission has not been able to bring him to court for arraignment.
The commission had initially filed 19 charges against Bello, along with his nephews Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman and Abdulsalam Hudu for money laundering offences amounting to over N80bn.
But the charges were reduced to 16 on September 25, with the total sum allegedly laundered rising to over N110bn.
He, alongside other defendants, was alleged to have bought a total of 12 houses in various locations in Abuja with the money.
The offences, the EFCC said, were contrary to Section 311 of Penal Code Law Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963 and Punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.
To stop his arraignment, Bello had filed an application before Justice Emeka Nwite, which the judge rejected on July 17.
Displeased with the ruling, Bello approached the Court of Appeal but was overruled.
A three-member panel led by Hamma Barka on August 20 dismissed the appeals filed by Bello and ordered him to surrender himself for trial.
He was also unsuccessful with his move for the transfer of his trial from the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to the Lokoja division.
Also, efforts by the commission to arrest Bello were allegedly prevented by his successor, Usman Ododo.
In April, Ododo reportedly facilitated Bello’s escape from EFCC operatives during a raid on his residence in Abuja.
In April, the EFCC had declared Bello wanted after he reportedly shunned a series of invitations and resisted arrest.
EFCC officials had stormed Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him, but there was a stalemate.
After hours of being unable to secure their mission, the security operatives reinforced with backup support from the Police and Department of State Services.
They were planning to forcefully arrest Bello when Governor Ododo, Bello’s successor, arrived at the scene.
Ododo, who drove into Bello’s compound, departed after a while.
However, as he was leaving, reports filtered in that Bello was in his vehicle, forcing security operatives, who had been on standby for hours, to allegedly open fire.
Also, in September, Bello reportedly evaded arrest by the anti-graft agency with the assistance of his successor, Ododo.
The September incident was after Bello and Ododo went to the EFCC headquarters.
While the media team of the former Kogi State governor insisted that he was at the facility of the EFCC, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, insisted that Bello remained wanted.
But Bello’s team, led by its Director, Ohiare Michael, said Bello was at the EFCC office alongside his successor, Usman Ododo, but was not interrogated by the commission and was told he could leave.
“In the statement, we reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority and stressed that all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights to ensure due process,” the statement partly read.
At the last hearing on November 14, the EFCC had sought for adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello, saying that the 30 days window was still running for the summons earlier issued.
Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had issued a public summons on October 3, requiring the former governor to appear before the court to face a fresh 16-count charge brought against him and two others by the EFCC.
In the case marked FCT/HC/CR/778/24, the former governor was accused of criminal breach of trust involving the sum of N110,446,470,089, among other charges, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu.
Bello was ordered to appear before the court on October 24, but he failed to. The court subsequently extended the summons to November 14.
At the last adjourned date in the matter before Justice Anenih, Bello was given till November 27 or would be arraigned in absentia.
The court issued a public summon for Bello to appear before it to answer the 16 new charges pending against him.
Justice Anenih issued the summons after the EFCC filed an application claiming inability to serve Bello with the charge filed on September 24.
EFCC counsel Jamiu Agoro informed the court that the 30-day duration of the public summons issued against the former governor would lapse on November 17. He clarified that the summons was still valid.
Agoro argued that it would be inappropriate to take the plea of the defendants while the summons remained in effect. He added that the former governor was expected to appear at the next adjourned date, failing which the prosecution would take appropriate action.
Agoro also requested the court to extend the time within which Bello must appear and to issue an order for the hearing notice to be pasted at his last known address, Number 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
Justice Anenih subsequently adjourned the case to November 27 (today).
On Tuesday, multiple EFCC sources told The PUNCH that Bello had been arrested by the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
One of the sources, a top EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the issue, said the Chief Security Officer of the commission arrested Bello.
“He was arrested by our CSO. He was taken in around 12:59 pm. He later brought three of his lawyers,” the source said.
The source added that Bello was interrogated by investigators on the allegations against him for hours.
“He is being held at our detention facility after he was interrogated over the allegations against him for hours. The interrogation will still continue.”
Meanwhile, The PUNCH learnt that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the EFCC would arraign the former Kogi governor on Wednesday (today).
By Our Correspondent
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around Umunoha in Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Nadada arrived in the state alongside two Commissioners of Police and immediately conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.
He also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and available assets, while issuing additional directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response.
The assessment was conducted alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command.
Iniedu said the search-and-rescue operation had been intensified, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to identified areas.
He added that the operation was being supported by intelligence-led tracking of the abductors and coordinated efforts with other security agencies.
Nadada assured members of the public that the police remained committed to securing the safe release of the abducted persons.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.
The police boss urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while appealing to anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
He assured the public that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The police said further updates would be provided as the rescue operation progresses.
Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”
The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.
The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.
Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.
Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.
The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.
There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.
The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.
The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.
The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.
According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.
Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.
“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.
He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.
Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.
The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.
He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.
The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.
A newly married couple, Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, have been abducted along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, a border route linking Kwara and Kogi states.
The couple were reportedly returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku on Saturday evening when armed men intercepted their vehicle and abducted them alongside four other passengers.
According to sources, the vehicle was initially expected to take the Isanlu Road. However, the driver reportedly chose an alternative route to drop off the best man and other members of the group at Iyamoye in Kogi State.
The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by armed men along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, leading to the abduction of all the occupants.
A photograph of the newly abducted couple has since emerged following the incident, while details about the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unclear.
Confirming the incident on Sunday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said soldiers had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes and rescue the victims while also pursuing the suspected kidnappers.
Ojo disclosed that the vehicle used by the victims was later found abandoned at a former police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State.
He added that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were working jointly on the rescue operation because the incident occurred around the border communities of the three states.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the identities of the suspected abductors or whether any contact has been established with the victims.
At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen reportedly ambushed them at a mining site in Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to community sources, the miners were carrying out their legitimate activities when they came under attack. The incident has plunged the community into mourning and renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the area.
Confirming the attack, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people lost their lives while two others sustained injuries.
“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent similar incidents.
A community member, Simon Mundat, also described the attack as devastating and appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area.
“We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,” he said.
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