DAILYUPDATES

By Odimayo O.F  The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf has congratulated Nigerians through the people of the State on the occasion of the nation's attainment of independence from British Colonial Rule. This is contained in a press statement signed and made available to the media by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed.  The Speaker particularly congratulated the people of the state for their gallant roles in the march to self government for the country which was realised in 1960, and urged them to continue to sustain their belief in the country and the state to be better.  Even as there are many challenges confronting the country, Rt Hon Umar stressed the need for citizens to be patient and appealed for continued belief in the ability of the current administration to make Nigeria better. He said government at all levels are working round the clock to ensure they address the socioeconomic and political issues confronting N...

The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf has congratulated Nigerians through the people of the State on the occasion of the nation's attainment of independence from British Colonial Rule. This is contained in a press statement signed and made available to the media by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Yabagi Mohammed.  The Speaker particularly congratulated the people of the state for their gallant roles in the march to self government for the country which was realised in 1960, and urged them to continue to sustain their belief in the country and the state to be better.  Even as there are many challenges confronting the country, Rt Hon Umar stressed the need for citizens to be patient and appealed for continued belief in the ability of the current administration to make Nigeria better. He said government at all levels are working round the clock to ensure they address the socioeconomic and political issues confronting Nigeria an...

A group, Egbira Frontline Youth Council has passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede. In press statement titled "Is Yahaya Bello a victim of ethnic minority" issued to newsmen on Monday, spokeperson of the group Comrade Adeiza Hamza disclosed that they have absolutely lost confidence in EFCC for their unprofessionalism, lawlessness, media trial, selective justice, and the opening of fire at the official residence of a democratically elected Governor, the ethnic bias and victimization and other violations of the rule of law. Hamza called on President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to call the EFCC to order and their co travelers that are hell bent to disgrace, victimize  and allegedly eliminate Yahaya Bello considering the lawless action that played out on Wednesday night 18th September 2024 at Kogi State Governor’s Lodge. According to the statement, "We are notifying the Federal Government, Kogi Stat...

Rt. Hon. Prince Mathew Kolawole, is The immediate past Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly. In this interview he speaks on wide range of National issues regarding the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the face-off between Former Gov Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. Assessing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration in the last one year? The APC government has come to stay to the best of my knowledge. I also strongly believe that we are in a trying moment as far as the nation's economy and Nigerians are concern. In actual sense, President Tinubu needs more time to settle down fully because of the rot in the system from where we as a nation are coming from. It will take awhile for us as a nation to come out of our challenges. The ongoing reforms maybe biting hard, but it is a process to take us to our dream land. In the last one year we have been going through a lot in this country. We have been goi...

By Odimayo O.F An indigene of Kogi State Miss Hassana Ozohu Salisu has won the 2024 Miss Nollywood international beauty pageant. In a dazzling display of beauty, talent, and empowerment, Miss Salisu was crowned champion after competing against a formidable pool of 18 contestants from across Nigeria. She emerged victorious as the reigning queen, securing her place among the top nine contestants, five finalists, and four runners-up, with one crown one winner  Salisu, a vibrant representative of the beautiful people of Kogi State, traveled from Abuja to Bayelsa to compete in this prestigious pageant. Born on November 24, 1998, she is currently an undergraduate at Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic and is making significant strides in her academic and professional endeavors.  Her qualifications include a certificate from the Chartered Institute of Procurement Studies (2021-2023) and a diploma in Filmmaking from Mina Film Academy.  Additionally, she recently completed a certification ...

By Engr Ira Habib Nigerian politics is a perfect example of the saying, "the more you see, the less you understand." It's confusing, unpredictable, and filled with unimaginable situations. It's like a pregnancy where even a scan cannot predict the child in the womb. Take, for instance, the case of Former Gov Yahaya Bello (FGYB) and Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai in their dealings with President Tinubu today. Some believe that the current issues between FGYB and the administration under President Tinubu are either due to corruption, which President Tinubu wants to eradicate, or because FGYB contested against him in the primary elections, as many claim. Truthfully, you cannot dismiss those who say FGYB is facing these challenges because he didn't step down for Tinubu during the primaries. If you look around today, none of the contestants who ran against Tinubu is in the party's spotlight except those who stepped down for him. But what about Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, who p...

By Chetam Nwokike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared all doubts in the case of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state. It’s a case of persecution, certainly not prosecution. The event of September 18, 2024 has finally removed the last veil that masked the mischief of Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the EFCC in his crusade of calumny against a man he has several times pronounced guilty as charged when he is not a court of law. EFCC and Bello had been engaged in a ding-dong over allegations of fraud against the former Kogi governor. On this count, the anti-graft agency declared Bello wanted after several failed attempts to arrest him gestapo-style in the full glare of the media which the EFCC invited to witness the arrest. It bears restating that the EFCC had been rabidly crass in its attempts to prosecute Bello, who it must be stressed, no longer enjoys any form of immunity from prosecution. Bello and his lawyers know this and have never hidden th...

 By Odimayo O.F Efekpe Football Club has won the sixth edition of Umar empowerment foundation unity cup 2024. They defeated their opponent Idrisu Football Club on Saturday via a penalty shootout in Abejukolo, headquarter of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State. The competition which attracted dignitaries from all works of life was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly Hon. Umar Yahaya. Speaking at the event, the highly elated lawmaker thanked his constituents for their support, promising to do more for his people. The lawmaker, who through his recent motion at the floor of the hallow chamber facilitated the rehabilitation Abejukolo township road noted that he remains committed to developing the grassroots through sports and youth empowerment. "I want to use this opportunity to thank the good people of Omala Constituency for giving me the opportunity to serve them at the Kogi state House of Assembly. I promise never...

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has commiserated with the government and people of Akwa Ibom State over the demise of the wife of the Governor, Mrs Patience Umo Eno who died on Thursday. In a condolence message to the government and people of Akwa Ibom State, which was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor Ismaila Isah,  Ododo expressed shock over the death of the Akwa Ibom first lady whom he noted has played a pivotal role in helping Governor Umo Eno to steady the ship of state in more than one year since the Governor assumed office. The Kogi State Governor described Mrs Patience Umo Eno as a supporting wife, mother and grandmother whose pet projects have touched the lives of several women and vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom state. Governor Ododo prayed for the  peaceful repose of the soul of the late Mrs Umo Eno and also prayed for God’s comfort for her immediate family and the people of Akwa Ibom State as they grieve over the ...

The Save Nigeria Coalition, a renowned anti-corruption group, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its handling of the prosecution of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.  The group alleged that the EFCC's actions are a "shameful outing" and a "media trial" that suggests a predetermined outcome. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dr. Felicia Eneh Daniel, its Country Director, said the EFCC's failure to detain Bello after he voluntarily presented himself for questioning raises questions about the agency's intentions.  The Save Nigeria Coalition also slammed the EFCC for allegedly writing "barefaced lies" and making "irreconcilable blunders" in its attempt to prosecute Bello. Furthermore, the group questions the EFCC's selective prosecution, citing cases against Senator Danjuma Goje, former governors Abdullahi Garden Grove and Samuel Ortom as well as Senator Godswill Akpabio that have n...

The Kogi State Chapter of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has commended the Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo for demonstrating an all-inclusive Leadership qualities that is uncommon. Kogi State IPAC made the disclosure in a statement signed by Hon. Iliyas Badanga IPAC, State Chairman, described the Governor in Nigeria and his trajectory from day one of his leadership qualities as one enshrined in the totality of humility, humanitarian activities. IPAC lauded the initiative to provide an office accommodation for other political parties as first of its kind in the country, added that his administration's open door policy, has ensured that his numerous approaches to governance are not politicized. The State Chapter of IPAC unequivocally passed a vote of Confidence on the Governor and his team for showing dexterity, doggedness, and forthrightness in handling State matters since his assumption as the Executive Governor of Kogi State. "This development has again confi...

The Director General of the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC), Musa Idris Onogo, Esq., alongside some Law Officers of the Commission recently visited the Nigeria Correctional Service, Okene, Kogi State.  The Director General and his team were received by the Officer in Charge of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Okene, Mr. Bello Tope.  The DG appreciated Mr. Bello for the warm reception. He noted that the Nigeria Correctional Service remained a critical stakeholder in the discharge of the Commission’s mandate.The DG while introducing the Commission said, “we are an agency of government established by the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC) Law, 2018, which has the mandate to among others provide legal aid and other related services to the residents of Kogi State, particularly the less privileged, indigent and vulnerable”.  He added that the Commission provides legal represent...

 ONLY AN UNINFORMED PERSON WOULD CALL FOR BELLO'S ARREST AT THIS TIME' Anti-corruption Civil Society organisations have described as statement credited to one organization, which called itself Human and Environmental Development Agenda, HEDA, calling for the arrest of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, as a " display of egregious ignorance". The Coalition of CSOs, in a statement on Thursday, made available to journalists in Abuja, said, with the current situation of things around the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission-Governor Yahaya Bello saga, only an uninformed person would still be calling for his arrest. The activists said it was a known fact that HEDA had a history of encouraging executive lawlessness and threatened to begin exposing the various alleged misuse of Civil Society Organizations by agents of the Commission to promote actions that are detrimental to the cause of justice and legality. "It is particularly hypocritical for HEDA to de...

The Director General of the Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC), Musa Idris Onogo, Esq., and some Law Officers of the Commission visited the Nigeria Correctional Service, Koton Karfe, Kogi State on Thursday, the 29th August, 2024.  While meeting with Mr. Salisu Musa, the Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Koton Karfe, the Director General, PDCRC said the aim of the visit was to see inmates who lacked legal representation for their inability to engage a private legal practitioner.  “We are here to volunteer our free legal representation and legal aid to all inmates who cannot afford to engage a lawyer” the DG added.  Barr. Onogo noted that, the mandate of PDCRC include the provision of legal aid and other related services to the indigent, vulnerable and disadvantaged residents of Kogi State.  He also said, the Commission is an agency of the State that has the responsibility of promoting and protectin...

A Socio-cultural group, Egbira Voice of Nigeria has accused the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC of embarking on selective Justice against former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello. Addressing a world press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, the Convener, Dr Kenneth Enebe accused the anti graft agency of witch hunting and making a deliberate attempt to eliminate the former Kogi State Governor. The group, who vowed that they won't allow further intimidation, harassment and persecution of former Governor Bello by the EFCC expressed worries that some ethnic bigots are using the commission to work against the constitution of Nigeria. Enebe, while appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order said Yahaya Bello eight years in office witnessed remarkable achievement across the three Senatorial districts of Kogi State.  The statement reads in part "We are constrained to bring to the attention of Your Excellency that the whole dust raised by th...