News

The EFCC Files Fresh Charges Against Yahaya Bello

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new charges against Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, alleging fraud to the tune of N110.4 billion, Daily Trust reports.

The 16-count charge, filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, names Bello as the sole defendant, along with two Kogi state government officials, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Oricha.

This development comes amid charges of money laundering against Bello to the tune of N80.2 billion. The EFCC’s counsel, including Kemi Pinheiro and Rotimi Oyedepo, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and seven other lawyers, filed the charges on behalf of the Federal Government.

“That you, YAHAYA ADOZA BELLO, UMAR SHUAIBU ORICHA and ABDULSALAMI HUDU sometime in 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdictions of this Honourable Court agreed amongst yourselves to cause to be done an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the total sum N110,446,470,089.00 entrusted to you,” the charge sheet obtained by Daily Trust partly reads.

Meanwhile, lead prosecution counsel in Bello’s trial, Kemi Pinheiro, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja that the recent appearance of Bello at the parking lots of the EFCC was out of place as both the trial court and Court of Appeal clearly ordered him to present himself for arraignment in the N80.2billion money laundering charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

Pinheiro said, “There is nowhere my Lordship or the Court of Appeal ordered that Yahaya Bello present himself at the EFCC car park, but rather to appear before my Lordship for arraignment. What is even more worrisome and disconcerting is that the defendant went to the EFCC car park holding the hands of a person with immunity who came with all the full security of his office.

The implication, my Lord, is if there was an attempt to get him from the person of immunity, there would be an invitation to anarchy. The invitation by the EFCC later in the day for Yahaya Bello to come alone, not with a person with immunity, security persons, and other people was resisted again on their own admission.”

Speaking further, Pinheiro pointed out, “My Lord, we wrote a letter to the defendant’s lawyers drawing our colleagues’ attention that arraignment is not conducted in EFCC’s car park, but the defendant should be in court today according to the judgment of the Court of Appeal and this honorable court’s ruling.”

Pinheiro also urged the judge to demonstrate his might and exercise his power to show Bello’s counsel, A.M Agboyi, that the “court is not a vaudeville for entertainment but for serious business”.

The EFCC lawyer said, “This court is not a vaudeville, a vaudeville is a place of diverse entertainment. I want to borrow the words of Justice Uwaifo that no party should make a court a place of entertainment. The court must resist it. It is a place of solemn business.”

He specifically sought the order of the court for Agboyi to be sanctioned and referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for turning the court to a vaudeville.

He said, “My Lord, it is against this backdrop that I will make this assertion that my learned friend wants to turn this place to an entertainment place or a casino.

“I want the court to use its power against him because his senior advocates have left and they pushed him so that it will serve as a lesson to others.”

He also sought leave of the court to proceed to the trial of Bello in absentia.

Meanwhile, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), counsel for Adeola Adedipe (SAN), craved the indulgence of the court to exercise its discretion not to charge Adedipe for contempt.

“Our application is filed on the 18th of July 2024, it is supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the applicant Mr. Adeola Adedipe. That affidavit has an exhibit marked A, and in compliance with my Lord is a written address.

“We are urging my Lord to exercise his discretion, we are on bended knees begging you to exercise your discretion and grant the prayers that are contained in the affidavit,” he said.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Nwite stressed that “the matter is slated for arraignment, and it seems it has gone back to square one. It’s been over five months now and I don’t know how the case is going.

“With the submission made by counsels this morning, it’s quite unfortunate, but I have to reserve my comments, I have to reserve judgment on the submission of these counsels.”

He adjourned the matter for arraignment and ruling until October 30, 2024.

In the matter, the EFCC is prosecuting Bello on 18 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.

News

Ex-AGF Malami, who is on trial for ₦8.7 billion fraud, emerges ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi state

Former AGF Abubakar Malami emerges as ADC governorship candidate in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 election amid ongoing controversy over alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud claims.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general election, despite ongoing corruption allegations linked to an alleged ₦8.7 billion fraud case.

Malami, who recently dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress, was affirmed as the party’s consensus candidate during consultations held by ADC stakeholders in Kebbi State.

The development was announced in a statement released on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka.

In the statement, Malami expressed appreciation to party leaders and supporters for backing his ambition ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

I sincerely appreciate the confidence and support shown by leaders, stakeholders, and supporters of the African Democratic Congress in Kebbi State ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Malami said.

The former AGF also confirmed that the party agreed on candidates for key elective positions in the state through consensus arrangements.

According to the statement, “ADC Governorship Candidate for Kebbi State — Dr Abubakar Malami SAN,” while retired Major General Aminu Bande emerged as the party’s senatorial candidate for Kebbi Central.

The party also picked retired Deputy Comptroller General Ibrahim Muhammad Mera for Kebbi North Senatorial District and Garba Danjuma Limi for Kebbi South.

Malami said the ADC was focused on delivering “purposeful leadership, good governance, justice, security, and sustainable development for Kebbi State and Nigeria as a whole.”

He further stated that “together, with unity and determination, we shall build a more prosperous future for generations to come.”

News

Governor Alex Otti unveils ₦1.3bn water projects in Abia

Abia State Governor Alex Otti flags off ₦1.3 billion Ubakala and Ariaria water scheme rehabilitation projects to improve access to clean water across Abia. Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially flagged off the rehabilitation of the Ubakala Water Scheme and Ariaria Water Scheme in Aba, projects valued at ₦1.3 billion, as part of activities marking his administration’s third anniversary in office.

Speaking during the ceremony held at Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area on Sunday, Otti said the projects are aimed at improving access to clean and safe water across Abia State, stressing that potable water remains one of the most important needs of the people.

The governor appreciated humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps for supporting the state government on the projects, noting that the intervention would make a major impact on residents once completed.

I want to thank them for this support and their resilience. N1.3 Billion is a lot of money and we cannot take it for granted. As we flag it off, we will assume that we have flagged-off the two projects. So, when we return here again, it will be for commissioning the water scheme,” Otti said.

He explained that both the Ubakala and Ariaria water schemes would be completed and commissioned together, adding that his administration considers water supply a top priority because of its direct connection to public health and economic development.

“Water is so critical to life and a lot of people have passed on because of unsafe water.”

“That is why this government has taken it as a critical project, one of her critical projects, to ensure that we have potable water across the State,” the governor added.

Otti also revealed that the Aba Regional Water Project has already reached about 95 per cent completion, another indication of the government’s push to revive water infrastructure in the commercial city.

The Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, said the projects are part of the broader Abia Integrated WASH Accelerated Programme earlier launched by the governor to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services across the state.

According to him, the projects had faced repeated delays in the past due to security and funding issues.

“This is the third time that the flag-off of these projects has been planned.

“The first time, we had a date, the financier was on their way to this place, and along Anambra, they were kidnapped. As you know, this project was initially financed by USAID through the Mercy Corps. The second one was in January last year.

Business

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower with $18.5bn

Nigeria remains the World Bank’s third-largest borrower, with $18.5bn in debt exposure, as fresh data show the country’s reliance on concessional loans continues to rise amid economic reforms and infrastructure funding needs.

Nigeria has remained the third-largest borrower from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with the country’s debt exposure now standing at $18.5 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Fresh figures contained in the IDA’s March 2026 financial statements showed that Nigeria’s exposure dropped slightly from the $18.7 billion recorded in December 2025, representing a decline of about $200 million within three months.

Even with the slight quarterly drop, Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank has continued to rise on a yearly basis. The latest figure is about $1.2 billion higher than the $17.3 billion exposure recorded in March 2025, showing a 6.9 per cent increase over one year.

The new ranking places Nigeria behind Bangladesh and Pakistan among countries with the highest borrowing from the World Bank’s concessional lending arm. According to the report, Bangladesh remained the largest borrower with $22.7 billion exposure, while Pakistan followed with $19.2 billion. Nigeria came third with $18.5 billion.

Nigeria alone accounts for around eight per cent of the institution’s total loan portfolio and roughly 13.3 per cent of the combined exposure of the IDA’s ten largest borrowers.

The report further showed that the 10 largest borrowing countries account for about 60 per cent of the World Bank’s concessional lending exposure globally.

Nigeria’s rising exposure highlights the country’s growing dependence on multilateral financing to support infrastructure projects, social programmes, economic reforms and budget support amid ongoing fiscal pressures.

The Federal Government is also in talks with the World Bank for another fresh loan facility valued at $1.25 billion. If approved, total World Bank loan approvals secured by Nigeria since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 could rise to around $10.6 billion.