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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.

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Tupac’s killer found guilty after 30 years

Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty in Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder after trial testimony also raised an alleged payment involving Diddy. A Las Vegas jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, delivering the first conviction in one of hip-hop’s most notorious unsolved cases, nearly 30 years after the shooting.

Jurors took less than three hours to reach their verdict following a nearly two-week trial, convicting the 63-year-old former Compton gang leader of murder with a deadly weapon, with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Davis was not accused of pulling the trigger himself.

Prosecutors argued he was the “shot caller” who handed the murder weapon to the gunman, believed to be his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, seeking revenge after Shakur’s entourage assaulted Anderson earlier that night. Under Nevada law, someone who facilitates a murder can be convicted of the crime itself.

Beyond the verdict, testimony during the trial surfaced a detail that has drawn far less attention than the conviction itself: an alleged connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to testimony reported by Rolling Stone, Combs allegedly arranged for money to be passed to Davis through an intermediary named Zip Martin, reportedly intended as payment tied to the killing.

The arrangement reportedly fell apart when Martin, in poor health at the time, never followed through on meeting Davis as investigators had hoped. Combs, now serving a 50-month sentence following his 2025 conviction on prostitution-related transportation charges, has consistently denied any involvement in Shakur’s death, and no charges have been filed against him in connection with this testimony.

Prosecutors built much of their case on Davis’s own past statements, including admissions made in police interviews and details from a memoir he authored, in which he described handing his nephew the gun used in the shooting.

Davis did not testify in his own defence. His attorney, Michael Sanft, argued throughout the trial that Davis fabricated or exaggerated his account for money and notoriety, telling jurors that investigators failed to independently verify his claims.

Judge Carli Kierny ordered Davis held without bail ahead of sentencing, scheduled for October 13, where he faces a possible life sentence without parole. After the verdict was read, Davis calmly asked the court for his personal belongings, including his phone and laptop, and indicated he intends to appeal the conviction.

The verdict lands just two weeks before the anniversary of Shakur’s death on September 13, giving his family a name and now a conviction attached to the killing they’ve waited nearly three decades for.

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Nathaniel Bassey shocked after Pastor Jerry Eze surprises him with birthday car

Gospel singer and minister Nathaniel Bassey has expressed shock after pastor Jerry Eze surprised him with a car as a birthday gift. Nathaniel Bassey shared a video of the moment he received the car, with the singer repeatedly asking who had sent him the gift.

Accompanying the video was a heartfelt message in which Bassey described himself as speechless after the surprise. Bassey revealed that although he usually keeps gestures like this private, he decided to share the surprise with his followers.

He explained that Pastor Jerry had secretly worked with his wife to get the car for him without his knowledge.

“Normally I keep things like this private, but not this one. I want to share this.
Woke up yesterday just desiring a nice, easy day of gratitude to God. Unknown to me, my brother and friend @realjerryeze had this holy coup ongoing with my wife.


In truth, the surpriser had been surprised. Still don’t know how to really express this in words.
He insisted on going for the very best when my wife suggested one to get. In his words, “My brother can’t drive that”

The gospel minister also revealed that Pastor Jerry plans to make similar gestures for other people.

“Pastor Jerry, not only has he done this for me. I know of a couple of other ones like this He is currently planning. The man gives like his life depends on it.
And I’m here to publicly say THANK YOU, PJ (pastor Jerry) – You know, even if you never do this, I’d still love you the same.
Thank you, Sir. Like I told you, I am speechless.”

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Reconciliation with ex-husband Churchill helped women restore broken relationships-Tonto Dikeh

Actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed how her reconciliation with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, inspired her to help at least 10 women restore broken relationships with the fathers of their children. Dikeh shared this while urging single mothers to let go of hurt and embrace forgiveness for their own peace and healing.

According to the actress, her reconciliation with Churchill prompted several women in similar situations to reach out to her for guidance on how she overcame the pain of their decade-long dispute.

Ever since my reconciliation with my ex-husband, hundreds of women have reached out asking the same question: How did you learn to forgive?

While I couldn’t reply to everyone, I reached out to those whose pain mirrored my own. Today, to the glory of God, at least 10 women have been reconciled, restoring peace, healing hearts, and stepping into healthy co-parenting. God has truly turned my personal story into a tool for restoration.

If you are carrying bitterness today, please hear this: Forgiveness is never for the person who hurt you; it is for you. It is the key to moving your life forward. God will not inflict pain on others just because we are hurting,” she explained

Dikeh added that women who struggle with broken relationships should trust God rather than remain trapped in bitterness.

“True closure doesn’t come from people; it comes from God. He promises to restore the years that the cankerworm has eaten. Not just days or weeks, but years. Every tear you’ve shed and every year spent in pain will be turned into a powerful testimony.”

Dikeh’s message comes months after she announced the end of her long-running feud with Churchill, the father of her son, King Andre.

The former couple got married in 2015, but their marriage collapsed less than two years later. Their separation became a highly publicised dispute, with both parties involved in several accusations and public exchanges. Their disagreements also extended to issues around their son, with custody and co-parenting becoming part of the conflict. After years of hostility, Dikeh announced in January 2026 that she and Churchill had reconciled.

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