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Alleged N80bn fraud: Court grants Yahaya Bello N500m bail

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Nwite ruled on Bello’s bail application on Friday.

The judge said the two sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must be owners of properties in Abuja.

He said the sureties must tender the title documents of the properties, which must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The judge also ordered that the ex-governor must deposit his international passport with the court, while he and his two sureties are also to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.

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The judge ordered that Bello be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Justice Nwite’s ruling followed Bello’s non-guilty plea to the 18-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The 18-count charge borders on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2 billion.

When the case was called for hearing on Friday, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro SAN informed the court of the prosecution’s intention to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date fixed for arraignment.

He said the application had been overtaken by events.

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The defendant’s counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN raised no objections and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request.

Meanwhile, the court fixed February 24 and 28, 2025, for the commencement of full hearing.

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CAF Awards: Super Eagles, Falcons nominated for National Team of the Year

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The Super Eagles and the Super Falcons have been nominated for the 2024 CAF Men’s and Women’s National Team of the Year.

African champions Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and Bafana Bafana of South Africa are nominated for Men’s National Team of the Year, while Banyana Banyana of South Africa and Atlas Lionesses of Morocco are in the running for Women’s National Team of the Year.

The Super Eagles came second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The West Africans lost 2-1 against the hosts in the final.

The Super Falcons were eliminated at the group stage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

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Transfer: PSG to bid for Osimhen in January

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Osimhen

Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain are still interested in Victor Osimhen.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Old Lady will bid for the Nigeria international next month.

Osimhen is presently on loan with Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray.

The striker’s release clause is €75 million, allowing him to join another team in January.

PSG were linked with a bid for the 25-year-old this summer.

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Osimhen is now recovering from a muscular injury.

He has scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 13 appearances across all competitions for Galatasaray.

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Tinubu’s Tax Reform bills not withdrawn, Senate can’t be intimidated – Akpabio

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Akpabio

The Nigerian Senate has dismissed reports of its plenary on Wednesday that Tax Reform Bills have been suspended, saying that the bills are alive and in progress.

Akpabio said the Tax Reform bills have not been withdrawn by the Senate because it’s an executive bill.

He spoke against the backdrop of a point of order raised by the Senate leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi that the proceedings of the Chamber were misreported particularly on the controversial Tax Reform Bills.

Expressing his discontent over reports in the media, he said: “I watched Arise television news and what was reported was that this hallowed chamber had suspended further consideration of the tax reform bills before the Senate.

“The reporter even invited the governor of Nasarawa State and pointedly told the governor that now that the Senate had withdrawn, he used the word withdrawn.”

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Opeyemi said the report suggested that Senators were confused and the only option was the suspension of the Bills. Quoting the conversation between the reporter and the Governor of Nasarawa State, he said: “Arise news described them as pony drums suggesting that they were confusing. They were problematic. What would you say Mr governor? Are you happy that these bills have been withdrawn, the governor said I am not just happy.”

Opeyemi said, Senators do not move from one television station to another trying to correct misinformation but could only deliberate on issues on the floor of the Senate, urging the Senate to be clear on the Tax Reform Bill now that the public has been misinformed.

“They understand the legislative process that we have to follow. They understand our role in the Constitution. Any attempt from any quarter, to intimidate the Parliament, will be undemocratic, and will not allow ourselves to be distracted.

“But we will encourage consensus. We will encourage discussions and engagement at all levels. But we will not, we cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure.

“As far as we are concerned, the tax reform bills are alive in this hallowed chamber, they are receiving consideration at various levels and we are open to discussions to negotiations to interface.

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“Let it not be said anywhere that we suspended further consideration of these bills and also it will be laughable for anybody to also think or say or report that the bills were withdrawn.

“Like I said there are executive bills that can only be withdrawn by the executive and there’s no reason to do so because these bills we believe are in overriding public interest.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that across geopolitical interests I mean political parties, across religious interests, everybody that has concern, civil society everybody that has concern is given a chance to contribute to the passage of these laws.”

Reacting, the Senate President thanked the Committee Chairman, Senator Abba Moro for having commenced sitting as soon as the Committee was announced yesterday.

“And I want to almost thank the senior senator, Abba Moro, the chairman of the committee, because as soon as that announcement was made yesterday, immediately started consultation.

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“In fact, he has a meeting today that he has set up to enable him to abstract the process so that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and members of the committee can commence public hearings either next week or as soon as practicable.

“Therefore, your point of order clearly demonstrates that this is a very important issue.

“And the item to be explained is that the bills are live, have not been suspended, the actions have not been suspended, the bills have not been withdrawn and the bills have passed second reading in the Senate and further legislative actions are taking place. All those points are hereby sustained.”

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