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​Lawyers debunk corruption allegations against Senator Akpabio

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Some human right lawyers have said there was no truth in the allegation that the former Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West, Senator Godswill Akpabio, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as presently there is no case against the Senator.
 
They said it was mischief and a campaign of calumny by political opponents of the Senator to claim the politician defected to escape probe by the anti-graft agency, saying nothing could be further from the truth.
 
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the lawyers led by Barrister Leo Ekpenyong revealed that their law firm was briefed by clients who made allegations about N100 billion alleged graft in Akwa Ibom State for which petitions were sent to EFCC.
 
According to him, “the law firm deemed it necessary in the interest of justice to withdraw the petitions when in the course of our interactions with the EFCC, we called the attention of the sponsors and instigators of the petitions to substantiate their allegations and they were not able to substantiate same. The law says he who asserts must prove.
 
“We felt that as a law firm, we owed the country a duty to propagate and also seek the truth and defend same when the need arises. It was on that note that the firm having discovered that the petitions were fuelled and instigated by disgruntled politicians in Akwa Ibom State decided to withdraw the petitions, and EFCC may have established same. So as it is, Senator Akpabio does not have any case with the EFCC,” he said.
 
Since Senator Akpabio defected to the APC there have been allegations that he did so to avoid prosecution by the anti-graft agency, assertions the lawyers faulted as the handiwork of political opponents and mischief-makers.

Also speaking, Barr. Eyo Ekong said it was wrong to play politics with legal issues of which clarifications have been made.

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JUST IN: EFCC Boss, Olukoyede Faces Contempt Charge, May Be Jailed Over Yahaya Bello’s Case

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Kogi AG Vs. AGF: Supreme Court cautions against continued harassment of Kogi officials

 

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A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.

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The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

 

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Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

 

EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action,  pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

 

Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court

for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

 

Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

 

Delivering his order on the motion on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil said, “The applicant’s application before me is to the effect that the Respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this Court on the 9th of February, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive motion on Notice before this Court.

 

“That the said act was carried out by the Respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same acts of the Respondent amounts to acts of contempt.

 

“That the Respondent should be summoned to appear before this Court to answer to the contempt charge.

 

“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem”. To wit:

 

“An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why order of committal should not be made against the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

“An order for service of Form 49-Notice to show why order of committal should not be made on the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at EFCC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 301/302, Research and Institution District, Abuja.

 

“This matter is adjourned to the 13th of May, 2024 for the Respondent’s Chairman to appear before this Court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him.”

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Impeach Ododo for aiding the criminal, Yahaya Bello – Prophet Ikuru explodes

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By Collins Nkwocha

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The Yahaya Bello,EFCC Saga has continued to trend as the former Kogi state governor has refused to surrender himself to the commission.

The prophetic hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos has blasted the current Kogi state governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo for aiding his predecessor,yaya Bello to  to escape and evade arrest.He said  “Ododo should be impeached for aiding a criminal and obstructing justice, he’s the brain behind the escape of Bello,the  house of Assembly should impeach him so that it can serve as a lesson to other governors,how can you aid a criminal against the state,it is a very serious issue”.

He maintained that Yaya Bello was vicious and wicked as a governor,he denied a lot of pensioners of their money and a lot of them died in the process.He maintained that Bello doesn’t deserve any mercy because he was merciless.He withdrew $720k to be for his child’s school fees in advance and didn’t have conscience to give the pensioners their little money after spending years in service.

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You’re wicked,$720k for school fees in advance,”U dey take Kogi people play football” -prophet Ikuru

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By Collins Nkwocha

The prophetic Hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos has reiterated that the former governor of Kogi state, Yaya Bello is a heartless, callous and wicked criminal that shouldn’t be allowed to go unpunished.

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This is coming after the latest revelation that Bello withdrew $720k from the state funds to pay for his child’s school fees in advance by the EFCC chairman.

The handsome prophet who was visibly annoyed with the revelation by the EFCC boss said ” yaya Bello don pocket Kogi people so Tay e dey take them play football, this is wickedness,you have embezzled to the level that you don’t even know what else to use to embezzle anymore that you had to withdrew $720k for your child’s school fees in advance,you should be ashamed of yourself”.

He praised the EFCC chairman for doing a good job and helping the nation to recover her looted resources.He praised the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for helping the nation in the fight against corruption.

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