Connect with us


BIG STORY

Nigeria Not Mature For State Police, Governors Can Be Reckless – Yahaya Bello

Published

on

The executive governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, says Nigeria is not mature enough for state governments to have control of the police.

Bello said governors can be “ruthless and reckless” if given such power.

In recent years, governors and key stakeholders have been at the forefront of the clamor for state policing.

Last year, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the resources expended on security could be used to fund state police.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had also argued that a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria needs a state police to address its security challenges.

At a panel discussion organized by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in March, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, said the police get more funding from states than from the federal government, hence governors should have control over security in their domains.

Reacting to this, Bello said combating insecurity is best done through collaboration between the people, state governments, and federal government.

He noted that Nigeria is not ripe to accord governors the power to control the police.

“The issue of state police, I’m afraid I don’t think I will support it wholeheartedly for now because we have not really matured politically to be able to maintain state police,” he said.

“Some of us can be very reckless or ruthless when it comes to use of state apparatus.

“But support systems and collaborations in the form of intelligence sharing and pointing out loopholes or areas that need improvement will solve the problem.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Yahaya Bello Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged N110bn Fraud Case

Published

on

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his alleged involvement in a N110 billion fraud.

Bello was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The former Kogi governor had been declared wanted by the EFCC in April 2024.

 

More to come…

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Yahaya Bello Arrives FCT High Court For Trial

Published

on

Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, has arrived at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja for his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello is expected to be arraigned over an alleged fraud amounting to N110 billion.

The ex-governor was arrested by EFCC operatives on November 26.

In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after multiple attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful.

In September, Bello responded to the EFCC’s invitation, accompanied by Usman Ododo, the current Kogi governor.

Bello and Ododo were at the EFCC’s Abuja office car park, but Bello was not taken in on that day.

On August 20, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, later alleged that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi’s coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.

The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.

However, the arraignment had been delayed due to the former governor’s absence.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Again, Police Arrest Speed Darlington During Show In Imo State

Published

on

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested Nigerian musician Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

The singer’s counsel and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest in a post on his official X page on Wednesday.

Adeyanju revealed that his client was detained while performing at a show in Owerri, just days after returning to Nigeria earlier in the week.

He wrote, “Our client, Speed Darlington, a.k.a AKPI, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police in Owerri at his show upon return to Nigeria.”

However, the exact reason for the singer’s arrest remains unclear at the time of filing this report.

It is worth noting that the Nigeria Police had previously arrested Darlington over allegations of cyberstalking fellow musician Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy.

Darlington was initially arrested in Lagos, then transferred to Abuja, where he was detained by the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team in the Guzape area of the city.

The musician, who faced accusations of cyberstalking Burna Boy, was later released on bail days after his arrest.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular