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Former Character Commission Officer, Kolo Haruna, Admits Taking Bribes, Remitting Proceeds To Agency Chairman

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Former Federal Character Commission (FCC) employee Haruna Kolo claims that job applicants paid millions of naira into his personal accounts, for him to take to Muheeba Dankaka, the agency’s chairman.

Kolo said on Monday while testifying before the house of representatives’ special committee looking into allegations of hiring rackets in federal ministries, departments, and agencies.

Kolo claimed Dankaka appointed him as her chief protocol officer while he was employed at the FCC. Dankaka is now with the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), according to Kolo.

He told the panel that he was never involved in selling job offers, adding that he only acted on the instructions of Dankaka.

“The money is always sent to my account which I subsequently cashed to remit in cash,” Kolo said.

“My going to AMCON was her personal favour to me and others that left FCC at the time.

However, Dankaka denied the allegation, noting that it was a conspiracy between Kolo and the other commissioners of the commission to tarnish her image.

Subsequently, Dankaka brought out a copy of the Holy Qur’an to swear that she never collected money from Kolo as proceeds of job racketeering.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the panel, said the committee is in possession of evidence that Kolo had N38.5 million in his account, which he withdrew from point of sale (POS) terminals.

He said the sum of N75 million was in Kolo’s bank accounts as proceeds of job racketeering.

“Kolo was serving as a front for collecting money for job recruitments in the commission as against the service, financial regulation and the extant law,” Gagdi said.

“This committee will have to be judicial in nature. We knew why we asked Kolo to give us evidence. We must come out straight; we aren’t even talking about racketeering in other MDAs.

“Kolo you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested. As a civil servant, you are not supposed to have such a huge amount in your account.”

BIG STORY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello, Other’s Bail Ruling To December 10

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to December 10 for a ruling on the bail application by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others.

Bello had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The former governor, along with Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh N110bn 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Bello, the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryanne Anenih as they were read out to them.

After taking their plea, the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, moved an application for bail.

However, the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.

Clarifying the issue, the Defendant’s Counsel stated that the only relevant application before the Court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22.

Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.

Justice Anenih ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

The EFCC had filed an N110bn alleged fraud suit against the former governor.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Amid Alleged N110bn Fraud Case

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has remanded Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was arraigned on a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering on Wednesday.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

First Phase Of 10,800-Bed Hostel In LASU Ready — Tokunbo Wahab

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The first phase of a 10,800-bed hostel project at the Lagos State University (LASU) is now ready for inauguration, according to Tokunbo Wahab, former special adviser to the governor on education.

Wahab, who is now commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, describes the project as ambitious and transformative.

“ It remains one of the most ambitious and transformative projects undertaken during my time as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education,” he wrote on X.

“It was executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement which involves seven reputable investors.”

Wahab commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, for his leadership and continuous support.

“Proud of the work done here and to have been a part of this special one,” he added.

“Through the grace of God and the unwavering support and the dedication of the Lagos State Office of Public-Private Partnerships, the relentless efforts of the management staff of LASU, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the cooperation of other key stakeholders, the first phase of this landmark project has now been completed.”

Wahab emphasized that the project showcases the state government’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships to address critical infrastructure needs in the education sector.

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