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Anambra Mourns Prince Momoh, Hon Okpalaeke

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The government and people if Anambra State, have expressed condolence at the deaths of two prominent individuals; ex-Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh and a former lawmaker, Hon Simon Uzama Okpalaeke.

The government conveyed its heartfelt condolences through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba.

The statement reads:

The Anambra State Government has noted with sadness the passage of the erstwhile Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, and a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, The Honorable Simon Uzama Okpalaeke.

Prince Momoh was not just a former minister and one of Nigeria’s greatest journalists as well as a leading lawyer, but also a true lover of the people of Anambra State.

When in the late 1980s he set up a committee to fashion out Nigeria’s first information and communication policy, he promptly made a worthy son of our state, Dr Tony Nnaemeka, then the Director of the Institute of Journalism in Lagos, the co-chairman of the committee to lead the work.

There were on the committee such other eminent scholars from Anambra State as Professor Ikechukwu Nwosu, one of the most prolific mass communication writers in Africa. At the end of the day, the committee did a splendid job, further consolidating Dr Nnaemeka’s reputation as arguably Africa’s most rigorous mass communication researcher.

On the two occasions former Vice President Alex Ekwueme made brave attempts at becoming Nigeria’s leader, Prince Momoh was with him every inch of the way. He held the position of Director of Publicity at the Alex Ekwueme Campaign in 1998/9 and 2002/3. He was genuinely convinced, like millions of other Nigerians, that Dr Ekwueme was far more qualified and prepared to take Nigeria in a different and better direction than any other presidential aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

When the PDP betrayed Dr Ekwueme who sacrificed so much to found the party and give it a veneer of national purpose and credibility, Prince Momoh left the party on principle. He joined hands with other prominent Nigerians to establish the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which was to merge with others to form the All Progressives Congress, (APC) today Nigeria’s national ruling party.

It is a measure of his love for the people of Anambra State that though Prince Momoh attended both the University of Nigeria at Nsukka and the University of Lagos at Akoka where he studied mass communication and law, respectively, he identified more with the UNN, which was founded by the Great Zik of Africa, the man who led Nigeria to independence in 1960.

With the death on February 1 of Prince Tony Momoh, the country has lost one of its finest journalists, a philosopher, a highly principled citizen, a most unassuming public officer, a detribalized Nigerian and, of course, a lover of the people of Anambra State.

The Anambra State Government feels no less sense of loss in the death three days ago of The Honorable Simon Uzama Okpalaeke, who represented Ihiala Two in the Anambra State legislature from 2007 to 2011.

Though he was in the House of Assembly for only one term, he made a huge impact on his constituency, especially in the provision of infrastructure.

Even when he ceased to hold a public officer, Chief Okpalaeke, a lawyer, industrialist and knight of the church, continued to play a pivotal role in the affairs of not just in his Azia or Ebonesi community but the whole of Ihiala Local Government Area, one of the largest local government areas in the country. His commitment to peace and harmonious social relations is well recognized. He remains an example that a person need not hold a position to be considered a leader anywhere. Indeed, his death at 64 years of a heart attack is tragic.

The Anambra State Government condoles with the Okpalaeke family of Azia and the people of Ihiala LGA on the passage of this important son. As in the case of Prince Momoh, we pray for the repose of his noble soul.

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N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex- Gov Bello Wanted

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.

This was contained in a press statement made available to news men on Thursday.

The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”

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EFCC Seeks Military’s Help to Arrest Fleeing Ex-Gov Bello

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned to April 23, the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84billion money laundering.

At the sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that Bello was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

Phinro complained that the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity.

Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.

Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.

He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.

He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.

He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.

He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an exparte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor.

The EFCC subsequently warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The Commission’s spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.

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Gunmen Invade Ekiti Secretariat, Days after Oyo Assembly Invasion

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Barely three days after armed Yoruba Nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, gunmen on Tuesday, stormed the Ilejemeje Local Government Area Secretariat in Ẹda-Oniyọ, Ekiti State, causing pandemonium among the workers.

The attackers disrupted normal activities and forced employees to flee the premises for safety.

The hoodlums, who were said to have come from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in the neighbouring Kwara State, violently stormed the secretariat, firing several gunshots, making workers run in different directions for dear lives, and in the ensuing pandemonium, one person was injured.

Reports said the hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat building and other property of the council.

Although the cause of the attack was still sketchy as at the time of filling this report, it was however gathered that the two communities have been embroiled in crisis for some time over land disputes.

During the attack, which lasted for several hours, one person was said to have sustained serious injury and rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Iye-Ekiti.

The hoodlums reportedly heavily armed with dangerous weapons including gun, charms and cutlasses. They invaded the Secretariat at about 10:am.

Speaking on the attack, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo community, Oba Awodipo Awolola, explained that the hoodlums had in few days attacked some residents of the community, with charm in their farmlands, the development which the monarch said had resulted in panic and tension in the community.

The traditional ruler, who lamented the absence of police post in the area, said there is a need for security outfits to mobilise more officer to the community to prevent further breaking of law and orders.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ilejemaje Local Government, Mr. Alaba Dada, said the suspected hoodlums were from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in Kwara State.

He attributed the attacks to the lingering land disputes between the two communities, he explained that though security agents had been mobilised to the town to prevent repraisal attacks.

He said there is need for the Ekiti and Kwara State governments to meet, and settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.

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