Kogi

By Anwar Usman

Ibrahim Anate, the acting Executive Secretary, Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids, has declared that no fewer than 50,000 people are currently living with HIV/AIDs in the state.

Anate made this kniwn in an interactive session with journalists during a road Walk in commemoration of the 2024 World AIDS Day in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday.

The walk was organised by the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes, in collaboration with the Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids.

In his speech, Anate said, “About 50,000 people are living with HIV presently out of which 36,066 are presently on treatment in Kogi State.”We are seriously fighting the scourge and we are giving the awareness to all the community and the hard-to-reach areas of the awareness of HIV in Kogi State.”

He further added that the state government, under Alhaji Usman Ododo, is doing its best to see that people who are living with HIV AIDs are on treatment and pregnant women who are HIV positive deliver negative babies.

“The current administration is also striving to ensure that people who are positive in Kogi State will turn to negative. The government is seriously commited to provide support to the Ministry of Health, and KOSACA to see that we take the campaign to the very hard-to-reach community and the community at large in Kogi State,” he added.

However, Anate, appealed to Ododo to sign the Anti Stigma HIV Law, which was recently passed by the state House of Assembly.

“When the governor ascents to this law, people that are HIV positive can have the confidence to declare their status. Many can’t do this because of the stigmatization in the society”, he added.

On his part, the Kogi State Technical Lead, Centre for Integrated Health Programmes, Inyama Lawrencia, lamented the transmission of HIV AIDs from mother to child in the state.

“We have been advocating for every mother to go for anti-natal services so that they can know their HIV status. With the record on the ground about mother-to-child HIV transmission, CIHP has been working in the communities to sensitise women to ensure that they come out to the masses to know their HIV status.

He noted that “one of the challenges is that due to the economic constraints of the country, Some Women who are supposed to go out to know their status don’t even go because of financial constraints”.

By Uzair Adam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama over an alleged N110 billion fraud.

Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, was arraigned alongside two former state officials, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who are the second and third defendants in the case.

After they pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Maryann Anenih ordered the trio to be remanded in EFCC custody and set December 10 to rule on their bail applications.

The EFCC, represented by a team of lawyers led by Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, opposed their bail, citing Bello’s repeated failure to appear in a separate trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, leading Bello’s legal defense, argued that his client is presumed innocent under the law and requested bail to prepare a proper defense.

He also noted that Bello appeared in court in compliance with a summons served on him late on November 26. Pinheiro countered, arguing that the bail application was premature since it was filed before the defendants were formally arraigned, rendering it “incompetent.”

The EFCC’s charges, marked CR/7781, include conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

The Commission alleged that Bello misused state funds to acquire properties across Abuja, including: No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama (N950 million), no. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II (N100 million) and no. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro (N920 million).

Additional properties listed include locations in Wuse Zone 4 and a luxury apartment in Dubai. The EFCC also accused the defendants of transferring over $1.1 million to TD Bank in the United States and of possessing N677.8 million linked to Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

Meanwhile, Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the last Kogi governorship election, expressed his willingness to provide evidence to the EFCC.

He applauded the agency’s actions and called for a comprehensive investigation into state finances during Bello’s tenure, from January 2016 to January 2024, to ensure justice and accountability.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has shut down an illegal gold mine site in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining and reposition the sector to boost Nigeria’s economy.

The operation was carried out by the Mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA.

The team dislodged illegal miners who had prevented lawfully authorized miners with licenses from accessing the site for 16 years.

Seven suspects leading various groups of illegal miners were arrested during the operation, which was led by Commander Attah Onoja of the Mining Marshals.

The site workers have been given five days to vacate the site, and operations to secure the area and ensure its full recovery for lawful mining activities will continue.

This crackdown comes after the Federal Government announced the arrest of eight Chinese nationals suspected of illegal mining in Abia State on July 12.

 By Uzair Adam Imam 

The embattled immediate past of Governor of Kagi State, Yahya Bello, has said that he did not appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja today because he feared that he could be arrested. 

However, Bello said he is ready to answer to the 19-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him. 

The Daily Reality learned that, although Bello was absent for his arraignment, he briefed a team of lawyers who addressed the court on his behalf on Tuesday. 

Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, who is a member of his legal team, told the court that his client would have made himself available for proceedings, but was afraid that he would be arrested. 

“The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe, SAN, submitted. 

He also urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor. 

Adedipe, SAN, contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law. 

He noted that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant, through his lawyer. 

“As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. That order was just made this morning. 

“A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court,” counsel to the defendant added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Gunmen attacked the secretary of the Kogi State governorship election tribunal on Monday, stealing sensitive petition documents related to the recent election. 

Police confirmed the incident, stating the attackers took petitions filed by five political parties. 

The stolen documents included petitions from the Action Alliance, Action People’s Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, and two record books. 

The attack occurred near the Central Bank of Nigeria office around 1:20 p.m.

The police have launched a thorough investigation and urged the public to refrain from speculative statements that could prejudice the probe. 

Both the Social Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have traded accusations over the attack, raising concerns about the security of election-related materials and potential intimidation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Usman Ododo, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has clinched the coveted Kogi State governorship seat following the conclusion of the election held on November 11, 2023. 

Ododo secured an impressive 446,237 votes, outshining his nearest contender, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who amassed 259,052 votes.

Dino Melaye, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 46,362 votes, trailing behind in the race. 

This declaration comes amidst the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to conduct fresh polls in select polling units within the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area on November 18, 2023.

Professor Johnson Urama, the returning officer for the Kogi State governorship election, officially announced Ododo’s triumph on a Sunday evening, stating, “Ahmed Ododo of APC, having been certified by the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.” 

As the governor-elect, Ododo is now positioned to assume the mantle of leadership in Kogi State, with citizens eagerly anticipating the realization of his outlined plans and vision for the state’s future.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

After months of rigorous campaigns and preparations, Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States are set to elect new governors today.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that 5,169,692 voters collected their permanent voter cards out of the 5,409,438 registered voters across the three states. 

In Bayelsa State, out of the 1,056,862 registered voters, 1,017,613 collected their PVCs, leaving 39,249 PVCs uncollected. Imo State witnessed 2,318,919 collected out of 2,419,922 registered, with 101,003 PVCs still uncollected.

Meanwhile, Kogi State reported 1,833,160 collected PVCs out of 1,932,654 registered, leaving 99,494 uncollected. 

Incumbent governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Hope Uzodimma (Imo) seek re-election, while 18 candidates vie for the Kogi State governorship. 

In Imo State, the APC’s Hope Uzodimma faces stiff competition from 17 candidates, with Samuel Anyanwu (PDP) and Athan Achonu (Labour Party) emerging as top contenders.

In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri (PDP) contends with 15 other candidates, notably Timipre Sylva (APC). 

Kogi State sees a race between APC’s Usman Ododo, PDP’s Dino Melaye, SDP’s Muri Ajaka, and ADC’s Leke Abejide, among others. 

Despite confidence from incumbent governors, opposition candidates in Imo and Bayelsa assert that the current leadership has performed poorly. 

Unfortunately, all three states have witnessed instances of violence resulting in casualties. The police and security agencies assure voters of their safety during the election, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining order and safeguarding the democratic process.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

In a significant development for Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, unveiled ambitious plans during the inauguration of the party’s national campaign council for the upcoming Kogi State governorship election. 

During his address, Ganduje announced the party’s commitment to extending its reach to the grassroots level, stating, “It is pertinent to also note that we have initiated and concluded plans to structure our party into a truly grassroots progressive party by opening full-fledged and functional offices in all the 8,813 wards in Nigeria.”  

This move aims to provide party members across the nation with symbolic representation in their neighbourhoods, fostering active interaction between members and leadership at various government tiers. 

Furthermore, Ganduje emphasised the APC’s vision to institutionalise progressive ideology within Nigeria’s political landscape. 

This ideology centres on leveraging political action and social reform based on advancements in science, technology, economic development, and social organisation to enhance the lives of Nigerians. 

To realise this vision, the APC is in the concluding stages of establishing a “National Institute of Progressive Study.”  

This institution is poised to become a centre for promoting progressive ideas and policies that can positively impact the nation’s development. 

The inauguration ceremony held on Saturday drew substantial attendance, with six governors from Kogi, Ogun, Lagos, Niger, Benue, and Kwara States present, along with former governors, senators, and numerous party stalwarts from across the country.