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Yahaya Bello innocent until proven guilty by court – EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

The Commission stated that Bello’s trial is still ongoing and that it is the responsibility of the court, not the EFCC, to determine his guilt or innocence.

Speaking on Monday, while appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show, the EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwuajeren, explained that criminal prosecution in Nigeria takes time and involves the presentation of evidence and witnesses before the court.

He said the EFCC is currently prosecuting the case by presenting witnesses and evidence, stressing that the outcome will be decided solely by the court.

Uwuajeren noted that under the Nigerian Constitution, any person standing trial is presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that Bello’s status within his political party has nothing to do with the charges filed against him.

According to him, the EFCC has no interest in party politics and is only focused on faithfully prosecuting the charges before the court.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that justice is served for both the prosecution and the defence, stating that nothing has gone amiss in the handling of the case.

He said: “One thing we need to understand how criminal prosecution works in Nigeria. It takes some time before you prove some of these challenges in court. Like, as I speak to you, the trial is still ongoing before the courts.

“We are presenting witnesses, we have presented evidence. It is not the commission that is going to decide the matter. It’s the court that will decide the matter. All we need to do is to follow the prosecution how is going on in the court, and ensure at the end of the day, both the prosecution and the defense get justice.

“But having said that, Yaya Bello, as we speak, is under trial, but the Constitution presumes that anyone who is under trial to be innocent until that case is proven. So whatever is happening to him within his party, that is the party affairs. It has nothing to do with the EFCC. It has nothing to do with the charge that we are filed before the court.

“So the responsibility that we owe Nigeria is to be faithful to the charges that we have filed against him in the court, and we are prosecuting those charges religiously. Nothing has happened, nothing has gone amiss in terms of that and we are committed to doing that.

“In terms of Yaya Bello, whatever the party does to him, that is the party’s business. EFCC is not a political party. We are not interested in politics. EFCC is a law enforcement organization, and we are enforcing the law, so to speak.”

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Impeachment: I’m not prophet but only fasting, prayers will save Gov Fubara. Tinubu hates ingrates- Fayose

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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has said he is not a prophet, but only fasting and prayers will save the Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers state from the impeachment process initiated against him by the members of the State House of Assembly who are loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Fayose disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, January 9.

While speaking on the feud between Wike and Fubara, Fayose said faulted Governor Fubara for appointing people into his cabinet and spending state funds without recourse and approval of the State Assembly.

“I’m not a prophet, but what is happening in Rivers now, it will take fasting and prayers to save Fubara; it takes the President intervening.

How can he be appointing people in his cabinet and spending money without constitutional backing and approval of the State Assembly?

People are talking about Wike; remove Wike. Can you remove who or what he is? Can’t you see people popping out during his rallies?”Fayose asked

According to Fayose, he had years ago warned Governor Fubara on his inauguration day against betraying Wike.

“During his inauguration, I told Wike that I wanted to tell Fubara one or two things against betraying him, but Wike said I shouldn’t worry, that Fubara will not do it, I told Fubara not to fight that man that he will fight and not stop fighting.”he said

The former Ekiti governor said even President Bola Tinubu hates ingratitude, stating that if not by the grace of God, those whom the President has helped could have abandoned him, giving an instance that if the President did not make Wike FCT Minister, the Minister could have been buried politically.

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Photo of Peter Obi greeting Atiku on bent knees sparks debate

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A photograph of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, exchanging a handshake with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has continued to generate reactions across social media after it was shared online by Atiku himself.

The image, which shows Obi slightly bent while greeting Atiku, has been interpreted by some Nigerians as a sign of submission or deference.

Critics argue that the posture is unbecoming of a politician seeking the highest office in the land, with some describing it as evidence of low self-esteem or political weakness.

Several commentators have further suggested that the image raises questions about Obi’s ability to assert himself politically, especially within the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), where both politicians are members.

However, activist and public commentator, Maduabuchi Idam, has dismissed such interpretations as superficial, urging Nigerians to focus on competence rather than body language.

In a statement made available to journalists, Idam acknowledged that a casual observer could easily draw negative conclusions from the photograph but warned against overreading symbolism into a single moment.

According to him, Obi has consistently projected himself as a calm, disciplined and principled leader, noting that gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness.

“This picture has been trending since it surfaced on the internet today after being posted by Alh. Atiku Abubarkar himself.

“The reason it has enjoyed such attention is not far fetched.

“Mr. Peter Obi had a handshake with Atiku Abubakar almost on his bended kneels. A character only exhibited by sycophants or favour seekers.

“Peter Obi has always presented himself as gentle but firm, calm yet resolute. His disposition has never suggested aggression, and that should not be used to undermine his capacity for leadership,” Idam said.

He added that Nigeria’s political challenges are not the result of a lack of assertive personalities but rather the repeated imposition of unsuitable leaders on the nation.

Idam urged Nigerians to encourage authenticity among political actors instead of rewarding pretence, stressing that leadership should be judged by competence, capacity and integrity rather than optics.

“Nigeria’s problem is not the absence of haughty characters but the habit of forcing square pegs into round holes,” he stated.

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Fubara never invited us for roundtable talk – Rivers Assembly

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Rivers State House of Assembly has denied claims that it turned down several invitations from Governor Siminalayi Fubara for a roundtable talk.

Ekwutosblog reports that following the latest move by the assembly members to impeach the governor and his deputy, stakeholders have questioned why Fubara failed to meet with the lawmakers.

But some loyalists of the governor claimed that the governor had extended several invitations to the lawmakers but to no avail.

Immediate past Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sir Igwu Achese in an interview on Friday claimed that on several occasions, the governor invited the lawmakers for dinner but they declined.

He said, “people keep asking why the governor is not able to call the assembly members for talk, for dinner and the rest of them.

“I will tell you that the governor has invited them not once, not twice to sit down with them on a roundtable but they all denied and refused to honour the invitations”.

However, when contacted by Ekwutosblog  on Saturday, the spokesperson of the assembly, Hon Enemi George denied the claim.

According to him, “no such invitation has ever happened. There was never a time The governor invited us for any discussion”.

Ekwutosblog reports that the assembly, in a post on its official Facebook on Thursday night, announced that it had served Fubara and the deputy governor, Mrs Odu, with the notice of impeacement.

Asked what is the next step after serving the notice, Enemi simply told Ekwutosblog  that “when we get there, we will know.

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