President Bola Tinubu has asked the national assembly to increase the proposed 2025 budget to N54.2 trillion.

Tinubu had asked the national assembly to approve N49.7 trillion for the fiscal year initially when he appeared before the lawmakers to present the proposal in December 2024. The budget will now see an increase by N4.5 trillion.

The president’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the red chamber on Wednesday.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2025-02-05

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties.

Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, stated that bail is granted at the court’s discretion while delivering the ruling.

He said, “I have listened to the application from both counsels. First off, bail is at the discretion of the court, whether the bail is opposed or supported. Ordinarily, based on the antecedents of this case, particularly the conduct exhibited by the defendant, I would have reconsidered the application made by the learned senior counsel for the defendant. However, based on the detour exhibited by the learned senior counsel for the defendant, J.B. Daudu (SAN), which was reciprocated by the learned senior counsel for the prosecution, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), I am inclined to depart from our earlier position on this matter.

“In view of the foregoing, I am prepared to grant the application made by both counsel. I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the following terms: One—bail is granted to the defendant in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in the like sum. The two sureties shall own landed property within the jurisdiction of this court, Abuja.

“The two sureties shall swear to an affidavit of means, and the documents of the property shall be verified by the chief deputy registrar of this honourable court. The defendant shall deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant and the sureties shall each deposit two recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of this honourable court. The defendant shall be released upon the perfection of the bail terms. The case is adjourned to February 24, 28, and March 6 and 7, 2025, for trial.”

Bello faces a 19-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), relating to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds totalling ₦80.2 billion.

Upon the resumed hearing, the EFCC counsel, Pinheiro, informed the court of the prosecution’s intention to withdraw a previous application for an abridgement of the arraignment date. He stated that the application had been overtaken by events. The defendant’s counsel, led by Daudu, did not object, and Justice Nwite accordingly granted the request, striking the application out.

Following this, the 19 counts were read to Bello, to which he pleaded not guilty.

After taking his plea, the defendant’s lawyer apologised for the earlier actions and requested bail pending the hearing and determination of the charges.

He assured the court that his client would attend all trial dates, stating that Bello, a two-term governor who had travelled abroad only twice, posed no flight risk.

He said, “My Lord, I apologise for any impression that may have been created that the defendant did not wish to appear before your lordship for his arraignment. What he did, which is not uncommon in law, was to direct his counsel to challenge the court’s jurisdiction, which took them to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and back here.

“My Lord, it was not willful disrespect. He acted with the belief that he was defending himself as best as possible. He holds this court in high esteem, and we all do. This episode could have been avoided, but it has passed, and things are clearer now. We mean no harm to this court.

“Secondly, my Lord, and I say this with every sense of responsibility, having regard to the positions I have held in this profession, the governor, as a two-term governor of Kogi State, who travelled abroad only twice during his eight years, will appear on all trial days. I give my word that he will not jump bail.”

Pinheiro, on his part, told the court that he would not object to the bail request, despite having earlier filed a counter.

He stated, “I have great respect for my learned counsel, who was a past president of the NBA. I confirm we have been discussing how to ease the pressure on your lordship.
My Lord, we are prosecutors, not persecutors, and the EFCC is a prosecutorial commission, not a prosecutorial commission.

“We accept the assurances of the eminent counsel that the defendant will be available for trial, subject to your lordship’s terms.”

Recall that Bello is also facing a separate ₦110.4 billion charge before Justice MaryAnne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Justice Anenih had earlier ordered Bello’s remand in Kuje correctional facility pending the hearing and determination of his bail application after rejecting the application for procedural irregularities in its filing.

Meanwhile, Justice Nwite has also ordered Bello’s remand in Kuje prison pending the perfection of the bail terms granted.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-12-13

After evading arrest for several months,the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is currently in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission again over alleged misappropriation of funds.Ijebu Nation understands that operatives of the commission are currently grilling the former Kogi governor.

While there are reports that the anti-graft agency arrested him, some others are saying he drove to the EFCC office with his lawyers.

At the last hearing on November 14, the EFCC had sought for adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello, saying that the 30 days window was still running for the summons earlier issued.

In April, the EFCC had declared Bello wanted after he reportedly shunned a series of invitations and resisted arrest.

EFCC officials had stormed Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him, but there was a stalemate.

After hours of being unable to secure their mission, the security operatives reinforced with backup support from the Police and Department of State Services (DSS).

They were planning to forcefully arrest Bello when Governor Usman Ododo, Bello’s successor, arrived at the scene.

Ododo, who drove into Bello’s compound, departed after a while.

However, as he was leaving, reports filtered in that Bello was in his vehicle, forcing security operatives who had been on standby for hours to open fire.

Since that incident which happened on April 17, 2024, Bello had not been sighted in public.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-11-26

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he sustains himself financially through rental income from one of his houses, emphasising that he did not corruptly enrich himself while in office.

Speaking in Hausa during an All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Katsina State, ahead of the local government elections, Buhari reflected on the complexities of governing Nigeria and called on leaders to prioritize transparency and accountability.

“After my eight years as a civil president, I have only three houses; one in Daura and two in Kaduna. I have given one out for renting where I get money for feeding,” he added.

The former president stressed his commitment to leaving office without accusations of corruption. “Nobody can accuse me of illicit enrichment. I have nothing to hide,” he said.

Buhari, who expressed relief after leaving office, noted that he now appears healthier than he did during his presidency.

“I look much better and healthier now than when I was the president of the country. Anybody that sees me now acknowledges that I look better than before.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2025-01-28

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, congratulated President-elect John Mahama on his victory in the December 7 general election in Ghana.

This came after his rival, the country’s vice president and ruling party candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday.

Bawumia said he conceded defeat before the official results to ease tensions after reported fights in several local constituencies.

Although the Electoral Commission has yet to announce the results, Bawumia’s ruling National Democratic Congress said its internal review showed Mahama leading with 56.3 per cent of the vote against its 41.3 per cent.

A statement signed on Sunday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said, “In a telephone call to Mahama, President Tinubu hoped that Mahama’s ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States, of which President Tinubu is the chairman.”

The statement was titled, ‘Ghana: President Tinubu congratulates President-Elect John Mahama in a telephone call.’

President Tinubu commended the people of Ghana for their commitment to democracy, which was demonstrated through the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

“He applauded Ghanaians for demonstrating again to the world that democracy is the preferred path to achieving political stability, economic development, social justice, and transparent governance in Africa.

“He affirmed that Nigeria’s and the region’s belief in the principles of the people’s right to choose their leaders freely will remain a source of pride.

“The Nigerian leader applauded the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, for conceding defeat before the official announcement by Ghana’s Electoral Commission,” Onanuga revealed.

President Tinubu said Bawumia’s stance reinforced Ghana’s democratic ethos.

He noted that President-elect Mahama’s return to Jubilee House, having served as President from 2012 to 2017, reflects the Ghanaian people’s trust in his stewardship and vision to take the country to greater heights.

Mahama served as Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, a member of parliament from 1997 to 2009, and held deputy and ministerial roles between 1998 and 2001.

Tinubu said he looked forward to working with President Mahama’s incoming administration to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors and build a brighter future in the West Africa region.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-12-09

The lingering war between Russia and Ukraine,has taken a more dangerous dimension,just as Russia said that Ukraine’s use of long-range ATACMS missiles against its territory marked a “new phase of the Western war” against Moscow. As Kremlin is planning to react “accordingly”,tongue of war pundits are wagging about possible escalations,that may leader to a World.

Ukraine used the US-made missiles to target a military facility in Russia’s Bryansk border region overnight, Moscow said on Tuesday, just days after Washington gave the green light for Kyiv to use the long-range weapons against Russian targets.

The reported use of the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, opening the door to a potential nuclear response by Moscow to even a conventional attack by any nation supported by a nuclear power.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said Ukraine had struck Russia’s Bryansk region with six missiles, and that air defence systems intercepted five and damaged one.

“This is, of course, a signal that they want to escalate,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a Group of 20 (G20) news conference in Brazil, said of the attack.

“We will be taking this as a qualitatively new phase of the Western war against Russia. And we will react accordingly,” he added, accusing Washington of helping Kyiv operate the missiles.

Russia has long asserted that the ATACMS is programmed by United States specialists and requires guidance from US satellites.

Also on Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was working with all partners to win their support for longer-range strikes.

When asked about the attack in the Russian Bryansk region, Zelenskyy said Kyiv now had US-ATACMS systems as well as its own long-range capabilities, and would use all of them.

Ukraine’s military did not publicly specify what weapons it had used, but a Ukrainian official source and a US official, both speaking anonymously, told the Reuters news agency that it has used the ATACMS.

New nuclear doctrine  

Lavrov also urged the West to read a decree signed by Putin that lowers the threshold for when Moscow can use nuclear weapons.

“I hope that they will read this doctrine … in its entirety,” Lavrov said.

Russia had been warning the West for months that if Washington allowed Ukraine to fire US, British and French missiles deep into Russia, Moscow would consider those NATO members to be directly involved in the war in Ukraine.

Washington permitted Ukraine to use the longer-range weapons on targets inside Russia after declaring that thousands of North Korean soldiers were deployed in the Russian region of Kursk to fight an incursion by Kyiv’s forces.

The updated Russian nuclear doctrine, establishing a framework for conditions under which Putin could order a strike from the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal, was approved by him on Tuesday, according to a published decree.

While the doctrine envisions a possible nuclear response by Russia to such a conventional strike, it is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons and keep Putin’s options open.

 The approval of the document demonstrates Putin’s readiness to tap his nuclear arsenal to force the West to back down as Moscow presses a slow-moving offensive in Ukraine as the war reaches its 1,000th day.

Asked on Tuesday if a Ukrainian attack with longer-range US missiles could potentially trigger a nuclear response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered affirmatively, saying the doctrine provides scope for such a response to a conventional strike that threatens the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Russia and its ally, Belarus.

The previous doctrine, contained in a 2020 decree, said Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatened the existence of the state.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday that the US was not surprised by Russia lowering its threshold for a nuclear strike and does not plan to adjust its own nuclear posture in response.

“I’m unfortunately not surprised by the comments the Kremlin has made around the publication of this new, revised document,” Miller said, adding that since the war began, Russia has sought to “coerce and intimidate both Ukraine and other countries around the world through irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behaviour”.

He added that Washington has not seen any reason “to adjust our own nuclear posture, but we will continue to call on Russia to stop bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric”.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell accused Russia of issuing “completely irresponsible” nuclear threats.

“It is not the first time that Putin plays the nuclear gamble,” the outgoing EU foreign policy chief told reporters following defence ministers’ talks in Brussels on Tuesday, saying “any call for nuclear warfare is an irresponsibility”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also denounced the revised nuclear doctrine as the “latest example of irresponsibility” from “the depraved Russian government”, according to spokesperson Camilla Marshall.

“Russia’s the one that continues to escalate this war, and the use of North Korean troops is just one example of that,” Marshall said. “[Putin] could remove his troops, roll back his tanks and end the onslaught and needless bloodshed in both Ukraine and Russia.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-11-21

South Korean investigators have arrested South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol over accusations of insurrection for briefly imposing martial law in a move swiftly overturned by the country’s National Assembly.

“The Joint Investigation Headquarters executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol today [January 15] at 10:33 am [01:30 GMT],” the authorities said in a statement on Wednesday, making Yoon the first South Korean president to be arrested while still in office.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the deputy chief of Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), Lee Jae-seung, led questioning of Yoon inside an interrogation room, with Yoon’s legal representatives present. The CIO said Yoon would be held at Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, following questioning, the Reuters news agency reported.

In a prerecorded video message released after his arrest, Yoon said he had made the decision to submit to questioning over his failed martial law bid to avert “bloodshed”.

“I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office,” Yoon said, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying “to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed”.

South Korean investigators and police used ladders to climb into Yoon’s residential compound earlier in the day after they were initially blocked by the Presidential Security Service, which barricaded the entrance using vehicles, according to reports.

Thousands of people, including supporters, had gathered outside Yoon’s home, while a group of lawmakers from the governing conservative People Power Party and Yoon’s lawyers had also attempted to prevent the arrest inside the presidential compound, the reports said.

Authorities now have 48 hours to question Yoon, after which they must seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him.

Investigators began questioning the suspended president shortly after his arrest, but they said he had exercised “his right to remain silent”. He also withheld permission for the interview to be filmed.

The CIO, which has a questionnaire of over 200 pages prepared for Yoon, told reporters it had no information on why he was refusing to talk.

The standoff at Yoon’s presidential residence came just hours after he failed to appear for the first hearing in his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3.

Patrick Fok, reporting for Al Jazeera from Seoul, said an estimated 1,000 police officers were involved in the arrest operation at the president’s residence.

“The corruption investigation office can hold him for a maximum of 48 hours. They then need to decide, at that point, whether or not to apply for a warrant to detain the president,” Fok said.

“It is not clear whether or not that will be necessary, but of course, it has been very difficult to get to this point,” he said.

Yoon was not present at the opening of his impeachment trial on Tuesday and South Korea’s Constitutional Court had said that they needed him to be present, Fok said.

“Now that he has been arrested, perhaps he will show up in court tomorrow,” he added.

The operation on Wednesday was the second attempt by investigators to arrest Yoon. An earlier failed attempt ended after an hours-long standoff between authorities and Yoon’s security team inside the presidential compound at the beginning of January.

Since then, Yoon had remained inside his hillside villa in Seoul for weeks in an effort to evade arrest. He also failed to show up for his impeachment trial on Tuesday morning, leading to the hearings being adjourned minutes after they had begun.

The impeached president’s lawyers had said their client would not attend the impeachment hearing as he would be prevented from expressing his position freely due to ongoing attempts to detain him by authorities.

The hearing is being held after South Korea’s National Assembly voted on December 14 to impeach Yoon over his imposition of martial law in a surprise late-night address on December 3, 2024.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2025-01-15

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday reserved ruling in the bail application of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello till December 10.

The court ordered the remand of the former governor and his two co-defendants in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello is standing trial over an alleged N110 billion fraud, which the anti-graft agency, described in its charge as a breach of trust.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-11-28

Ogun politician and governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has been released from the custody of the Department of State Services.

The secret police had on Monday evening arrested and detained Adebutu over alleged disturbances during the local government elections held on November 16, 2024, in which the All Progressives Congress won all seats.

Adebutu on Tuesday, confirmed his release in a statement he signed.

He described the allegations as baseless and the arrest as an attempt to silence him.

“At about 7am, Tuesday, 19th November 2024, I was released by the Department of State Services in Abeokuta following an invitation to answer to various spurious accusations all arising from the November 16 local government election in Ogun State.

“Very sadly, the allegations were so baseless that it became clear that their purpose was to silence me as a voice of the opposition. My contention that those elections were not free and fair is my fundamental right to free speech and free thought.

“My thinking that the local government should have financial autonomy that can only be enforced by free and fair elections is germane to our development. Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shares the same view as mine which shows it is not a partisan position but a nationalistic one.

“However, because of the particular situation of Ogun State over the last five years which I shall publish shortly, desperation has set in to emasculate the third tier of government completely, this is the struggle for our development”, Adebutu said.

The PDP chieftain, however, commended the DSS for being professional in their engagement with him, saying, “I seize this opportunity to appreciate our institutions as they gradually continue to grow, I must say I am pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and fairness the Department of State Services has treated this matter to date, particularly, during my stay in their office.”

He also hailed the judiciary for the forthright judgment delivered by the state high court on Friday, 15th November 2024 in a suit marked AB/784/2024, which was filed for the purpose of excluding the PDP from participating in the local government elections.

Adebutu said, “I thank all stakeholders, well-wishers and for that matter, non-well-wishers because together, we must move the narration forward and arrive at good governance.”

The government had in a statement accused Adebutu of using illegal policemen to perpetrate violence during the election at Iperu.

These police officers were alleged to have shot at the newly elected Vice Chairman of the Ikenne Local Government, Mohammed Efuwape and another voter simply identified as Biola.

Adebutu, during a press briefing on Monday, however, accused Governor Abiodun of using both the military and the police as well as armed hoodlums to unleash terror on the opposition members during the elections.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-11-20

The National Leadership of the Labour Party has disassociated itself from a self styled group called the Interim Executive Committee (IEC) which has been attempting to hijack the leadership of the Labour Party in Ogun state.

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, revealed that the only legally recognised Executive of the Labour Party in Ogun state is the Engr Lookman Abiodun Jagun led Caretaker Committee which was constituted by the National Executive Committee (NEC), the highest organ of the party.

The statement further states that the Interim Executive Committee is an aberration and it is unknown to both the constitution of the Labour Party and the National Leadership of the party. The members of the self styled IEC are usurpers attempting to hijack the structure of the party for their own selfish benefits.

The Labour Party has a structure and a valid constitution that governs its operations and all members are expected to abide by the Party's constitution. The party does not permits or encourages members to arrogate powers and functions to themselves, without recourse to the constitution or the National Leadership.

Faithful partymen and women in Ogun state are advised to be wary of the antics and activities of the self styled IEC, as they do not enjoy the support or validation of the National Leadership of the Labour Party.

We also urge every member and intending members to subject themselves to the ongoing e-membership registration and revalidation exercise to be able to participate in the activities of the party, including the congresses that will commence in February 2025 across the nation.

Obiora Ifoh
National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party, Abuja.
26th November, 2024.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2024-11-26