Connect with us

News

I Have Delivered On Yahaya Bello Prosecution Promise — EFCC Chairman Olukoyede

Published

on

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has declared that he has fulfilled his 2024 promise to oversee the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Addressing public questions regarding his previous vow to resign if Bello was not prosecuted, Olukoyede stated during an interview on Sunday Politics aired by Channels Television that his mandate to investigate and bring the matter to court has been achieved.

“A sitting governor, because he knew he was about to leave office, moved money directly from government to a bureau de change and used it to pay his child’s school fees in advance $720,000,” Olukoyede said.

He described the alleged action as disturbing, particularly in view of the economic condition of Kogi State.

“In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes to that under the excuse that I am being used? Being used by who at this stage of my life?” he asked.

Olukoyede also recalled a public statement he made in April 2024, when he vowed to resign if Bello was not prosecuted.

“If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the chairman of the EFCC,” he had said.

Addressing public concerns over the pace of the case, the EFCC chairman said the commission had fulfilled its responsibility and that the matter is now before the courts.

“Have I not fulfilled that promise? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted? The case is in court,” he said.

He stressed that the EFCC’s role is to investigate and prosecute, not to determine guilt or secure convictions.

“I have three cases against Yahaya Bello. Am I the judge who will decide conviction? I have done my work and fulfilled my mandate,” Olukoyede added.

Bello is currently facing multiple charges before different courts. He is standing trial on a 16-count charge involving alleged property fraud amounting to N110 billion, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

In a separate case before the Federal High Court, the former governor is also facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering involving N80.2 billion.

The EFCC had earlier declared Bello wanted in April 2024 over alleged financial crimes estimated at about N80 billion, a development that sparked widespread political debate.

News

Fidelity Bank Improves Access To Quality Education In Anambra  

Published

on

By

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing quality education and youth empowerment with the renovation of an administrative building to Community Secondary School, Enugwuabo Ufuma, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

 

The one-storey administrative block was comprehensively renovated as part of Fidelity Bank’s interventions to address infrastructural challenges faced by the school. The renovated facility was then formally handed over to the school community at a ceremony attended by government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

 

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, the Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc Awka, Dr. Nosa Orumwense, said the project underscores the bank’s long-standing commitment to investing in education as a catalyst for sustainable development.

 

“For us at Fidelity Bank, this project represents more than a building. It represents opportunity, progress, and a shared commitment to building a better future for our youths here in Enugwuabo Ufuma and beyond.

 

By improving the educational infrastructure of this community, we are providing students and teachers with an environment that promotes learning, discipline, and pride”, Orumwense added.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who represented the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, described the project as a true demonstration of corporate social responsibility.

 

L-R: Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr Vera Nwadinobi; Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh; and Regional Bank Head, Fidelity Bank Plc, Awka, Dr. Nosa Orumwense; at the handover ceremony of the administrative block renovated by Fidelity Bank Plc to Community Secondary School, Enugwuabo Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State recently.

 

“Corporate social responsibility is what gives an organisation its human nature. What Fidelity Bank has done reflects compassion and a genuine commitment to touching lives”, Prof. Chuma-Udeh said.

 

This school was earlier placed on an emergency list due to the deplorable condition of its buildings. During my last visit, I was genuinely concerned about the safety of both students and teachers. Today, the school wears a new look, thanks to Fidelity Bank’s support”.

 

The Commissioner also expressed the state government’s appreciation to Fidelity Bank, saying, “We thank Fidelity Bank for this intervention, which clearly demonstrates the true meaning of corporate social responsibility – making tangible impacts that improve lives and strengthen communities”.

 

The project forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader CSR strategy focused on empowering communities, strengthening educational institutions, and creating long-term socio-economic value across Nigeria.

 

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

 

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

Continue Reading

News

PDP A Force To Reckon With, Not Charity Organisation – Wike

Published

on

By

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a formidable political force in the country and not a charity organisation.

 

Wike made the remarks at the 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Monday night.

While warning members against viewing PDP as a charity organisation, he urged them to return to the grassroots and rebuild the party from the ward and polling unit levels.

“Forget the idea that PDP is a charity organisation. PDP remains a formidable political force despite its current challenges.

“PDP is too strong, very strong. We must capitalise on what we have and move forward,” he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister spoke extensively on the party’s internal challenges, the ongoing legal disputes and the way forward for rebuilding it ahead of future elections.

He stressed that his concerns were solely focused on the survival, stability and success of the party nationwide.

Wike declared his keen interest in all activities of the Oyo chapter of the party, as part of efforts towards ensuring its survival and success.

While appreciating the calls for peace by the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC), Wike urged party leaders and members to remain vigilant, noting the ongoing attempts to destabilise PDP.

He cautioned that adversaries would not relent until the party was finished, but expressed confidence that such efforts would fail.

“They will not give up until they believe you are destroyed, but I will not be destroyed; you will not be destroyed. Let us move forward,” he said.

The minister expressed confidence that any attempt by those he described as “vampires” to take over the affairs of the party across the 36 states of the federation, including FCT, would fail.

He further urged PDP to rely on experience and internal capacity, noting the presence of competent legal and organising officers within the party, capable of navigating the current challenges.

“We have a competent legal adviser. We have a competent national organising secretary. Experience matters. When we combine our collective experience, the results will speak for themselves,” he said.

Wike thanked NEC members for attending the meeting at short notice and urged them to remain committed to strengthening the party as Nigeria’s leading opposition platform.

He said that the party was now waiting for the caretaker committee to issue clear directives, particularly on the conduct of the overdue congresses, which he described as “critical steps” towards organising a credible national convention.

(NAN)

Continue Reading

News

PDP Schedules National Convention For March 28, 29 In Abuja

Published

on

By

The Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled its National Convention for March 28 and 29, 2026, in Abuja.

 

This decision was reached during the party’s 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on February 2, 2026, which was held at the official residence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

 

The convention aims to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) and other statutory organs to stabilize the party following prolonged leadership disputes.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique was read by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Haruna Mohammed, at the end of the meeting, held at the official residence of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Abuja.

 

In the communique, signed by Mohammed and the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the party also slated ward and local government congresses for February and State congresses for March.

 

It said that the party’s NEC had directed the NCC, in collaboration with the National Organising Secretary and relevant organs of the party, to issue detailed guidelines, notices and modalities for the conduct of the congresses.

 

The communique added that the committee had further been directed to act strictly in compliance with the PDP constitution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regulations, and judicial directives.

 

The party’s NEC also unanimously reconfirmed, ratified and reaffirmed the full content, validity, force and effect of all resolutions and decisions reached at the 104th emergency NEC meeting held on Dec. 7, 2025.

 

“That all actions taken, pursuant to the 104th NEC resolutions remain binding, lawful and operative, having been taken in strict compliance with the PDP Constitution (as amended), the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, and relevant judicial pronouncements,” the communique stated.

 

The party’s NEC also welcomed and affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan which upheld the legality of the party’s leadership and administrative arrangements and directed INEC to recognise the duly-constituted caretaker committee.

 

The NEC equally resolved that all party organs, members and stakeholders would continue to act strictly in obedience to subsisting court judgments and judicial directives.

 

The committee, therefore, urged INEC and all relevant institutions to fully comply with the said judgment in the interest of democracy and constitutional order.

 

It further reaffirmed the legitimacy, authority and mandate of the Mohammed-led committee, with Anyanwu as Secretary.

 

The party stressed that NCC remained the only lawful national administrative organ of the party, fully empowered to act as the National Working Committee (NWC), pending the conduct of the national convention.

 

The NEC equally affirmed the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) and other affected caretaker committees of the state and zonal chapters, pending the conduct of the national convention, state and zonal congresses respectively.

 

The committee further mandated the NCC to immediately activate Convention Sub-Committees and begin full logistics, administrative and consultative preparations to ensure a transparent, inclusive and credible convention.

 

It equally urged stakeholders, supporters and members of PDP across the country and in the diaspora to remain steadfast, law-abiding and committed to the ideals of the party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending