Television Nigerian

Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, entered a not guilty plea on Friday to the 18-count allegation that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had brought against him.

The charge involves allegations of money laundering, breach of trust, and embezzlement of over N80.2 billion in public monies.

Bello replied that he was not guilty of all 18 counts after the charge was read to him.
The prosecution’s desire to withdraw an earlier application for abridgement of the earlier date set for arraignment was communicated to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by EFCC counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, when the case was called for hearing.

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He said that circumstances had taken precedence over the application.

But Joseph Daudu, SAN, the defendant’s attorney, did not raise any objections, thus Justice Nwite approved the request.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s permission of unscheduled flight operations for Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado Ekiti has been hailed by the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State as fantastic news that couldn’t have arrived at a better moment.

Segun Dipe, the state APC publicity secretary, praised Biodun Oyebanji, the state governor, for the development and called him a “promise-keeper.”

In a statement released on Thursday, Yinka Oyebode, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, said that the NCAA had granted permission for the airport to conduct non-scheduled operations under Visual Flight Rules for a six-month period, from December 15, 2024, to June 15, 2025.

In anticipation of the final approval for commercial flight operations, Oyebode had said, “The Ekiti State government welcomes NCAA’s approval for the non-scheduled flight operation, which allows private jets and other chartered flights to land and take off from the airport between 6 am to 6 pm (or sunrise to sunset).”

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“This is a promise made and a promise kept, a Christmas gift specially wrapped for all in the state,” Dipe said in a statement released on Friday. That’s our perspective. We are quite pleased and boldly declare that it will benefit us to everyone’s satisfaction.Right now, the focus is on what has been accomplished rather than what was said incorrectly or correctly regarding the airport project. The governor deserves praise from the entire state for keeping his word and disregarding the doubters until the project advanced.

This sums everything up: We had big dreams and big accomplishments. It is the accomplishment of today for the glory of tomorrow.

Although it seemed impossible for a state like Ekiti to have an airport, we can be extremely happy that wonderful things are happening to us in Ekiti in a variety of ways because, as the saying goes, “with God, everything is possible.” We also have a very driven governor in place.

And we think that the state’s good citizens will be quite happy that this is occurring to us at this important moment. There was nothing more anyone could have wanted.

Adams Oshiomhole, a senator from Edo North, has called his state the best in Nigeria after Akwa Ibom.

Oshiomhole made this revelation on the floor of the Upper Legislative Chamber on Wednesday at the Senate’s farewell session in honor of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The lawmaker claimed that within 30 days of taking office as governor, Okpebholo had taken decisive action to change Edo State.

We can all agree on one thing about Senator Monday, according to Oshiomhole: “I have never met a man as humble as Monday.”

“As a man of few words, he has made up for his contagious humility with action and consistent deeds in a way that is obvious and observable.

We in Edo State are very happy, Mr. President, because I can now return home without fear. In just one month, he became one of the first governors to appoint men and women who would improve Edo State’s social life and economy.

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“He has already taken decisive action to bring Edo State’s traditional institutions back to their rightful place, and he has already begun taking actions that would impact our magnificent state’s long-abandoned infrastructure development. We already know all of the people he appointed, including the Attorney General.

“I want to thank you, sir, for your leadership not only while he was here but also for all the moral and other support this Senate received under your leadership. You are not privileged to come and vote because you are not registered in Edo State, but you moved to Edo to show us solidarity when we needed it most.

“I want to thank you for your leadership, your concern, your support, and all the senators you rallied on behalf of the people of Edo State, who are thrilled to have a new sheriff in town—a progressive sheriff, at that. Some of our senators turned into boxers to defend the votes of the Edo State people, even as the former governor attempted to raid the INEC headquarters and alter the numbers.

We are pleased that the Edo people know that a new governor has arrived in 30 days. He is clever, resourceful, modest, and uses few words but takes full action.

“We are extremely appreciative of all the esteemed Senators who helped us in our fight to retake Edo State. I express my gratitude to Senator Monday for the honor you have bestowed upon me personally and continue to bestow upon everyone you have encountered since you assumed the position of executive governor of the most illustrious state following Akwa Ibom.