The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello after honouring the invitation of the commission over an alleged misappropriation of funds.

Bello went to the office with his lawyers on Tuesday morning, following the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed states’ cases on the constitutionality of the anti-graft agency.

The former governor drove himself in a black Hilux to the EFCC office with his lawyers and was still being held by operatives of the commission at the time of this report.

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

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Wale Ajetunmobi for misrepresenting facts.

The Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

“Ajetunmobi was suspended following the misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account on a past incident,” Akosile said.

Akosile then reiterated that the Sanwo-Olu administration frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action, adding, “That is not who we are. That is not our way.”

Ajetunmobi had shared on X that some of the hoodlums who burnt down TVC headquarters in Lagos during the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 have been “hunted down and executed.”

When an X user asked to know if he meant that extrajudicial killings were carried out against the arsonists, Ajetunmobi denied making such a claim.

“Lol… you want to create a narrative in your head. What is extrajudicial killing here? Some of the people were chased by soldiers and exchange of fire occurred.

“Then, arsonists were overpowered and killed in the process. Others ran away. Is that an extrajudicial killing to you?” he replied.

Governor Dikko Radda on Monday presented a budget estimate of N682.2 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the Katsina State House of Assembly.

Tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’, the fiscal estimate has an increase of N200.5 billion or 40 percent more than the N454.3 billion expenditure total for 2024.

Radda said Capital Expenditure of the budget estimate stands at N524.2 billion or 76.8 percent of the total estimate, while Recurrent Expenditure is expected to gulp N157.9 billion or 23.1 percent of the total fiscal expenditure.

He said the economic sector is expected to gulp N302.2 billion or 44.3 percent of the total budget, Administration to take N98.2 billion (14.4 percent), Law and Justice, N6.2 billion (0.9 percent), and Social Sector, N275.5 billion (40.4 percent).

Giving a specific breakdown for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA), the governor said the Education sector would take N96 billion (14%), Agriculture and Livestock, N81.8 billion (12%), and Works, Housing and Transport, N9.6 billion (10%).

Others are Rural and Social Development, N58.7 billion (9%), Water Resources, N53.8 billion (8%), Environment, N49.8 billion (7%), Health, N43.8 billion (6%), Internal Security and Home Affairs, N18.7 billion (3%), and Others, N230.7 billion (31%).

Radda said Recurrent Revenue stands at N381.3 billion, and that the budget is expected to be funded by federal allocation (FAAC) of N316.9 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N64.4 billion, Aids and Grants of N126.4 billion, and Capital Development Fund of N154.4 billion.

The Speaker, House of Assembly, Nasiru Yahaya assured lawmakers would carefully analyse the budget draft, conduct effective oversight, and monitor the implementation of the developmental projects outlined in the estimate once it is approved.

Yahaya said the Legislative arm would continue to work together with the Executive arm to ensure timely implementation of policies and programmes that would better the lot of the citizenry.

Troops of Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in collaboration with the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have thwarted an attack on the Kukawa community in Borno State.

According to the task force, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists used a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) to ambush the soldiers.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama on Monday in Maiduguri that the terrorists launched their attack with the SVBIED, but the troops swiftly responded.

Soldiers of the 101 Special Forces Battalion thereafter killed the bandits in an ensuing fierce gun battle.

Additionally, he added that other surviving insurgents were forced to abandon their rifles and logistic supplies, fleeing towards Lake Chad.

Makama reiterated that the troops received aerial support from the Air Component of OPHK, which carried out precision airstrikes on the retreating ISWAP terrorists.

Besides the airstrikes, he added that the reinforcement of the special forces battalion has helped consolidate military dominance, forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray.

The troops also recovered several fighting equipment during the coordinated military operations in the Lake Chad region.

Military intelligence sources warned that ISWAP may attempt to regroup by potentially targeting reinforcements or military posts with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

He, therefore, urged the troops to maintain heightened vigilance.

“This is in anticipation of a possible attack on the military base at Malam Fatori, a border community with Niger in Borno State,” said Makama.

A driver has miraculously escaped death after a container crushed his vehicle in the Mile 2 area of Lagos State.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the accident occurred on Monday morning.

“In a distressing incident, a 40-ft loaded container fell onto a Toyota Camry, registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa,” LASTMA spokesman, Adebayo Taofiq said.

“Through the swift and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the driver of the vehicle was rescued alive.”

Taofiq said added that the victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.

He said security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.

Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container.

Taofiq explained that efforts to evacuate the fallen container are in full swing, while LASTMA officers continue to manage the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the General Manager (GM) of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has reiterated the critical importance of proper container securing by truck drivers and owners.

Bakare-Oki stressed that negligence in this regard endangers lives and property, urging strict compliance with road safety protocols to avert such catastrophic occurrences.

LASTMA has also said it remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lagos roadways and continues to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to uphold traffic laws and enhance public safety.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has called for peace and vowed to deal with the perpetrators of the alleged killing of a Fulani by an indigene of Isanlu in Kogi State.

Ododo made the vow after convening an emergency security meeting in Lokoja to address the indigenes of Isanlu and the Fulani settlers after the latter alleged that one of them was killed by the former.

The governor summoned the emergency security meeting to listen to both sides in a bid to restore peace and security in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.

Ododo said that is in order to take actions that will guarantee peace and security, believing this would help to forestall reprisal attacks that could put the community under threat.

According to a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo on Monday, the meeting was successful as both parties subscribed to the governor’s position that they should embrace peace.

Fanwo said Ododo had to cut short his brief journey to Abuja where he was to receive an award to return to Kogi State to stem the “rising security temperatures in Isanlu.”

“The governor had a robust meeting with the people of Isanlu and the Fulanis yesterday (Sunday) at the Government House, Lokoja where he listened to their grievances and addressed them accordingly,” he said.

“He frowned at a situation where people would take laws into their hands by killing fellow humans, saying such is not acceptable and that perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.

“He has directed that some traditional rulers in the affected areas be properly interrogated in order to get to the root of the matter. He has also directed that a particular traditional ruler be suspended due to his role in the saga.”

Fanwo added that the governor urged the leaders of the Isanlu community to warn their subjects to desist from actions that constitute insecurity in Yagba East and the entire Yagba Federal Constituency.

According to him, Ododo also urged them to fish out the criminal elements among them as his administration will go after every criminal in the state, regardless of tribe.

“The governor, without mincing words, also challenged the leadership of the Isanlu community and its environs in Yagba East to sensitize their people on the need to stop constituting security threats in the area by taking the laws into their hands,” Fanwo said.

“He particularly told them to stop harboring criminals and to ensure that criminal elements among them are reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies in order to curb insecurity in the area.”

According to the commissioner, Governor Ododo promised to protect everyone living in the state but stressed that no criminal would be spared.

The governor commended the Fulanis in the area for resisting the temptation of launching a reprisal attack over the unfortunate incident, thanking them for demonstrating maturity, understanding, and commitment to peace and security.

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Fulani community in the state for supporting the security initiatives of the administration, saying their efforts at maintaining peace and security are well documented and appreciated.

The emergency security meeting was attended by top government officials, security agencies, community leaders, and representatives of the Fulanis in the area.

The Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Dare Joshua, thanked the Governor for his swift action in averting a major security breakdown in the Local Government Area.