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Alleged N110.4bn Fraud: EFCC Asks Court To Reject Yahaya Bello’s Motion For Medical Trip

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Court Reserves Ruling on Yahaya Bello’s Travel Application Till July 17

Justice Marianne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, reserved ruling till July 17, 2025, on an application filed by  former Kogi State governor,  Yahaya Adoza Bello,   seeking permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Bello is standing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting the trio.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, J.B. Daudu, SAN, moved a motion on notice dated June 19 and filed June 20, 2025, seeking leave of court to allow Bello to  travel for medical treatment.

He also sought an order of temporary release of the defendant’s international passport to enable him attend a scheduled medical appointment in the UK, with an undertaking to return the passport to the court upon his return.

Daudu informed the court that the application was brought on 13 grounds as stated in the face of the motion and supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Bello himself. Attached to the affidavit were two medical reports, including one from the Confluence University of Science and Technology, and a medical appointment letter with one Dr. Amanda Barnabas in the UK.

He further relied on Exhibit C, which he identified as a certified true copy of the ruling of the court that granted Bello bail, stressing that there was no condition barring him from travelling abroad.

“We adopt all the documents and written addresses filed in support of the application,” Daudu submitted, arguing that the application was not an abuse of court process.

He contended that the prosecution’s objection based on the existence of a similar application before another court was unfounded, noting that it is within the rights of a defendant to seek a second medical opinion if he can afford it.

“There is no evidence that the first defendant is a flight risk. He has consistently attended court and has not defaulted. The only issue raised by the prosecution is that the sureties were not put on notice, but that is a personal matter between the sureties and the defendant,” he said.

However, in opposition to the application, prosecution counsel Chukwudi Inibini, SAN, urged the court to refuse the request. He adopted the affidavit in opposition deposed to by one Abubakar Wara on July 4, 2025.

Inibini argued that the application sought to alter the bail conditions already imposed by the court, which specifically required that the defendant deposit his international passport.

“The sureties were part of the bail process and ought to be put on notice, especially to confirm whether they are willing to continue as sureties if the defendant travels out of the country,” he said.

He further accused the defendant of engaging in abuse of court process by filing a similar application in another court, noting that the application was still awaiting ruling.

“The proper thing would have been for the defendant to retrieve his passport from the other court and then apply for a travel permit before this court. Asking both courts to release the same passport at the same time creates the risk of conflicting orders, which is an abuse of process,” he said.

The prosecution also raised concerns about the authenticity and credibility of the medical reports attached to the application, pointing out that one of the reports was signed on behalf of a consultant without disclosing the qualification of the signatory.

Inibini further reminded the court that Bello had, during his tenure as governor, commissioned what he described as an “ultra-modern” hospital in Kogi State, which he touted as the best in Nigeria.

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Peter Obi’s Son, Oseloka, Breaks Silence on Gay Allegations

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Oseloka
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….Oseloka Obi, son of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, has reacted to viral gay allegations after photos of him with Kent Okwesa surfaced online.

Oseloka Obi, son of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has broken his silence following viral allegations linking him to homosexuality after photographs of him with London-based British-Nigerian, Kent Okwesa, surfaced online this week.

The pictures, which emerged on Wednesday, showed Oseloka and Okwesa sitting closely at a restaurant in the United Kingdom, sparking a wave of online speculation and gossip.

In a detailed statement released on Thursday, Oseloka dismissed the rumours as malicious fabrications, describing them as part of a broader attempt to discredit his father because of his involvement in Nigerian politics.

“Because of my father’s involvement in Nigerian politics, there has been a persistent curiosity and, at times, malicious obsession with me. I have no social media presence and no interest in maintaining one, so I rarely correct these falsehoods. But perhaps it is time I address them,” he wrote.

The actor and filmmaker emphasized that he is pursuing his own career path, far removed from politics and business, and insisted that ordinary photos of him were being misrepresented to push false narratives.

“This pattern has become all too familiar: individuals opposed to my father seize ordinary photos of me — images that are neither hidden nor secret and repackage them with false stories. These are not revelations. They are not exposés. They are simply misrepresentations; fiction spun from pictures. What is being circulated is gossip,” he stated.

Oseloka further explained that unlike many children of Nigerian politicians, he has never relied on nepotism, noting that his father’s wealth is not his and that he is determined to build his own life. He highlighted that his chosen path in theatre and filmmaking celebrates diversity of race, class, sexuality, and identity but stressed that this does not translate into the allegations being made against him.

He described the allegations as a distraction from Nigeria’s pressing issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, poor healthcare, and failing infrastructure.

“Our nation still struggles with insecurity, a weakened economy, crumbling infrastructure, failing healthcare, and politicians who steal from the people they swore to serve. And yet, for some, the priority is to spread gossip about who Peter Obi’s son appears with in a photo. This is a distraction from the real crises that matter to all Nigerians,” he wrote.

Standing by His Father

Affirming his support for his father’s political ambition, Oseloka said:

“My father has my vote, not because he is my father, but because he is the right man for the job. If others wish to go low, invent scandals, or attack me to wound him, they are free to do so. But we will go high, and we will continue to focus on the future of Nigeria.”

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NELFUND Issues New Guidelines On Upkeep Loan Disbursement

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says that upkeep loan disbursement is now strictly tied to the academic session of each institution.

A statement by the Director of Strategic Communications Oseyemi Oluwatuyi states that in line with the directive, students shall only be entitled to upkeep loans for their current academic session and Upon the conclusion of an institution’s academic year, upkeep payments for that session shall automatically cease.


She further said interested loan applicants are required to apply for the loan at the beginning of every academic session to be eligible for both institutional charges and upkeep for that particular session.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, the NELFUND loan portal is being automated to reflect this adjustment

NELFUND is a student loan initiative in Nigeria that provides interest-free loans to students in tertiary institutions.

Here’s what you need to know :

Key Features:

– Interest-free loan: NELFUND offers loans without interest charges, making it easier for students to repay after graduation.
– Tuition and upkeep coverage: The loan covers both tuition fees and living expenses, ensuring students can focus on their studies.
– Repayment terms: Graduates are required to start repayment two years after securing employment or establishing a business.
– Eligibility: Students from low-income backgrounds, enrolled in public tertiary institutions, and meeting specific criteria can apply.

Benefits:

– Increased access to education: NELFUND aims to reduce financial barriers to higher education, promoting inclusivity and equality.
– Reduced dropout rates: By providing financial support, NELFUND helps students complete their studies and achieve their academic goals.
– Economic empowerment: The loan scheme enables students to pursue their education without financial burdens, empowering them to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

Application Process:

– Registration: Students register on the NELFUND portal, providing required documents and information.
– Verification: NELFUND verifies the student’s eligibility and application details.
– Disbursement: Funds are disbursed directly to institutions for tuition fees and to students for upkeep allowances .

Impact:

– Over 449,000 beneficiaries: NELFUND has disbursed ₦86.3 billion to nearly 450,000 students since its launch in May 2024.
– Improved education outcomes: The initiative aims to enhance education outcomes by providing financial support to students and promoting transparency in fund allocation .

More About NELFUND

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EFCC declares Atiku’s son-in-law, Bashir Haske wanted for money laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Abdullahi Bashir Haske, the son-in-law of former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

In a statement on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale urged the public to provide any information that could lead to Haske’s arrest.

The anti-graft agency called on Nigerians to share credible tips with the nearest police station or any EFCC office.

Haske, an entrepreneur, industrialist, and investor from Adamawa, is being sought for his alleged role in the financial crimes.

The statement reads: “The public is hereby notified that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the EFCC in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

“Abdullahi is 38 year-old and his last known address is: No 6 Mosley Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State; 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.”

Source: X | officialEFCC

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PRESIDENT TINUBU DEPARTS JAPAN FOR BRAZIL

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday night for the ultra-long-haul flight to Brazil, where he will begin a state visit on August 24.
 
President Tinubu will have a stopover in Los Angeles before continuing his journey to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.
 
President Tinubu began his two-nation visit on Friday, August 15, when he departed Abuja. He and his entourage stopped over in Dubai, UAE, and arrived in Yokohama early in the morning on August 18.
 
After attending the opening ceremony and plenary of the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development( TICAD9) on August 20, President Tinubu held some bilateral meetings, culminating in the interactive session with diaspora Nigerians on Thursday night.
 
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
August 22, 2025 

Yokohama

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Enugu Restricts Movement, Tightens Security for NBA 2025 Conference

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Enugu To Host the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference
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The Enugu State Government has announced traffic restrictions ahead of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference, billed to hold in the state from 22nd–29th August 2025.

In a notice on Wednesday, the Ministry of Transportation directed motorists, tricycle riders, and commercial buses to avoid certain roads, including Sullivan/Roban Junction, Rangers Avenue, Cubana Junction, IMT by SPAR, and Toscana Junction.

Alternative routes such as Presidential Road, Ogui Road, Zik Avenue, Agbani Road, and New Haven remain open to ease traffic.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command says it has deployed massive security ahead of the event. Commissioner of Police Kanayo Giwa assured participants and residents of a safe conference, urging vigilance and cooperation with security operatives.

Emergency hotlines have also been released: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, 09134448093.

The NBA Conference is expected to draw thousands of lawyers, dignitaries, and stakeholders from across Nigeria.

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