APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT AGAINST ME POLITICAL-FALEKE

Following Thursday’s ruling of the appellate court which upheld the ruling of the lower tribunal that declared Governor Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi state, James Abiodun Faleke, the All Progressives Congress, APC, deputy governorship candidate in the November 21, 2015 governorship election has instructed his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to appeal against the latest judgment describing it as political judgement.


In a statement issued by his Director Media, Hon. Duro Meseko, shortly after the judgment was delivered, Faleke stated that he disagrees with the judgment, hence his decision to express his constitutional right by challenging the Appeal Court judgment at the Supreme Court.



According to the statement, "this judgement as you all can see is a political judgement and cannot stand the test of time.

“We strongly condemn the judgement and believe that the Supreme Court that is the custodian of Nigeria constitution and the court of the people would do justice to our case."
Faleke decried what he called the undue political influence being exerted on the judges by some highly placed government officials in the Presidency, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call them to order.
"I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to do justice to Nigerians, to do justice to Kogites by immediately calling his ministers and other top government officials to order especially the Minister of Justice , Malami who has been advising government wrongly on these issues. The day before the lower Tribunal gave judgement, June 5, 2016, Malami granted an interview in The Nation Newspaper where he analysed the Kogi Tribunal issue and what he said was exactly what the judges did the following day".
Faleke said it was inconceivable that the president who has been complaining to global audiences on the nation,s judiciary would find it difficult to rein in his ministers who are interfering in judicial issues".
He said it was curious for the Appeal Court to hold that INEC manual for elections has a coordinate locus as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Citing section 187 of the constitution, Faleke said it was wrong for the Appellate court to rule that he could not be declared winner because he did not participate in the primaries since the Constitution already recognises Deputy Governorship candidates as "candidates" who in the eyes of the law have participated in primaries.
Faleke however expressed elation that the Court of Appeal ruled on the vexed issue of locus standi declaring that he has locus to challenge the outcome of the election.


Faleke appealed to his supporters to be calm and go about their normal businesses, saying that, “at last, victory shall be ours at the Supreme Court.”

SCANDAL: Kogi N30m Bailout fund embezzled.

                                                                                           Online news platform naij.com has revealed how Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, is been accused of mismanaging N30billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal government of Nigeria. According to a report by The Cable, the allegation was made by an Abuja based civil society group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), the governor’s chief of staff, Edward Onoja allegedly took N1billion from the bailout fund.

The group has asked Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the current administration in the state. Sadiq Jobi, publicity secretary of the organisation, alleged that “the spate of the depletion of the bailout funds and other statutory funds, particularly in the last two weeks, is mind-boggling”. He said the government got N30 billion bailout from the federal government, saying N10 billion out of the money ought to be for infrastructure, and N20 billion for salaries.  “N10 billion out of the N20 billion meant for salaries is domiciled in Zenith Bank, while the remaining N10 billion is currently in Access Bank,” EMA said in a statement signed by Jobi.
“It is instructive to note that on the 27th of July 2016, the sum of N 912,648,960.49 million was paid from the Infrastructural account Number 1010756707 at Zenith Bank to AG Vision Construction Nig Ltds account no 1920001651 at Skye Bank as part payment purportedly made for the construction of Agasa-Ukpogoro road, a fictitious non-existing project as at today. “Our investigation revealed that nothing of such is happening on the road.” The statement said Bello had possibly diverted money meant for civil servants, to issues of his election.
“We are highly suspicious of the movement of the money especially at this time where four appellants are challenging his purported election at the appeal tribunal,” EMA said. “We also note that towards the end of the case at the lower tribunal, the state governor approved the movement from the infrastructure account the sum of N1.7billion naira account purportedly for a contract to Lebanese Company, MAJ Global construction Company ltd, owned by one Michel Abboud as CEO.
According to documents seen by Cable, N1.7 billion was used for the renovation of 17 units of houses within government house, Lokoja. Buildings listed for renovation were the residences of secretary to the state government (SSG), accountant-general, chief security officer (CSO), director-general of protocol, Imam’s residence, among others. EMA said its investigation showed that no renovation whatsoever was taking place at the buildings. It also said the amount budgeted for the exercise is outrageous.
“Now the question is why did the government award such contracts without advertising them? Even if the contracts were advertised, how could a single company win all the bids in such a competitive environment as we have in Nigeria today?” the organisation asked. “Looking at the contract details and the figures as stated below, how much does it even cost to construct a new building that a poor state like Kogi would be renovating buildings at these staggering sums ?
“We note with shock that most of the payments to the contractors are done in cash at government house apparently to facilitate movement of cash.” The organisation also alleged that the governor and his aides had been moving money in a suspicious manner in recent times. It said there could be plans to use the money to influence the outcome of the court judgement on Bello’s election. “Our suspicion of movement of cash especially at this time when judgment in the Appeal case against the governor is to be delivered was aroused when the State Government opened a new Sub TREASURY Account called ‘Govt House Admin’ account number 1010662710 with Zenith Bank,” it said.
“The shocking aspect is that the sum of N100 Million is now daily drawn in cash from this account for the past two weeks! Meanwhile, the other old ‘Govt House Admin’ account with the same Zenith bank has a negative balance of N498,157,883 unserviced. The question is: ‘Why would Zenith Bank allow another account to be opened in the name of Govt House Admin?’ What is the chief of staff doing with the alleged over one billion naira cash ferried in his black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz to Abuja last week?
“Time is here for the EFCC and ICPC to move into Kogi for a clinical review of the criminal rape of the commonwealth of the long-suffering people of the state before it gets out of hand.”

SCANDAL: Kogi N30m Bailout fund embezzed.

                                                                                           Online news platform naij.com has revealed how Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, is been accused of mismanaging N30billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal government of Nigeria. According to a report by The Cable, the allegation was made by an Abuja based civil society group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), the governor’s chief of staff, Edward Onoja allegedly took N1billion from the bailout fund.

The group has asked Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the current administration in the state. Sadiq Jobi, publicity secretary of the organisation, alleged that “the spate of the depletion of the bailout funds and other statutory funds, particularly in the last two weeks, is mind-boggling”. He said the government got N30 billion bailout from the federal government, saying N10 billion out of the money ought to be for infrastructure, and N20 billion for salaries.  “N10 billion out of the N20 billion meant for salaries is domiciled in Zenith Bank, while the remaining N10 billion is currently in Access Bank,” EMA said in a statement signed by Jobi.
“It is instructive to note that on the 27th of July 2016, the sum of N 912,648,960.49 million was paid from the Infrastructural account Number 1010756707 at Zenith Bank to AG Vision Construction Nig Ltds account no 1920001651 at Skye Bank as part payment purportedly made for the construction of Agasa-Ukpogoro road, a fictitious non-existing project as at today. “Our investigation revealed that nothing of such is happening on the road.” The statement said Bello had possibly diverted money meant for civil servants, to issues of his election.
“We are highly suspicious of the movement of the money especially at this time where four appellants are challenging his purported election at the appeal tribunal,” EMA said. “We also note that towards the end of the case at the lower tribunal, the state governor approved the movement from the infrastructure account the sum of N1.7billion naira account purportedly for a contract to Lebanese Company, MAJ Global construction Company ltd, owned by one Michel Abboud as CEO.
According to documents seen by Cable, N1.7 billion was used for the renovation of 17 units of houses within government house, Lokoja. Buildings listed for renovation were the residences of secretary to the state government (SSG), accountant-general, chief security officer (CSO), director-general of protocol, Imam’s residence, among others. EMA said its investigation showed that no renovation whatsoever was taking place at the buildings. It also said the amount budgeted for the exercise is outrageous.
“Now the question is why did the government award such contracts without advertising them? Even if the contracts were advertised, how could a single company win all the bids in such a competitive environment as we have in Nigeria today?” the organisation asked. “Looking at the contract details and the figures as stated below, how much does it even cost to construct a new building that a poor state like Kogi would be renovating buildings at these staggering sums ?
“We note with shock that most of the payments to the contractors are done in cash at government house apparently to facilitate movement of cash.” The organisation also alleged that the governor and his aides had been moving money in a suspicious manner in recent times. It said there could be plans to use the money to influence the outcome of the court judgement on Bello’s election. “Our suspicion of movement of cash especially at this time when judgment in the Appeal case against the governor is to be delivered was aroused when the State Government opened a new Sub TREASURY Account called ‘Govt House Admin’ account number 1010662710 with Zenith Bank,” it said.
“The shocking aspect is that the sum of N100 Million is now daily drawn in cash from this account for the past two weeks! Meanwhile, the other old ‘Govt House Admin’ account with the same Zenith bank has a negative balance of N498,157,883 unserviced. The question is: ‘Why would Zenith Bank allow another account to be opened in the name of Govt House Admin?’ What is the chief of staff doing with the alleged over one billion naira cash ferried in his black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz to Abuja last week?
“Time is here for the EFCC and ICPC to move into Kogi for a clinical review of the criminal rape of the commonwealth of the long-suffering people of the state before it gets out of hand.”

Governor Yahaya Bello Sacks SSG.

The Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has sacked the SSG Mrs Folashade Ayoade and replaced with new one.Details shortly.