……Says It’s Criminal Obstructing Their Operations

Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State has been declared wanted on Thursday.

He was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for offences relating to economic and financial crimes.

This was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday.

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station,” the notice read.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerians against obstructing its operatives during the course of their duties.

The warning came after security aides attached to embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday, obstructed operatives from arresting him at his Abuja home.

In a Wednesday statement signed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the commission said, “The EFCC wishes to warn members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties,”

While quoting the provisions of the law, Oyewale noted that culprits are liable to a jail term of not less than five years.

He added that on several occasions, operatives of the EFCC have had to exercise restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

He further noted that, regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

Oyewale noted, “Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“This warning becomes necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

“On several occasions, operatives of the commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions.”

Former governor of Kano State, Senator Abdullahi Ganduje said he is still in charge as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the reversal of his purported suspension by his ward executives.

The party politics within the Kano APC took a new twist as Justice A. M Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano stopped Ganduje’s suspension.

The Court also restrained all the respondents, their agents from implementing the decisions reached at the executive meeting of the APC held at the Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area on April 15 2024, pending the determination and hearing of his substantive application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

The Judge also asked the parties to maintain the status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of the APC ward.


Justice Liman gave the order while ruling on a motion exparte filed by Ganduje for the enforcement of his fundamental right to fair hearing.

The case has been fixed for April 30 for hearing.

Ganduje was suspended by his ward executive.

But the APC said the masterminds are members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and filed a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that the judge who gave the order has been compromised.

On Wednesday, the Kano State High Court granted an ex parte order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as a member of the party, thereby affirming his suspension.

But the APC National Working Committee (NWC) described the order as fraudulent and unlawful.

The APC National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana stated this while briefing journalists shortly after the APC Ward Executives from Ganduje Ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State visited the party’s National Chairman in his office in Abuja.

Kana also said the Ganduje Ward Executives had proceeded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to submit a petition for Kano High Court Judge, Justice Usman Na’abba to be called to order.


Reacting to the development, Ganduje appreciated the party executive members and ward officials from Ganduje Ward for distancing themselves from the purported plot to remove him from the party’s leadership and membership.

He attributed the development to the plan of Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP to weaken APC in the state ahead of the 2027 general election and other electoral contests.

The APC chairman said, “In fact, what is happening is that it is an incursion into our political party by the NNPP government of Kano in order to destroy our party.


“They are so concerned that in their first year in office, they have seen their failures right from the destruction of the economy of Kano state to increased political violence in and also destruction of political morality in Kano state.


“We are battle ready to take over their government. They are concerned that Kano produces the highest votes. They are so concerned that we will repeat the same feat for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again. We will ensure that in 2027, there is no vacancy for any presidential candidate fram Kano and from Nigeria.

“They are out to create confusion in our party so that we will not have the courage to take over our government in Kano state. They want to ensure Tinubu does not have the intimidating votes he used to have from Kano state. We will tell them their intentions will fail, that it is impossible, that it is a falsehood.

“I am assuring the President that our party in Kano is solid, it is battle ready in order to keep the votes for president very high, even the highest in Nigeria.

“We have written to the IGP, the DG DSS who are handling the case because we have their pictures, names, and we know their political leanings. Some of them were captured even wearing kwankwasjyya cap. They were so daft and insensitive that they couldn’t camouflage properly.”

The Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees has raised questions about the continued tenure of Umar Damagum, the party’s acting National Chairman, and Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary.

There have been growing concerns among party members regarding the prolonged stay of Damagum and Anyanwu in their current roles.


Damagum, who previously served as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), took on the role of acting National Chairman following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, by the court in the previous year’s March.

Anyanwu, who is also the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, has caused a dilemma in the South zone over appointing a replacement. Despite this, he managed to retain his position as the party secretary after a contest with Governor Hope Uzodinnma.



Both the PDP’s National Working Committee and National Caucus recently expressed their full support for Damagum’s leadership of the NWC during meetings held on Wednesday and early Thursday.


Addressing the issue at the party Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the PDP BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, emphasized the importance of reflecting on the party’s current state and the necessary steps to move forward.

He asserted that amidst challenging times, Nigerians look to the party to lead the charge in rescuing the nation from the grip of the All Progressives Congress. He raised concerns about the prolonged tenure of the acting Chairman and the unresolved issue of the National Secretary’s office.


Wabara urged for urgent resolution of these matters in accordance with the party’s constitution, emphasizing transparency and fairness for the party’s best interests and unity.

He added that as the party approaches a new phase with upcoming changes in executive structures, there is an opportunity to rejuvenate and position the party strategically for the future.


Damagum, in response, assured ongoing consultations to rejuvenate the party’s position, especially with upcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states.

He expressed confidence in the party’s performance and prospects in the upcoming elections, highlighting the collective efforts that will lead to success in the polls.