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Inside Yahaya Bello’s Media War Room – How His Image Makers Fight Fire With Fire
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), by virtue of its mandate, ought to champion transparency and accountability in public office. However, its decision to honour former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello—currently facing corruption-related charges—raises serious concerns about its professional judgment. Conferring such an award as part of the NUJ’s 70th anniversary celebrations undermines its credibility and suggests a troubling departure from its core values. The gesture was both inappropriate and deeply regrettable.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), by presenting an award to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello—currently facing serious corruption charges—has attracted widespread criticism over what many see as a lapse in professional judgment. The award, presented on June 21 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was received on Bello’s behalf by former NUJ president and ex-senator Smart Adeyemi. Adeyemi’s role appeared particularly ironic, given his past leadership of the union and the expectation that he would guide the current leadership on ethical matters.
According to the NUJ, the award was in recognition of Bello’s “outstanding contributions to the welfare of journalists,” citing initiatives like the GYB Annual Workshops said to have trained hundreds of journalists and editors. However, such recognition comes at a time when Bello, 50, is under prosecution in two separate cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuse him of diverting and laundering public funds totalling over ₦190 billion.
One of the charges alleges that Bello conspired with others to siphon over ₦80 billion just weeks after taking office in 2016. Another 16-count charge involves laundering and concealment of ₦110 billion, with some of the funds allegedly used to buy luxury properties in Abuja—including one purchased for ₦950 million in cash. Other allegations involve the use of $500,000 for personal expenses and concealment of funds through fake invoicing and bureau de change transactions. Between 2021 and 2022, another ₦3.08 billion was allegedly hidden during his final years in office.
In 2021, the Anti-Corruption Network, a Kogi-based group, accused Bello’s administration of systemic fraud and irregular contract awards between 2016 and 2019. The administration dismissed the report as politically motivated. In 2024, after the EFCC obtained an arrest warrant, Bello evaded arrest with the help of armed escorts and alleged complicity of serving officials, including Governor Usman Ododo. He was eventually arrested and detained by the EFCC in November 2024. His trial is ongoing, and no conviction has been secured yet.
While Bello is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the public honouring of a high-profile suspect in an active corruption case undermines Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and paints the NUJ as complicit in what critics describe as image laundering. This concern is further heightened by the timing—just days after Bello’s 50th birthday on June 18—when President Bola Tinubu issued a glowing tribute, hailing him as the “youngest democratically elected governor” of the Fourth Republic and praising his role in youth participation.
Perhaps more controversially, a birthday tribute by senior legal luminaries, including a retired Supreme Court Justice and more than a dozen Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), described Bello as a “remarkable public servant” and “inspirer,” praising his “respect for the rule of law”—despite being in the middle of a money laundering trial.
Bello’s defenders argue that the corruption allegations do not define his tenure, pointing to supposed achievements in governance. However, this defence risks normalizing impunity. Celebrating a man under criminal investigation at public events, and with accolades from prominent figures, sends the wrong message. It dilutes the seriousness of the charges and suggests that Nigeria’s war against corruption is more performative than principled.
If an individual facing such monumental allegations can be celebrated so openly, without a modicum of restraint, it underscores a dangerous unseriousness about tackling corruption. The NUJ’s role in this celebratory narrative is especially troubling, as it suggests a departure from its watchdog duty. While Bello is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty, public institutions and moral voices must exercise greater discretion. In cases like this, private celebration may be permissible—but public glorification is tone-deaf and deeply troubling.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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