Journalist Fisayo Soyombo was apprehended by the Nigerian Army alongside oil theft suspects.

The Nigerian Army has announced that Fisayo Soyombo is under investigation for involvement in oil theft.

This development follows reports of the popular investigative journalist’s detention by the Army in Port Harcourt.

In a statement released on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, confirmed that Soyombo was among those apprehended in connection with oil theft, although he did not specify if this individual is the same journalist.

Danjuma emphasized the division’s recent achievements in combating illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, noting that intelligence operations had identified a gang engaged in pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

He explained that troops executed a targeted operation at an illegal bunkering site, resulting in multiple arrests, including that of Soyombo, who was found at the location.

The military stated that the suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigations to determine their involvement, clarifying that Soyombo’s arrest is associated with the activities of oil thieves in the region.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned sitting on the alleged N80bn fraud charge against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to December 13, 2024 for possible arraignment.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the sitting in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the matter had been originally adjourned to January 21, 2025.

When the matter was called on Friday, the former Governor was asked why his lawyers were not in court.

He said he was only informed of the sitting late Thursday night and so could not contact his lawyers to be at the court.

The EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, insisted that the Defendant’s plea be taken as What the law requires is the presence of the Defendant, not the presence of his lawyers.

Delivering a short ruling, Justice Nwite said, “The matter came up on the 30th of October 2024 but was adjourned to 21st January 2025.

From the statement of the Defendant, his Lawyers are not aware of today’s date.

Therefore In the interest of fair hearing, he will not proceed for arraignment. He ordered the prosecution to serve the Defendant’s Lawyer with the application for abridgment of time.

The Court suggested December 13, 2024 for the Motion for abridgment.

However, the EFCC counsel applied that the date be for motion and possible arraignment and that the Court should order that the defendant should remain in EFCC custody till the 13th of December when he is to appear before the Court. The judge agreed and so ordered .

Former governor Bello is already in EFCC custody over a fresh N110bn charge before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The ruling on his bail application was adjourned to December 10, while he and his Co-Defendants were to remain in the Commission’s custody till that date.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated the arraignment of the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello for December 13, 2024.

Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday, November 29, 2024 directed the court’s Registrar to issue a hearing notice to Bello’s legal team regarding his arraignment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , is prosecuting Bello on 19-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N80.2 billion.

Addressing the court about the former governor’s presence in court, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, stating that the defendant’s presence satisfied the legal requirement for the process.

“In view of his physical presence in court and relying on Sections 271-277 and Section 392 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), I respectfully apply that the charge be read to the defendant, his plea be taken, and my lordship adjourn for further proceedings,” he said. He referenced two Court of Appeal rulings, dated August 20, 2024, which upheld a defendant’s presence in court as satisfactory enough for his arraignment
and further buttressed his position with the fact that Bello had failed to appear in court on several occasions, prompting an application for his trial in absentia.

Bello in his response, informed the court that he had not mobilized his legal team on the arraignment and pleaded for time to do so.

Justice Nwite, in a short ruling, adjourned to December 13, 2024 to enable the prosecution to serve the defendant’s counsel with the necessary processes.

In addition, the court directed the registrar to issue a hearing notice to Bello’s legal team and ordered that the former governor be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

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