By Our Reporter

The death of former Senator Bello Mandiya has taken a heartbreaking turn following revelations that he reportedly slipped in his bathroom, hit his head and lay lifeless for about 72 hours before his body was discovered at his Abuja residence.

Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, recounted the circumstances surrounding his late colleague’s death during Senate plenary on Tuesday, October 13. A video of his account circulated widely on Thursday.

According to Ningi, Mandiya lived alone, and his absence went unnoticed for three days until the chief imam of Apo became concerned that the former lawmaker had missed prayers for three consecutive days.

Ningi, who was in Saudi Arabia when the incident occurred, said his son informed him of Mandiya’s death. His son was among those who discovered the former senator’s body on September 7, 2026.

Recounting the events leading to the tragedy, Ningi said Mandiya was last seen by a colleague at about 11 am on Friday, September 4, after returning home and preparing to attend the congregational prayer.

“He brought out his cap, his phones, and put them on the bed, and went into the bathroom to take his bath.

“After taking his bath, when he was out of the bathroom, then he slipped and knocked his head in the bathroom,” Ningi said.

The senator explained that the incident came to light after a foul smell began emanating from Mandiya’s apartment, raising concerns among residents and prompting them to investigate.

“For 72 hours, Mr President, nobody knew where Bello Mandiya was,” he said.

According to Ningi, those who eventually went to the residence forced the door open and found the former lawmaker dead in the bathroom.

“And there lies Bello Mandiya in the bathroom, lifeless. Seventy-two hours, and that’s a simple tragedy,” he said.

Reflecting on the circumstances of his colleague’s death, Ningi said the incident underscored the uncertainty of life, noting that political influence, wealth and social standing could not guarantee anyone protection from tragedy.

“There is nothing permanent about anything. Nothing permanent about our position, nothing permanent about our wealth,” Ningi said.

The Bauchi Central senator, who disclosed that he had known Mandiya since 2002, offered prayers for the deceased and extended his condolences to the family, the government and people of Katsina State, as well as his former constituents.

Mandiya died on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the age of 62.

He represented Katsina South Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2019 to 2023. Before his election to the Senate, he served as chief of staff to former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari

By Our Reporter

Segun Kayode, a forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), has alleged that Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor, and some of his associates earmarked $600,000 to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries.

Kayode, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before the Kaduna state high court sitting in Kawo and presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.

The witness told the court that $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments, adding that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving el-Rufai and some of his suspected associates.

According to Kayode, the recorded conversations centred on alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.

He said a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), another individual and Bashir el-Rufai, were among those allegedly mentioned in the conversations.

Kayode told the court that the SAN and the other individual were allegedly directed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with the intention of applying a similar process to Singularity.

The investigator further alleged that the discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

He also alleged that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating a company he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The allegations formed part of the prosecution’s evidence against the former governor and have yet to be established by the court.

Proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26pm to 8:18pm, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.

After Kayode submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence objected, saying the document should have been served earlier to allow the legal team to study its contents.

The judge ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.

The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, following agreement by the prosecution and defence.

El-Rufai is facing trial over alleged money laundering and conversion of public property.

The DSS is also prosecuting the former governor before the federal high court in Abuja over allegations of wiretapping.

He has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19, after being released by the EFCC.

On April 13, the ICPC arraigned the former governor at the Kaduna high court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.

In May, the federal high court in Abuja granted bail to el-Rufai in the case pertaining to alleged access to a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA).

Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, granted el-Rufai bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.

In July, the el-Rufai family said the bail conditions being handed to the former governor are not “viable”.

By Our Reporter with agency report

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has said the conduct of police personnel before, during and after the 2027 general election would make Nigerians happy and proud of the force.

He assured Nigerians that police would ensure professionalism during the forthcoming poll.

Disu stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after the Launch of a book, “The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force”, written by 96-year-old Dame Stella Okuyiga, DCP (rted), one of the first 20 pioneer female Officers to join the NPF.

Responding to questions about the police stance on the 2027 election, the IGP said the Force had organized a meeting with police commissioners across the country to ensure professionalism during the polls.

“I want to let you know that we just finished a conference of all commissioners of police and other senior officers. We have had two or three elections recently, and you can see the police did very well, and we did too.

“We have now brought all these experiences together, where we did well and where we did not do well, so that we can perform better in this big election that everybody is looking up to.

“I give you my word. Nigeria Police will do so well, and we will make Nigeria Police so proud, and we will make Nigerians proud.”

On the book written by Okuyiga, Disu said the author was among the first women to join the Nigerian police in 1955, adding that the force is pleased with her achievements.

Disu stated, “Mama is 96 years old, and she has taken her time to put all her experience, institutional knowledge that she has down in the book for us to be able to study it for the generations coming, for women police in the next generation to have something to look up to.

“We in the police, we are starting up the history of not leaving our own, not forgetting our own.

“We are going to ensure that we get copies of this book for all police training institutions, for all police officers to go through to see what it was like to be police officers.”

Speaking, the Nonagenarian (author) and retired DCP expressed happiness that the publication was not just a book, but a part of her that would live on.

She said: “This book launch today is an important day in my life because the book itself is there. But I still live on my life. I still live on because this book will be in libraries all over the world, and they’ll be reading it.

“So I’m so happy that with all that is happening today, I will continue to live forever.”

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokama, launched the book wth N20 million.

PUNCH