Ododo visits Yahaya Bello over EFCC siege on ex-Kogi gov’s house
Read Also: Yahaya Bello media office raises alarm as EFCC lays siege to ex- gov’s residence
Tag: Yahaya Bello
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Yahaya Bello media office raises alarm as EFCC lays siege to ex- gov’s residence
The media office of the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, has raised the alarm over the presence of armed security officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ex-governor’s Abuja residence.
The Nation had reported that some operatives of the EFCC on Wednesday, April 17, besieged the residence of Yahaya Bello in Abuja.
The former governor’s house is located at 9, Bengazi Street in Zone 4 of the Wuse District area of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
In a video shared on AIT’s X handle on Wednesday, April 17, the operatives blocked the roads leading in and out of the street, causing vehicular traffic around the area.
However, in a statement by the media team of the former governor, the media office said the EFCC illegally besieged the house despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on Friday, February 9, by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division.
The statement noted that the EFCC was duly served with that Order on Monday, February 12, and on 26th February 2024; the EFCC filed an Appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said Order to the Court of Appeal Abuja division.
The statement reads: “About 9:30 am today, the 17th day of April 2024, persons who described themselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived at the Wuse Zone 4 Residence of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to effect his arrest.
“This is despite a subsisting Order of injunction granted on 9th February 2024 by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in Suit No. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello v. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, restraining the Commission either by itself or its agents from harassing, arresting, detaining or prosecuting Alhaji Yahaya Bello, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.
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“The EFCC was duly served with that Order on 12th February 2024 and on 26th February 2024; the EFCC filed an Appeal (Appeal No.: CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission v. Alhaji Yahaya Bello) against the said Order to the Court of Appeal Abuja division. The Appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the Order of the High Court which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till the 22nd day of April 2024.
“Furthermore, Judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered at 12 noon today in Lokoja.
“Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello seeking to arrest him in contravention of the extant orders!
“It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to the reliefs granted.
“We are aware of the total commitment of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the rule of law and can say categorically that the leadership of the EFCC might have offered the agency on a platter of gold to desperate politicians to convert to their score settling tool without minding the effect on its integrity and the image of Nigeria as regards the rule of law.
“A situation where law enforcers disregard the rule of law is a definite recipe for anarchy, which will adversely affect every aspect of the nation’s economy.
“Nigerians have perceived the desperation of the anti-graft agency to embarrass and harass the former Governor by all means through spurious allegations, especially the latest one dating back to September 2015, way before he assumed office.
“We are aware that there are clandestine moves to correct the error, but with even more questionable allegations, which would embarrass the Commission and Nigeria more than the initial one.
“Unfortunately, an agency that is supposed to enforce the law is now the first culprit concerning disobedience of court orders.
“This is a big dent in the fight against corruption. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order in the interest of legal sanity.”
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BREAKING: EFCC operatives besiege Yahaya Bello’s Abuja residence
Some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have besieged the residence of the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, in Abuja.
The former governor’s house is located at 9, Bengazi Street in Zone 4 of Wuse District area of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
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In a video shared on AIT’s X handle on Wednesday, April 17, the operatives blocked the roads leading in and out of the street, causing vehicular traffic around the area.
Details shortly…
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Who wants to see Yahaya Bello?
By Mojeed Olojede
Recently, there has been an unusual hype on the whereabouts of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Some publicists, including those working for globally discredited politicians, have been unrelenting in their fib of fantasy that Bello is on the run. They say the former governor has been hibernating in Kogi Government House to evade arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This raises many posers. Is Bello truly on the run or hiding somewhere in Kogi State? Why should he be hiding? Is it possible for a former governor or any other public figure of that stature to hide in Nigeria and not be fished out in a matter of days? Again, can Bello who during the Ramadan hosted several Muslim faithful to Iftar in his Abuja home be said to be hiding? Can the same Bello who visited his homestead during the Eid holiday, moving from Agasa to Okene freely with boisterous crowd of admirers and party faithful, be the one tagged a man on-the-run? Even with a preponderance of video clips showing his rousing welcome by his people to his homeland, critics of Bello are still steeped in their make-believe yarn that the former governor is hiding. And you ask again, hiding for what, and from who?
But if Bello’s recent public appearances in Abuja and Kogi were not convincing enough for the anti-Bello gong-beaters to change their fictive narrative of a hiding ex-governor, what about Bello’s Eid visit and homage to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos? Making sorties from Abuja to Kogi and to Lagos in broad daylight cannot be the itinerary of a man hiding from anybody, including the EFCC or any other anti-crime agency. Pictures of Bello with the President are all over the public space. Yet, some hirelings, driven by desperation to tar the former governor in the vilest of coatings, would rather pretend the visit never happened. There must be a limit to mischief and toxic beef. Media vilification of a public officer, serving or retired, without facts but with imaginary, even delusional assumptions, is not great journalism. It is media trial which in itself is not only a negation of the fundamental ethics of the journalism profession, but a clear abuse of the rule of law which is antithetical to democratic principles.
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The persistent churning out of obvious fibs by some writers is nothing but a crude attempt to bully the EFCC into jettisoning established order of protocol and the sacred nuggets of the rule of law to disgrace, disparage and bring to public ridicule the person of Bello. This is a banana peel that the present EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, must avoid. In times past, the EFCC was used as a tool of political vendetta and persecution by vested interests in the polity. The commission flouted court orders flagrantly. In some cases, the anti-corruption commission played the roles of accuser and defendant depending on whose interest was involved. These were obvious flaws that attracted public outcry, which Olukoyede vowed to stamp out from the psyche of EFCC operatives when he assumed office. Olukoyede, who is not a stranger to the modus operandi of the commission, was bold to admit flaws in the manner the EFCC discharged its duties before his appointment. He pledged to reform the operational processes of the commission to conform to ideal democratic creeds. He should do so in the case of Bello.
Any attempt to arrest Bello for whatever reason is tantamount to abuse of the rule of law and a clear violation of a court order that the EFCC is yet to vacate via a counter court order. The High Court, Lokoja Division, had given a restraining order on the EFCC to stay any action either to arrest, prosecute or persecute ex-governor Bello or any of his appointees pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. This is an order by a court of competent jurisdiction. To go against this order, without vacating it, is impunity – a sad relapse into dictatorship. The EFCC, a body set up by law and governed by law, should not be seen to be affronting the order of a court.
The pendency of this order without a counter-order from a court of competent jurisdiction makes the action of EFCC to arrest, persecute and prosecute Bello and his appointees a perversion of the rule of law. This is also a form of corruption. Using a corrupted process to fight alleged corruption is the worst form of corruption. Olukoyede must avoid this pitfall especially under the Presidency of Tinubu, a man known for his stance of prmacy of democracy and the rule of law.
The manner the EFCC has been handling the case of Bello and his appointees shows an inclination towards desperation. Why would the EFCC be so desperate or perceived to be so? Is the commission succumbing to the spate of media bullying?
Early this year, the EFCC in an amended charge brought odium to itself and to the legal profession when it accused Bello of allegedly stealing over N80 billion belonging to Kogi State in September 2015, when Bello had not even become governor of Kogi State. Such voodoo legal presentation in court does not only advertise the shoddiness in EFCC’s investigative processes but also typifies an act of desperation marinated in mischief.
Truth be told, Bello is not on-the-run. Neither is he hiding anywhere, not even in Kogi government house. His home in Zone 4 area of Abuja has remained a beehive of socio-political activities including meetings of progressive politicians and Nigerian youths, most of whom see in Bello a role model and beacon of hope.
The desperation of paid pipers to play fantasy tunes for the itchy ears of their paymasters is not new. As someone who has been involved in Nigerian politics including Kogi politics where there are three major parties, the APC, PDP and SDP, the attack on Bello does not come as a surprise. Bello was one of the frontline APC governors that worked for Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu and his party. He was very vocal in the defence of Buhari and campaign for Tinubu. His rising political profile therefore became a source of worry for the opposition. It’s only commonsensical that after leaving office, the vampires would come baying for his blood. Unfortunately, Bello’s blood is not available for sucking. But rather than go elsewhere to satiate their appetite for blood, they have resorted to media trial and bullying of EFCC in the hope that their mischievous desire will come to pass. They are wrong.
Bello, a dutiful and loyal party man, is not one to be cowed into submission. The former Kogi governor is doing what any responsible politician will do. He is taking a deserved rest after eight years in office as governor and after actively campaigning for his party at both national and sub-national levels and contributing to its victory. Even while resting, he has demonstrated patriotism by choosing to stay in the country as against the fad of jetting overseas for vacationing as some politicians do.
And for those still asking, where is Bello? He’s right in your face. Cast away your mischief and you will see him in flesh and blood, wondering, with a grin, at your depth of balefulness.
• Olojede, political scientist and education entrepreneur, writes from Abuja
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Yahaya Bello’s legacy worth emulating, says Nigerian Guild of Editors
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended the Kogi State Government for what it described as a highly impressive performance in infrastructure, education and health.
The Guild gave the commendation during a tour of some of the projects initiated and completed under the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, who briefed journalists at the end of the project tour, specifically said from what he and other editors had seen, first-hand, the former Governor had left a legacy worthy of emulation in critical sectors.
He added Governor Usman Ododo was doing well to consolidate on the good work of his predecessor.
The NGE was in Lokoja to hold its standing committee meeting. In all, about 40 editors, across the print, electronic and online media participated in the meeting. The editors used the opportunity to inspect some of the projects executed by the past administration in the state.
According to the NGE President, the Reference Hospital in Okene is one that can help the country in the area of medical tourism.
“Recently, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria told the whole world that medical tourism alone was costing this country a fortune. So, if Nigerians patronise this hospital, it will save this country a lot of money and help put our economy in good shape. With what we have seen here, Nigerians should be happy for it,” he said.
He stated: “The immediate past administration has left a legacy worthy of emulation. I am appealing to the current administration to consolidate on the good work of the immediate past Governor of the state because he has done a lot in education, health and infrastructure development and such achievements should be sustained by the present administration.
“I and other members of the NGE have gone round projects executed by the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration and I am saying this without mincing words that Kogi State is working and the current administration under Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is doing well to sustain the legacies of his former boss.
“Democracy is about the people and the facilities we have seen, including the network of roads. If the road network is strong like we saw, I am sure Nigeria will be better for it. I am highly commending the State Government for what my team and I have seen so far.
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“Government is a continuum. I would advise the current Government to follow the footstep of his predecessors. It is only in that way the Citizens will benefit and Kogi State will become the best place in the Country. People will know that democracy has taken root in Kogi State and the people are benefitting.
“At the end of the day, Governance is about the people. From what I have seen, from what my colleagues saw, Kogi is working in terms of education infrastructure and medical care.
“From a lay man perspective, I am not a Doctor. From what the Doctors have told me and my team and what we saw with our eyes, it is hugely impressive. The MRI machine and other laboratory equipment are very impressive. I have to commend the Kogi State Government for making this available.
“I would advise the people to put this to test and if this works, they will save Nigeria huge sums of money. Recently, the CBN Governor told the whole world that medical tourism alone is costing this country a fortune. So, if Nigerians patronise this hospital, it will save this country a lot of money and put our economy in good shape. What we have seen here, Nigeria should be happy for it.”
Kogi Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo and his health counterpart, Dr. Adams Abdulazeez, thanked the editors for finding time to inspect the projects and encouraged them to tell Nigerians exactly what they saw.
“If we are to go round all the projects initiated and completed under the immediate past administration in Kogi State, you will be here for more than one week. There was massive projects execution,” Fanwo told the editors.
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Who is after Yahaya Bello?
For eight years, Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, did his best. Last month, he left the state better than he met it. He left in a blaze of glory. He was also privileged to hand over to a government of continuity headed by Governor Usman Ododo.
But, out of jealosy, his foes have invaded the media to mount a campaign of calumny against the former governor. How far can they go?
Kogites believe that Bello served meritoriously. The new government is planning to build on his legacies. But, political opponents are on the prowl with their tools of propaganda, deceit and falsehood.
Kogi State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are on collision course over moves by the commission to bring corruption charges against the former governor.
The state government said the commission was only trying to tarnish its image and reputation of the firmer givernor.
After crossing the hurdle of succession and handover to his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, the state government is agitated that the anti-graft body is trying witch-hunt Bello.
According to the Information and Communications Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, there is a sinister motive, in fact, an agenda, to charge Bello for diverting public funds when he was in office.
The commissioner attributed Bello’s ordeal to the antics of ‘rougue politicians’ conniving with the anti-graft agency to ridicule the former governor, fondly called the ‘White Lion’ by admirers.
He said the goal is to dent his image outside power. In the process, Fanwo said that recourse to a clandestine agenda is, in turn, tarnishing the image of the commission.
Then, Kogi government challenged EFCC to a duel. It said that Kogi money is working for its peoole, and not missing as being insinuated by the commission.
Fanwo also said exploiting EFCC as a tool of oppression and repression is against the anti-corruption vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Trouble started when EFCC, in an amended charge, accused the former governor of diverting Kogi State Government funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office as governor in Lokoja, the state capital.
To the state government, this is not only laughable, but smacks of lack of due diligence.
Fanwo said: “The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Honorable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count, the name of H.E Yahaya Bello, describing him as being “at large”, is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”
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At issue is the phrase: “Being ‘at large,’ means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest.
The commissioner claried thathe original charge was against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate.
The offence which H.E Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed upon which he has been named in the count is conspiracy to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).
He was said to have committed the offence on or about September 2015 in Abuja. His co-conspirators, according to the count, are Abdulsalami Hudu (Kogi State Government House Cashier), described as being ‘at large’ too, Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman.
What is curious is that “the Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced Yahaya Bello as governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015. Also, it was Captain Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that held sway as governor at that time until he handed over to Bello on January 27, 2016.
There are puzzles: How could Bello have as of September 2015 conspired with anyone, including Abdulsalami Hudu, a Kogi Government House Cashier, to convert any money belonging to the Kogi State Government?
Also, how could have Bello, had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government before assuming the reins, have converted monies belonging to the Kogi State Government?
Following the EFCC’s statement, sime political actors have intensified their campaign of calumny.
Warning them to desist, the state government maintained in a statement that no public mobey is missing in Kogi.
It said EFCC leadership should tender apology because of its “ridiculous, shameless and indefensible allegation.”
Kogi government also urged the President to step in to save the integrity of the EFCC from those “pushing the Commission into a fight that should be left to politicians.”
It added: “The Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo will continue to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President.
“We will also continue to promote probity, accountability and transparency and open our books to agencies and institutions constitutionally empowered to look into them. We will continue to win awards in transparency and accountability.”
The rift between EFCC and Kogi government is not new. In 2021, the Commission came out with a false claim that it had uncovered over N20 billion of the state’s bail out fund in a Fixed Deposit Account in Sterling Bank. The allegation prompted the state government wrote a letter to Sterling Bank for clarifications.
The bank clarified that Kogi government had no such account with it.
Fanwo said EFCC style may betray President Tinubu’s determination to retool the agency and make it more vibrant in preventing and fighting corruption in a genuine and objective manner within the ambit of the rule of law.
He said EFCC under the current leadership should not tow the path of the commission under the leadership of Abdulrasheed Bawa, who in August 2021, decided that the Kogi State Government had N20 billion in an account, secured ex-parte, an Order of the Federal High Court, Lagos empowering him to direct the Manager of Sterling Bank Plc to freeze Account No. 0073572696 with the name Kogi State Salary Bail Out Account, pending the conclusion of investigation or possible prosecution.
Fanwo added: “The EFCC has since refused to answer to the suit filed against it since 2021 by the Kogi State Government and its officials challenging the falsehood on the issue of bailout funds. The commission has continued to maintain frivolous appeals even when the Court of Appeal had confirmed that the trial Court had the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.”
At a time too, the former first lady of Kogi State, Rashida Bello was named in the counts of offence and described as being at large in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/573/2022: FRN V. (1) ALI BELLO (2) ABBA ADAUDU (3) YAKUBU SIYAKA ADABENEGE (4) IYADI SADAT. She was alleged to have conspired to criminally misappropriate over N3 billion funds allegedly belonging to some Local Government Areas. She was never invited by the EFCC or arrested.
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Alleged N10b fraud: Witness can’t recall if ex-gov Bello’s cousin made withdrawals from state’s account
A prosecution witness in the trial of Ali Bello (said to be cousin of Kogi State’s ex-governor, Yahaya Bello) and one other, Edward Bananda has said he could not recall if the defendants made withdrawals from the state’s account.
Bello and Dauda are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge in which they are accused of engaging in misappropriation and money laundering.
At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Bananda, the second prosecution witness, was cross-examined by lawyers to the defendants – A. M Aliyu (SAN) and Nureini Jimoh (SAN).
While being questioned by Jimoh (who represented Suleiman), was handed three statements of accounts belonging to the state government and asked to recall if the defendants made withdrawals.
Bananda, who had said most of the withdrawals were made by Hudu Abdusalam (a cashier at the Kogi State House), told the court that he could not recall if the defendants made withdrawals from the accounts.
When asked if he could identify Hudu Abdusalam among the two defendants, the witness said he could not.
The witness who was taken through some pages of the account statements by Jimoh, noted that most of the inflows were security funds belonging to Kogi State Government.
He said none of the withdrawals in the account statements exceeded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stipulated cash withdrawal limit of N10 million.
Reading from one of the account statements, the witness noted that on May 24, 2019, there was an inflow of N50m; N100m on May 27, 2019; N50m on May 31, 2019; N50m on July 3.
The witness who said all the inflows were security funds, noted that they were also withdrawn in tranches of N10m each.
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When Jimoh suggested to the witness that the funds were meant for security purposes of Kogi State, Bananda said he did not know.
Under cross-examination by Aliyu (who represented Bello), the witness said one of the accounts belonged to Kogi State Government House Administration.
Bananda said funds in the account belong to the Kogi state government and that there are names and signatories to the account.
After the cross-examination, the prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) indicated his intention to call another witness.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho adjourned till February 6 for the continuation of trial.
In the charge, the EFCC claimed the defendants, with Abdulsalami Hudu, withdrew N10.2 billion from Kogi State’s treasury for personal use.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu (now at large), between January and December 2021, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court procured Rabiu Usman Tafada to take possession of the total sum of N5,865,756,800 (five billion, eight hundred and sixty-five million, seven hundred and fifty-six thousand, eight hundred naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation from the treasury of Kogi State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
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Yahaya Bello: Oddities
There were some observable oddities shortly after Yahaya Bello finished two terms as governor of Kogi State. Barely 48 hours after ending his eight-year gubernatorial adventure, there were signals that he was preparing to start another phase in power as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reports said campaign posters with the picture of Bello were seen all over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the national secretariat of the APC, promoting his candidacy for the position of national chairman of the party.
The posters prompted questions about the incumbent APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, who has spent six months in office. Was there a problem in the APC? When did the position become vacant?
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, provided answers at a press conference at the national secretariat of the party. He said: “There is no vacancy in the office of the APC National Chairman. Dr Abdullahi Ganduje remains our chairman. This is a democracy where people do what they want.
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“We have total confidence in the leadership of the party. But, make no mistake because the office of the national chairman is properly and fully occupied. Nobody is asking for that office to be declared vacant and it is not vacant. I will want to warn those who are throwing these papers around to desist from doing that.”
Bello’s media office, in a statement, later dissociated him from the campaign posters, attributing them to “some opposition leaders and some fifth columnists within the party,” adding that “there is absolutely no basis for anyone to circulate any posters for party offices.” The statement declared that Bello “did not authorise anyone to circulate any posters on his behalf as he remains a loyal party man” committed to the APC leadership under Ganduje.
It was odd that Bello disowned the campaign posters only after the party spoke against the mysterious campaigners. The delay was suspicious, and did not help his case.
It was also odd that following Bello’s exit as governor, 16 commissioner nominees picked to work under the new governor, Usman Ododo, included seven returnees who had worked under Bello. Nine of them are new. The seven returnee commissioners are Salami Ozigi-Deedat, Bashiru Abubakar-Gegu, Wemi Jones, Kingsley Fanwo, Timothy Ojoma, Asiwaju Idris-Asiru and Mohammed Abdulmutalib. This was also suspicious, and suggested a concrete continuation of the Bello administration.
There may well be more oddities to observe as Bello continues with life after his governorship years.
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I am not running for APC chairman, says Yahaya Bello
- Kogi govt: No office of former governor
Former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has refuted the report that he was running for the position of the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described the publications as the antics of opposition leaders, mischief makers and fifth columnists bent on creating confusion within the hierarchy of the party.
Bello said the insinuation of party chairmanship ambition through some posters in Abuja “is infantile, false and should be disregarded.”
He said in a statement that APC “is not in the process of conducting congresses or a convention, therefore, there is absolutely no basis for anyone to circulate any posters for party offices.”
Urging members of the public to disregard the false impression, the former governor said he never authorised anyone to circulate any posters on his behalf as he remains a loyal party man who is committed to the leadership of Abdullahi Ganduje.
In the same vein, the Kogi state government said the report on the creation of the office of the immediate past governor is false.
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Governor Usman Ododo said in a statement that the report was fake, adding that it is the handiwork of psychotic mischief makers, who have been thrown into confusion by the unprecedented achievements of the former governor.
He said: The laughable report was concocted to create disaffection and mislead the public but the authors failed woefully to confuse intelligent Nigerians.
“We thank the media for exercising restraint and detecting, on their own, that the report was fake. We, however, urge the general public to always fact-check before spreading fake news.”
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Huge crowd welcomes Bello to Okene
A large crowd in Okene in Kogi State, on Sunday, trooped out in their thousands to welcome the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, back home.
They treated the White Lion, as he is fondly called, to a heroic homecoming ceremony at the ancient town, Okene, where Bello hails from.
The jubilant residents heaped praises on Bello over his sterling performance in office, with different clans performing with their masquerades amid the thick crowd that thronged the streets.
The crowd assembled on the highway linking the former governor’s country home to bid him farewell after handing over to his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
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Some of the citizens who spoke after Bello’s convoy pulled over to acknowledge their greetings, said the former governor had left an indelible mark in the state.
Bello stormed the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, along with the new Governor of the state, Usman Ododo, where he was given a rousing welcome.
The traditional ruler, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, hailed former governor Bello’s transformative impact on Kogi state’s infrastructure and economy and congratulated Governor Ododo on his inauguration.
Bello expressed his profound gratitude to the people of his hometown and Kogi State in general for the overwhelming reception accorded him.