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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • EFCC ready to engage Yahaya Bello in Court -Spokesperson 

    EFCC ready to engage Yahaya Bello in Court -Spokesperson 

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is ready to engage former Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in court over the fraud allegation of N8.2 billion against him.

    EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, that Bello must have his day in court.

    He said that just like other indicted former ministers, ex-governors, several top government officials, captains of industries, internet fraudsters facing trial, Bello would not be an exemption.

    ”EFCC is eager to engage the former governor in the courtroom, where the avalanche of evidence so painstakingly assembled can be presented,” he said.

    He said that attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the alleged fraud case would not work.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: EFCC chair gets kudos

    Oyewale said the anti-graft agency was ready to provide all evidence to prove its case in court.

    ”Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage.

    ”The EFCC will continue with its no sacred cow policy, no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.

    He said since the former governor would not submit himself to EFCC office for questioning, “the appropriate place of surrender would be before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “Before whom his legal team had undertaken to produce him to answer to the 18-count money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”

    According to him, the commission remains committed to ensuring that the law takes its course in the money laundering charges already filed against Bello in Court.

    ”The EFCC is not unaware of the fact that corruption fights back.

    ”Bello must have his day in court, no matter the recourse to blackmail, appeal to emotive public sympathy or acts of brigandage.

    ”The EFCC is not running a circus show. Corruption issues should not be turned into a theatre of the absurd.

    (NAN)

  • EFCC accused of bias in Yahaya Bello’s prosecution

    EFCC accused of bias in Yahaya Bello’s prosecution

    The Media Office of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Kogi State’s immediate past governor, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is driven by desperation and ulterior motives in its prosecution of Bello.

    In a statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday, Director Ohiare Michael said: “The EFCC’s operational and procedural blunders since the inception of the money laundering case against Bello reveal its true intentions.”

    Michael noted that the EFCC’s actions, including its statement titled “Yahaya Bello Must Have His Day in Court,” demonstrated a fixation on tarnishing Bello’s image for political reasons.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: EFCC chair gets kudos

    He cited the events of 18 September, where Bello voluntarily submitted to the agency but was not detained, followed by an overnight attack on the Kogi Government Lodge.

    Michael questioned the EFCC’s motives: “If genuinely interested in prosecution, why not arraign Bello on the next adjourned date? Why embarrass the country to satisfy collaborators’ egos?”

    “We urge Nigerians to ask: what does the EFCC truly want from Yahaya Bello? His Excellency will have his day in court, in line with the rule of law, not the EFCC’s prescription.”

    (NAN)

  • Yahaya Bello: EFCC chair gets kudos

    Yahaya Bello: EFCC chair gets kudos

    Journalists Against Corruption has urged President Bola Tinubu to call Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, to order, over “obstruction of the statutory functions of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the bid by EFCC to arrest and prosecute former governor, Yahaya Bello.”

     JAC express its dismay “Governor Ododo, who has sworn to uphold the constitution, could brazenly, unabashedly and persistently shield Yahaya Bello, away from accounting for his activities as governor for eight years.”

    Read Also: Abdulsalami, Kukah, others set to convene in Abuja to tackle Nigeria’s challenges

     It said: “A valid and subsisting warrant of arrest has earlier been issued against Bello. What is expected of a former governor is to submit to the rule of law and make himself available for interrogation and possible prosecution.

      “It is clear and unambiguous that the immunity enjoyed by Governor Ododo does not cover his predecessor.  “It is on this note that we are calling on President Tinubu not to watch the disgusting and internationally embarrassing scenario involving Bello and Ododo further, as it portends serious danger for the nation.”

  • Yahaya Bello: Activists urge governors’ forum to call Ododo to order

    Yahaya Bello: Activists urge governors’ forum to call Ododo to order

    Activists in a pro-democracy group, the Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR), have urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to call Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo to order for allegedly shielding former Governor Yahaya Bello from investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a letter dated September 23 by its Head of Mission, Onche Ugbabe, VCR accused Ododo of obstructing justice by allegedly preventing the EFCC from arresting Bello.

    According to the letter, which has been acknowledged at the NGF secretariat in Abuja, Ododo allegedly provided refuge for Bello and accompanied him to the EFCC headquarters on September 18 in a manner deemed “unbecoming of a state governor”.

    The group expressed “deep concerns that Ododo’s actions undermine Federal Government’s anti-corruption efforts, erode public trust in governmental institutions and tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation”.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s cycle of cruelty

    It stressed that “the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s silence on the issue might be interpreted as support for Ododo’s behavior”.

    It urged the forum to address Ododo’s alleged interference and encourage cooperation with the EFCC.

    It said: “The rule of law must be upheld to promote accountability and restore trust.

    “As advocates for transparency and accountability, we urge the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to encourage one of your members, Governor Ododo, to cooperate with EFCC and allow the law to take its course.

    “We count on your leadership to promote accountability and transparency.”

    The letter was also copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, urging them to support efforts towards transparency and accountability.

  • Ex-governor gets Oct 30 date

    Ex-governor gets Oct 30 date

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the arraignment of former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello to October 30.

    Justice Emeka Nwite announced the decision after listening to counter-arguments on whether or not the court should continue with the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024.

    Bello was absent when the matter was mentioned.

    Bello was, among other allegations,  to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for laundering N80,246,470,088.88 belonging to Kogi State.

    His lawyer, A.M. Adoyi, told Justice Nwite that the ex-governor was absent because he had appealed the August 20 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which directed him to submit to trial. Adoyi added that the former governor also applied for the warrant of arrest against him to be vacated.

    Read Also: Only losers cry

    The counsel argued that in that instance, the right thing for the high court to do was to wait for the outcomes of the appeal.

    He said: “The arraignment of the defendant in this court this morning (yesterday) is already the subject matter of appeals entered by the defendant at the Supreme Court.

    The appeals are numbered: SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024.

    “That being the case, we believe that the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeals, before taking any further steps as regards the arraignment so as not to foist a fait accompli on the Supreme Court.”

    But prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), countered Adoyi’s submissions, stating that Bello, allegedly aided by his lawyers, was ridiculing the court.

    Pinheiro also recalled the drama that played out on  September 18 when the former governor arrived at the premises of the EFCC in company with his successor Ahmed Ododo.

    He wondered why a man who was directed to submit himself for arraignment would show up at the anti-graft agency’s ‘’car park’’ with another man with immunity and a full complement of security aides.

    Pinheiro also argued that the prayers by the former governor at the high court contained similar prayers as the appeals pending before the Supreme Court.

    The Senior Advocate contended that Bello’s action was intended to frustrate any progress on the case at the high court. He added that the former governor and his lawyer were aware that under the EFCC Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), a stay of proceedings is prohibited in criminal cases.

    A visibly angry Pinheiro urged the court to sanction Adoyi and another lawyer who appeared for Bello yesterday for contempt by referring them to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

    He said: “Arraignment is not done at the EFCC car park. By their admission, in the affidavit of record, the defendant went to the EFCC car park, holding the hands of a person with immunity (the serving Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed  Ododo ), with the full complement of his security.

    “By implication, if there was an attempt to extricate him from the person with immunity, there would have been anarchy.

    “Also by their admission, the invitation by the EFCC later in the night of that day, for Yahaya Bello alone to come since the court order was directed solely at him, was resisted by him.

    “We wrote a letter to the defendant’s lawyers, drawing their attention to the fact that arraignment is not done in EFCC car park and that in line with the Court of Appeal decisions, he should present himself for arraignment.”

    Arguing that every lawyer’s responsibility to the court overrides his responsibility to his client, the EFCC counsel faulted  Adoyi’s claim that he was only acting in compliance with the law which allows him to represent and defend his client.

    Pinheiro added that the prosecution was prepared to begin trial because “two of our witnesses are in court.

    “On the next date, if the defendant is not in court, we will be willing to proceed with our case..  We are ready to go on and will be willing to address the court on the possibility of his being tried in absentia,” Pinheiro said.

    After listening to the arguments by lawyers, Justice  Nwite expressed displeasure that no progress had been made in the case.

    Pointing out that the case was first adjourned till  September 25 for Bello’s arraignment, the judge said: “ We have now gone back to where we were before. I don’t know what this matter is turning into.”

    Nwite also heard an application by a former lawyer to Bello, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), who is one of the two senior lawyers earlier recommended to the LPDC by the court for alleged misconduct in relation to the case.

    In the application moved by   Abdul Mohammed (SAN) , Adedipe prayed the court to remove his name from the list of those referred to the LPDC since he has since withdrawn from the case.

    Pinheiro said he was not objecting to the application by Adedipe.

    The judge then proceeded to adjourn till October 30 to rule on all pending applications, arraignment, and trial.

  • Alleged N80.2b fraud: Court shifts Yahaya Bello’s arraignment to October 30

    Alleged N80.2b fraud: Court shifts Yahaya Bello’s arraignment to October 30

    …Ex-governor takes case to Supreme Court

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the planned arraignment of the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello to October 30.

    Bello was to be arraigned on a charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Bello of, among others, laundering N80, 246,470,088.88 belonging to Kogi state.

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, Bello was absent.

    His lawyer, A.M. Adoyi said the ex-governor was not in court because he has appealed the August 20 judgments of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, ordering him to submit to trial and has also applied that the warrant of arrest issued against him should be vacated.

    Adoyi said: “The arraignment of the defendant in this court this morning is already the subject matter of appeals entered by the defendant at the Supreme Court. The appeals are numbered: SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024.

    “That being the case, we believe that the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeals, before taking any further steps as regards the arraignment so as not to foist a fait accompli on the Supreme Court.”

    Prosecuting lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) countered Adoyi’s submissions and argued that Bello, allegedly aided by his lawyers, was ridiculing the court.

    Pinheiro argued that the two fresh motions filed by the defendant were unnecessary because they contained similar prayers as the notice of appeal pending before the Supreme Court.

    He contended that the action by the defendant was intended to frustrate any progress in the case despite being aware that under the EFCC Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) stay of proceedings is prohibited in criminal cases.

    Read Also: Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns to Oct 30 as Yahaya Bello heads to Supreme Court

    He stated that contrary to the defendant’s claim that he presented himself to the EFCC, “there is nowhere this court or the Court of Appeal directed Yahaya Bello to present himself to EFCC car park for arraignment.

    “Arraignment is not done at the EFCC car park. By their admission, in the affidavit of record, the defendant went to the EFCC car park, holding the hands of a person with immunity (the serving Governor of Kogi State), with the full complement of his security.

    “By implication, if there was an attempt to extricate him from the person with immunity, there would have been anarchy.

    “Also by their admission, the invitation by the EFCC later in the night of that day, for Yahaya Bello alone to come since the court order was directed solely at him, was resisted by him.

    “We wrote a letter to the defendant’s lawyers, drawing their attention to the fact that arraignment is not done in EFCC car park and that in line with the Court of Appeal decisions, he should present himself for arraignment,” Pinheiro said.

    Pinheiro urged the court to sanction the two lawyers who appeared for Bello on Wednesday for contempt of court by referring them to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for misconduct.

    He noted that every lawyer’s responsibility to the court overrides his responsibility to his client, faulting Adoyi’s claim that he did nothing wrong but was only acting in compliance with the law which allows him to represent and defend his client.

    Pinheiro added that the prosecution was prepared to begin trial because “two of our witnesses are in court.

    “On the next date if the defendant is not in court we will be willing to proceed with our case even in his absence.

    “We are ready to go on and will be willing to address the court on the possibility of his being tried in absentia,” Pinheiro said.

    Adoyi had argued that by Rule 14 & 24 of the Rule of Professional Conduct, he was under obligation to defend his client and accept any brief, adding: “I have not done anything before this court to undermine my lord’s (the judge’s) authority.”

    After listening to arguments by lawyers on both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite expressed displeasure that no progress has been made in the case.

    He noted the case was, on the last date, adjourned till September 25 for arraignment, “but we have now gone back to where we were before. I don’t know what this matter is turning into.”

    Justice Nwite also heard an application filed by a former lawyer to Bello, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), who is one of the two senior lawyers earlier recommended to the LPDC by the court for alleged misconduct in relation to the case.

    In the application moved by his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed (SAN) Adedipe is praying the court to remove his name from the list of those referred by the court to the LPDC since he has since withdrawn from the case.

    Pinheiro said he was not objecting to the application by Adedipe.

    The judge then proceeded to adjourn till October 30 to rule on all pending applications, arraignment, and trial.

  • Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns to Oct 30 as Yahaya Bello heads to Supreme Court

    Alleged money laundering: Court adjourns to Oct 30 as Yahaya Bello heads to Supreme Court

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the alleged money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, until Oct. 30, 2024.

    The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as ex-Gov. Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17.

    When the matter came up for hearing, the Defence Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the issue of arraignment of the defendant was the subject matter of an appeal already entered by him at the Supreme Court.

    He said he would like to draw the court’s attention to the appeal by virtue of the affidavit of record filed on September 23.

    “The appeal number is SC/CR/847/2024 and SC/CR/848/2024. That means the most appropriate thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court in the aforesaid appeal before taking any step for arraignment so as not to render the appellant’s appeal null or to pull the rug out of the feet of the Supreme Court,” the Defendant’s lawyer said.

    Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, however, told the court that the Defendant’s Counsels were turning the court into a place for entertainment. 

    He said, “Secondly, an appeal the defendant filed at the court of appeal disputing the mode of service of the charge and proof of evidence on their counsel was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on the 28th of August this year.

    “The Court of Appeal said the mode of service was good and proper service. The appellant shall not take any further step until he submits himself. But they took another step.”

    Recall that the former governor submitted himself to the EFCC last Wednesday, accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, but the EFCC reportedly refused to interrogate or detain him.

    It was later reported that EFCC operatives allegedly laid siege on the Kogi Government Lodge in Abuja to arrest the Governor at night.

    Arguing against the Defendant’s applications, Pinheiro said, “They have three applications on this – two before your lordship and one before the Supreme Court. I will now urge your lordship to demonstrate audacity of coercive power on him.” 

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: Coalition urges National Assembly to address petition against EFCC

    Adoyi, Bello’s lawyer, however, argued that the life issue of the matter slated for today (Wednesday), which is the arraignment, “is subject to an appeal by the defendant at the Supreme Court.”

    “In the interest of justice, we should await the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue,” he urged the court.

    Justice Emeka Nwite said, with the submission made by the counsel, he would have to decide the issues raised in one way or the other.

    He said he would have to adjourn to rule on the matter.

    Justice Nwite therefore adjourned the matter to 30th of October for ruling and arraignment.

  • CUPP demands Olukoyede’s sack over Yahaya Bello

    CUPP demands Olukoyede’s sack over Yahaya Bello

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, over alleged gross incompetent.

    The CUPP said in a statement on Tuesday that there was no excuse valid enough for committing those two errors of judgment by the EFCC on the day the former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello reportedly submitted himself to the Commission. 

    The statement was signed on behalf of the Coalition by 10 members of its Media, Strategy, Steering, Financial Contact and Mobilisation Committees and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The CUPP statement reads: “It is with utmost disappointment that the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has viewed the ongoing drama between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. 

    Read Also: Nigeria police will perform better with dedicated FG funding – Prof. Alemika

    “We are aware that there has been some inexplicable back-and-forth between the EFCC and the former Governor for some months now, which has generated considerable public interest across Nigeria. Not a few Nigerians have been eager to see the day that the former Governor would be brought in to defend the allegations of humongous corruption allegations leveled against him by the antigraft agency. 

    “The Commission went all out to declare him wanted and put him on an international watchlist with the assistance of the INTERPOL that anywhere he was found he was to be promptly arrested.

    “It is quite intriguing that the same man you have been hunting for, walked into your headquarters in Abuja and you let him walk away without as much as interrogating him under the pretext of some extremely ridiculous and flimsy excuses, one of which was that he came with a sitting Governor among others. 

    “A smart and intelligent head of a security agency like the EFCC would have tactically taken the former Governor into custody without much ado. But, clearly, the current leadership of the EFCC is totally clueless about the masterful art of intelligent policing. An agency like the EFCC is way above his training as a legal practitioner. 

    “When the current chairman of the EFCC was appointed, many legal pundits pointed out that the office of EFCC’s chairman should legally be occupied by a serving or retired senior police or any security agency officer. All those observations fell on the government’s deaf ears. The result has been the reversal of the gains made in the past on the anti corruption efforts of successive governments since the current leadership of the EFCC took office. 

    “If you couldn’t arrest the former Governor in the presence of his predecessor, why send armed operatives to the official abode of the same sitting Governor to start shooting in the middle of the night under the guise of you wanting to effect the arrest of someone who had earlier made himself available to you. That incident could have ended fatally with serious consequences for our democracy. It would have overheated the polity beyond control. 

    “There is no excuse valid enough in the world for committing those two errors of judgment by the EFCC. First, you let the man you declared wanted get away from your premises under a very suspicious game plan.

    “Secondly, you later mobilized at night to go and effect arrest of the same man. EFCC needs to come out and tell Nigerians what they are hiding and their real interest and intentions on this matter.

    “Everything looks suspect on this matter. Since Mr Olukoyede took over as EFCC chairman, it has been one controversy or the other. If it is not about EFCC operatives committing gross human rights abuses against Nigerians, it would be arrogant disrespect for due processes and Court orders. 

    “With this kind of leadership, the EFCC will remain handicapped to effectively fight corruption. It is in this regard that we sincerely feel that, if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is truly desirous of fighting corruption in the country, the current EFCC Chairman should be sacked immediately and a real professional senior security officer from any of the real security agencies be appointed as replacement to avoid this type of local and international embarrassments that this chairman has brought to the current administration and the country at large. 

    “His is a case of a square peg in a round hole. The geometry can never align. 

    “What happened two days ago makes the insinuation that the former governor is being persecuted now believable, rightly or wrongly. These people should stop playing politics with our collective sensibilities. 

    Enough is enough!”

    Signatories to the statement include Barrister Emeka Igwe, Alhaji Hamisu Santuraki, Prince Frank Ukonga, Prof. Godswill Nnaji, Alhaji Takai Adamu, Amb. Abah Lewis, Chief Abayomi Runsewe, Mrs. Grace Ishaku, Mrs. Gift Yusuf and Mayor Japhet Anyanwu.

  • Yahaya Bello: Coalition urges National Assembly to address petition against EFCC

    Yahaya Bello: Coalition urges National Assembly to address petition against EFCC

    A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the National Assembly to act swiftly on a petition filed against Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

    The group stated that the petition, which was submitted in May, accused EFCC officials of assaulting peaceful protesters at the commission’s headquarters.

    The protesters, consisting of various civil society groups and Kogi youths, were demonstrating against the EFCC’s non-compliance with a court order related to a case involving former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello.

    Reacting, the coalition condemned the EFCC’s actions, citing abuse of court processes and the use of state instruments to stifle civic space.

    Recall that Yahaya Bello was declared wanted by the EFCC but was not interrogated or arrested when he voluntarily presented himself at the commission’s office.

    The coalition, in a statement signed Tuesday, September 24, by its convener, Benjamin Oguche, called on the National Assembly to launch an investigation into the EFCC’s handling of Bello’s case and the commission’s overall conduct.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello: APC group condemns EFCC over invasion of Kogi lodge

    “Till date, the EFCC has not told Nigerians what transpired when Yahaya Bello willingly submitted himself for questioning, instead they have adopted propaganda, half-truths, and outright lies in a desperate attempt to redeem a fatally battered image. Nigerians are fully aware of the theatrics and antics and, therefore cannot be fooled.

    “We are therefore demanding that the chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede be immediately summoned by the National Assembly for questioning regarding the abuse of court processes for which the reputation of the EFCC under him is at an all-time low, including the use of state instruments to stifle the civic space.

    “Also, we demand that the relevant committee of the National Assembly should immediately launch an investigation on how EFCC failed to interrogate Bello upon arrival at its Abuja office.

    “We also demand that the world is made to know exactly why a man declared wanted was not allowed to be interrogated after presenting himself as required,” the statement partly read.

  • Kogi Assembly accuses EFCC of assassination attempt on Ododo, Yahaya Bello

    Kogi Assembly accuses EFCC of assassination attempt on Ododo, Yahaya Bello

    • Group hails EFCC chairman’s professionalism

    The Kogi State House of Assembly yesterday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of attempting to assassinate Governor Usman Ododo and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.

    The Assembly said the persecution of the former governor had dragged for too long and must be stopped.

    The lawmakers also called for the immediate sack of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede for his alleged unprofessional handling of the case against ex-Governor Bello.

    But a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Journalists Against Corruption (JAC), hailed Olukoyede for handling the Yahaya Bello saga with professionalism.

    Read Also: Tinubu to citizens: your sacrifices will soon yield lasting economic benefits

    It urged President Bola Tinubu to call Governor Ododo to order for allegedly shielding Bello from the law.

    The Kogi State lawmakers spoke during plenary in Lokoja, condemning what they called EFCC operatives’ unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja.

    They said an attack on Ododo was also an attack on the people of Kogi State.

    The lawmakers’ resolutions followed the consideration of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Akus Lawal (Ankpa I State Constituency), which Jacob Olawunmi (Mopamuro State Constituency) seconded.

    In his lead debate, Lawal said the EFCC was out to humiliate and possibly “kill” Bello and Ododo.

    His colleagues supported the motion.

    Olawumi said the audited financial reports of the state had always been published by the state government.

    He added: “The State House of Assembly can categorically say that no money is missing to warrant EFCC’s unwarranted witch-hunt of the former governor.”

    Abu Jibril (Ajaokuta State Constituency) called for the sack of the EFCC boss for allegedly attempting to “kill” the governor.

    The lawmaker urged President Tinubu to remove him immediately.

    According to him, the EFCC’s conduct showed that the chairman was incapable of leading a supposed impartial agency like the EFCC.

    “The (EFCC) chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal,” he said.

    Bode Ogunmola (Ogori/Magongo State Constituency) said: “If I am in London and there is a crisis, if I get to the Nigerian House, I will feel safe. If I am in Abuja and there is a crisis, I believe that if I get to the Kogi Government Lodge, I will be safe.

    “For the EFCC chairman to order that fire be opened on the official lodge of the governor, he should be sacked and prosecuted. We should be told why he wanted to kill our governor.”

    Majority Leader Suleiman AbdulRazak alleged that EFCC was acting a script written by some political enemies of the former governor.

    The lawmaker said the President should be notified of the assassination attempt on the incumbent and former governors.

    He noted that the arrest drama was staged to embarrass the former governor.

    Yahaya Umar (Omala State Constituency) said: “The unlawful conducts of the EFCC showed that the intention of the chairman was not to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello but to ridicule the state.

    “The chronology of how the event happened shows that the problem of the chairman is not with the offences being alleged, but that they want to disgrace the defendant and Kogi State in general,” he said.

    Deputy Speaker Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba said: “The EFCC is just trying to give the former governor a bad name through the media trial. The EFCC is not sincere in this fight. It has an agenda it is pursuing and the entire people of the state, particularly the women and youths, will not accept this.”

    Speaker Aliyu Yusuf, who read the resolution of the Assembly, said: “The House formally categorises the April 17 and September 18 incidents as assassination attempts on the former governor and, by extension, a threat to the life of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

    “The unprovoked attack on the Governor’s Lodge and the firing of live rounds within a diplomatic residential zone further demonstrates that the EFCC has fully marinated in a sense of its own importance and power and now considers itself not only above the law but unanswerable to anyone or institution for its actions.

    “Because the EFCC Chairman has shown constantly, gross incompetence, the House has resolved that the President should relieve him of his appointment with immediate effect and replace him with a competent officer who will give Mr. President’s crusade for rule of law the needed effectiveness.”

    Also, JAC urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Ododo to order for his alleged “obstruction of the statutory functions of the EFCC” when the EFCC wanted to arrest and prosecute to account for his activities when he was “governor of Kogi State for eight years”.

    A statement by JAC’s Programmes Director Kehinde Osifisan reads: “A valid and subsisting warrant of arrest had earlier been issued against Bello. What is expected of a decent personality, especially a former governor, is to submit to the rule of law and make himself available for interrogation and possible prosecution.

    “It is very clear and unambiguous that the immunity presently enjoyed by Governor Ododo does not cover his predecessor. 

    “It is on this note that we are calling on President Tinubu not to watch the disgusting and internationally embarrassing scenario involving Bello and Ododo further, as it portends serious danger for nation.

    “But for the maturity and professionalism of the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olu Olukoyede, the invasion of the EFCC headquarters by Bello and Ododo on September 19, 2024 with the full retinue of the Kogi governor’s security convey, which included armed mobile policemen, DSS operatives and others, the situation would have led to casualties, bearing in mind the interagency rivalry among the forces.

    “While commending Mr. Olukoyede of EFCC, we urge him not to be discouraged and to ensure he brings to book not only Yahaya Bello but all other so-called “sacred cows” who have stalled the progress of the nation with unmitigated corruption.”