Fresh facts have emerged on why Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, facilitated the rescue of his predecessor and boss, Yahaya Bello, from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday.
Osun Defender reports that operatives of the anti-graft agency laid a siege on Bello’s Abuja residence early on Wednesday before the governor and some policemen attached to the former governor prevented the officials from arresting him.
Preliminary reports in the media said Bello was wanted by the EFCC for alleged fraud to the tune of N84 billion. However, a fresh petition filed against Yahaya Bello has emerged.
The petition, dated April 8, 2024, and obtained exclusively by Osun Defender, accuses the former Kogi Chief Executive of misappropriation and criminal conversion of funds meant for the 21 local government areas during his tenure from May 2016 to January 2024.
Filed by Kogi Conscience, a civil society group, and addressed to the EFCC chairman, the new petition alleges that Bello and the 21 LG chairmen who served in his administration diverted over N300 billion allocated to the local governments through a joint account controlled by the state government.
Among those named as alleged culprits is the current Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, who served as the Auditor-General for Local Government under Bello’s administration.
Others are Mr Ibrahim Abagwu, Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, Ishaq Shaibu Okolo, Onoja Ignatius Amajogwu, Patrick Onogu, Abuh Odoma, Thomas Offor, Williams Obiora, and Hassan Atawodi.
The petition also mentioned Muhammed Musa Lawal, Yakubu Ibrahim Aboh and Adejoh Nicodemus Friday, Abdul-Razak Muhammed, Midulrahman Ohiare Ozovehe, Omuya Joseph, Goke Oparison, Mustapha Akaba, Ashiru Lawal, Abdulkerim Isah Sani, Moses Tolorunleke and Taofiq Isah.
Others are Sunday Yalumo. Hon. Pius, Hon. Kabiru Idris, Hon. Muhammed Ibrahim (Ayuba Nana), Hon. Sule Amodu, Ijagbemi Idris, Barr. Abdulsalam Momoh Jim0h Ozigi, Engr Abubakar Ohere, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo And Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The petitioners said despite the huge allocations, there was “unprecedented maladministration, deprivation, and under-development” in the LGAs under Bello, with civil servants going for months without full salaries.
The petitioners said the alleged funds’ diversion resulted in “unprecedented suffering and hardship to our people with records of several deaths and stories of hunger, starvation and withdrawal of wards from institutions of learning.”
The Kogi Conscience urged the EFCC to investigate the management of the LG funds and bring all those found culpable to justice.
“So, we wish to further inform you that between the period of May 2016 – January 2024, the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi state under the leadership and governance of the aforementioned persons were allocated a total sum of Three Hundred Billion, Sixty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Three Nairn, Fifty-Eight Kobo (N300, 069. 350, 703. 58) only,” read part of the petition signed by Peter Onuma (National President) and Comrade Peter Jacob (General Secretary).
“Sir, may we state that the basis of our complaint is that the period under review of May, 2016 – January 2024, witnessed unprecedented maladministration, deprivation and under-development of our Local Government Areas and people as civil servants, staff of the Local Government Areas were for most of the months not paid their salaries or paid percentage salaries ranging between five percent to thirty percent of their monthly salaries thereby evolving a period of unprecedented suffering and hardship to our people with records of several deaths and stories of hunger, starvation and withdrawal of wards from institutions of learning.
“Sir, it must be added that under the watch of the above-mentioned persons for the period under review, our Local Government Areas witnessed zero development as there were practically no projects of whatever nature embarked upon or completed by the Council Chairmen.
“In fact, insecurity, crimes, and criminality which are the natural consequences of leadership-induced hardship became the order of the day.
“It is therefore our position for ourselves and on behalf of the good and peace-loving people of Kogi state that the sums so appropriated from the Federation Accounts through the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission as shown in the graph attached hereto to this letter were grossly misappropriated, criminally converted to their personal estate, thereby breaching the trust of the Kogi people.
“May we further add that the foregoing sums as allocated are less than the internally generated revenue of each of the 21 Local Government Areas for the period under review which we readily don’t have the record owing to the clandestine modus operandi of the managers of the system.
“We, therefore, call on your exalted office as the conscience of the Nigerian Nation to rise in defence of your mandate and cause an investigation to be conducted into the management of the resources of the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State for said period of May 2016 – January 2024 so as to determine the transparency or otherwise of same and to bring all persons found wanting in this regard to book.”
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
