…alleges assassination attempt on Gov Ododo, Yahaya Bello
By Uche Onyeali
Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the immediate removal of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, over the alleged unprofessional handling of the case against the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The lawmakers at plenary in Lokoja yesterday condemned what they described as unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge by EFCC operatives.
The legislators noted that it was an attack on the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the entire people of Kogi State.
They accused the EFCC of assassination attempt on former Governor Bello and the incumbent, stressing that the persecution of the former governor had gone on for too long and must stop.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Akus Lawal, representing Ankpa 1 State Constituency, seconded by Hon. Jacob Olawunmi of Mopamuro State Constituency.
In defence of the motion, Hon. Lawal said the EFCC was out to humiliate and possibly kill the present and former governors.
For his part, Hon. Olawumi stressed that the audited financial reports of the state had always been published by the state government and that “the state House of Assembly can categorically say that no money is missing to warrant EFCC’s unwarranted witch-hunting of the former governor.”
Contributing to the motion, Hon. Abu Jibril of Ajaokuta State Constituency specifically said the EFCC boss should be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to kill the governor, calling on the president to remove him immediately.
According to him, the EFCC’s conduct shows that the chairman is incapable of leading a supposed impartial agency like the EFCC.
“The chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Bode Ogunmola (Ogori/Magongo, PDP), 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 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 wants to kill our Governor.”
The majority leader of the House, Hon. Suleiman AbdulRazak alleged that officials of the EFCC were begging the former governor to let them pretend as if he was arrested.
He said it was an embarrassing act that showed that the anti-graft agency was acting a script written by some political enemies of the former governor.
The lawmaker therefore said the President should be notified of the assassination attempt on the present and former Governors; adding that the whole drama was a show to embarrass the former governor.
He concluded that on the fateful night, a coup attempt was committed at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge and called on the president to immediately remove the EFCC chairman to save the nation from further embarrassment.
The lawmakers concluded that the EFCC had an agenda different from the fight against corruption, which had been revealed by the way the Commission approached the issue of arrest.
Meanwhile the Assembly passed a resolution commending President Bola Tinubu for his economic policies which are aimed at building a strong and virile economy that will be the envy of all.
Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, who read out the resolution of the House, stated: “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.”
