By Yinka Adaranijo
Security agencies in Nigeria have been accused of a care-free approach to the handling of the alleged corruption case involving the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. Bello is wanted for stealing over N80Billion from the coffers of state government during his eight year rule. A human rights group, Network for Truth and Justice, (NTJ), based in Kogi State has berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for their seeming nonchalance in bringing the fleeing Bello to book. Heads of security agencies, the judiciary and Kogi political leaders, especially those in the National Assembly have also been labelled in the grand conspiracy to protect Bello.
According to NTJ, Bello has only been declared wanted to deceive and hoodwink Nigerians. The group lambasted the EFCC chairman for suddenly going cold after his public resolve to grab and prosecute Bello.paying lip service to the commission’s avowed intent to bring the fugitive former governor to book. The nation’s apex anti-corruption agency claimed it had no clue about the whereabouts of Bello. It proceeded nonetheless to request the International Police, (INTERPOL) to keep a keen eye on Bello who was rumoured to be planning to escape Nigeria to North Africa. The group said evidence abounds to the effect that the EFCC has been playing to the gallery. Bello is said to have been walking freely and unhindered, and even enjoying state protection. According to NTJ, Bello, under the watchful eyes of security agencies, has been staging and chairing meetings in high places.The most recent of Bello’s involvements, was a meeting which he allegedly held with the “Kogi State Caucus in the House of Representatives.
” The meeting reportedly held in an undisclosed location. Bello at the event allegedly ordered the “Kogi State House of Representatives Caucus” to ensure that the caretaker chairmen he handpicked preceeding the outlawed local government transition committtees, be returned as elected Council Chairmen. He directed compliance in all 21 local government areas in the state. Bello, although not physically present at the forum of APC stakeholders in Lokoja on Tuesday, all the decisions arrived at had his imprimatur.He was said to have rubbished the Supreme Court judgment which granted financial autonomy to the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. Bello, who was said to have laughed at the foolery of the federal government in trying to arrest him, was quoted as boasting that nothing will change the diversion of council funds into the Joint Allocation Account, (JAAC). He vowed to ensure that the councils remain under the firm grips of the state government which he is steering by proxy. According to a source, Bello stopped short of saying President Bola Tinubu has been engaging in mere soliloquy, talking to himself on the matter of financial liberation for the subnationals. Under Bello governance, local government funds were stipends split between his pocket and those of his select cronies.Spokesperson for NTJ, Hajarat Maimunat Ahmed, an educationist turned human rights advocate, revealed parts of Bello’s contributions during the stakeholders pre-meeting.
According to her: “While Bello insisted that all former caretaker chairmen must be returned to full executive capacities, he is quoted to have mandated the party executives to ensure that all vice chairmanship candidates are women. He also decreed that 40 percent of the councillors must also be women.” Speaking further, Mallama Ahmed said: “It is inconceivable that a common criminal like Bello, a man who has been declared wanted by the now toothless EFCC, the Nigerian Police Force and placed on immigration watchlist by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), has not only been walking free but is also having the audacity to confront the establishment. Bello’s sheer effrontery to challenge the orders of the Supreme Court, albeit from his closet, is unimaginable.” Further still, Ahmed said: “It is a shame that our representatives in the National Assembly are all part of this grand conspiracy, shielding Yahaya Bello from prosecution instead of reporting him to the authorities. By their actions, Kogi State parliamentarians have not only acted dishonorably but have made themselves accomplices of Yahaya Bello’s unforgivable sins committed against God and the people of Kogi State.””Usman Ododo is not in charge in Kogi State.
With the exception of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, it is a shame that our NASS representatives are collectively pandering to the antics of a common fugitive. They are in alignment with the scheme of a kleptocratic wanted man, who wants to retain Kogi State as his “automated teller machine,” (ATM). Senators Sunday Karimi and Jibrin Echocho, as well as all members Kogi State Reps Caucus in the National Assembly, will need to explain to their constituents why they have chosen to maintain sealed lips in the aftermath of Yahaya Bello’s excesses, even out of office. Most of the members of the House of Representatives have completely been bought over mainly because they think it is politically expedient to their 2027 ambitions, without considering the sensitivities of the masses. We are not unmindful of the lip service paid to Yahaya Bello being declared a wanted person by the EFCC Chairman. We have also noted the familial banters and dramas in the courtrooms in Abuja. Judges and lawyers, have deliberately deviated from the main focus which is Bello’s affront to the law of the land. Hallowed chambers of law have now become performance theatres.For a record seventh occasion, Yahaya Bello bluntly rebuffed court summons, such that defense and prosecuting lawyers have been dancing naked in the market space. The hitherto boastful EFCC Chairman suddenly has become a spectator. Nigerians, once again, have been taken for a ride by the the judiciary, the EFCC, in particular and their collaborators-in-crime in the corridors of power.
The EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede told the world he would resign if Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted. Why is he still in office today? We challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to show cause why the federal government should not be seen as part of this grand conspiracy to continue placing Yahaya Bello above the law.”‘
Bello’s Legacies to Continue in Kogi?
To further spite the nation’s apex anti-graft police, state chairman of the APC in his speech during Tuesday’s APC stakeholders meeting meeting at Lokoja, Abdullahi Bello idolized Yahaya Bello. He insisted the legacies of the man who EFCC has declared wanted for stealing over N80bn public funds would be perpetuated in Kogi State. The speaker also confirmed reports that the former governor has been up and doing and is on the driver of all engagements ahead of the council polls in the state. The party chairman broke protocols by mentioning former governor Bello before the sitting Governor Usman Ododo. He began thus: “I must begin my speech today by appreciating the Almighty God that has sustained and protected us all to witness the event of today, Alhamdulillah. My appreciation also goes to our overall leader and father, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello, who has laid a solid foundation upon which we thrive and are making profound development are progress in our great party.”Delivering Bello’s orders to the stakeholders, the party chair declared: “At this juncture, please permit me to highlight the key factors and steps that will be observed in our preparations and conduct of the APC primary and the selection process of our candidates. Our watchword shall be “inclusiveness and gender sensitivity.” This agenda was already set out by our leader and father, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello. The present Governor, His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo will not only build upon it, but improve on the already set foundation. In this direction, I wish to announce that the 239 councillorship positions of the 21 LGAs shall be shared in the ratio of 60/40 percent between our men and women! This is to consolidate and improve on the 35 percent allotted to our women in the last local council elections. This will be in addition to their positions as Vice Chairpersons and Council Leaders! Speaking further, the Kogi APC chairman said: “In addition, the selection process will take into account past contributions of party members to the success of the party, particularly during the last Governorship election.
Those members of our party who took risks and displayed uncommon bravery and commitment will be recognized and compensated”.Meanwhile, Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that Governor Usman Ododo and the APC are plotting to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy. In a statement signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Dansofo, the PDP accused Governor Ododo of planning to install his loyalists as local government chairmen to maintain control over local government accounts. The party claimed that Ododo’s declaration that the Joint Allocation Account (JAC) is constitutional shows his ignorance of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which abolished JAC. The PDP also recalled the era of Yahaya Bello’s administration, where local government chairmen would withdraw funds and deliver them to the government house. The party alleged that Ododo, as the then Auditor General in charge of Local Government, was complicit in this practice. The PDP expressed no surprise at Ododo’s stance on Local Government autonomy, given his past record.
The party accused Ododo of having already rigged the upcoming local government election.It will be recalled that the results of the last local government elections are still being permanently witheld by KOSIEC to the extent that those coronated started and ended their three years tenure without figures on how they got to office, however fictitious.