Kogi Assembly Calls For EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede’s Sack

The Kogi State House of Assembly has urged for the prompt dismissal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.

During a plenary session in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, the legislators criticized Olukoyede’s “unprofessional” management of the case involving the former Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.

It is worth noting that the Assembly had earlier in the year, requested that the EFCC lift the ‘wanted’ designation it had placed on Bello’s name and identity.

In their recent submission, the lawmakers denounced what they termed an assault by EFCC operatives on the Kogi State Government Lodge, asserting that it constituted an attack on both the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, and the people of Kogi.

The lawmakers accused the EFCC of attempting to assassinate both the former and current governors, emphasizing that the ongoing persecution of the former governor must come to an end.

This discussion was initiated by a motion of urgent public importance presented by Hon. Akus Lawal, representing Ankpa 1 State Constituency, and was seconded by Hon. Jacob Olawunmi from Mopamuro State Constituency.

Hon. Akus expressed that the EFCC appeared intent on humiliating and potentially harming both the current and former governors, a sentiment echoed by other members.

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Hon. Olawumi, who supported the motion, highlighted that the State Government has consistently published its Audited Financial Reports, asserting that “the State House of Assembly can confidently state that no funds are missing to justify the EFCC’s baseless targeting of the former Governor.”

Hon. Abu Jibril from Ajaokuta State specifically called for the prosecution of the EFCC chairman for allegedly attempting to harm the governor, urging the president to take immediate action for his removal.

He argued that the EFCC’s actions indicate that the chairman is unfit to lead an agency that is expected to operate impartially.

“The Chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal,” he said.

Hon Bode Ogunmola, Ogori/Magongo State Constituency (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 of Assembly, Hon. Suleiman AbdulRazak, accused the EFCC officials of soliciting the former Governor’s consent to feign arrest.

He described this act as shameful, indicating that the anti-corruption body was performing a role scripted by political adversaries of the former Governor.

The legislator further argued that the president should be informed about the assassination plot against both the current and former Governors, stating that the entire incident was orchestrated to humiliate the former Governor.

He ended by asserting that a coup plot took place at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge on that night and urged the President to swiftly remove the EFCC Chairman to prevent further national disgrace.

The lawmakers concluded that the EFCC’s objectives diverged from the genuine fight against corruption, as evidenced by their approach to arrest matters.

They emphasized that this approach must be criticized by all Nigerians who are genuinely concerned about the country’s welfare.

Hon Yahaya Umar, representing Omala State Constituency said, “The unlawful conducts of the EFCC shows that the intention of the chairman is 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.”

On her part, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba, stated, “The EFCC is just trying to give the former Governor a bad name through their 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.”

In the same vein, the Kogi State House of Assembly also 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.

The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, who read out the resolution of the House, stated, “The House formally categorizes 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 demonstrate 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,” the lawmakers demanded in their resolution