Kogi Assembly seek EFCC chairman's removal, accuse him of attempt to assassinate Yahaya Bello

By Olamilekan Adigun

The Kogi State House of Assembly has alleged the the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, of attempt to assassinate the former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.

This was as they called for the immediate removal of the EFCC chairman.

According to the House, the call was over Olukoyede’s unprofessional handling of the case against the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

During plenary in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, the lawmakers condemned what they described as the EFCC operatives’ unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge, saying it was an attack on the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, and the entirety of the Kogi people.

The lawmakers accused the EFCC of an assassination attempt on the former governor and the incumbent, stressing that the persecution of the former governor had gone on for too long and must stop.

Their argument followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing the Ankpa 1 state constituency, Akus Lawal.

The motion was seconded by the lawmaker representing Ijumu State Constituency, Jacob Olawunmi.

Akus said the EFCC was out to humiliate and possibly kill the present and former governors. His colleagues all supported this.

Abu Jibril of Ajaokuta state constituency specifically said the EFCC boss should be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to kill the governor. He called 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, the lawmaker from Ogori/Magongo State Constituency (PDP), Bode Ogunmola, 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 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.

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 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 demonstrate that the EFCC has fully marinated in a sense of its 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 the rule of law the needed effectiveness,” the lawmakers demanded in their resolution.