The Kogi State House of Assembly has condemned the attack on the Kogi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, describing it as an assassination attempt on the Governor by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a motion moved by Hon. Lawal Akus of Ankpa 1 Constituency, the Assembly Members call for thorough investigations into the “unprovoked attack on the State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja”.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Mopamuro Constituency, Hon. Olawumi Jacob said the EFCC was only “chasing shadows” as the State Government has been very transparent in the last eight years.
In his own contribution, the member representing Kabba/Bunu State Constituency, Hon. Seyi Bello said the action of the EFCC is beyond an attempt to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello.
He said: “They were not there to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were on a mission to assassinate the Governor. How can they refuse to attend to someone they declared wanted and who walked into their office? They told him to leave and that he will be invited later only to carry weapons to start shooting everywhere around the Governor’s Lodge.
“They have a clear intention to attack the Governor of the State and therefore, it was an attack on the people of Kogi State. We call on Mr President to remove Olukoyede so that he will stop embarrassing the good intentions of the Federal Government “.
The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Suleiman AbdulRazak also said it was clear that the fight against Yahaya Bello wasn’t about graft, but a desperate attempt to embarrass him.
Suleiman said: “Why were they begging him to please cooperate with them to make it look like he was arrested and handcuffed? Who were they trying to impress? Who gave them the job to embarrass Yahaya Bello?, he asked.
All the members of the House of Assembly took their turns to condemn the action of the EFCC and urged Mr President to relieve Olukoyede of his position.
Reading the resolutions of the House, the Rt Honourable Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Yusuf said the House had resolved to call on Mr President to immediately sack the EFCC Boss because of his attack on Kogi’s symbol of authority.
“It was disrespectful and dangerous for EFCC operatives to be firing shots around the incumbent Governor. It was an attack on the Kogi people and must be condemned by all.
“We are not saying they should not fight corruption. But what we are witnessing here is a witch-hunt and an attempt on the leaders of the State”.
The Speaker also directed the Clerk of the House to immediately communicate the House resolutions to the concerned authorities.
The unblinking battle between the EFCC and the Kogi State Government started shortly before the end of the last administration when the EFCC accused the Government of fixing some Billions in Sterling Bank.
The bank came out to deny the allegations and immediately he handed over, Alh. Yahaya Bello was charged to court on allegations of corruption.
The matter got to the head with the declaration by the EFCC that the former Governor is on its wanted list.
Alh. Yahaya Bello went to the EFCC to submit himself for interrogation on September 18, 2024 but the Anti Graft Agency refused to attend to him, saying they will invite him when needed.
A few hours later, operatives believed to be working with the EFCC stormed the Kogi State Government Lodge, firing shots in an attempt to forcefully take away the former Governor.
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