The Kogi house of assembly has called for the removal of Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for “persecuting” Yahaya Bello, former governor of the state.
Yahaya Umar, a lawmaker representing Omala state constituency in the Kogi house of assembly, alleged that the EFCC chairman is trying to “ridicule” Bello, who is accused of mismanaging N80.2 billion during his tenure.
Last Wednesday, the media office of the former governor alleged that operatives of the EFCC laid siege to the Kogi government lodge in Abuja in a bid to forcefully arrest Bello.
Ohiare Michael, director of the Yahaya Bello media office, said the operatives shot sporadically during the siege.
His claim came hours after the media office said Bello honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation but was turned back by the EFCC operatives.
On April 18, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
At the plenary on Monday, the Kogi legislators criticised the action of the EFCC operatives and described it as an “unprovoked attack” on Usman Ododo, governor of the state.
The lawmakers accused the EFCC of attempting to assassinate Ododo and the former governor, adding that the persecution of Bello had gone on for too long.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Akus Lawal, a lawmaker representing Ankpa 1 state constituency.
Akus alleged that the EFCC was out to humiliate and possibly kill Ododo and Bello.
Seconding the motion, Jacob Olawunmi, representing the Mopamuro state constituency, said the state assembly can “categorically say that no money is missing to warrant the EFCC’s unwarranted witch-hunting of the former governor”.
Abu Jibril, the lawmaker representing the Ajaokuta constituency, said President Bola Tinubu should immediately remove and prosecute Olukoyede. “The chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal,” Jibril said.
