The Kogi State House of Assembly has demanded the immediate removal of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, citing gross incompetence and unprofessional conduct in handling the case against former Governor Yahaya Bello.
Lawmakers condemned the EFCC’s attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge, labeling it an assassination attempt on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and former Governor Yahaya Bello. They emphasized that the persecution of Bello has gone on for too long and must stop.
Hon. Akus Lawal initiated the motion, seconded by Hon. Jacob Olawunmi, stating that the EFCC aims to humiliate and possibly kill the present and former governors. Colleagues supported this assertion, with Hon. Abu Jibril calling for Olukoyede’s prosecution and immediate removal by the President.
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 lawmakers argued that the Audited Financial Reports of the State demonstrate no missing funds, making the EFCC’s actions unwarranted witch-hunting.
They questioned Olukoyede’s leadership capabilities, citing the EFCC’s conduct as evidence of incompetence.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman AbdulRazak, alleged that EFCC officials sought to stage a fake arrest of the former Governor, revealing a scripted act driven by political enemies. He called on the President to notify him of the assassination attempt and remove Olukoyede to prevent further embarrassment.
The lawmakers concluded that the EFCC’s agenda differs from fighting corruption, as evident in their approach to the arrest. They demanded condemnation from all well-meaning Nigerians.
Additionally, the Kogi State House of Assembly passed a resolution commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies aimed at building a strong economy.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, read out the resolution, stating: “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.”
