The decision by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, to appoint Ali Bello, a nephew of former Governor Yahaya Bello, as the Chief of Staff, has ignited widespread criticism.
The appointment comes amid ongoing legal troubles for Bello, who is currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 18 counts related to money laundering and misappropriation amounting to approximately N3 billion.
The legal proceedings, identified as suit No ABJ/CR/573/2022, also implicate other individuals, including Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and Kogi First Lady Rashida Bello. The charges involve allegations of misappropriation and money laundering.
In a statement issued by the EFCC in 2022, it was revealed that Bello and another defendant, Sulaiman, had been remanded in prison pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions, which were set at N1 billion each by the judge.
The core accusation against the defendants revolves around the fraudulent withdrawal of over N10 billion from the Kogi State treasury. The funds were purportedly delivered to a bureau de change operator, Rabiu Tafada, based in Abuja. The alleged purpose was to either hold the funds or convert them into foreign currencies for personal gains.
As the controversy surrounding the Chief of Staff’s appointment continues to escalate, questions about the governor’s decision-making and the potential impact on the state’s governance are surfacing. The public awaits further developments in the legal proceedings, as Kogi State navigates through this challenging situation.
See reaction below;
@Spotlight_Abby wrote: “I wonder why some of you are complaining. Is the young man not eminently according to the APC standards? What’s an APC chief of staff without criminal internship and some field experience?”
@FS_Yusuf_ wrote: “Yahaya Bello placed a subservient loyalist as Governor and have his cousin (with fraud case N3 Billion) Chief of Staff. Yahaya Bello is still the Governor of Kogi State. Kogi “in the leg of God”
@firstladyship wrote: “Kogi state is the Wild West & the weakest link in Nigeria. They are the ones I pity the most. Yahaya Bello’s nephew with a case file with the EFCC, is now the chief of staff. The politicians are the reason the Naira will continue to crash against other currencies.”
@Mindset_Post wrote: “Yahaya Bello’s Nephew who was arrested by EFCC for N3 billion Fraud, is now the Chief of Staff to the New Governor of Kogi State”
@OjiUgo_nwa wrote: “From being docked and remanded in prison for N3bn fraud to becoming The Chief of Staff to the new Kogi State governor. Wonderful things are happening @von_Bismack remember I told you the new governor won’t be better right.”
@MO_Shaibu_ wrote: “Requirement for APC political appointments: Must be a CRIMINAL with atleast on year experience, and must make it to EFCC book for looting related charges. Meet the new Kogi State chief of staff, Ali Bello.”
@aai_austin wrote: “A convict in February 2023. A chief of staff in January 2024. Is the Lord not working wonders I. Kogi state? EFCC don turn blind eye because his name is not Emefiele.”
@LawrenceOkoroPG wrote: “Same person that was docked for N3bn Fraud by the EFCC in Feb 2023 is appointed Chief of staff to the Kogi State government 12 months later. Yet many are wasting in jail for doing nothing.”
