The Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the sacking of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, over what the Assembly described as the unprofessional handling of the corruption case against the immediate-past Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.
The resolution was passed during a plenary session on Monday in the assembly’s chamber in Lokoja.
The lawmakers condemned what they described as an unprovoked attack by EFCC operatives on the Kogi State Government Lodge, asserting that it was an assault on both Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the people of the state.
The call for Olukoyede’s dismissal came after a motion of urgent public importance was raised by Hon. Akus Lawal, representing Ankpa 1 State constituency, and seconded by Hon. Jacob Olawunmi of Ijumu State constituency.
After deliberating on the incidents, the assembly described the confrontations on April 17 and September 18 as assassination attempts against the former governor and a direct threat to the current governor’s life.
“The unprovoked attack on the governor’s lodge, including the firing of live rounds within a diplomatic zone, illustrates that the EFCC has exceeded its mandate and acts without accountability,” the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, said while presenting the resolution.
He emphasised the lawmakers’ belief that the EFCC has strayed from its anti-corruption mission, and due to the chairman’s perceived incompetence, they have resolved that President Bola Tinubu should relieve Olukoyede of his duties and appoint a capable successor for the enforcement of the rule of law.
Earlier in the day, Bello, accompanied by Ododo, visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja to surrender himself after months of evading trial on N80.2 billion money laundering charges pending against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was said to have sent word to the two men that they could leave the commission’s premises and that they would invite them when necessary. However, operatives of the anti-graft agency stormed the Kogi State Government Lodge at night in a bid to arrest the former governor. As the situation grew tense, Bello escaped from the scene with Usman in the governor’s convoy.
The EFCC has provided little information concerning the developments, leaving the public confused as to what it is up to.
The commission has yet to explain why it did not arrest the suspect, previously declared wanted, when he voluntarily surrendered at its premises, only to later resort to a violent approach to apprehend him elsewhere.
It only made a statement on the matter yet denied having Bello in custody and insisted that he remained a wanted person.
EFCC declared Bello wanted in April, a day after Ododo helped to block the operatives of the agency from arresting Mr Bello at the former governor’s residence in Abuja.
EFCC charged Bello, who completed his tenure as Kogi State governor in January, with money laundering charges involving N80 billion allegedly diverted from the state’s treasury.