Kogi Assembly Urges President Tinubu to Recall EFCC to Rectitude; Calls for Immediate Sack of Chairman Olukoyede
In a historic session held today, September 23, 2024, the Kogi State House of Assembly passed a resolution calling for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, citing gross incompetence and unlawful actions in the handling of the case against former Governor Yahaya Bello. The Assembly condemned the EFCC’s conduct, describing it as a violation of due process and an ongoing persecution of both the former governor and the current Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
During the plenary in Lokoja, a motion of urgent public importance was raised by Hon. Akus Lawal of Ankpa 1 State Constituency, supported by Hon. Jacob Olawunmi of Mopamuro State Constituency. The lawmakers highlighted several instances of misconduct by the EFCC, particularly two raids on April 17 and September 19, 2024, at the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. These raids, which involved the firing of live rounds, were labeled as assassination attempts on both the former and current governors.
The Assembly, in its eight-point resolution, accused the EFCC of undermining Yahaya Bello’s rights and reputation through media trials and intimidation, insisting that no funds were missing from the state’s coffers to justify such aggressive action. “The State House of Assembly can categorically say that no money is missing to warrant EFCC’s unwarranted witch-hunting of the former Governor,” emphasized Hon. Olawunmi. Hon. Abu Jibril of Ajaokuta State Constituency went further, urging the prosecution of Mr. Olukoyede for his alleged role in the assassination attempts.
Lawmakers pointed to a broader agenda being pursued by the EFCC, one not tied to the fight against corruption. Hon. Yahaya Umar of Omala State Constituency stated, “The unlawful conducts of the EFCC show that the intention of the chairman is not to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello, but to ridicule the state.” The sentiment was echoed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba, who described the EFCC’s actions as a smear campaign: “The EFCC is not sincere in this fight. It has an agenda it is pursuing, and the entire people of the state, particularly the women and youths, will not accept this.”
The Assembly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and economic reforms, acknowledging the short-term challenges they bring but expressing confidence in their long-term benefits. However, the Assembly stressed that the EFCC under Mr. Olukoyede has tarnished the fight against corruption by trampling due process underfoot. Hon. Bode Ogunmola of Ogori/Magongo State Constituency lamented the unprecedented actions of the EFCC: “For the EFCC Chairman to order that fire be opened on the official lodge of the Governor, he should be sacked and prosecuted.”
In a stinging rebuke, the Assembly concluded that, “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.”
The Assembly’s resolution called on President Tinubu to act swiftly by removing Mr. Olukoyede from his position, citing his incompetence in leading the anti-graft agency. “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,” declared the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf.
The House concluded by directing her clerk to transmit the resolution to the Presidency, the National Assembly, the judiciary and other relevant authorities for immediate action, marking a significant escalation in the confrontation between the state and the EFCC, with far-reaching implications at a time when calls for reforms within the commission have become deafening.
Full text of resolution below:
KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION
A FORMAL AND URGENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND REFORMS, AND CALLING HIS ATTENTION TO THE ONGOING PERSECUTION OF FORMER GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO BY THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)
WHEREAS the Kogi State House of Assembly recognizes and commends the long-term contributions of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as a democrat, particularly his respect for the rule of law and due process in governance and his sterling leadership within Nigeria’s political landscape;
WHEREAS the President’s unwavering leadership of both the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Federal Government has been marked by adherence to the principles of equity, fairness, and justice, providing a guiding example for governance to subnational units and government agencies across the nation;
WHEREAS the House of Assembly acknowledges the President’s reformist policies aimed at repositioning Nigeria for long-term growth, and though these reforms pose short-term challenges, they are designed to improve Nigeria’s living and development indices in the near future;
WHEREAS the Kogi State House of Assembly expresses its full support for these difficult but necessary reforms, understanding that they reflect the President’s undertaking to build Renewed Hope and a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria for all;
WHEREAS the House of Assembly has become gravely concerned by the persistent and unlawful harassment of His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State and the State Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under her current Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede;
WHEREAS the EFCC has pursued an aggressive campaign against the former Governor which has exceeded the investigative and prosecutorial roles for alleged corrupt acts, and has included flagrant violations of his constitutional rights, media trials, and attempts to undermine his dignity and position in the public eye;
WHEREAS after due debate and consideration it is the considered opinion of this Honourable House that the events of April 17, 2024, and September 19, 2024, involving coordinated and bloodthirsty raids during which firearms were intentionally and liberally let off at or in the vicinity of Yahaya Bello by undisputed agents of the EFCC, amount to coordinated assassination attempts against his person;
WHEREAS on the second date, to wit, September 19, 2024, armed operatives of the EFCC brazenly raided the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in the Asokoro area of Abuja at night and fired live rounds at Governor Ododo, many other Kogi State indigenes and others of Your Excellency’s innocent citizens present there on various lawful businesses;
WHEREAS this unprovoked and patently inexcusable attack occurred following the former Governor’s voluntary with his successor visit to the EFCC Headquarters earlier same day to turn himself in and help the Commission address its concerns over his financial conduct while at the helm of affairs in our State;
WHEREAS despite being declared a fugitive by the EFCC, the former Governor voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC at its Headquarters on the said September 19, 2024, in the company of the sitting Governor and other officials for their next actions, only to be rejected, rebuffed and later subjected to a humiliating ‘attempted arrest’ as aforesaid at the Governor’s official Lodge;
WHEREAS since this unfortunate saga began concerted efforts have been made by malicious actors to drag The President into the EFCC’s mess by public insinuation that former Governor Yahaya Bello’s travails are traceable to his desire once upon a time to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023 under the auspices of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC);
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AS FOLLOWS:
1. Commendation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: The Kogi State House of Assembly formally commends His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his long-standing democratic credentials, adherence to the rule of law, and firm leadership within both the APC and the Nigerian Government. The Assembly recognizes the President’s steadfast commitment to equity, fairness, and justice in governance.
2. Support for Presidential Reforms: The House expresses its full support for the difficult but critical economic and political reforms initiated by the President. While the short-term effects may be challenging, the Assembly stands in solidarity with the belief that these reforms will yield significant long-term benefits for the Nigerian people in due course while enhancing national development.
3. Attention to EFCC Misconduct: The Kogi State House of Assembly urgently calls the President’s attention to the ongoing persecution of former Governor Yahaya Bello by the EFCC. The Assembly believes the actions of the EFCC under its current Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, have gone beyond the legal boundaries of investigation and amount to a clear violation of due process and fundamental rights.
4. Chronology of EFCC’s Unlawful Conduct:
– April 17, 2024: A horrific raid was executed by EFCC operatives targeting the former Governor at his private residence in Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja, ostensibly to arrest him on allegations of corruption (for the records, this Honourable House has made Inquiry and there is no record that before that raid the EFCC issued the usual Letter of Invitation to His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, with the nearest thing discovered being an unverifiable claim by the EFCC Chairman that he allegedly summoned the former Governor via a phone call).
– September 19, 2024: The former Governor, accompanied by the sitting Governor and other Nigerians, voluntarily visited EFCC Headquarters. However, after being refused a hearing, the group left only for the EFCC to launch a nighttime raid on the Governor’s Lodge, firing live rounds in the presence of Governor Ododo, constituting a direct and unacceptable threat to his life.
– These events demonstrate a pattern of extrajudicial actions, unlawful raids, and attempts to undermine the rule of law by the EFCC.
5. Assassination and Threats: The House formally categorizes the April 17 and September 19 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’s 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.
6. Alleged Presidential Ambitions: The House formally firmly dismisses all insinuations linking the EFCC’s regrettable actions against former Governor Yahaya Bello to his past aspirations to become the APC flagbearer for the 2023 Presidential Elections, which were decisively won by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Assembly emphasizes that Yahaya Bello was only one of many aspirants defeated by Mr. President at the APC primaries, and none of the others are currently under similar attack by the EFCC. Furthermore, The President has proven severally that he considers Yahaya Bello a son, loyalist and asset, even graciously entrusting him with the critical role of National Youth Coordinator for his Campaigns, an assignment he executed spectacularly well in addition to successfully delivering Kogi State for the APC.
7. Appeal to the President: The Kogi State House of Assembly, hereby and accordingly, calls on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene in this matter to ensure that the EFCC adheres to the rule of law, respects due process, and refrains from further harassment of former Governor Yahaya Bello. The Assembly requests the President’s urgent action to protect the lives of the leaders of Kogi State and restore the integrity of our public institutions.
8. Sack of The EFCC Chairman: That because the EFCC Chairman has constantly shown gross incompetence the House has resolved, and hereby prays, that the President should relieve him of his appointment, ie, sack the EFCC Chairman, with immediate effect and replace him with a competent officer who will give Mr. President’s crusade for the rule of law the needed effectiveness.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Presidency, the National Assembly, and relevant judicial and law enforcement authorities for immediate attention and action.
Dated this 23rd day of September, 2024.
Signed:
RT. HON. ALIYU UMAR YUSUF
Honourable Speaker
Kogi State House of Assembly