The Kogi State House of Assembly has officially requested the removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede. During a heated plenary session on Monday, the legislators accused the EFCC of unprofessional conduct in its recent attempt to arrest former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in connection to an alleged fraud case involving ₦80.2 billion.
The lawmakers condemned the EFCC’s raid on the Kogi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja last Wednesday, where the anti-graft agency attempted to apprehend Bello. They alleged that during this operation, EFCC officials opened fire on the lodge, endangering both Bello and the current Kogi governor, Usman Ododo.
Hon. Akus Lawal, representing Ankpa 1 State Constituency, raised a motion of urgent public importance, calling attention to the EFCC’s actions. He criticized the agency’s approach, calling it humiliating and inappropriate. The motion was seconded by Jacob Olawunmi, representing Ijumu State Constituency.
Several lawmakers voiced their disapproval during the debate. Hon. Abu Jibril from Ajaokuta State Constituency accused the EFCC of attempting to assassinate both Bello and Governor Ododo. “The chairman has shown incompetence that warrants his removal,” Jibril argued, insisting that the EFCC Chairman should not only be dismissed but also prosecuted.
Bode Ogunmola, representing Ogori/Magongo State Constituency, also criticized the EFCC’s conduct, stating that the governor’s lodge should have been a place of safety, not a battleground.
He 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.”
Majority Leader Suleiman AbdulRazak claimed that EFCC officials had, at one point, requested Bello to pretend to be arrested, suggesting that the entire operation was politically motivated. He called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issue, describing the events as an attempt to embarrass the former governor and undermine Kogi State.
In a formal resolution, the House of Assembly categorized the raid as an assassination attempt on both Bello and Governor Ododo. The Speaker of the Assembly, Aliyu Yusuf, called for Olukoyede’s immediate removal. “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,” Yusuf stated.
