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The Movement for the Emancipation of Kogi State, (MEKSTA), has charged Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of the state to throw in the towel for his obvious complicity in the layered corruption cases perpetrated under his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.

Ododo served as Auditor-General for local governments during the Bello years, a period during which funds belonging to the third tier of government was brazenly misappropriated culminating in judicial inquests.

In a strongly worded statement at the weekend, MEKSTA expressed deep concern over the ongoing and alarming trend of justice being consistently undermined in Kogi State. It highlighted the troubling reality that those in positions of authority, rather than upholding the principles of the constitution and ensuring accountable governance, have instead succumbed to corruption and sycophancy. This behavior is significantly hampering the state’s development and obstructing sustainable progress.

In light of these pressing issues, MEKSTA has called for the immediate resignation of the current governor, Ahmed Ododo. Their assertion is rooted in the belief that Ododo has emerged as a mere puppet in the political machinations of his predecessor, former governor Yahaya Bello. Since taking office in January 2015, Bello has orchestrated a series of questionable transactions that the league claims amount to a massive heist within state resources.

Ododo’s previous role as the Auditor-General for Local Governments under Yahaya Bello’s administration for eight years has raised serious questions regarding his integrity and commitment to transparency. It is alleged that Bello handpicked Ododo as his successor in the 2023 elections with the intent of safeguarding his controversial actions and concealing the mismanagement of funds.

Adding to the mounting concerns are allegations surrounding Ododo’s involvement in ongoing court investigations related to financial misappropriations under Bello’s governance. Reports indicate that Ododo has attempted to influence judicial proceedings by offering a staggering N50 million to an Abuja court. This court is currently hearing a case involving his Chief of Staff, Ali Bello, who is also the son of Yahaya Bello and has been implicated in various dubious transactions conducted in a private capacity while acting on behalf of his father.

MEKSTA argues that Ododo’s appointment of Ali Bello as Chief of Staff is a strategic move designed to provide him with official protection from legal scrutiny, allowing him to evade accountability for past actions. This situation paints a troubling picture of governance in Kogi State, raising urgent questions about justice, integrity, and the future of leadership in the region.

*The Issues*

The ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, progressed on January 29, 2026, with continued testimony from Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7), Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer at Access Bank.

Bello faces prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count indictment related to money laundering offenses totaling ₦80,246,470,088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty-Nine Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo).

During his testimony, led by prosecution counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, Egoro provided a comprehensive analysis of financial transactions linked to the accounts of Fazab Business Enterprise and E-traders International Limited. These entities are alleged to have received funds traced back to local government councils in Kogi State.

After reminding Egoro that he was still under oath, Pinheiro presented Exhibit 33(8), the statement of account for Fazab Business Enterprise. Egoro clarified that on May 6, 2022, eleven inflows occurred, originating from various Kogi State local government councils, including Yagba East, Yala, Idah, and Okene.

On May 9, 2022, the witness reported three transactions comprising two inflows, affirmatively confirming that these originated from Ibaji and Dekina Local Government Areas. The cumulative inflows were reported as follows: ₦103,375,059.73 on May 6 and ₦14,563,702.56 on May 9, culminating in a total of ₦117,938,762.29.

Pinheiro further inquired about subsequent cash withdrawals associated with these inflows. When prompted to identify the individual responsible for a ₦10 million cash withdrawal from the account, Egoro identified Yakubu Siyaka A. He confirmed that Siyaka made withdrawals on multiple occasions between May 9 and May 26, 2022, totaling ₦116,600,000.

When asked about the extent of cash withdrawals relative to the inflow of ₦117,938,762.29 from local governments, Egoro acknowledged that nearly the entire sum had been withdrawn in cash. By May 31, 2022, the account reflected a mere balance of approximately ₦1,289.41 (One Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine Naira Forty-One Kobo).

Further testimony covered the inflows for June and July 2022, which amounted to ₦108,793,086.69 and ₦141,718,056.30, respectively. Egoro confirmed that during this period, Siyaka continued to make substantial cash withdrawals, totaling ₦198,900,000. Responding to additional inquiries, he confirmed that nearly ₦200 million was withdrawn in cash from the inflows realized during these months.

The pattern of inflows and corresponding withdrawals persisted through August and September 2022, and Egoro indicated consistent credit entries and withdrawals in subsequent months, including October, November, and December. The total inflow from May to December 2022 was reported as ₦2,563,722,942.55, with the total inflow for the period from August to December corrected to ₦2,195,273,096.27.

On the withdrawal front, Egoro confirmed that Siyaka’s cash withdrawals from August to December 2022 totaled ₦266,800,000. The total cash withdrawal aggregate, including previous months, was stated as ₦582,300,000.

Additionally, Egoro highlighted that, apart from cash withdrawals, transfers were also made from the Fazab account. In August 2022, he identified two transfers amounting to ₦94,364,450, specifying that the first transfer of ₦40 million on August 9 was directed to Konforte Koncept Company, while the second transfer of ₦54,364,450 on August 10 was made to Abba Ada.

*The Connivance Case Overview*

On February 5, 2026, Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to commence an investigation into court Registrar Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu and the second defendant, Daudu Sulaiman. This inquiry is centered around allegations of tampering with evidence in a case involving a purported N10 billion fraud.

The proceedings were prompted by Zubairu’s disclosure to Justice Omotosho regarding Sulaiman’s attempt to solicit his assistance in erasing critical messages from WhatsApp chats on a mobile device submitted as evidence in the case. Zubairu stated that Sulaiman offered him a residential accommodation in exchange for this act.

In an open court session, Justice Omotosho presented Zubairu’s confession, emphasizing a commitment to transparency as guided by the Chief Judge’s policy on discovery and disclosure. He expressed a strict stance against any misconduct within the court’s operations.

During testimony, Zubairu recounted the details of his interaction with Sulaiman, explaining that the second defendant approached him with a proposition related to his housing difficulties, following which he agreed to delete specific WhatsApp messages in return for promised housing support.

Justice Omotosho subsequently authorized prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, to instruct Investigation Officer Muhammed Audu Abubakar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to verify the status of the messages purportedly deleted from the defendant’s phone.

Abubakar confirmed in court that several messages from Exhibits N and O, encompassing discussions spanning from 2020 to 2022, had indeed been deleted. These chats implicated Ahmed Ododo in and when pressed to identify the specific chats he had erased, Zubairu acknowledged recalling only two, although he could not provide precise details.

In follow-up inquiries regarding Exhibit N, Abubakar detailed instances of missing messages. For example, chats dated between December 3 and December 28, 2020, had seemingly been erased, including notable content referencing individuals involved in financial transactions. Specific messages from January 2021 detailing the movement of significant sums of money were confirmed as deleted.

Oyedepo highlighted the urgency of the matter, asserting a strong suspicion that Exhibit N, which contains crucial evidence, had been compromised. He advocated for a forensic examination of the exhibit and requested that the court revoke the defendant’s bail pending the investigation’s outcomes.

The defense counsel, despite expressing surprise at the developments, recommended that the court defer any decisions until the forensic investigation concludes. In light of these proceedings, Justice Omotosho ordered a thorough investigation by the NPF and DSS and scheduled a continuation of the trial for February 9, 2026.

*“Resign now!”*

In the short span of less than two years, the Ododo administration has garnered an impressive sum of over ₦600 billion from Federation Account allocations as well as various other revenue streams, as evidenced by publicly accessible data. However, the pressing concern is not merely the amount of revenue accrued, but rather the tangible outcomes and results achieved from such substantial funding. Unfortunately, when it comes to this aspect, the administration’s record has been exceedingly disappointing. Two years into its tenure, there is scant evidence of completed and commissioned projects that would typically serve as indicators of effective and responsible resource utilization.

In light of this troubling record, the Ododo administration is now seeking to raise an additional ₦50 billion through Sukuk bonds, with the intention of financing the development of an international airport and an international market. This proposal raises significant concerns regarding governance, accountability, and the fiscal priorities of the administration. The decision to prioritize the construction of an international airport is particularly troubling, as it prompts serious questions about the sequencing of projects and the necessity of such an endeavor in the current context.

While large-scale aviation infrastructure can indeed hold economic justification in certain scenarios, its relevance is considerably diminished in regions where fundamental services remain lacking. An airport, no matter how modern or expansive, does not have the capability to provide electricity to communities that remain in darkness, furnish water to areas suffering from drought, or enhance access to basic healthcare facilities that are critically needed. To proceed with such a costly project while essential needs are still unmet represents a significant misalignment between public borrowing and the overarching public interest.

Given this distressing backdrop, MEKSTA taken a stand, calling for the resignation of the governor. They argue that his policies, which are perceived as detrimental to the welfare of the people, have led to an unfortunate regression in progress. If the governor truly stands on the side of justice and the citizens’ well-being, stepping down from his position would be an honourable course of action to take.

*SIGNED:*

1. Hon Obafemi Medaiyese (Yagba Federal Constituency constituency)

2. Comrade Joseph Mebatonije (Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency)

3. Alhaji Yusuf Kpareke (Lokoja/Kotonkarfe Federal Constituency)

4. Mallam Jimoh Ozovehe (Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency)

5. Dr Nurudeen Adaviriku (Okene/Ogori-Magongo)

6. Alhaji Isiaka Momoh (Ajaokuta Federal Constituency)

7. Chief Ojonimi Adegbe (Idah/Igalamela-Odolu/Ofu/Ibaji Federal Constituency)

8. Pastor Mark Onucheyo (Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency)

9. Bishop Husseini Saidu (Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro Federal Constituency)