The newly inaugurated Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, has appointed Ali Bello, the nephew of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, as chief of staff. Yahaya Bello is being investigated for a N3 billion fraud.
Governor Ododo announced the appointment on Saturday after he took his oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony.
The former governor’s nephew takes up this new appointment despite being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering and misappropriating about N3 billion.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recall that, in 2023, the anti-graft agency arraigned Mr Bello and two others before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on 18 charges. On February 20, 2023, the court admitted Mr Bello and the three others to N500 million in bail.
It was gathered that Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, is prosecuting Ali Bello on 18 counts of money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.
Ali Bello was charged alongside other defendants, including Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, and the Kogi First Lady, Rashida Bello.
The EFCC is prosecuting them in suit No. ABJ/CR/573/2022.
Meanwhile, Mr Ododo also reappointed his successor’s commissioners, including Farouk Danlami, Salami Ozigi-Deedat, Basiru Abubakar, Adams Abdulaziz, Joseph Oluwaseun, Muzi Yinusa Abdullahi, Wemi Jonze, Rabiatu Okute, Fanwo Kingsley, Fatima Momoh, Mohammed Yusuf, Timothy Ojoma, Sunday Faleke, Abanika Taye, Asiwaju Idris Asiru, and Mohammed Adbulmutalib.
Other appointments include Folashade Ayodele Arike as Secretary to State Government, Hilary Ojoma as the deputy chief of staff, Elijah Evinemi as the head of service, Jerry Omodara as security adviser, and Isah Ismail as special adviser on media.
