News
Yahaye Bello: Impeachment of Ododo, Kogi governor, looming
Kogi State House of Assembly, may soon commence the impeachment of Usman Ododo, Governor of the state over allegations of misconduct and abuse of office, if it accedes to the demand of some stakeholders in the state, who are pushing for that much as punishment for his role in the escape of Yahaya Bello, his predecessor from the clutches of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The PUNCH is reporting that Deji Ajare, a human rights attorney, has written to Umar Yusuf, Speaker of the assembly to commence the process of impeachment against the governor, for using his official motorcade to transport Bello out of his house in Abuja, to safety, an act he said amounted to harboring a wanted person, obstructing the course of justice, and misusing public funds.
In the letter, written on Friday, and dispatched through the House clerk to the Speaker, was in reference to the incident of Wednesday, where Ododo broke through the security cordon thrown around the former governor’s home in Abuja by the operatives of the anti-graft agency and whisked him away, thus obstructing his planned arrest to answer for charges relating to N80.2billion money laundering case.
The demand is coming on the heels of further action by other agencies of the Federal Government, including an order by the Inspector General of Police (IG) for the withdrawal of his security escort and the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), placing him on wathlist across all exit points in Nigeria, shortly after the EFCC declared him wanted.
Urging the assembly to action, Ajare, who also called on the assembly to cooperate with the EFCC and ensure all individuals involved are available for questioning and investigations, wrote: “In the light of the above allegations and the inherent potential breaches of statutory duties imposed by the Constitution and other relevant laws of our country, these actions, if proven true, amount to gross misconduct and warrant immediate investigation and commencement of impeachment proceedings.
“I hereby call on the Kogi State House of Assembly under your leadership to initiate a thorough inquiry into these allegations by Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, to ascertain the truth and to hold Governor Usman Ododo accountable if the allegations are found to be true. I also urge the Kogi State House of Assembly to cooperate with national law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to ensure all individuals involved are available for questioning and to facilitate a smooth investigation.
“I implore the House of Assembly to take swift and decisive actions, noting the effect of the misgovernance implied in these allegations on the people of the state. I thank you as I look forward to your urgent attention to this issue. I trust in your commitment to uphold the Constitution and the laws of our land for the betterment of our state and its people.”
The Speaker, however denied getting the said letter, while maintaining that there was no reason to move against the governor, as there was no evidence that he prevented security operatives from arresting the former governor, adding that assembly supported all constitutional security agencies and would not be a stumbling block in their operations.
The paper quoted the Mohammed Yabagi, spokesman to the Speaker as saying: “Anybody in the public has their perception of the matter. But the House has not seen any reason, none of the members of the House were there, and none of them saw the governor trying to prevent the security agencies from doing their job. As far as the Assembly is concerned, the Assembly supports all constitutionally recognised security agencies. We have not seen any reason why the House should commence any impeachment processes.
“For context, as far as the Executive is concerned, the immediate past governor was not even at his Abuja residence, and there’s no concrete evidence that the Executive Governor prevented them from doing their constitutionally recognised job. The House is yet to receive such a letter, and the Speaker is yet to have any knowledge of such a letter.”
Anybody with credible information on the wrong use of its trucks will be richer by a whopping N500,000, going by signals coming from Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) – an initiative to encourage whistleblower to report sharp practices within its operations.
The company, which said the move is part of efforts to curb unauthorised haulage activities and protect the integrity of its nationwide logistics operations, encouraged the public to report any suspected cases of its trucks being used to transport unauthorised goods or passengers.
The conglomerate in a statement on Sunday, reiterating it consistent warning that only approved products were permitted to be conveyed by trucks belonging to its subsidiaries, maintained that Dangote Cement trucks are authorised to transport only cement, limestone, high-grade gypsum, coal and clinker, Dangote Sugar Refinery trucks, to sugar products while those of NASCON Allied Industries were designated for Dangote Salt and DanQ Seasoning products.
Part of the statement, read: “Dangote Packaging vehicles are to carry bags and packaging materials, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals trucks are approved for polypropylene products, while Dangote Fertiliser Limited vehicles are authorised to transport urea fertilizer.
“Anyone with verifiable information that leads to the arrest of persons involved in illegal haulage activities or the recovery of unauthorized goods transported on Dangote trucks will receive a cash reward of Five Hundred Thousand Naira.”
In the programme, whistleblowers would be required to to provide details such as the truck type, registration plate number, cab number, location, description of the goods being transported, colour of the vehicle, and photographs where possible, to aid investigations through dedicated hotlines across its operations to receive reports of illegal haulage activities.
Stating that law enforcement agencies, including the police, have been authorised to arrest drivers found using Dangote trucks for unauthorised commercial haulage, the company reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against logistics-related fraud, saying the whistleblower programme is aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and compliance across its logistics network.
It added: “Public cooperation remains critical in our efforts to eradicate illegal haulage activities. We encourage anyone with credible information to come forward and help us maintain the integrity of our transportation system.”
Except any miracle happens, it is becoming obvious that no member of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will contest the 2027 general elections at any level, as the door has obviously been slammed on the face of the camp by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This fact became evident with the opposite camp led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), fully uploading the names of its own candidates in the commission’s nomination portal.
After ostensibly losing out in the bid to remain the National Chairman of the party, on the strength of the PDP convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, Turaki, had a lee-way when he was announced by the party’s Boad of Trustees (BoT), as the Chairman of a 13-man Caretaker Committee, inaugurated by Adolphus Wabara on May 4 this year.
INEC appears not swayed over the Wabara initiative, and has continued to deal with the Wike group, despite the argument that the verdict of the Supreme Court also decapitated the wings upon which it sought to fly by upholding the suspension of Sam Anyanwu, as National Secretary, and thus rendered the meeting he called that led to the opposite leadership, INEC, appears swayed.
Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Chairman, of the Wike camp, who announced the latest development in a statement on Sunday, said: “This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the promise we made that, under my leadership, the PDP will fully participate in the 2027 General Elections. Today, we have taken another decisive step towards fulfilling that promise.
“As we await the conclusion of the upload of our Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates, I, on behalf of the National Working Committee of our Party, extend my heartfelt congratulations to all PDP members across Nigeria and around the world. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more united Party and a better future for our nation.”
On May 26, the Wike-backed PDP named Sandy Onor, a former senator, as its presidential candidate.
On May 30, the opposition party faction led by Kabiru Turaki announced former President Goodluck Jonathan as its standard-bearer for the 2027 elections.
On July 10, Wike said it would be difficult for the PDP to win a presidential election unless it first resolved its lingering internal crises.
The minister added that political parties hoping to win the presidency must surmount their internal challenges and strengthen their grassroots structures.
“We are not passers-by in our nations. We are bona fide citizens of the nation. We have a right to participate in who governs us,” were the exact words with which David Oyedepo, Presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, sought to rouse the consciousness of Nigerians to directly get involved in the affairs of the country.
Oyedepo, a known critic of President Bola Tinubu, directly asked members of the church to obtain their voter cards to do the needful, through active participation in the electoral process as responsible citizens.
On Sunday during the church’s service at the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun state, Oyedepo said Christians have a civic responsibility to participate in deciding who governs their countries, the fiery cleric admonished his flock: “We have a civic responsibility as responsible citizens of our various nations. This church is today in 144 nations.
“So, endeavour to secure your voter cards. You are men and women of the spirit. You should know on your own personal conviction where to cast your vote.
“You, as bona fide citizens of your respective countries should not remain indifferent to the electoral process. So, please go ahead. It’s part of our policy; you will find it in our mandate. So, go ahead and ensure that you secure your voter’s right. And this church, with the millions that we have, we have a say in it. So, be part of it.”
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