Deji Ajare, a human rights lawyer, has requested the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Yusuf, to initiate impeachment procedures against Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, citing claims of misconduct and abuse of office.
On Friday, Ajare made the call in a letter to the speaker, which was routed through the House clerk.
According to him, using Ododo’s motorcade to transport the troubled former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, amounted to harbouring a fugitive, obstructing justice, and misusing public resources.
According to a news report, Ododo whisked away his predecessor at about 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission besieged the latter’s Abuja residence to arrest him in connection with an N80.2 billion money laundering case.
Following his escape, the EFCC proclaimed the ex-governor wanted, and the Nigeria Immigration Service added him to its watchlist. The Inspector General of Police has also ordered the removal of all police units assigned to the former governor.
In his letter, Ajare also urged the assembly to assist with the EFCC and make all those implicated available for interviews and inquiries.
“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 under 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,” he said.
Furthermore, he implored the House of Assembly to take swift and decisive action, 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 letter also read.
However, Mohammed Yabagi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, told our correspondent by phone that neither the Clerk nor the Speaker had received such a letter.
Yabagi also stated that the House had found no legal basis to launch the impeachment process against Ododo and that there was no evidence that the governor hindered security agents from detaining Yahaya Bello.
“Anybody in the public has their own 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,” he said.
Efforts to contact the Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi State Governor, Ismaila Isah, were unsuccessful due to his phone being switched off. However, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, denied reports that Ododo assisted Bello in beating security operatives who wanted to arrest him.
In an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, Fanwo stated that the governor is committed to upholding the country’s laws and respecting its legal practices.
“Governor Ododo did not assist in Bello’s departure from his residence; the EFCC’s claims are misinformation aimed at furthering their objectives. Bello is not evading anyone; the existing court injunction protects his fundamental rights,” he said
