- Austin claimed the incumbent governor, Usman Ododo, is using his position and immunity to protect Bello from prosecution
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, says that immediate past Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, is currently hiding in the state government house.
Austin claimed the incumbent governor, Usman Ododo, is using his position and immunity to protect Bello from prosecution.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had in April declared Bello wanted.
The declaration followed the refusal of the former governor to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja for his arraignment over alleged N84bn money laundering.
The anti-graft agency had said anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.
However, in a statement on Friday, Austin, who was the House of Representatives candidate of the pdpy for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in the 2023 elections, alleged that Ododo played a role in “helping Bello evade the EFCC by whisking him away from Benghazi Street Zone 4 in Abuja.”
According to him, “This information was reportedly brought to the President and Commander-in-Chief by the Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA).
“The Attorney General of the Federation also warned Ododo about obstructing justice.
“It is widely believed that Bello is currently hiding in the Kogi State Government House, where he is being protected by Governor Usman Ododo.
“The truth remains that Ododo is allegedly being directed by Yahaya Bello from a hidden location,” Okai added