The newly sworn-in Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has retained Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade as the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.
Ayoade served as the SSG in the eight years under the immediate past governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
The governor also announced the appointment of Ali Bello a nephew of former governor Yahaya Bello who is being investigated for a N3 billion fraud as Chief of Staff.
Also appointed is Alhaji Suleman Ibrahim as the Director General of protocol, and Oladele John Nihi as the Chief Press Secretary.
The governor also announced the appointment of some commissioner-designates, the majority of whom were commissioners under his predecessor, Bello.
They are former commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo, Ashiwaju Idris Ashiru, former finance commissioner, Engineer Bashir Gegu, former commissioner for solid minerals, Wemi Jones, former commissioner for education, and former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Barrister Salami Ozigi Deedat.
Meanwhile, Ali Bello’s appointment as Chief of Staff has been criticized because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ali Bello on 18 counts bordering on money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.
Ali Bello was charged on February 8 last year alongside other defendants in the case, 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.
Reacting to the development, Nigerians on X expressed concerns:
@lawrenceOkoropg: The same person docked for N3bn Fraud by the EFCC in Feb 2023 was appointed Chief of Staff to the Kogi State government 12 months later. Yet many are wasting in jail for doing nothing.
@firstladyship: Kogi state is the Wild West & the weakest link in Nigeria. They are the ones I pity the most. Yahaya Bello’s nephew, who has a case file with the EFCC, is now the chief of staff. The politicians are why the Naira will continue to crash against other currencies.
@aai_austin: A convict in February 2023; A chief of staff in January 2024; Is the Lord not working wonders? Kogi state? EFCC has turned a blind eye because his name is not Emefiele.
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