Veteran Journalist, Kolade Otitoju Debunks Allegation Against Gov Ododo »

Veteran journalist Babajide Kolade Otitoju has strongly refuted claims suggesting that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State shielded his predecessor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Otitoju, who made his position clear during TVC’s Journalist Hangout on Thursday, dismissed the insinuation, providing a clear counter-narrative.

In the course of the show, the host, Gbenga Oresegun, had suggested that former Governor Bello was allegedly evading justice, while his successor, Governor Ododo, was purportedly shielding him from any possible arrest.

Oresegun further remarked that the EFCC seemed preoccupied with pursuing smaller fraudsters, while letting former government officials, such as Bello, off the hook for alleged corruption.

However, Otitoju swiftly corrected this claim, stating that Governor Ododo had, in fact, led his predecessor to the EFCC office back in September. This action, Otitoju emphasized, showed that the governor was not protecting Bello but was actively cooperating with the EFCC in holding former public officials accountable.

The heated exchange was sparked by a recent development where the EFCC seized 753 duplex apartments in Abuja, allegedly linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor Goodwin Emefiele and his associates.

The panel discussion on Journalist Hangout veered into a larger conversation about corruption and the commission’s priorities, with some questioning whether high-profile individuals were receiving special treatment.

Otitoju’s statement sought to clear the air on Governor Ododo’s stance regarding his predecessor, reinforcing that the current Kogi governor had no part in obstructing any legal processes regarding Bello’s alleged activities.