Kogi Gov, Bello, Diverts Bailout To ‘Buy Tribunal Judgment’
Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Governor[/caption]
Governor Yahaya Bello faces an uphill task to justify his sack of over 10, 000 workers from the state workforce, with allegations swirling that he has diverted the N20billion bailout to ‘buy judgment at the governorship tribunal.’
Bello who was controversially sworn in as governor even without a deputy is alleged to have used the nominal roll of the entire workforce in the state to get the bailout from the federal government only for him to sack 10, 00 workers on May 22 barely three weeks after announcing the package.
A source in Kogi told The Whistler that the governor is embattled and “is looking for leeway to fritter the state coffers to channel money to judges in the tribunal.
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“You can always see him at the Villa, visiting judges, attending conferences where judges are. Not too long ago, a certain senator hosted judges to a dinner and he was the only governor there.
“This particular senator has told him to fratanise with the Bench because the way he became governor is suspect, therefore we know what he has done. He wants to use our money to fight his legal battles but he should be ready for battle with the people of Kogi State,”
Only recently, an online newspaper alleged that barely a week after becoming governor of Kogi State, Bello approved for himself a total of N260 million as security votes.
The governor in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, on described the report as “a clear abuse of the right to information,” arguing that “The use of the word ‘squander’, as far as I am concerned, is a clear abuse of the right to information. Every dime spent by the governor can be accounted for.”
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The statement did not provide details of how the N260 million was used.
The governor is also alleged to have donated over N50 million during the First Lady, Hajia Aisah Buhari’s beauty therapy book launch in Abuja.
