Crime
Kogi bailout: Outcry as bank returns N20bn allegedly ‘fixed’ by State govt to CBN
Political analyst in Kogi State have knocked the state government for forfeiting the sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 to the central bank of Nigeria.
The money was meant for the payment of Kogi State workers’ salaries, but was alleged to have been domiciled in an interest yielding account with sterling bank.
DAILY Post in this report takes a look at the fate of Kogi workers, pensioner, as many analysts have described the development as a turning point for more pain and hardship for the people of Kogi State amid poor infrastructural development in the last five years under Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration.
Genesis of Kogi bailout
Since Governor Yahaya Bello took over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Capt. Idris Ichala Wada in Kogi State in 2016, workers in the state have had different perceptions about governance. When the youthful governor came on board, he introduced screening exercise which according to many was an attempt to downsize the state workforce.
For the government, there were many bad eggs, ghost and unqualified workers who had corrupted the civil service system and it was necessary for them to be flushed out before things got out of hands in the state. During this period, there were reports of some civil servants committing suicide as they had alleged that they were wrongfully booted out of the civil service. Despite these measures put in place by the government in power, the issue of inconsistency in payment and percentage salaries still longer.
Although the then government of Capt. Idris Wada first requested for N50 billion bailout from the Federal Government to offset the backlogs of salaries and also meet with the then economic reality, his request could not see the light of the day before the expiration of his tenure. When Governor Bello came on board, he gained access to the first tranche of bailout fund which is N20 billion.
In July 2019, Governor Bello admitted that his administration had received a fresh N30.8 billion bailout fund from the federal government. Bello made the disclosure in Lokoja, the state capital while performing the ground breaking ceremony of a chapel in the Government House.
He said the money was the balance of the N50 billion bailout fund which his administration had earlier requested for. That brings to a total of N50 billion received by the state as bailout fund on behalf of the state and local government councils.
Bello, in his remarks then said the money would be used to clear the four months salary arrears being owed workers and pensioners in the state. “I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving our latest request for bailout.
“I also thank the Attah of Igala for leading our traditional leaders to the president to strongly make our case. I thank the CBN Governor and everyone else in the value chain who helped to facilitate the money,” Bello said.
Despite gaining access to this huge amount of money from the apex bank, DAILY POST gathered that the stories of many workers and pensioners is still the same as they are greeted monthly with percentage salaries, poor renumeration and poor infrastructural development in the state, according to analyst, remains very visible.
Kogi govt VS EFCC
The latest faceoff between Kogi State and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) brought a new twist to the bailout scenario. On August 31, 2021, Justice Tijani Garba Ringim, a vacation judge, had ordered the freezing of the account following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency, in a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte application, had stated that it received credible and direct intelligence, which led to the tracing of the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in an account No. 0073572696 domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc with the name Kogi State Salary Bailout Account.
Moving the application for the interim forfeiture of the funds on August 31, 2021, A. O. Mohammed, counsel to the EFCC, had urged the court to grant the order so as to prevent further dissipation of the funds in the account.
Mohammed had also told Justice Ringim that the N20 billion meant to augment payment of salary and running cost of the government was kept in an interest-yielding account with the bank.
According to him, “ Instead of using the money for the purpose it was meant for, Sterling Bank Plc, acting on the instruction of the Kogi State government, transferred it from the loan account and placed it in a fixed deposit account.”
Reacting, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information debunked the allegation, stating that the State government judiciously used the funds for its intended purpose.
Fanwo said that the allegations have tarnished the reputation of the State and Governor Yahaya Bello.
But Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking to discontinue the matter involving the N20 billion Kogi State salary bailout loan.
The application, according to the commission’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), is sequel to the decision of the management of Sterling Bank Plc to return the N19, 333,333,333.36 standing in the credit of the frozen account to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Kogites, analysts react
Reacting to the forfeiture of the N20 billion bailout, workers in Kogi State have described the development as wicked on the part of the state government. According to them, it is an embarrassment and salt added to injuries of workers who are going home monthly with percentage salaries.
One Mr. Henry said, ” it is so painful that we have a government that does not care for its workers. You mean we have such an amount of money domiciled in a bank account, yielding interest when workers are suffering? Can you point out any thing this government has done to better the lives of the masses?
“This money was given to the government to cushion workers suffering. But they decided to hoard it for their own selfish interest. Now, look at it, the money has been returned back to the Central Bank of Nigeria. They know what they are doing. They will never agree ownership of the money because of their political ambition.”
Another individual identified as Paul Ocheni said the State Government is not telling Kogites the real thing that transpired concerning the bailout fund. “What just happened now is a clear indication that this government has lost it. Is it a ghost that owns the money? Why are they taking us for a fool? Things are getting tough on a daily basis here in Kogi State. The roads are bad, our schools are nothing to write home about.
“Look at our health care sector, especially hospitals located in the rural areas, you will cry for Kogi State. Do u know what N20 billion would have done to the lives of Kogi People? Now it is gone and they want us to be clapping for them. Are they telling us that the N50 billion bailout given by the Federal Government is finished? This government has sold their conscience to the devil. They should not forget, there is a day of reckoning”.
A Political analyst, Mohammed Isah said this is beginning of more hardship for workers in Kogi State. Continuing he said,” Let somebody tell me that I’m dreaming. This should not be happening in this jet age. Money that is meant to put smiles on the faces of our pensioners and civil servants has been thrown to the river; all thanks to the self-centeredness and wickedness of the people in power.
“Where do we go from here? Who have we offended in Kogi State? This government should tell us what they have done to better the lives of their people. Is it the so called flyover at ganaja junction, the caricature renovation of specialist hospital in Lokoja and other places, the newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology? What else can they boast of? Nothing! They should all hide their heads in shame”.
Isah, however, called on Governor Yahaya Bello to resign, adding that he had failed the youths is his constituency. ” Governor Bello should resign honourably if he has integrity. He should forget governance and concentrate on his business”.
Similarly, Kogi-born activist, Austin Okai also berated Governor Yahaya Bello for mismanaging the state’s resources.
Reacting to the Friday’s withdrawal of a suit filed against Kogi State government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the N20 billion bailout loan, Okai said the decision to return the N19.33 billion in the alleged bailout account to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will affect the state economy negatively.
Okai said, “Kogi State just lost N20bn to the EFCC because of Yahaya Bello’s greed and wickedness. The poor workers in the state who are victims of percentage salaries in recent years are the real victims of this obnoxious act.
“Yahaya Bello’s dirty and shady deal orchestrated and coordinated to defraud and milk Kogi State is what led to this harsh decision from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It is unfortunate that this is happening at a time when civil servants and pensioners are committing suicide due to hunger and starvation.
“I always know that this government has nothing good to offer the good people of Kogi State. I have been called different names whenever I raised alarm of Bello’s counterfactual navigations. But today, I have been vindicated.
“In as much as the unfolding scenario has exposed the high level of corruption in Kogi State financial dealings, it will have negative impact on our workers and the economy,” he said.
Okai queried the alleged decision of the state governor to fix bailout funds meant to offset salaries of workers in the state in an interest-yielding account.
Meanwhile, the State government is yet to officially react to the latest development.
The abductors, who attacked schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, are said to be demanding the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The two commanders whose release is reportedly being sought are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.
The duo are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan, JAMBS, also known as Ansaru — a breakaway faction of Boko Haram — and are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism in the country between 2013 and 2015.
They are also linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
They were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, with their trial commencing on January 15, 2026.
Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of illegal mining — which he admitted he used to fund arms procurement for terrorism and kidnapping.
He denied 31 other counts and remains in DSS custody pending trial on those charges.
Other reports indicate the ransom demand stands at ₦1bn, to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin. PUNCH Online could not independently verify this figure.
Security analysts have warned that releasing the commanders would pose serious risks to national security.
A retired Brigadier-General, Bashir Adewinbi, speaking with Saturday PUNCH said the situation had put the government in a tight corner, warning that paying ransom or releasing terrorist commanders would embolden criminal groups and fund further attacks.
Another retired Brigadier-General, Peter Aro, urged the government to first establish proof that the abductees were still alive before taking any decision, noting that prolonged captivity posed serious risks, particularly for young children.
The Oyo State Government has declined to comment on the demands or the state of negotiations, with the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, saying it would be “unhelpful” to disclose the government’s strategy while efforts to secure the victims’ release were ongoing.
On May 17, two days after the attack, the abductors released a video showing the beheading of one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele.
Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing in a statement on Monday, May 18, describing it as deeply painful.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
A total of eight suspected fake Pastors were on Friday arraigned before the Awka High Court in Anambra state.
Recall that Governor Charles Soludo had at a church service in Awka announced that some suspected fake Pastors are already under the custody of the state government for activities that are unbecoming of their roles as servants in God’s Vineyard.
Recall also that at the peak of the clampdown on fake Native Doctors, the affected Native Doctors protested that the Anambra state government has been neck deep in selective justice contending that the fake Pastors obtain their powers from Native Doctors.
They queried why their colleagues are being arrested while their clients who are Pastors are left to walk the streets freely.
It was against this backdrop that the Anambra state government beamed it’s searchlight on the activities of some Pastors which led to the arraignment of eight suspected fake Pastors.
It was gathered that the alleged fake pastors violated the 2025 Homeland Security law established by the administration of Prof Charles Soludo.
The Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on New Media Sir Ejimofor Opara who confirmed the development said the Homeland security law was passed in February 2025 and it frowns at certain forms of religious practices that are deemed inimical to the public, especially as it pertains to creation of illegal wealth.
Last year, some native doctors who were promoting get-rich-quick practices (Okeite rituals) were also arrested and prosecuted accordingly with some of them serving jail terms while othere are currently undergoing trial.ls.
The names of those arraigned before the High Court include; Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu and Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu.
Others are Ndubisi Nnachukwu,
Miracle Iruoma and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, is leading the prosecution.
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Also, security analysts in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said attempts by the abductors to justify their actions through religious rhetoric amounted to a distortion of Islam.
“Islam forbids kidnapping, terrorism and the extortion of innocent citizens. Legitimate Sharia promotes justice, peace and the sanctity of human life, values that stand in direct opposition to the activities of criminal groups,” the statement said.
The organisation added that terrorists could not claim to speak on behalf of Muslims.
“Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” it stated.
Quoting Chapter 5 Verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an, the community stressed that Islam places a high premium on the protection of human life and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those in captivity.
The development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.
A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the government to secure the release of the victims.
“We are aware of the ransom demands of the terrorists, but we are helpless. We are looking up to the government and pleading for intervention,” he said.
Schools shut in 33LGAs
Findings by revealed that the management of private schools issued a statement on Wednesday directing all schools to shut down from Friday, June 5.
One of the internal memos obtained by our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday read, “Due to the situation at hand and the ongoing protest in the state, all pupils and students should stay at home until further notice. No school for now until further notice.”
Also, a message circulated to private schools by the Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, read, “Good day, all school owners/administrators. Due to the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire LGA and rising security concerns, all NAPPS member schools in Ibadan District will be closed on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a mark of solidarity and for prayers for the victims’ safe release and the protection of all schools.
“If anyone tries to disrupt school activities before or after Friday, please record a video if it is safe to do so, report to the nearest police station, and inform your NAPPS LGA coordinator and the district office immediately.”
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, had earlier disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.
Speaking in Ibadan, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said, “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. You know this is more or less a remote area. It is not that remote, but we cannot compare schools in this environment with those around the Agbowo-UI, Bodija, Sango or Mokola axis.
“But we had to consider those students writing their terminal examinations. Otherwise, we would have joined the public protest since Monday. We eventually shut down the school on Wednesday,” the source said.
It was gathered that the bandits entered the community at about 1am, shooting sporadically to scare residents. They reportedly destroyed two houses before picking up the victim and whisking him away to an unknown destination. The boy, identified as Oluwatobi, is said to be the son of a pastor in the community, Isaac Olaosebikan.
A source said that, on hearing the sporadic gunshots, residents of the community fled their homes and ran to neighbouring communities for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi, who confirmed the incident in a WhatsApp message, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
He said, “The Ondo State Police Command has commenced an intensive manhunt for suspected kidnappers who abducted a nine-year-old boy during a violent attack on residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun, in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
“The incident was reported in the early hours of Friday, 5th June 2026, at about 2:30 a.m. by Mr. Olaosebikan Isaac and Mr. Joel Owalekan, both residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun. According to their reports, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the same day, a group of armed men invaded the community, firing gunshots sporadically and causing panic among residents.
He added that personnel of the command and the Amotekun Corps had been mobilised to the scene and had launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“Security operatives combed the surrounding forests and likely escape routes in a bid to rescue the abducted child and apprehend the perpetrators,” the PPRO stated.
Jimoh also noted that investigations had commenced while relevant exhibits had been recovered and documented to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and track down those responsible.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has directed all tactical teams, intelligence units and other relevant security assets to intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue of the victim unhurt and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Command is also working closely with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.”
Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other suspects before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The Ekiti State Police Command said the suspects were brought before the court after the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyimi, informed the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Oriyimi subsequently requested the court to remand the defendants pending further directives from the DPP.
Ruling on the application, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Kano Times recalls that Ogunleye was declared missing on May 20 after her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road.
Reports at the time indicated that she was allegedly abducted by suspected gunmen shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
She was later found unharmed during a joint operation involving security agencies.
However, police investigations later alleged that the kidnapping was staged in a bid to raise money to offset financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act.
Dada described the incident as embarrassing and unacceptable, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in government officials and security agencies.
He further stated that no public office holder would be protected from prosecution if found culpable of any wrongdoing.
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