Kogiflame
At the continuation today Monday February 9, 2026, of the alleged N10Billion fraud case levelled against former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State before Justice James K. Omotosho, accused persons in the matter walked into the court as free citizens from their respective addresses.
Court Registrar Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu and his accomplice, Dauda Sulaiman had allowed themselves to be overrun by ethnic considerations and tampered with sensitive evidences which should illuminate the ongoing hearing, including WhatsApp messages.
Justice Omotosho had ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Department of State Services, (DSS).
In total violation of this explicit directive, however, Zubairu and Sulaiman sauntered into the courtroom this morning, ostensibly from the comfort of their homes. This was calculated to water down the seriousness and gravity of the allegations of corrupt complicity against both men, as there are compelling evidences of the receipt of gratification by them, to compromise the matter under inquest.
Zubairu had confessed in the open court that he was offered a house as gratification to delete WhatsApp messages from court exhibits. Items reportedly deleted include those conveying the movement and delivery of various sums of money including N100m; N60m; N30m; N50m and N93m. Incumbent Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, who Auditor-General for local government under Bello, and Abdulsalami Hudu, a cashier in Government House, Lokoja, were named as couriers of these sums in the various deleted chats.
The Movement for the Emancipation of Kogi State, (MEKSTA), condemns wholly and totally, the unprofessional conduct of the NPF a the DSS on this score. As prime intelligence and security agencies, both services are expected to be above board in the discharge of their official duties.
The manner of the appearance of Messrs Zubairu and Sulaiman in the court today, suggests they were let off to the comfort of the homes after Justice Omotosho’s express directives at the weekend, to the contrary. This is antithetical to the impartial dispensation of justice when exemptions are made for certain people on the strength of their social standing and the depth of their pockets.
MEKSTA calls on the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, PhD, and the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola, to interrogate this anomaly and call their men to order. There cannot be two sets of rules for different people in our society if justice is to be dispassionately served.
The ongoing judicial inquest is of special interest to millions of Nigerians who are eager to see if the laws of the land can be twisted without repercussions just to serve the convenience of particular citizens. MEKSTA expresses the hope that a lot more seriousness will attend ongoing proceedings in the days and weeks ahead.
SIGNED:
1. Hon Obafemi Medaiyese (Yagba Federal Constituency constituency)
2. Comrade Joseph Mebatonije (Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency)
3. Alhaji Yusuf Kpareke (Lokoja/Kotonkarfe Federal Constituency)
4. Mallam Jimoh Ozovehe (Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency)
5. Dr Nurudeen Adaviriku (Okene/Ogori-Magongo)
6. Alhaji Isiaka Momoh (Ajaokuta Federal Constituency)
7. Chief Ojonimi Adegbe (Idah/Igalamela-Odolu/Ofu/Ibaji Federal Constituency)
8. Pastor Mark Onucheyo (Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency)
9. Bishop Husseini Saidu (Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro Federal Constituency)
