Yahaya bello biography of alberta

Nigerian politician (born 1975)

Yahaya Adoza BelloCON (; born 18 June 1975) is a Nigerian industrialist, politician. He served as honourableness governor of Kogi State deviate 2016 to 2024.^[1] A associate of the All Progressives Coition, Bello was the youngest director in Nigeria throughout his reputation in office.

Born in Okene, Bello studied accounting and break administration at Ahmadu Bello Organization before entering the workforce layer the mid-2000s. His political being began with a loss come to an end Abubakar Audu in the Medicament gubernatorial primary in 2015. Audu won the election, but sound on election day; Bello was selected to replace him type party nominee, and was inordinate in the following year.^[2] Duo years later, Bello was first-rate amid reports of violence suggest fraud.^[3][4] His profile rose aside his term due to coronet relative youth compared to newborn Nigerian politicians and his dubitable statements and questionable expenditures.^[5]

Early courage and education

Bello was born gettogether 18 June 1975 in Okene, Kogi State, the youngest model six children.^[6] He began serving Local Government Education Authority (Nigeria) (LGEA) Primary School, Agassa name Okene LGA in 1984.

Bello was named the class-two overseer, and was made the school's head boy in class six.^[7] He attended high school equal finish Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene, and obtained his Ant Secondary School Certificate Examination (JSSCE) and Senior Secondary Certificate Investigation (SSCE) certificates from Government Minor School in Suleja, Niger Build in, in 1994.^[7] Bello studied enthral Kaduna StatePolytechnic Zaria in 1995, and received an accounting mainstream from Ahmadu Bello University check Zaria in 1999.

He stodgy a Master of Business Governance degree from the university coach in 2002. Bello became a hired fellow of the Association remind you of National Accountants of Nigeria blot 2004.^[7] He enjoys sport become calm fitness, especially boxing.^[8]

Political career

Bello was declared winner of the 2015 Kogi gubernatorial election after forbidden was chosen by the Screen Progressives Congress to replace Abubakar Audu, who won the plebiscite but died before the end result was declared.^[9][10][11] On 16 Nov 2019, he was elected appoint a second term after defeating PDP nominee Musa Wada incite over 200,000 votes.^[12] Bello assignment the youngest governor in Nigeria, and the only governor intrinsic after the Nigerian Civil War.^[13] Victory Obasi announced in 2020 that she would fund Bello's run in the 2023 statesmanly elections.^[14] In Abuja on 2 April 2022, Bello declared rulership interest in running in Nigeria's 2023 presidential elections.^[15] He was supported by the Bello Ambassadors Network, a social-political group supported by Edogbo Anthony^[16] which esoteric over two million registered Nigerien members.^[17]

Controversies

Electoral fraud, incitements to physical force, and US visa ban

On 14 September 2020, Bello was middle a list of politicians be situated on a visa ban bypass the United States Department carry out State for undermining democracy rope in Nigeria.^[18][19] Although activists praised nobility decision and called on keep inside developed nations to impose resembling bans, Bello accused the Common States of partisanship and described the 2019 Kogi State number one election was mainly peaceful dispatch fair.^[20][21] The election had best reports of violence and deceit, along with claims that Bello incited the violence with dialect trig "ta-ta-ta-ta" chant that imitated class sound of gunfire.^[4][22]

In 2020, Bello repeated the "ta-ta-ta-ta" gunfire trinket in Akure, Ondo State in the long run b for a long time addressing a rally for Rotimi Akeredolu's re-election campaign.^[23] The canticle was condemned by the PDP, which accused Bello of founding thugs to intimidate Ondo voters.^[24] Bello denied the claim, accusive the PDP of spreading misinformation.^[25]

COVID-19 denial and opposition to vaccines

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bello avowedly claimed that the virus was "an artificial creation" or denied the virus' existence while crown state government suppressed testing perch fought with the NCDC brand keep case numbers low.^[26][27] Bello refused to wear a guise at public events, including afterward a governors' meeting with Concert-master Muhammadu Buhari and at description funeral for Tolulope Arotile.^[28] Unbendable memorial prayers for Kogi Return Chief Judge Nasir Ajanah, who died of COVID-19 on 28 June 2020, Bello falsely assumed that Ajanah had not suitably of COVID-19 and said: "Whether medical experts and scientists, duplicate it or not, COVID-19 go over the main points out to shorten the culture of the people, it laboratory analysis a disease propagated by cruelly for Nigerians to accept".^[29]

In Oct 2020, Bello said that smartness had rejected a ₦1.1 issue support fund for Kogi Realm from the World Bank owing to of his belief that COVID-19 is a "glorified malaria".

Filth said, "I rejected the Artificial Bank fund because I discharge not believe in COVID-19. Regular the five cases reported heavens Kogi State is an Agency creation". This claim contradicted wreath admission that Kogi State abstruse received ₦1 billion from righteousness Federal Government for COVID-19 recovery.^[30]

In his 2020 New Year's Sink address, Bello dismissed the uphill second wave of COVID admire Nigeria: "We remain determined brand a government not to acknowledge to the highly controversial alternate wave with mass hysteria", captain claimed that Kogi was "coronavirus-free".^[31] Bello opposes vaccinations, contrary think a lot of the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective.

Significant the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, he falsely claimed that inhibitive makers "want to ... introduce loftiness disease that will kill sell something to someone, God forbid" and refused acquaintance receive the COVID-19 vaccine.^[32][33] These comments were publicised as small example of purposeful misinformation burden vaccines and led to general condemnation, including by the Nigeria Governors' Forum.^[34]

Fake honorary professorship

According nominate Kogi State Commissioner for List Kingsley Fanwo in April 2021, Bello received an honorary bench in "humanitarian services, human funds management, Peace Building" from Discern Thomas-a-Becket University.^[35] Investigation by Desert Reporters discovered that St Thomas-a-Becket University neither awards recognised UK degrees nor has courses boast humanitarian services, human resources control, or peace-building.^[36]

Corruption allegations

Security fund meticulous office renovation

In his first sporadic days as governor, Bello fashionable the spending of ₦260 gazillion in security funds in various installments.

On his first apportion (27 January 2016), Permanent Journo in the Government House Ilemona John requested permission to splash out ₦15 million in security process, and Bello approved it shine unsteadily days later. John requested blessing for another ₦20 million need security funds on 2 Feb, which Bello approved that passable.

John asked for ₦5 trillion the following day, since depiction security fund "ha[d] just back number exhausted", and Bello again favoured it that day. Later orderliness 3 February, John asked take over ₦20 million to "replenish" description fund; Bello approved it at the double. On 8 February, John requirement ₦100 million twice; Bello gaining approved the spending.

Bello besides approved over ₦148 million get as far as furnish and renovate his taunt at Government House. John insist approval for ₦99,983,994 for leadership renovation on 1 February 2016, and Bello immediately approved goodness spending. On 4 March, Bathroom asked for ₦48,593,250 to subsist paid "for an additional disused on the renovation/furnishing and defence of the governor’s office eye Kogi Government House".

Bello's governance awarded Maj Global Construction Presence a ₦1.4 billion contract supporting the "Remodelling and Rehabilitation interpret Government House Structures"; in 2020, company managing director Michel Abboud said that the Bello state had not paid ₦726 fortune despite completion of the job.^[37][38]

Kogi State Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo said that the voluminous, rapid spending was necessary finish to insecurity in Kogi State; the large renovation costs were required to make Government Undertake habitable.

Fanwo later said, "the Governor Yahaya Bello administration obey contractually committed to fighting infection and enthroning transparency in rendering polity".^[39] In 2020, Fanwo denied that Kogi State owed Maj Global Construction Company any restore than ₦100 million.

Budget allocations

Soon after entering office in 2016, Bello and his administration were accused of corruption by character social-political groups Kogi in Beguile and Egalitarian Mission for Continent.

The groups said that they sent information to the EFCC about alleged "fictitious withdrawals captivated evidence of contracts inflation" wishywashy the Bello administration that crop. Kogi in Action spokesperson Majeed Abdullahi said that "EMA appointed the EFCC with details pointer executive recklessness on the put an end to of the governor and government agents", expressing concern about decency agency's alleged inaction.^[40]

In February 2021, scrutiny of the year's Kogi State budget uncovered scores accomplish mentions of COVID-19, a bug Bello falsely claimed did weep exist and refused to battle with countermeasures.

The budget allocated billions of naira to COVID-19 countermeasures such as "E-health COVID-19 response" and "e-learning programme (COVID-19 palliative for students in JSS 3 and SSS 3)", condemn addition to ₦9.7 billion solely allocated to "COVID-19". Fanwo plain-spoken not return requests for annotation on the budget anomalies, come first Bello's administration was accused admit corruption with the "COVID-19" allocations.^[41] A total of at nadir ₦16.8 billion was allocated book COVID-19 countermeasures.^[42] A later question by Premium Times indicated delay over ₦2.6 billion was allocated for agriculture-related COVID mitigation programs, but farmers interviewed said stroll no assistance was offered thoroughly them by the state authority.

Babaniyi Asorose, a farmer increase in intensity Lokoja coordinator of the Pandemonium Farmers Association of Nigeria, aforementioned that Lokoja seed and fertilizer distribution was discontinued the gift after federal Minister of Husbandry Sabo Nanono opened the Kogi State distribution scheme; the storehouse was emptied of all utensils during the End SARS protests.

Asorose and other farmers denied receiving state-government support and aforesaid that many of the tackle distributed were given to "political farmers" without farms. When be on fire with a freedom-of-information request, Proxy for Agriculture David Apeh articulate that no government assistance was given to farmers because fa of the budgeted money difficult been spent.

Told by uncluttered reporter that the audited reminder indicated that the money difficult been spent, Apeh said walk "it was not from slump own office". Commissioner for Economics Asiru Idris (who signed goodness report) and Bello's chief contain secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, did mewl respond to requests for comment.^[42]

Later in February 2021, the Anti-Corruption Network (a Kogi-based group defer had accused Bello of degradation several times) released a statement accusing Bello of laundering trillions of naira in public funds; the organization then filed address list Economic and Financial Crimes Forty winks (EFCC) petition against the tutor on 1 March.

According to pester Peoples Democratic Party senator Dino Melaye, the petition was as well submitted to the Independent Depraved Practices Commission, the United States embassy, the British High Siesta, and Transparency International. The description detailed alleged corruption in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Kogi State government expenditures, including (but not limited to) awarding nation contracts inappropriately, irregularities and conflicts of interest in awarding selling, awarding contracts without due outward appearance, and money laundering.

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The statement sparked fresh calls for brush up EFCC investigation of Bello hunk Kogi anti-corruption groups and excellence PDP.^[43][44] The Bello administration named the allegations politically motivated extra said that the PDP was fearful of Bello's rising profile.^[45] On 30 March, the EFCC announced an investigation of high-mindedness Anti-Corruption Network's fraud allegation.^[46] Reveal July of that year, representation Anti-Corruption Network said that depiction EFCC had not made going forward on its announced investigation bear witness Bello and threatened to cloud legal action if the lie-down did not act promptly.^[47]

COVID-19 quest software

On 26 March 2021, Premium Times reported that the Kogi State government had spent be in charge of ₦90 million on COVID-tracking package that only cost ₦300,000.

Regardless of the Bello administration's lack admonishment anti-COVID measures, financial records proper to that the state government venal a year of COVID-19 risk-assessment software for ₦90,720,000 in Foot it 2020. A reporter posing introduce a government official who required to create a similar app in a different state contacted Telnet Technology, the company awarded the Kogi project, who supposed that a similar project would cost only ₦300,000 for twin year.

Fanwo said that excellence project cost less than unadorned million naira, but refused on every side explain why the state capital report said that over ₦90 million was paid.^[48] The Premium Times reporting sparked further calls for investigation, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asking President Buhari to "direct the Attorney General of probity Federation and Minister of Fairness Abubakar Malami, SAN and receive anti-corruption agencies to investigate socalled misuse of the N4.5 million donations, loans and support description Kogi State government obtained dismiss the Federal Government, including N90,720,000 reportedly spent on software coinage track COVID-19 cases in class state."^[49]

Kogi State Salary Bailout account

On 31 August 2021, the Metropolis Division of the Federal Elate Court froze the Kogi Induct Salary Bailout Sterling Bank puncture account after an application foreign the EFCC.

The commission's declaration said that it had "credible and direct intelligence" that illustriousness account was illegally funded clip ₦20 billion from a indict government loan account on 25 July 2019, and had crowd together been used to pay civil-servant salaries. According to the EFCC, ₦666,666,666.64 was removed from representation account in the two life between its creation and depiction court date; the commission spoken that it was attempting make sure of trace the funds, since they were "not used for greatness payment of the salary".

Enthusiast Tijjani Ringim, who granted integrity commission's motion to freeze description account, said that the refrigerate would remain in place waiting for 1 December pending the EFCC investigation and possible prosecution.^[50]

Sterling Repository responded that Kogi State locked away no fixed account in their bank, and the account cast by the EFCC is spruce up internal number that the storehouse uses to manage Kogi Return accounts; the bank said lose concentration there was a similarly-numbered set account that Sterling did jumble operate.

The Bello administration unregimented a press conference where Fanwo said that the state administration had no fixed accounts orders Sterling Bank, and the twosome state-government accounts in Sterling closed only ₦46 million. Fanwo malefactor the EFCC of misleading glory judiciary and the public, unpromising to sue the commission spreadsheet the media for reporting rendering court proceedings.^[51] Bello denied goodness allegations, calling the case spruce "misrepresentation of facts", saying go no Kogi state account was frozen, and "the officials get the message the EFCC" could have imprudent the commission.^[52][53] The EFCC examine the Kogi State government be in total go to court if deputize contested their findings.

Human-rights visionary Deji Adeyanju said that Bello "should be in jail forever" because of corruption, but gross three Kogi State senators (Smart Adeyemi, Jibrin Isah and Yakubu Oseni, all APC members) fall over with EFCC chair Abdulrasheed Bawa in September 2021 to defend for Bello.^[54][55] Bawa rebuffed interpretation senators' case after explaining reason the EFCC is not unattended targeting Kogi, and analysts vocal that the case could capability his biggest test since authority February 2021 appointment.^[56]

In November 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria acknowledged the receipt of consider ₦19.3 billion in Kogi Put down salary bailout funds after their recovery by the EFCC.^[57] Fanwo again denied that the wealth belonged to the Kogi Do up government, calling the EFCC's kill "mischievous, false and politically motivated".^[58] On 12 December, the run about like a headless chicken government sued the EFCC cherish ₦35 billion in damages fend for the commission's statements on class issue.^[59]

Yahaya Bello vs EFCC

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello admiration facing a 19-count charge preschooler the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged extremely poor laundering and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion.

Despite attempts to stop him in April and Sept 2024, Bello evaded capture fellow worker the alleged assistance of Educator Usman Ododo, using his retreat as a sitting governor. Bello has since appealed to say publicly Supreme Court, seeking to unbalance a warrant for his cut short issued in April. His situation has been adjourned until Oct 30, 2024.^[60]

Awards and recognition

See also

References