A Civil Society Group, Nigeria Renaissance Groups has demanded the immediate return of alleged diverted and misappropriated ₦13.4 billion allocated for local government development under the administration of Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State.
At a World News Conference in Abuja, the Convener of the Group, Comrade Usman Okai Austin explained that the funds, released by the Federal Government in December 2024, were meant to enhance critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment across the state’s 21 local government areas.
Comrade Usman however stressed that investigations suggest that the money had been diverted into private accounts, sparking outrage among citizens and advocacy groups.
He argued that this follows a pattern of alleged corruption established under former governor Yahaya Bello, raising concerns about continued financial mismanagement in the state.
“This act of financial recklessness is not only a betrayal of the public trust, but also a direct attack on the progress and welfare of the people of Kogi State. This fund was allocated to drive development across 31 local government areas, improving critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment”.
“Instead, what we now see in Kogi State is a continuation of corruption and impunity similar to the pattern established by the former governor who is on trial now, Alhaji Yaya Bello. We cannot and will not stand by while our resources are looted with no regard for transparency or accountability in Kogi State. Kogi State deserves better”.
“The people of Kogi State deserve leadership that prioritizes the public service over personal enrichment. Our demand is immediate return of the diverted fund. We demand that Governor Osumane Odudu immediately return the N13.4 billion to the state treasury so that it can be used for the purpose which it was released for”.
The Group condemned the act and demanded immediate corrective measures.
“The development of Kogi State and its people is very crucial. Two, intervention by the Attorney General and the Corruption Agency. We call on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Prince Latif Fagbemi, SAN, and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to take decisive action to recover this money and bring all those involved in this act of corruption to justice”.
“The failure to act swiftly will only abode further mismanagement of public funds in Kogi State. Three, a thorough investigation into financial mismanagement in Kogi State. This is not an isolated incident. Kogi has a troubled history of financial misconduct under the leadership of Governor Yaya Bello and now his successor Osumane Odudu appeared to be the same corrupt party. We demand a full-scale forensic audit of the state finance and an independent investigation into all government transactions involving the public fund. And at the end of the culture of political godfatherism and corruption, what do we expect when a politician like Yahaya Bello financed the mismanagement and had picked his own successor? It is not a surprise that the Governor Odudu is implicating the same corrupt practices”.
“The people of Kogi State must break free from the cycle of political godfatherism that continues to enrich a few and impoverish the masses. Kogi State cannot continue to survive on private account. We must reclaim our state from the grip of corruption and ensure that public funds serve the purpose of the people, not a select few. We urge Governor Osumane Odudu to act responsibly, return the diverted funds, uphold the principle of good governance, as the era of recklessness and embezzlement must end. Justice must prevail. So I certain that these allegations are true”.
Other demands of the Group includes:
– Intervention by Anti-Corruption Agencies: They urge the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
– Comprehensive Financial Audit: Given Kogi State’s history of financial mismanagement, the group calls for an independent forensic audit of state finances to uncover any further discrepancies.
– End to Political Godfatherism: They highlight the influence of former governor Yahaya Bello in the state’s leadership, urging the people of Kogi to break free from the cycle of corruption that prioritizes personal enrichment over public welfare.
Also, a Co-convener of the Group, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob pointed out that President Bola Tinubu had empowered the local government through the local government autonomy policy.
“I think if the president has deemed it fit to empower the local government through the local government autonomy, it shows that there have been witnesses to total diversion of funds that are meant for local government usage. And since this has been signed into law, anything that comes from the Supreme Court is a policy. And we urge all government agencies in Kogi State, not in Kogi State alone, in Nigeria, to obey that court ruling”.
“Let the local governments be. Let the development whittle down to the people that are dominated in the rural poor. And until this is done, the rural-urban surge that is being afraid of by government will continue”.
“The only antidote for development is the local government autonomy that have been granted. Yes, the issue of the $13.4 billion, which is in the crux of what we are here today to discuss, is one of such things. If monies are released to the rural poor to be used in their development, let us not tamper with it”.
“A time will come that this might lead to implosion. What do I mean by implosion? You cannot gag a child and he will not cry. You cannot take what belongs rightfully to the common citizens of Nigeria and they will watch you. Yes, we have not gone to that stage of purification, but I think we are in the process of getting Nigeria in the right path, if each and every one of us in the civil society comes out to kick against corruption and all appearances of its form in our civil service and civil societies”.
On his part, another member of the Group, Comrade Peter Onuma gave an insight into other alleged related financial frauds in Kogi State under Governor Usman Adodo.
“From the beginning, the whole world and the media are all aware how we have been consciously demanding for accountability and for anti-corruption agency to act swiftly in order to restore sanity in Kogi State.
Apart from the 13.4 billion Naira intervention fund meant for local government that we are talking about, another three billion Naira was released by World Bank for the development of rural area. As we speak to you, the governor himself, Governor Osman Odudu, gathered a group of people, which we don’t know, representing some fictitious or fictional local government, and a check was presented to them on behalf of 80 local communities. 80 local communities that does not have name”.
“No names of local communities was mentioned. As we speak, this money has been shared. And again, I want to put it clear that, one, we will continue to raise our voice against maladministration that is going on in Kogi State, a situation whereby people are dying in abject poverty, no healthcare delivery, no social amenities, no rural road, no educational institution or primary schools. In fact, if you go to Kogi State today, most of the primary school teachers are all, most of the primary schools in Kogi State are all closed down. Because of what? Because there are no teachers. Most of them are retired and no recruitment has taken place”.
Comrade Onuma called for the urgent intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the matter.
“All what is happening in Kogi State is corruption. And I want to use this opportunity to call on the president, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to act swiftly because, one, Kogi State people deserve better. The people voted for him.
And what we have seen in Kogi State is not a leadership at all. It is a leadership of selected few, where Ododo and Yahaya Bello gather themselves and share the money. This is not a mere allegation. We have our facts. Before now, there have been cases of misappropriation of local government funds amounting to about 350 billion Naira, which we have petitioned to EFCC. And up to date, no adequate action has been taking place”.
“I want to use this opportunity to beg on Nigeria, to beg on the federal government, at the Minister of Justice and at the General of the Federation to come to our aid. This is a cry for help. This is a cry for salvation. And this is a cry for the restoration of human dignity and accountability in Kogi State. We don’t deserve what is going on in Kogi State. I think Kogi State is not part of the third tie of government or the tie of government because, one, it’s a government of selected few”.
