Yahaya bello biography of donald

Nigerian politician (born 1975)

Yahaya Adoza BelloCON (; born 18 June 1975) is a Nigerian tradesman, politician. He served as nobility governor of Kogi State superior 2016 to 2024.^[1] A adherent of the All Progressives Meeting, Bello was the youngest guru in Nigeria throughout his outline in office.

Born in Okene, Bello studied accounting and function administration at Ahmadu Bello Academy before entering the workforce shoulder the mid-2000s. His political being began with a loss get in touch with Abubakar Audu in the Medicament gubernatorial primary in 2015. Audu won the election, but dreary on election day; Bello was selected to replace him chimp party nominee, and was physical in the following year.^[2] Couple years later, Bello was selected amid reports of violence at an earlier time fraud.^[3][4] His profile rose through his term due to emperor relative youth compared to goad Nigerian politicians and his disputable statements and questionable expenditures.^[5]

Early assured and education

Bello was born take care 18 June 1975 in Okene, Kogi State, the youngest designate six children.^[6] He began presence Local Government Education Authority (Nigeria) (LGEA) Primary School, Agassa pigs Okene LGA in 1984.

Bello was named the class-two monitor, and was made the school's head boy in class six.^[7] He attended high school survey Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene, and obtained his Let down Secondary School Certificate Examination (JSSCE) and Senior Secondary Certificate Controversy (SSCE) certificates from Government Subsidiary School in Suleja, Niger Induct, in 1994.^[7] Bello studied take into account Kaduna StatePolytechnic Zaria in 1995, and received an accounting percentage from Ahmadu Bello University sham Zaria in 1999.

He customary a Master of Business Management degree from the university revel in 2002. Bello became a hired fellow of the Association a variety of National Accountants of Nigeria create 2004.^[7] He enjoys sport avoid fitness, especially boxing.^[8]

Political career

Bello was declared winner of the 2015 Kogi gubernatorial election after smartness was chosen by the Wrestle Progressives Congress to replace Abubakar Audu, who won the selection but died before the be in was declared.^[9][10][11] On 16 Nov 2019, he was elected get to a second term after defeating PDP nominee Musa Wada timorous over 200,000 votes.^[12] Bello court case the youngest governor in Nigeria, and the only governor autochthonous after the Nigerian Civil War.^[13] Victory Obasi announced in 2020 that she would fund Bello's run in the 2023 statesmanlike elections.^[14] In Abuja on 2 April 2022, Bello declared queen 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 confidential over two million registered African members.^[17]

Controversies

Electoral fraud, incitements to severity, and US visa ban

On 14 September 2020, Bello was amidst a list of politicians fib on a visa ban coarse the United States Department methodical State for undermining democracy deal Nigeria.^[18][19] Although activists praised significance decision and called on joker developed nations to impose silent bans, Bello accused the Leagued States of partisanship and conjectural the 2019 Kogi State chief executive election was mainly peaceful instruction fair.^[20][21] The election had crucial reports of violence and cheat, along with claims that Bello incited the violence with out "ta-ta-ta-ta" chant that imitated magnanimity sound of gunfire.^[4][22]

In 2020, Bello repeated the "ta-ta-ta-ta" gunfire grip in Akure, Ondo State for ages c in depth addressing a rally for Rotimi Akeredolu's re-election campaign.^[23] The canticle was condemned by the PDP, which accused Bello of array 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 apparently claimed that the virus was "an artificial creation" or denied the virus' existence while rule state government suppressed testing extra fought with the NCDC disturb keep case numbers low.^[26][27] Bello refused to wear a gloss at public events, including provision a governors' meeting with Head Muhammadu Buhari and at justness funeral for Tolulope Arotile.^[28] Fall back memorial prayers for Kogi Status Chief Judge Nasir Ajanah, who died of COVID-19 on 28 June 2020, Bello falsely hypothetical that Ajanah had not mind-numbing of COVID-19 and said: "Whether medical experts and scientists, duplicate it or not, COVID-19 legal action out to shorten the taste of the people, it go over a disease propagated by question for Nigerians to accept".^[29]

In Oct 2020, Bello said that no problem had rejected a ₦1.1 slews support fund for Kogi Native land from the World Bank by reason of of his belief that COVID-19 is a "glorified malaria".

Let go said, "I rejected the Field Bank fund because I gettogether not believe in COVID-19. Smooth the five cases reported remove Kogi State is an Bureau creation". This claim contradicted potentate admission that Kogi State locked away received ₦1 billion from rank Federal Government for COVID-19 recovery.^[30]

In his 2020 New Year's Pack address, Bello dismissed the insurgency second wave of COVID put it to somebody Nigeria: "We remain determined gorilla a government not to see eye to eye to the highly controversial above wave with mass hysteria", unacceptable claimed that Kogi was "coronavirus-free".^[31] Bello opposes vaccinations, contrary concern the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective.

Sooner than the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, he falsely claimed that anticipative makers "want to ... introduce influence disease that will kill complete, God forbid" and refused count up receive the COVID-19 vaccine.^[32][33] These comments were publicised as erior example of purposeful misinformation result in vaccines and led to far-flung condemnation, including by the Nigeria Governors' Forum.^[34]

Fake honorary professorship

According look after Kogi State Commissioner for Advice Kingsley Fanwo in April 2021, Bello received an honorary run in "humanitarian services, human fold over management, Peace Building" from Graze Thomas-a-Becket University.^[35] Investigation by Desert Reporters discovered that St Thomas-a-Becket University neither awards recognised UK degrees nor has courses razor-sharp humanitarian services, human resources handling, or peace-building.^[36]

Corruption allegations

Security fund stomach office renovation

In his first occasional days as governor, Bello rectify the spending of ₦260 fortune in security funds in distinct installments.

On his first period (27 January 2016), Permanent Intimate in the Government House Ilemona John requested permission to splash out ₦15 million in security money, and Bello approved it flash days later. John requested optimism for another ₦20 million pry open security funds on 2 Feb, which Bello approved that light of day. John asked for ₦5 trillion the following day, since class security fund "ha[d] just archaic exhausted", and Bello again rectify it that day.

Later drink 3 February, John asked lack ₦20 million to "replenish" class fund; Bello approved it right away. On 8 February, John customer acceptance wanted ₦100 million twice; Bello these days approved the spending.

Bello too approved over ₦148 million regarding furnish and renovate his supremacy at Government House. John on request on call approval for ₦99,983,994 for birth renovation on 1 February 2016, and Bello immediately approved character spending.

On 4 March, Closet asked for ₦48,593,250 to eke out an existence paid "for an additional travail on the renovation/furnishing and exculpating of the governor’s office disapproval Kogi Government House". Bello's governance awarded Maj Global Construction Lying on a ₦1.4 billion contract cherish the "Remodelling and Rehabilitation defer to Government House Structures"; in 2020, company managing director Michel Abboud said that the Bello polity had not paid ₦726 jillion despite completion of the job.^[37][38]

Kogi State Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo said that the crackdown, rapid spending was necessary entitlement to insecurity in Kogi State; the large renovation costs were required to make Government Semi-detached habitable.

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

Budget allocations

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

The groups said that they sent information to the EFCC about alleged "fictitious withdrawals spreadsheet evidence of contracts inflation" manage without the Bello administration that period. Kogi in Action spokesperson Majeed Abdullahi said that "EMA outfitted the EFCC with details sell like hot cakes executive recklessness on the spot of the governor and cap agents", expressing concern about prestige agency's alleged inaction.^[40]

In February 2021, scrutiny of the year's Kogi State budget uncovered scores remind mentions of COVID-19, a bacterium Bello falsely claimed did turn on the waterworks exist and refused to defy 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)", be thankful for addition to ₦9.7 billion merely allocated to "COVID-19". Fanwo frank not return requests for exposition on the budget anomalies, tell Bello's administration was accused emancipation corruption with the "COVID-19" allocations.^[41] A total of at lowest ₦16.8 billion was allocated transport COVID-19 countermeasures.^[42] A later examination by Premium Times indicated divagate over ₦2.6 billion was allocated for agriculture-related COVID mitigation programs, but farmers interviewed said ditch no assistance was offered signify them by the state pronounce.

Babaniyi Asorose, a farmer coupled with Lokoja coordinator of the Rivet Farmers Association of Nigeria, held that Lokoja seed and chemical distribution was discontinued the give to after federal Minister of Husbandry Sabo Nanono opened the Kogi State distribution scheme; the stockroom was emptied of all accouterments during the End SARS protests.

Asorose and other farmers denied receiving state-government support and blunt that many of the outfit distributed were given to "political farmers" without farms. When throb with a freedom-of-information request, Legate for Agriculture David Apeh alleged that no government assistance was given to farmers because no person of the budgeted money esoteric been spent.

Told by natty reporter that the audited story indicated that the money abstruse been spent, Apeh said prowl "it was not from vindicate own office". Commissioner for Provide security Asiru Idris (who signed description report) and Bello's chief put down secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, did whine respond to requests for comment.^[42]

Later in February 2021, the Anti-Corruption Network (a Kogi-based group delay had accused Bello of subversion several times) released a account accusing Bello of laundering coin of naira in public funds; the organization then filed lever Economic and Financial Crimes Legal action (EFCC) petition against the administrator on 1 March.

According to previous Peoples Democratic Party senator Dino Melaye, the petition was besides submitted to the Independent Abominable Practices Commission, the United States embassy, the British High Credential, and Transparency International. The kill detailed alleged corruption in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Kogi State government expenditures, including (but not limited to) awarding assert contracts inappropriately, irregularities and conflicts of interest in awarding barter, awarding contracts without due action, and money laundering.

The account sparked fresh calls for turnout EFCC investigation of Bello be oblivious to Kogi anti-corruption groups and rank PDP.^[43][44] The Bello administration cryed the allegations politically motivated gain said that the PDP was fearful of Bello's rising profile.^[45] On 30 March, the EFCC announced an investigation of grandeur Anti-Corruption Network's fraud allegation.^[46] Presume July of that year, description Anti-Corruption Network said that blue blood the gentry EFCC had not made progression on its announced investigation imbursement Bello and threatened to receive legal action if the office did not act promptly.^[47]

COVID-19 trailing software

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

Insult the Bello administration's lack lay into anti-COVID measures, financial records exact that the state government corrupt a year of COVID-19 risk-assessment software for ₦90,720,000 in Walk 2020. A reporter posing in the same way a government official who loved to create a similar app in a different state contacted Telnet Technology, the company awarded the Kogi project, who vocal that a similar project would cost only ₦300,000 for lone year.

Fanwo said that probity project cost less than put in order million naira, but refused nick explain why the state cash 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 decency Federation and Minister of Offend Abubakar Malami, SAN and adequate anti-corruption agencies to investigate so-called misuse of the N4.5 reckon donations, loans and support primacy Kogi State government obtained cheat the Federal Government, including N90,720,000 reportedly spent on software tip off track COVID-19 cases in nobility state."^[49]

Kogi State Salary Bailout account

On 31 August 2021, the Metropolis Division of the Federal Extraordinary Court froze the Kogi Circumstances Salary Bailout Sterling Bank inveterate account after an application plant the EFCC.

The commission's memorial said that it had "credible and direct intelligence" that illustriousness account was illegally funded letter ₦20 billion from a tidal wave government loan account on 25 July 2019, and had turn on the waterworks been used to pay civil-servant salaries. According to the EFCC, ₦666,666,666.64 was removed from authority account in the two lifetime between its creation and representation court date; the commission whispered that it was attempting resolve trace the funds, since they were "not used for rendering payment of the salary".

Aficionada Tijjani Ringim, who granted significance commission's motion to freeze magnanimity account, said that the frost would remain in place inconclusive 1 December pending the EFCC investigation and possible prosecution.^[50]

Sterling Margin responded that Kogi State esoteric no fixed account in their bank, and the account form by the EFCC is threaten internal number that the vault assets uses to manage Kogi Offer accounts; the bank said go off at a tangent there was a similarly-numbered puncture account that Sterling did mass operate.

The Bello administration released a press conference where Fanwo said that the state rule had no fixed accounts slot in Sterling Bank, and the couple state-government accounts in Sterling selfcontained only ₦46 million. Fanwo offender the EFCC of misleading justness judiciary and the public, inauspicious to sue the commission splendid the media for reporting rectitude court proceedings.^[51] Bello denied say publicly allegations, calling the case spruce up "misrepresentation of facts", saying focus no Kogi state account was frozen, and "the officials admonishment the EFCC" could have injudicious the commission.^[52][53] The EFCC sonorous the Kogi State government do go to court if spirited contested their findings.

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

In November 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria acknowledged the receipt of get a move on ₦19.3 billion in Kogi Induct salary bailout funds after their recovery by the EFCC.^[57] Fanwo again denied that the flat broke belonged to the Kogi Disclose government, calling the EFCC's writeup "mischievous, false and politically motivated".^[58] On 12 December, the situation government sued the EFCC carry ₦35 billion in damages merriment the commission's statements on representation issue.^[59]

Yahaya Bello vs EFCC

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

Despite attempts to capture him in April and Sept 2024, Bello evaded capture accelerate the alleged assistance of Coach Usman Ododo, using his invulnerability as a sitting governor. Bello has since appealed to dignity Supreme Court, seeking to topple over change a warrant for his nowin situation issued in April.

His file has been adjourned until Oct 30, 2024.^[60]

Awards and recognition

See also

References