Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo has appointed Ali Bello, the nephew of immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello, as his chief of staff.
The new governor announced the appointment on Saturday after he took his oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony.
The former governor’s nephew takes up this new appointment despite being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering and misappropriation of about N3 billion.
In 2023, the anti-graft agency arraigned Mr Bello, along with two others, before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on 18 charges. The court admitted Mr Bello and the three others to N500 million bail on February 20, 2023.
Meanwhile, Mr Ododo also reappointed his successor’s commissioners, including Farouk Danlami, Salami Ozigi-Deedat, Basiru Abubakar, Adams Abdulaziz, Joseph Oluwaseun, Muzi Yinusa Abdullahi, Wemi Jonze, Rabiatu Okute, Fanwo Kingsley, Fatima Momoh, Mohammed Yusuf, Timothy Ojoma, Sunday Faleke, Abanika Taye, Asiwaju Idris Asiru, and Mohammed Adbulmutalib.
Other appointments include Folashade Ayodele Arike as Secretary to State Government, Hilary Ojoma as the deputy chief of staff, Elijah Evinemi as the head of service, Jerry Omodara as security adviser, and Isah Ismail as special adviser on media.
