in Lokoja, Wednesday night indicated that a Local Government Chairman in Kogi East was currently being detained within the premises of Lugard House over bullet-proof vehicle procured for him and other select Chairmen and government officials before the governorship election on November 11, 2023.
Government Yahaya Bello has ordered retrieval of all bullet-proof vehicles with Wednesday, December 13, 2023 as ultimatum.
A source who pleaded anonymity told CAPITAL POST that the official who was expected to surrender the vehicle was asked to wait for a discussion without his knowing that there was an order that he should be seized. The source said, security agents at the gate of Lugard House have been informed by the Chief Security Officer to the governor not to allow move away as at the time of filing this report.
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The source said: “Those given bullet proof cars have today as deadline to return, in fact one of them is being currently held hostage not to leave the government house right now but he is not even aware for now. Only the security men around the premises are informed of this development.”
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According to him, he was subtly invited for a meeting at the Government House, but came with another private vehicle. The development reportedly infuriated governor Bello.
Investigation by CAPITAL POST revealed that bullet proof vehicles were purchased for select LG Chairmen and some Commissioners prior to the governorship election.
Those identified to have gotten bullet vehicles are Dekina Local Government Chairman, Prince Ishaq Okolo, Idah Local Government, Hon. Abu Odoma, Ankpa Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Abagwu, they are all from Kogi East. The Kogi ALGON Chairman, Hon.Taufiq Isa was also offered a bullet proof car.
Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Bashir Gegu was among Commissioners that benefited from bullet proof car largesse.
It was learnt that they were not told to return the vehicles at the time they were given, the development to return the vehicles was due to poor outing of government officials at the governorship election which most of them did not deliver their polling units.
It could not be confirmed if others have returned their bullet proof vehicles as the ultimatum expires today as Bello vowed to recover the vehicles and funds given to some of them for election which they could not deliver.