James Faleke’s Brother Arrested, Governor Yahaya Bello Responds

Funsho Olumoko, former chairman of Ijumu LGA, Kogi state, has been arrested by the police and taken to an unknown destination.

Olumoko, who is described as brother to James Faleke, the running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the 2015 Kogi governorship election, had addressed the press on Monday critical of Yahaya Bello, the Kogi governor.

Faleke is currently in court disputing the choice of Bello as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the death of Audu while results were being announced.

Olumoko was arrested around 1.30am on Tuesday at his home in Ekinrin Adde.

Police officers were said to have come in four heavily armed Hilux vans, used a ladder to climb the fence, smashed the doors of the residence, broke into the ceilings and eventually took Olumoko.

Meanwhile Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, says he has “no hand in the arrest of suspects in Ekinrin Adde”.

Funsho Olumoko, former chairman of Ijumu local government area, who was described as “brother” to James Faleke, the running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the 2015 Kogi governorship election, was among those arrested.

Olumoko had made scorching remarks about Bello during a press conference he held on Monday. Hours later police officers allegedly stormed his house in four heavily armed Hilux vans, harassed his 95-year-old father and 70-year-old mother, before taking him to an unknown destination.

But in a statement issued on his behalf by Kingsley Fanwo, his chief press secretary, Bello accused his opponents of dragging him into the issue.

“The attention of the Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been drawn to some spurious allegations of complicity in the arrest of some suspected hoodlums by the police at Ekinrin Adde,” the statement read.

“We wish to set the record straight here that the role of protecting lives and properties is the task of security agencies. They have the constitutional right to protect the citizens of the country.

“The puerile attempt at parrying the ignominy of anti-development agents through blame shifting will not hold waters under the present administration in the state. Politics is over. It is high time we embraced development.

“In as much as we would not want to be drawn to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the destruction of government properties in the area, we urge citizens of our dear state to stay clear of attempts at bringing the state into chaos.

“The governor will continue to see Kogi state as his constituency and the uncivilised conduct of a few anti-people elements will not derail the new direction of the present administration aimed at lifting the standards of living of the citizenry.”