Governor Usman Ododo appoints former Governor Yahaya Bello’s Nephew, Ali Bello as his Chief of Staff
Ododo, who was sworn in at the Muhammadu Buhari Mini Stadium, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Saturday, made his first appointments during his inaugural speech. Governor Ododo appointed Ali Bello as the new Chief of Staff.
The governor nominated some commissioners and other top aides. Some of those appointed served in the immediate past government of Yahaya Bello. They include Folashade Ayoade Arike, Kingsley Fanwo, and Deedat Salami Ozigi, among others.
He named Arike as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and asked the Kogi State House of Assembly to screen the appointees speedily.
Below is the list of appointees and their portfolios:
Ali Bello — Chief of Staff to the Governor
Hilary Ojoma — Deputy Chief of Staff
Elijah Evinemi — Head of Service
Jerry Omodara — State Security Adviser
Oladele John Niyi — Chief Press Secretary
Shaibu Orisa — Director-General, Government House
Femi Adegboyega — State Legal Adviser
Isah Ismail — Special Adviser on Media
Sulaiman Ibrahim — Director-General of Protocol
Before his appointment, Ali Bello was accused by the EFCC of fraudulently withdrawing over N10 billion from the Kogi State treasury, which they allegedly delivered to a bureau de change operator, Rabiu Tafada, in Abuja, to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.
Recall that the EFCC on February 8, 2023, arraigned Ali Bello, a nephew of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court Abuja for N3bn fraud.