In a significant development, two senior officials of the Kogi State Government, Abdulsalami Hudu and Umar Shuaibu Oricha, voluntarily presented themselves at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja today. This move comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an ex parte order declaring them wanted in connection with allegations of suspicious financial transactions.
The court order, granted by Justice Emeka Nwite last Tuesday, was in response to a motion filed by the EFCC, suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/909/2024. According to the EFCC’s motion, one of its investigating officers, Audu Abubakar, is investigating corruption allegations against the two officials.
Abdulsalami Hudu, the former cashier at the Kogi State Government House, and Umar Shuaibu Oricha, the Director General of Government House Administration, appeared at the EFCC office to explain their position regarding the allegations. Notably, they did so without receiving a warrant or invitation from the anti-corruption agency, demonstrating their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
The EFCC’s inquiry into their activities is centered around alleged suspicious financial transactions, which have raised concerns about possible corruption and mismanagement of public funds. By surrendering to the EFCC, the two officials aim to clear their names and provide clarification on their involvement in the alleged transactions.
Their decision to surrender may be attributed to media reports highlighting the court’s order, which likely prompted them to cooperate with the EFCC voluntarily. As law-abiding citizens, they have chosen to take this step to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability.
At the time of reporting, both officials were present at the EFCC headquarters, engaging with investigators and providing necessary information to aid the inquiry. The EFCC’s investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
