Gists
Video: Ex-Dep Gov Onoja Celebrates Birthday As Yahaya Bello Stays Hidden
signposted his 50th birthday with a deserving celebration.
Friday, August 9, 2024, the former Deputy Governor of Kogi state – Edward Onoja was a year older.
He clocked the golden age and signposted his 50th birthday with a deserving celebration.
Onoja posted a glimpse of the celebration on social media.
The video recorded over 400 pleasing comments and birthday good wishes at press time.
The development is in the face of travails of his former principal, Yahaya Bello.
The immediate past governor of Kogi state is battling an alleged N80.2 Billion corruption allegation that has forced him underground to evade arrest.
Bello has stayed hidden since he escaped arrest by the prosecuting agency, Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Abuja.
With EFCC operatives surrounding his Abuja residence in what looked like an inevitable arrest – after he was declared wanted – his successor, Usman Ododo showed up and spirited him away in a clandestine manner.
As Governor, Ododo – heavily backed by Bello in the process that made him successor – has immunity.
Bello has stayed underground since then, even in the face of direct orders by the court to appear in his ongoing trial – and threats to charge his lawyers for contempt over inability to produce him.
Known as very passionate allies, a change in the rapport between Onoja and Bello became noticeable with the emergence of Ododo as the former Governor’s preferred successor.
Onoja declared intention to succeed Bello but stepped down the ambition with the refusal of the Governor to back him.
The former Deputy Governor, who served as the Chief of Staff to Bello in the latter’s first term, has remained untouched with the travails of Bello.
