Edward Onoja, Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello’s running mate in the November 16 governorship election, was sworn in as the deputy governor of the state on Monday.
The swearing-in ceremony which was held at the Kogi government house came after his confirmation by the Kogi State House of Assemby.
Governor Bello had sent the name of Onoja, his former chief of staff, to the assembly following after his former deputy, Simon Achuba, was impeached.
The impeachment panel set up to probe Achuba had, however, faulted his removal saying it could not prove the allegations against the ex-deputy governor.
Recall that in July, the former deputy governor had accused Governor Bello of withholding his salaries and allowances to the tune of N819 million.
Bello and Achuba have been at loggerheads since then.
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“The statutory allocations approved for the office of the deputy governor have been withheld by the State government since 2017,” a letter he written to Bello by his lawyers had read.
“The accumulated statutory allocations the state government has withheld is N819,709,980.00 (Eight Hundred And Nineteen Million Seven Hundred And Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred And Eighty Thousand Naira) which includes travel allowances, hotel bills, pledges and outstanding monthly Impress and salaries due to our client as the Deputy Governor of Kogi state.”
But Bello, however, in his reaction, denied the allegation vehemently.
