Kogi Gov hands over 'corrupt' pilgrim board boss to DSS

Bello, after suspending the Board chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Muhammed, over misappropriation of funds asked the DSS to probe the man.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, on Monday, October 17.

He stressed that with the anti-corruption mechanisms developed in the state, no public official found guilty will be spared.

Fanwo said: "I am aware that many people from the state were part of this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca. Government was aware of all they went through.

"As a responsible leader, the governor immediately swung into action by setting up a probe panel to unravel why Kogi pilgrims were subjected to such dehumanising conditions, despite the perfect arrangements by the state government to make pilgrims comfortable.

"The probe reports indicted the Chairman of the Pilgrims Commission. To underscore his zero-tolerance for corruption, the governor has directed the Secretary to the State Government to immediately suspend the chairman of the commission.

"Also, the chairman has been handed over to DSS for further investigations and possible prosecution if enough grounds are found for that."

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The Supreme Court had on Tuesday, September 20, upheld Bello's election in the December 2015 governorship election.

The court also dismissed the petitions filed by James Faleke and Captain Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Bello’s victory.