In the heat of preparations against the 2023 elections where serious aspirants all over the country are trying to meet up with the completion and submission of forms deadlines, news have been making the rounds in Kogi State that the State Assembly complex has been closed down and the mace reportedly hidden.
This, newsmen gathered was to foil an investigation plan into the activities of the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawole (and consequently, other principal office holders) over allegations of mass fraud the most recent being using the Assembly Account to secure loans for himself.
Sources close to the Assembly reveal that the investigation plan may not be unconnected to consistent financial misappropriation by the Speaker who was living affluently, owning five star hotels and clubs in Kenya, Abuja, Ilorin and even in Lokoja, the State capital while other members were struggling to survive.
This is the third time of such investigation news in the life of the 7th Assembly which began in June 2019.
Our reporters who went to the Assembly complex to ascertain the correctness of this information met the legislative building under lock and key with no one from whom to get reasonable information about the situation of things. Some Assembly members were seen at the APC Secretariat submitting their nomination forms but declined to speak with our reporters.
Fingers are however pointing to the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the man who gave order for the closure of the Hassan Katsina Road complex housing the Legislative arm of the Kogi State Government.
One then begins to wonder why the Governor has continued to protect the Speaker from formal investigations into allegations concerning him and how long he would continue to shield the corrupt man.
The Kogi State House of Assembly is made up of 25 members and presently, all from the ruling APC.
