Power-Drunk Kogi Accountant-General Habiba Orders Arrest, Detention Of Young Critic For Months Without Trial

The Kogi State Accountant-General, Habiba Onumoko, allegedly notorious for abuse of power, has been accused of using the police to a arrest and detain a critic, one Sadiq Abdulhameed, for at about three months without trial.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Onumoko should be cautioned over her persistent abuse of power, evident again through the prolonged detention of Abdulhameed.

The illegal detention has sparked calls for justice by activists and residents in the know.

“The Kogi AG is excessively abusing power in the state. I just got information that this boy has been detained for close to 13 weeks now by the Kogi state Accountant General, Habiba Onumoko, the way the woman is acting like emperor in Kogi State needs to be stopped immediately and we need to seek justice for this boy,” one of the sources warned.

SaharaReporters gathered from sources that Onumoko’s behaviour had caused unrest among government officials.

SaharaReporters also gathered that Habiba Onumoko’s conduct within the Kogi State government has sparked growing discontent among her colleagues.

She is alleged to routinely disrespect local government executive chairmen, treating them with condescension despite their status as democratically elected officials.

Her approach, according to sources, has created unnecessary tension within the cabinet and undermined cohesion among government officials.

Many Kogi residents are reportedly dissatisfied with her leadership style, which they believe is harmful to the image of Governor Ododo and the overall administration.

“Please allow your colleagues in the same government to breathe in peace. You are like a big masquerade to them, no regard to anybody most especially the local government executive chairmen in Kogi State, you address them like little children when they appear before you.

“They are democratically elected please for crying out loud, not an appointee as you are. Stop acting superior, boss on government officials. If truly you are interfering in other offices, though maybe for accountability, please try to apply decorum because none of them are kids that you talk to them anyhow, creating unnecessary tension among the cabinet members.

“We have had plenty state AG before you and you won’t remain there forever,” another source cautioned.

It had been reported in February that Kogi State political activist and former House of Representatives member for the Dekina/Bassa federal constituency, Usman Okai Austin, called on the state Governor, Usman Ododo to curb what he described as the “unchecked and excessive powers” of Habiba.

Okai accused the Accountant-General of overstepping her constitutional role, alleging financial mismanagement and undue interference in governance.

In a statement he issued, Okai said the accountant general’s “cabal has taken over” Ododo’s administration.

He warned that her growing influence threatens transparency, accountability, and the welfare of civil servants.

Okai claims that Onumoko had also taken control of local government administration, with Directors of Local Government and treasurers now reportedly answerable to her rather than the Deputy Governor or the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“The Accountant General has hijacked the local government administration. Even the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, is afraid of approaching her. We cannot govern a state like this,” Okai had said.

He further alleged that she had taken over the responsibilities of both the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, leaving other government officials “helpless.”

The opposition leader also raised concerns about financial accountability, claiming that the Accountant General wields significant control over the disbursement of public funds, often to the detriment of workers and pensioners.

“It is unacceptable that the Accountant General wields so much influence over public funds. Governor Ododo must act swiftly to restore confidence in the state’s financial system,” Okai said.

He had called for immediate financial reforms, including independent oversight mechanisms, to prevent what he described as “abuse of office and financial recklessness.”