AYONAC’s Anti-Corruption Campaign: Million Man March to Address Allegations Against NPA Boss.

The Association of Youths of Nigeria Against Corruption (AYONAC) has accused Muhammed Bello Koko, the current Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), of multiple corrupt activities. The group, dissatisfied with what they describe as political cover-ups, has announced plans for a 1 million-man march to protest corruption and demand accountability.

AYONAC, in a public statement published on their official Instagram page, highlighted their intention to write to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the alleged political shielding of Bello Koko. The Senate Committee on Public Accounts is currently investigating Koko for grand corruption, despite his indictment. The youth group calls for a thorough investigation and prosecution, reflecting the growing frustration among Nigerian youths over the pervasive corruption in the country.

Amb. Phil Roberts, the National Coordinator of AYONAC, addressed the media in Abuja, expressing deep concerns over the state of governance and corruption in Nigeria. He emphasized that the youth have remained silent for too long and that the escalating hunger and suffering in the country have reached unbearable levels. Roberts mentioned that their planned 1 million-man march against corruption had brought the case of Muhammed Bello Koko to the forefront, making it a focal point for their protest.

Roberts referred to several high-profile publications exposing Koko’s alleged corrupt activities. On October 3, 2021, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released over 11 million leaked documents, revealing the involvement of world politicians and business leaders in offshore activities. Among these revelations was Koko’s alleged connection to offshore companies and properties, detailed in a Premium Times investigation titled “Inside the Secret Offshore Companies, London Properties of NPA Chief, Bello-Koko.” The report accused Koko of using two shell companies in tax havens to invest anonymously in the UK property market, potentially violating Nigeria’s public service code of conduct laws.

Further allegations emerged on November 27, 2022, when Sahara Reporters published an investigative report by the EFCC. The report implicated Koko in an N829 million fraud, involving kickbacks and money laundering activities. The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Koko received over N800 million from NPA contractors through illicit means.

AYONAC’s statement also highlighted additional accusations against Koko, including fraud, extortion, tax evasion, forgery, and money laundering. Despite these serious allegations, the Nigerian government has been criticized for failing to hold Koko accountable. A UK-based fraud and corruption investigation team further implicated Koko in numerous criminal activities, prompting them to write to the UK Home Office seeking the confiscation of his allegedly ill-gotten properties.

The youth group criticized the Nigerian government for its perceived inability to act decisively against corruption. They alleged that powerful individuals are providing political cover for Koko in exchange for lucrative contracts from the NPA.

The planned 1 million man march by AYONAC is a significant step in their fight against corruption. It aims to draw national and international attention to the endemic corruption in Nigeria and demand that the government takes concrete actions to hold corrupt officials accountable. The group hopes that their efforts will galvanize other citizens and stakeholders to join the fight against corruption and restore integrity to public service in Nigeria.

Some screenshots from the group’s post on Instagram