Kogi Assembly Threatens Aishat Omade with Arrest Over Non-Compliance

The Kogi State House of Assembly has threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade, the Director-General of the Kogi State Social Investment Programme Agency (KOSSIPA), for her repeated refusal to comply with the legislative body’s summons and document requests.

During a plenary session held on Tuesday, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, expressed deep dissatisfaction over Omade’s consistent failure to honor invitations and directives issued by the Assembly.

The House had earlier mandated her to appear before it on May 6, 2025, with her academic credentials and other official documents. These requirements were first made during her confirmation process and later reiterated in a summons dated April 30, 2025.

Speaker Yusuf emphasized that appointees of government are not above the law and must respect the authority of the legislature.

“Any appointee of government who was not elected by the people must follow and obey the directive of this House. Failure to do so will compel us to invoke our constitutional powers, including the issuance of a bench warrant,” Yusuf declared.

The Assembly’s ad hoc committee on special duties, legislative compliance, government house administration, and the governor’s office—chaired by Majority Leader Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak—reported to the House that Omade had repeatedly failed to respond to multiple invitations over the past few months without any official explanation or request for rescheduling.

Lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as Omade’s disregard for due process and the oversight role of the legislature. The House further warned that, in addition to a potential arrest warrant, it may impose further sanctions on the KOSSIPA DG, citing grounds of alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.

“It is not about personality; it is about accountability. Government agencies must operate within the bounds of the law and cooperate with oversight mechanisms put in place to ensure transparency,” noted Hon. Abdulrazak.

As of the time of filing this report, multiple efforts to reach Hajiya Aishat Omade for comment have been unsuccessful, with her known contact lines reportedly unavailable.

This development marks a significant test of the Kogi Assembly’s resolve to assert its oversight authority and ensure public accountability in the state’s governance structures.