The Kogi State Government has raised concerns over what it perceives as a deliberate attempt by individuals posing as politicians to tarnish the reputation of the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for their personal gain, using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, on Monday, the government expressed its dismay at what it described as a desperate move that raises questions about who exactly is targeting Yahaya Bello. The EFCC, in an amended charge, has accused the former governor of diverting Kogi State Government funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed office as governor.
The statement highlights the amended charge in the case against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, where the EFCC added the name of H.E Yahaya Bello, describing him as “at large.” The government finds this development ridiculous, laughable, and indicative of the EFCC being infiltrated by individuals whose motives do not align with President Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda.
According to the statement, the alleged offence committed by Yahaya Bello, in collaboration with others, involves conspiracy to convert a significant sum of money belonging to the Kogi State Government. However, the government argues that Yahaya Bello could not have conspired to commit such an act in September 2015, as he had not yet assumed the governorship. At that time, H.E. Captain Idris Wada of the PDP was the governor of Kogi State until he handed over to Yahaya Bello in January 2016.
The government accuses the EFCC of being careless in its allegations, pointing out that Yahaya Bello had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government before becoming governor, which would have allowed him to convert government funds. It also questions the credibility of the EFCC’s leadership in making such claims, calling for the agency’s chairman to apologize to Nigerians for undermining the nation’s reputation.
Furthermore, the government warns political actors to refrain from meddling in Kogi State affairs and spreading falsehoods, emphasizing that the state government has not reported any missing funds and has been recognized both locally and internationally for its transparency and accountability.
The statement also highlights a previous incident in 2021, where the EFCC falsely claimed to have uncovered over N20 billion of the state’s bailout funds in a Fixed Deposit Account in Sterling Bank. However, Sterling Bank confirmed that no such account existed, exposing the EFCC’s misinformation. Despite this, the EFCC continued to harass Sterling Bank officials and pursued unfounded allegations against the Kogi State Government.
The government accuses the EFCC of persisting in its efforts to smear the reputation of the Kogi State Government and its officials. It criticizes the EFCC’s leadership for allegedly engaging in political vendettas rather than genuine efforts to combat corruption within the confines of the law.
PM News