The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims circulating in various media outlets regarding a purported list of former governors under investigation for alleged corruption.
Reports emerged over the weekend suggesting that 58 ex-governors from across Nigeria were being probed for misappropriating a staggering sum of N2.187 trillion over a 25-year period.
In a statement released on Sunday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed the reports as false and misleading, labeling the alleged list as a “disingenuous fabrication” with motives known only to its authors.
The Commission categorically denied issuing such a list or engaging in discussions with any media outlet regarding investigations into ex-governors.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, feels obliged to dissociate itself from a phantom report circulating in sections of the media claiming it has released a full list of ex- governors being investigated for alleged corruption,” the statement read.
“The report headlined: “EFCC Releases Full List of 58 Ex- Governors that Embezzled N2 .187 Trillion”, in one of the news outlets, is false and mischievous as the Commission neither issued the said list nor entertained discussions on investigation of ex-governors with any news medium.”
The anti-graft agency urged the public to disregard the circulating report, emphasizing its falsity and misleading nature.
Furthermore, it called upon media practitioners to verify facts directly with the EFCC to avoid disseminating inaccurate information to the public.
Amidst these developments, the EFCC has been actively investigating several former governors for alleged corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
Notably, the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is currently facing 19 counts related to money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion.
According to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Bello stands accused of withdrawing $720,000 from state accounts to prepay his child’s school fees shortly before leaving office in January 2024.
Olukoyede condemned such actions, particularly in a financially challenged state like Kogi, and underscored the EFCC’s commitment to pursuing justice without bias or favor.
Addressing journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on April 23, Olukoyede clarified that he did not initiate the case against Bello but inherited it, emphasizing his duty to uphold accountability and combat corruption regardless of external influence.
He said, “A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to Bureau de Change (and) used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance.
“Over $720,000 or thereabout, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House. In a poor state like Kogi? And you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life? Used by who?
“I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case. I called for the case file and I said there are issues here.”
