Fresh revelations have emerged regarding the ongoing probe of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft commission alleges that the embattled ex-governor withdrew $720,000 from the state’s accounts to pay his child’s school fees in advance just before he left office on January 27, 2024.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed this information during a discussion with journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Olukoyede accused Bello of transferring the money directly from the state coffers to a Bureau de Change operator and using it for his child’s school fees in advance.
Expressing his dismay at the situation, Olukoyede stated, “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 inherit the case, I called for the case file and I said there are issues here.”
Furthermore, Olukoyede affirmed his commitment to ensuring the prosecution of the former governor to a logical conclusion.
He went as far as to declare that he would resign as EFCC chairman if Bello is not prosecuted. Additionally, he vowed that individuals who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would face consequences.
The EFCC is pursuing 19 counts against Bello, including alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds amounting to N80.2 billion. Despite any challenges or attacks against the anti-graft agency, Olukoyede emphasized that he and his team would not relent in their efforts to sanitize the country.
Yahaya Bello served as governor of Kogi State from January 27, 2016, to January 27, 2024, when he handed over to his party colleague in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo.
However, on April 17, 2024, armed EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Bello at his Abuja residence, but Ododo allegedly intervened and removed his predecessor from the premises.
Following this incident, the EFCC declared Bello wanted and warned against any obstruction to its operations, a stance supported by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who urged Bello to surrender himself.
