The Kogi State Government has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of playing gallery to some politicians who seek to destroy the image of former Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello.
According to the state government, the anti graft agency alleged the governor diverted funds i. September 2015, four months before his inauguration as governor in January 2016.
Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, via an official statement lambasted the EFCC.
He alleged that the agency has been infested with people who seem to be opposing the President’s fight against corruption.
The Statement reads:
“For the sake of clarity, the original charge is against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate. The offence which H.E Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed upon which he has been named in the count is conspiracy to convert the total sum of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo) which offence is said to have occurred on or about September 2015 in Abuja. His co-conspirators according to the Count are Abdulsalami Hudu (Kogi State Government House Cashier) described as being ‘at large’ too, Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman,” Fanwo said.
In the EFCC’s desperation to nail Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.
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“The Count of the offence is most laughable as the election that produced Yahaya Bello, as Governor of Kogi was only conducted in November 2015. Indeed, H.E. Captain Idris Wada of the PDP held sway as Governor of Kogi State at the material time until he handed over to H.E Yahaya Bello on the 27th day of January 2016.
“Yahaya Bello could therefore not have as of September 2015 conspired with anyone, including Abdulsalami Hudu, a Kogi Government House Cashier to convert any money belonging to the Kogi State Government.
It is to be noted that Yahaya Bello before becoming the Governor of Kogi State had no financial dealings with the Kogi State Government which could have permitted him to convert monies belonging to the Kogi State Government, hence, one’s dismay at the allegation.”
The Kogi State Government also asserted the that no funds are missing from the state coffers.
“No money is missing”
“as the state government has not said its money is missing, and has been adjudged, both locally and internationally, as top in the area of transparency and accountability.”
