Eko Hot Blog reports that the Kogi State Government has vehemently rejected the allegations made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the immediate-past governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was involved in an alleged N80 billion fraud.
The state government labeled the accusation as “laughable” and expressed displeasure that the EFCC amended a current charge in a bid to prosecute Bello, who recently left office on January 27.
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Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, conveyed the government’s stance in a statement on Tuesday, accusing the EFCC of collaborating with what he referred to as “criminals masquerading as politicians” to tarnish Bello’s image.
He criticized the EFCC’s approach, stating, “This was not only laughable but portrayed the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”
Fanwo highlighted the amendment to the charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022, currently pending before Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which included Yahaya Bello in the counts, describing him as being “at large.”
The commissioner deemed this move ridiculous and laughable, portraying the EFCC as an agency with questionable motives.
He clarified the charges, explaining that the alleged offence involved a conspiracy to convert the sum of N80,246,470,089.88, with co-conspirators named as Abdulsalami Hudu (Kogi State Government House Cashier), Ali Bello, and Dauda Suleiman.
Fanwo emphasized that the charge was “most laughable” since the election that brought Yahaya Bello to office took place in November 2015, and he assumed the governorship on January 27, 2016.
“H.E. Yahaya Bello could therefore not have, as of September 2015, conspired with anyone to convert any money belonging to the Kogi State Government. It is to be noted that H.E 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,” Fanwo stated.
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The Kogi State Government firmly denied the allegations and called for a thorough examination of the facts to establish the baselessness of the charges against Yahaya Bello.
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