Kogi government disputes EFCC’s allegation of N10 billion fraud

The Kogi State Government has debunked money laundering allegations levelled against Ali Bello, a nephew to the Kogi governor, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is contained in a statement by the Kogi’s commissioner for Information and communications, Kingsley Fanwo on Thursday.

Governor Yahaya Bello’s nephew, Ali, and one Dauda Sulaiman were recently remanded in prison over alleged N10bn fraud.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Bello and Sulaiman fraudulently a sum of N10, 270,556,800 from the Kogi State treasury, which they delivered to a Bureau de Change operator, Rabiu Tafada in Abuja to keep or change to foreign currencies for personal gains.

Reacting to EFCC’s allegation, the commissioner said no money belonging to the Kogi State government was laundered.

Fanwo added that the allegation is orchestrated by EFCC stating that the anti-graft agency is desperately seeking to save its face after it hit a roadblock in its N20bn Sterling Bank media trial.

“The media trial by the EFCC is a calculated and orchestrated plan to embarrass the State Government by going after its Officials and Associates with trumped up charges to satisfy the destructive fangs of their paymasters,” Fanwo said

He reiterated; “Let it be on record that no money belonging to the Kogi State Government was laundered. The States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) is a World Bank accountability project to ensure the Government stays accountable to the people.

“For many years, Kogi has won Awards as one of the most transparent State Governments in Nigeria. A responsible anti-graft agency would have made Kogi an example of transparency and excellence.

“However, with its endless wild goose chase, Nigerians would even wonder if EFCC’s biased corruption binoculars are only designed for Kogi State.”

Fanwo noted that the Kogi government is ready for a legal battle with EFCC and urged the state citizens not to take the laws into their own hands.

“Nigerians know that the recent Gestapo-like operation against the State was occasioned by EFCC’s failure to sell the “fixed” Bailout funds debacle to the people. They became desperate to save their face from the disgrace bestowed on them by their “Destroy Kogi” Agenda. ” he said.