Kogi State Government has raised the alarm over what it described as a desperate attempt by some politicians to tarnish the image of the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, stated: “The fact that the EFCC, in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022: FRN V. 1. Ali Bello 2. Dauda Suleiman, currently pending before Honorable Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, further amended the ‘Amended Charge’ to include in the count, the name of Yahaya Bello, describing him as being ‘at large’, is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of the President to defeat corruption in Nigeria. Being ‘at large’, of course, means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest.
“For the sake of clarity, the original charge is against Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman, Ali’s associate. The offence, which Yahaya Bello is alleged to have committed, upon which he has been named in the count, is conspiracy to convert the N80,246,470,089.88 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.
“In the EFCC’s desperation to nail Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.” The government said EFCC, in its desperation, “which would leave Nigerians wondering who exactly is afraid of Bello”, accused the former governor of diverting Kogi’s funds in September 2015, four months before he assumed the position of a governor.
It said 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.
The commissioner urged the people of Kogi to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of relentless provocation by EFCC, which is insisting that the money used to build infrastructure in the state is missing.
